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It is an exciting time at Norton Park. With plans for future growth, Norton Park are now looking for a new Chair to direct their work. Norton Park are are seeking to complement the skill set of existing trustees and, in this recruitment round, successful candidates must be able to demonstrate leadership skills, the ability to direct and manage effective meetings and be a key contact to the Chief Executive. Applications are particularly welcome from candidates who will bring additional diversity.

We know representation matters, which is why we want our volunteers to reflect the diversity of the community groups we work with. We are actively encouraging applicants from ethnically diverse backgrounds and other minoritised groups to apply as we are currently under-represented in this space. Who is Sported? We are the UK’s largest network of community groups supporting half a million young people to overcome barriers to reach their full potential. Sported members are led by an incredible group of passionate and dedicated people who do amazing work in their communities, transforming the lives of young people in neighbourhoods across the UK. Where they often lack support or the time is around their organisation’s development and it’s here where you can make a difference. What will I get out of it? You will get to meet the inspirational faces of community groups across the UK and immerse yourself in their work; use your existing skills in a rewarding fashion whilst developing new ones; guide members to become more inclusive; network with other like-minded individuals helping grassroots sports groups survive; and so much more. Our volunteers say that making a positive difference to our members is what they most enjoy about volunteering at Sported. What will I do as a Sported volunteer? You'll use your professional skills and lived experience to help groups overcome operational challenges, become better equipped for the future, and tackle inequality in sport. Most of our roles are quite flexible and work around your schedule. We do our best to only share opportunities we think are relevant to you. With most of our volunteering support being delivered digitally, it’s even easier to get started supporting members across our network. Travel expenses in line with our policy are covered in the instances in-person meetings occur.

Connecting the Grassroots; Be part of a Global Movement by Taking Action Locally. Board Member Transition Town Forres For over a decade, Transition Town Forres (TTF) has been helping our local community increase ways of sustainable living. By initiating projects such as a thriving community garden, as well as providing opportunities for reskilling and recycling, TTF also promotes ways we can all address the Climate Emergency, including our dependence on fossil fuels. TTF works to strengthen a localised economy and by doing so, makes our communities more self-reliant and people more connected. Currently, a priority of TTF is to develop their board of trustees, and specifically, they are seeking someone to join the Board to serve for an initial one-year period who has a skill set and experience in finance/accountancy or business planning/management or grant-writing or fundraising. This is an exciting time to join TTF as it embarks upon another important milestone, in securing an asset transfer of the building in which it operates on Bogton Road, Forres. Applications are welcomed from individuals who understand the challenges faced by small nonprofits, want to make a difference in their local community, and have a commitment to the Transition Towns movement and what it seeks to achieve. Trustee meetings take place 12 times a year and last approximately 1.5 hours. If unable to commit to being a board member, short-term (3-6 months) pro bono arrangements are welcomed, as well. For more information and an informal chat about the role, please contact Kelly Warren, ttforres@gmail.com

The Elgin Sports Community Trust is literally a game-changer. This volunteer led community project has broken ground to a create a new all-weather sports facility for Moray. The project, now entering a final exciting stage, is looking for outgoing volunteers with professional experience to help develop and write funding bids that will support specific elements of the build. Are you a resourceful, take-the-initiative sort of person that possesses marketing and writing skills? Could you help identify and research prospective funding sources and help to write persuasive compelling bids? Could you pen awesome case studies or reports and maybe even share some of our news on social media? The Elgin Sports Community Trust has built an accessible all-weather, full-size facility, that is being used for a multitude of sports and is inclusive for all members of the community. Your time and skill will help this facility build office space, changing facilities and viewing galleries and become a place where people can play and meet all year – even walk, train, coach, the sporting options (and the health benefits to our community) are endless! This volunteering commitment would last between 3 to 6 months or longer if you are the sort of person who would be prepared to join the board. If you would like to have a chat about the role or would like to be involved or just find out more, please drop us a hello at: esctenquiries@hotmail.com

Get connected to your local community in this role with Burghead and Cummingston Community Council and also gain some valuable admin skills too! The Community Council is looking for a volunteer to help with taking minutes at their meetings. This is a role open to anyone over 16 years of age. Meetings are held monthly on the first Thursday of the month, at 7pm, and are currently being held in Burghead Community Hall. This is an accessible venue. Other admin duties can be discussed with the community council. An honorarium payment can be awarded. For more information please contact the chairperson on cummingston@gmail.com

Get connected to your local community in this role with Finderne Community Council and also gain some valuable admin skills too! The Community Council is looking for a volunteer to help with taking minutes at their meetings. This is a role open to anyone 16 years of age and over. Meetings are held every six weeks on Mondays, at 7pm, and are currently being held in accessible venues in the Finderne area. You will be taking notes during meetings and then producing minutes for circulation after the meeting. You will need to be reasonably IT literate, or willing to learn. An honorarium payment can be awarded. For more information please contact the community council on findernecc@gmail.com.

Moray Reach Out has a well established recycling team with centres now operating in Buckie and Elgin. In Buckie, for example, we currently offer 50 training places to adults with learning disabilities, providing education and training about recycling cans into aluminium and steel. We offer a van collection service that gives trainees the opportunity to collect and process business' recycling. We currently pick up from over 140 customers in the Buckie area. In Elgin, our team processes your purple bins, contributing both to the environment and the community. We take the contents including cans, tins and plastic containers in order to process them into bales. Volunteers support trainees in the practical elements of the tasks. Our volunteers are people who foster team work, are themselves team players, and are comfortable working with people of all abilities and also have a good sense of humour!

Moray Reach Out is a charity that runs several social enterprises that provide work and training opportunities to vulnerable adults throughout Moray. We are looking for volunteers to help support our vulnerable adults through our projects. Moray Reach Out's Upcycling Project takes discarded wooden pallets from local business and turns them into saleable house and garden items. Pallets are taken apart, the planks sanded, measured, sawn and made up into decorative boxes, shelving and planters for the garden. All carried out using hand tools, suitable for varying skills and ability. To volunteer for this project, it would be preferred if you have basic DIY skills, so these can be transferred to help our vulnerable adults. These would include using a handsaw, hammering nails, and using simple power tools such as cordless drills and sanders. Most importantly, volunteers need to have patience, kindness and empathy. Please bring your own overalls if you can!

Be at the heart of what community looks and feels like by volunteering with the Forres Group Action at the Hub. They are looking for 2 volunteers to share the receptionist role at the Hub 20 Tolbooth Street in Forres. Volunteers on the Reception desk would greet members of the public, take telephone calls and queries and would receive training beforehand. The Hub is open Monday - Friday 10.00 am - 3.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am - 1.00pm. Volunteers shifts are only 2.5 hours i.e/ in the morning between 10.00am - 12.30pm or in the afternoon 12.30pm - 3.00pm. At the present time, a volunteer can volunteer as little as one day/week -- with the idea that two volunteers can share shifts. To find out more or just to have a chat about the role, contact office@forresweb.net or call 01309 672244

Get connected to what's happening in the Cullen and Deskford area with this volunteer role! This vibrant and welcoming community council is looking for someone to help with taking minutes at their meetings. Meetings are held monthly, on third Tuesday of the month (except July). Meetings are held in Cullen Community Centre and occasionally Deskford Community Hall. Both halls are accessible. Meetings are likely to return to face to face in August 2022. They could be hybrid meetings, subject to availability of technology. The minimum age for the role is sixteen, the minimum voting age by which people can become a local Community Councillor, though if you are lucky enough to be younger, please make contact and we will have a role for you! A laptop, with an up-to-date version of Microsoft Office, will also be available for the volunteer. For more information about the role please contact Cullen and Deskford Community Council via e-mail cullendeskfordcc@gmail.com