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Re-Union Canal Boats has been operating since 2004 but has entered an exciting time of change and development, as we adapt to have more local impact and be more sustainable. We are seeking those with skills in areas such as strategic development, marketing and communications, and enterprise but enthusiasm for developing the local area is very important too. The Board meets once every 4 to 8 weeks – at present this is virtually (on Zoom) but we hope to get back to face-to-face soon.

We are looking for General Retail Volunteers to help us to run our much loved high street shops in Our Dingwall Shop, where there is always plenty to do. You could be front of house, serving customers and keeping the shop floor tidy and fresh, or organising stock behind the scenes. We ask for as little or as much time as you can give, as often or as occasionally as you feel able. You will be supported by our lovely shop team to be involved in things like: • Sorting clothes, spotting premium items, tagging, stickering and hanging items • Keeping the shop floor neat and tidy • Restocking the shop, accepting donations and talking to customers • Creating displays and merchandising • Serving customers on the till (if you’re happy to)

We are looking for befriender volunteers who have interests in music and art. You will be matched with an elderly person for whom music and art has always played an important role in their lives. As a volunteer you will be going out with the person for walks (local parks, Botanic Gardens), to the galleries and museums and, at some point, to classical music concerts. You can expect lots of interesting and stimulating conversation!

We are looking for General Retail Volunteers to help us to run our much loved high street shops in Our Dingwall Shop, where there is always plenty to do. You could be front of house, serving customers and keeping the shop floor tidy and fresh, or organising stock behind the scenes. We ask for as little or as much time as you can give, as often or as occasionally as you feel able. You will be supported by our lovely shop team to be involved in things like: • Sorting clothes, spotting premium items, tagging, stickering and hanging items • Keeping the shop floor neat and tidy • Restocking the shop, accepting donations and talking to customers • Creating displays and merchandising • Serving customers on the till (if you’re happy to) We'll need you to: • be friendly and willing to help • have good common sense • use your own initiative and work as part of a team to help out • Regular 2-4 hour shift preferred, but days and times are flexible.

Role - Caseworker Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to listen, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If so, this could be the role for you. What is a caseworker? Caseworkers work with clients to figure out what type of help they need. Next, they find the right sources of support and arrange for clients to access it. This might be funds for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc. Why do we need you? Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan. Our trained volunteers listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help people navigate life in and beyond military service. We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us achieve this. When would you be needed and where would you be based? The essential part of the role is interacting with clients, so you may be visiting clients or doing this virtually. You may need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. What does this role involve? •Contacting clients and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time either face-to-face or remotely •Liaising with clients and completing a form to assess their circumstances •Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice •Applying on the client’s behalf to military and non-military sources of charitable funding •Arranging for the purchase of goods and services •Keeping in touch with the client so they know how their case is progressing •Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability •Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients •Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser •Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.) What can you gain from this volunteering role? •Support people in your community with a military background •Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others •Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community •Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews •Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression! What training and support will you receive? •Online training course for new caseworkers. Your trainer will guide your group of like-minded volunteers through everything you need to know to get started as a SSAFA caseworker •Some short on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families and personal information safe •SSAFA branches have regular opportunities to update your training •Access to a range of e-learning courses •Local induction including who supports caseworkers in your branch and how to contact them •Most branches have regular gatherings for caseworkers to meet and share ideas •There is a Regional Operations Support Manager for each region and the Welfare Team and Volunteer Support Team based at our central office can support you with any issues that arise as a caseworker •Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

Community Support Volunteers support people who have had one of our conditions to develop autonomy and confidence in self-management, enabling them to fully engage with their community and activities of their choosing. The service follows a pathway from hospital to community and can be delivered in a one-to-one and/or a group setting. The service will all depend on Scottish Government Covid guidelines. The service can be delivered to provide specified person-centred communication support for those with a communication difficulty and/or to support a specific physical or everyday task. To undertake your role you will be required to undertake membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Adults) schemes in Scotland (PVG).

: Helping people to speak up and be involved in decisions that affect their lives. Supporting people to make their views and wishes known at meetings and appointments. Advocacy Highland provides support to adults with mental health issues, including dementia as well as people with learning difficulties.

Volunteer to help existing Active school activities in the Thurso West Caithness Area. This opportunity opperates after school hours or at weekends [or during lunch hours] The Coordinator will be delighted to talk to anyone wanting more information about this opportunity working with young people.

AFS would like to broaden its Committee membership to enhance our skillset and capacity to develop as a community organisation. We are interested in people who have a keen interest in a broad range of film and who will bring professional and life skills which would assist the Society to develop. There is an immediate need for a Committee Minutes Secretary and other roles might include: taking a lead in communications and marketing; fundraising or sponsorship and grant applications; developing links with other community organisations and in growing our audience numbers and diversity.

This is a flexible opportunity to volunteer from home. You will be trained to support someone with mental ill health or memory difficulties by completing 6 modules with the help of the local coordinator. After training you need to commit to regular contact which could be as little as 20/30 minutes per week. As a distance volunteer you can chose to email, write or telephone someone facing isolation. All correspondence is conducted through a secure system to protect both parties in the befriending relationship. This is a confidential, non judgemental supported friendship [ no home visiting] Please note that unfortunately you need to be resident in the Highland Area as this charity is funded to provide a service within this catchment area. For more information get in touch