Find opportunities

Ward volunteers are welcome companions to patients; listening and talking with them as well as getting involved in activities in and around the ward. Core Duties include Ø To listen to and talk with patients Ø To read newspapers / books/ letters to patients Ø To take patients out of ward e.g. for a coffee Ø To help ward staff with provision of refreshments Ø To help patients complete menus Ø To provide companionship to patients who may have few visitors Ø Assist visitors to the ward with infection control procedures. Ø Any other duties the Senior Charge Nurse has risk assessed and deemed suitable. If you are interested in becoming a Ward Visitor please get in touch.

MCR Pathways is an award winning mentoring programme which has been supporting young people since 2007. Their vision is that every care-experienced and disadvantaged young person gets the same education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances as every other young person. Their aim is to help young people unlock their potential, no matter their circumstances. MCR Mentors come from all walks of life and commit to supporting a young person in school for a minimum of one year, ideally more. Mentors meet with their young person at their school for just one hour per week and the difference this makes to their lives is transformational. No qualifications are needed to get involved. Training is provided and support is available throughout the mentoring journey. Mentors canbe supporting students(s) from one or more of the following: - Alloa Academy - Alva Academy - Lornshill Academy

The Men’s Group will be a new social group for autistic men or men with a learning disability. This will be a safe space in which to talk, take part in meaningful activities and learn life skills. This would be a weekly opportunity to help with this group, taking part in activities that the men are interested in, and possibly working alongside outside organisations to come and give talks.

Positive Changes (Scotland) CIC-Community Interest Company / Grace Chocolates is a social enterprise supporting women with convictions as they journey towards new beginnings. Our RISE Mentoring Programme inspires, supports and empowers women through a meaningful mentoring relationship whilst working towards their goals and actions set at the beginning of the programme. Mentors receive CPD accredited training, which means that while you are making a meaningful difference to a woman’s life, you will also be furthering your own skills that can be used across different aspects of your life and job. There are also preparation sessions for mentees to ensure that they get the most out of the experience from the outset. Regular support meetings with the mentor coordinator will ensure that everyone is getting the most out of the programme. We are sure that there are amazing potential mentors in our communities across Scotland, and We particularly welcome women with lived experience of the criminal justice system who have made positive changes in their lives and are keen to share the benefits of their experience with others. People living with addictions are welcome to apply but we ask that you have not used for a minimum of 2 years and actively managing any addictions. We would love to hear from anyone who: - Can dedicate the time to support and empower women by committing to mentoring for a minimum of 1 year - Wants to further their own skills and have access to training whilst helping make a difference - Is available for training online on various dates throughout March and April, and can commit to an online training course in your own time - Has the qualities to support women in a range of circumstances. You don't need experience, but you will need to be a good listener, be positive, encouraging and be able to help people set goals and action plans. Here are some quotes from those who have taken part in the programme previously: - Mentee, 2022 - "Every single goal I made, I smashed it and my mentor helped me achieve these!" - Current Mentor - "Ultimately, you have no idea how inspiring and amazing your mentee will be for you, as you work together on their goals. I value the experience of mentoring because these women deserve the time and positive relationship that mentoring brings." The programme is funded by Impact Funding Partners and the Scottish Government. A fantastic opportunity to help. All volunteers make a real positive difference and are greatly appreciated. For further details please contact: Elizabeth McGowan, Mentoring Programme Support Co-Ordinator at email: elizabeth@gracechocolates.co.uk or telephone: 07309719209.

Our statistics have revealed that 218,000 over 50s in Scotland say they feel lonely all or most of the time. As people get older, it can be harder to maintain social connections. Retirement, bereavement or moving somewhere new can leave people feeling lonely and isolated. That's where you come in! The Age Scotland Community Connecting Service aims to connect older people across Scotland to social groups and clubs in their local community. As a Community Connector you'll help to combat loneliness and social isolation by providing older people companionship and information on social opportunities over the phone.

Through a range of support structures and services, LINKnet aims to provide a quality experience for volunteer mentors/befrienders and successful outcomes for mentees. Your commitment as a mentor/befriender will be two or three hours per week, spread over a day or two for a few months, not exceeding six months. One to one mentoring is found to be one of the most effective methods of people development . Befriending is a rewarding, personal gratification experience.

Mentors spend one hour per week supporting an adult from an ethnic minority community in the areas of language development, employability, education or personal development. Mentor training will be provided via What’s app /Zoom/Skype. The mentors will be matched with a suitable mentee via a conference call. The weekly mentoring can be over the phone, email or zoom/skype.

VTO provides free one to one tuition to children and young people (aged 8-18) to help tackle the attainment gap in Scotland. We work with young people from diverse backgrounds including those from low income families, care experience, EAL, or those faced with perceived barriers to learning. Our volunteers are responsible for developing a person-centred tutoring experience online. A key part of this role is relationship building, mentoring, instilling confidence, and empowering young people through education. Volunteers from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcome. Our next induction training will be held on the (Date) What will I be doing? Working one to one with a young person who requires tutoring support online. Relationship building and mentoring Instilling a growth mind set towards learning Monitoring and recording progress of learning and keeping in contact with your assigned Learning Communities Coordinator. Take part in relevant training. Tutoring in English, Maths and potentially other subjects, dependant on experience. Sourcing and creating engaging ways to support pupils’ skills and learning. Usually, 1 hour per week time commitment for tutoring with some additional time for learning material preparation. What skills do I need? You don't need any formal teaching or mentoring qualifications to become a tutor. The main requisite is good literacy and numeracy skills and you must be fluent in English. All our tutors must be able to provide 2 references and be members of the PVG scheme managed by Disclosure Scotland. VTO will assist with the processing of this and there is no cost to you. Capability, creativity, and enthusiasm to communicate and work with children and young people. Good relationship building skills Ability to support young people with a lack of confidence/ motivation. Ability to be non-judgemental, empathetic, and supportive. What skills and experience will I develop through this role? We want to support our volunteers through their time with us. Satisfaction of giving something back and reducing the attainment gap. Gain teaching, tutoring and youth work experience useful in careers working with young people. Developing new enhanced communication skills. Enhanced personal statement/ CV. Fulfil volunteering requirement of Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme/ Saltire award scheme if eligible. Reference after 6 months.

As part of the RAF Association, our Connections Volunteers offer the vital connection and support our beneficiaries need. In this role, you will make a real difference by helping support a lonely individual via regular telephone calls. Our Connections for Life service entails friendship telephone calls from volunteers to beneficiaries within the RAF community who maybe experiencing loneliness, adapting to life after service or just looking for a general chat. We will provide you with all the necessary training so you can rest assured that you will have all the skills you need. As a Connections Volunteer, you will have the support of a dedicated coordinator as your point of contact.

You would be part of a small, friendly team helping to enrich the lives of our service users, by giving them the confidence and ability to socialise within their local community. Role Description : The Volunteer Befriender will actively encourage and accompany a DCF Service User, to access and enjoy a range of social and recreational activities. The Befriender will provide companionship, conversation and occasional (rarely) physical support to enable a service user to manage physical difficulties with mobility and fatigue (which can impair cognitive functioning). Interests and activities are to be discussed. These could include going to the cinema, attending music/sporting events, visiting museums, discussing current affairs, going for coffee and short walks etc. Dynamic Community Fusion operates two projects in the Scottish Borders, The Borders Brain Injury Service and Reconnect with Confidence. Both of these aim to assist adults who have sustained a brain injury, to live independently and to re-integrate into their communities.