"Do you have the time, patience and empathy to help a learner get to grips with digital technology to help them live more independently whilst maintaining social connections? Please read on…
Digital Buddies (DigiBuds) meet with learners and support them to develop their digital skills initially through six 1-hour sessions and then in small groups. Everyone is different, so you may support a learner with everything they need quite easily whereas others might require more support to grasp the basics, so you’ll need to spend a little time repeating what you’ve gone over, checking understanding and coaching them through each step.
The digital buddy role is a great support for our service users, recent figures by Connecting Scotland show that when people engaged in digital training:
• 86% of respondents reported an improvement in their ability to stay in touch with each other.
• 83% of respondents reported an improvement in being able to find interests.
• 74% reported an improvement in their mental health.
You don’t need to be an expert in technology or tutoring, but as long as you have the willingness to help, are patient and have confidence in your own digital skills, you’ll be a great Digital Buddy! Being fond of a chat is also helpful too, as this will help you build a rapport with your learner and find some common ground to start from. Other qualities we look for include:
• Problem solving approach
• Patience and good people skills
• Reliability and flexible
• A willingness to learn news skills and concepts
How this role can benefit you:
• Full training and ongoing support to help you carry out your role
• Travel expenses
• Practical experience and skills that you can add to your CV – such as coaching and mentoring
• Satisfaction that you have made a difference to the lives of others – volunteering your time can also help improve your own mental health and wellbeing.
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Touchdown Memorial Home for Horses is a charity that provides rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming for horses and ponies in need. We welcome volunteers at all levels in our work from trustees to admin, from fundraising and compliance to 'on the ground' opportunities such as yard work, field work, animal care, rehabilitation, education, work with young and older people. This is a great way to make new friends two and four legged, learn new skills and have fun in the open air in beautiful countryside.
We are looking for committee members to join our group, there is no requirement of in person physical volunteering, all that would be required is a hour a week of “Admin” you would be listed on the group’s constitution and help in the formation & background operations of the group. Suited to anyone with a hour to spare to assist the community.
As an IT Support volunteer you will provide a timely, effective, free and impartial advice and assistance on a one-off or short-term basis, to disabled or older people to resolve their computer related issues in their home and/or remotely.
GO’s IT Buddy Project aims to connect volunteer IT Buddies with those who need IT support.
IT Buddies can offer support with basic IT skills, smart phones, apps, iPad / tablet, using printers & more.
IT Buddies are available on a adhoc drop in basis within the GO office, can be matched for 6 week training sessions or group training sessions
The Credit Union has a wide variety of office based tasks; these involve some or all of public contact, handling money, working with figures, using computers – in our words, acting as a teller, cashier, loan officer, book-keeper, treasurer, supervisor, and Board management. Other opportunities include social media manager, volunteer relations, community relations.
A member owned organization, the Credit Union is a Mutual and is regulated like a Bank, providing a savings and loan facility to the Cambuslang community.
SSCC Falkirk is seeking an additional Volunteer IT Tutor to help support our over-50 learners with computing devices and to extend their knowledge of what can be achieved with the available technology.
Skills and Attitudes
Volunteers tutors should have practical experience in one or more of: Using laptops, iPad / Android tablets and smartphones; Windows operating systems and applications; Mobile device applications; Using email and browsers; Social media; Security / keeping safe online; Digital photography.
Volunteers should have good communication skills and be able to demonstrate patience and empathy with learner members, and commitment to their role as a volunteer tutor. Due to the nature of our service and the importance of consistency for our older learners volunteers must be able to commit to regular attendance at the Club, and to notify others at the Club in advance if they will be unable to attend, for example for illness, holidays or other commitments.
Location
Normally volunteers will assist at club meetings based at:
Arnotdale House, Dollar Park, Camelon Rd, Falkirk FK1 5SQ
or other venue as advised by the Club Leader. Occasionally volunteers may be asked to assist at public events at other locations.
Duties
The duties of club volunteer tutors are:
• Help to set up and take down furniture / equipment at the meeting venue
• Provide advice and support to learner members with technical problems and questions.
• Suggest to learner members other uses of their computers that may help them; give guidance to help members to use this correctly if required.
*Please note the Club Committee has agreed that, in order to protect members as best we can, we will be asking all members coming to club meetings (both learners and tutors) to confirm that they have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and, where appropriate, up to date booster dose(s) ('where appropriate' meaning that you are eligible for, or have been invited for, a booster). Alternatively learners and tutors can provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test before attending each session they participate in.
About this role
Within this role you will support the Centre, under the supervision of the Advice Team Leader. You will be able to speak to people seeking advice to ascertain their needs and assist with basic casework. This role will help to extend the capacity of the Advice team, and also the Reception/Referral Officer, by complementing their existing job functions.
Typical volunteer tasks include:
• Obtain individual detailed information regarding housing issues and needs including health, disability and other key details to complete referrals.
• Help identify, assess, prioritise service users’ needs and record them for Advisers
• Discuss & transfer more complex case enquiries to existing Advisers
• Conduct face-to-face meetings with service users with the purpose of guiding a course of action to assist resolve problems and assist in the completion of consent mandates
• Fill out relevant forms for case opening and closure
• Maintain effective records of tasks undertaken for every case by recording progress notes, and all communications with service users, in the case files
• Acquire knowledge of various community-based and/or governmental resources
• Provide direction and actively signpost and refer service users to other support & resources
• Participate in special projects/duties as assigned by the Advice Team Leader
• Assist with regular case reviews with Advice Team Leader
• Help gather service user feedback and prepare case studies when cases close
• Encourage engagement with the Centre’s services for those in need
• Volunteer effectively alongside other volunteers and employees
What we are looking for:
• Excellent communication skills using speech, writing and other appropriate methods
• Confidence in communicating with a wide range of people from different backgrounds, abilities and needs
• Previous experience in casework recording is desirable but not essential, as support and training will be provided
• An understanding of overcoming barriers to reach vulnerable service users
• The ability to use own initiative and manage allocated tasks with minimal supervision
• Knowledge of and ability to use Microsoft packages in particular Excel and Word
• Knowledge of local South Ayrshire area is advantageous
• Use of own transport advantageous
• Empathetic towards the situation and needs of Service Users
• Previous experience of supporting vulnerable groups is desirable but not essential
• Willing to uphold the Fundamental Principles of Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO and adhere to our Volunteer Policy
What we offer:
• A full induction, support and supervision throughout your volunteering period
• In-house training related to the role
• Valuable exposure to the work of Ayr Housing Aid Centre
• Opportunity to be part of a well-established and award-winning local charity
• Reimbursement of reasonable expenses
Limitations of post:
Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO services are regulated by the Scottish National Standards for Housing Information and Advice, Care Inspectorate and the SSSC. It is an offence to provide housing advice or services unless a person is regulated by the designated professional body. Under no circumstances should volunteers give detailed housing advice to service users. However, as a volunteer you will be able to engage, take information, signpost to partner organisations and ensure they are linked with an appropriately trained Adviser. Your role will be to establish the link with the service user, gather information and statistics, ensure positive engagement, give basic information and pass to a skilled Adviser.
Through time you may become a permanent placement and seek to improve your skills to enable you to be able to have the knowledge to be able to give advice at a type II level.
Volunteer roles are unpaid, but we can reimburse volunteers for travel costs and lunch expenses if volunteering for a full day. All training required for the role will be provided inhouse by the Centre.
To apply:
Please send your CV and Covering Letter (maximum length 1 side of A4 please) to info@ayrhousingaidcentre.com
In your Covering Letter please explain how you meet the requirements above and why you are specifically interested in volunteering with Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO.
Please include the contact details of 2 referees that we may contact if you are successful.
Please call Hilary on 01292 288111 if you wish more information or simply wish to talk through the role and have any questions.
Have a look at our website www.ayrhousingaidcentre.com for more information on what we do.
Within this role you will support the Centre under the supervision of the Office & Compliance Manager to engage with the community, voluntary groups, other support organisations to reach out and publicise our services to potential Service Users and other agencies.
This engagement will help to raise the profile of the Centre in the wider sector; identify new Service Users who might benefit from accessing our services; and help encourage donations to the charity.
Typical tasks include:
• Engaging with community and voluntary groups, and other support organisations in the South Ayrshire area to raise the profile of Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO and reach out to Service Users
• Supporting drop ins/events and give presentations about Ayr Housing Aid Centre’s work
• Developing presentations/promotional materials with the Office & Compliance Manager
• Receiving donations
• Maintaining effective records of tasks undertaken, passing on enquiry sheets to the Advice team
• Encouraging engagement with the Centre’s services for those in need
• Volunteering effectively alongside other volunteers and employees
What we are looking for:
• Excellent communication skills using speech, writing and other appropriate methods
• Confidence in communicating with a wide range of people from different backgrounds, abilities and needs
• Previous experience in community engagement and outreach is desirable but not essential as support and training will be provided
• An understanding of overcoming barriers to reach vulnerable Service Users at risk
• The ability to use own initiative and manage allocated tasks with minimal supervision
• Knowledge of and ability to use Microsoft packages in particular PowerPoint
• Knowledge of local South Ayrshire area is advantageous
• Use of own transport advantageous
• Empathetic towards the situation and needs of Service Users
• Previous experience of supporting vulnerable groups is desirable but not essential
• Previous experience of handling donations advantageous
• Willing to uphold the Fundamental Principles of Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO and adhere to our Volunteer Policy
Limitations of post
Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO services are regulated by the Scottish National Standards for Housing Information and Advice, Care Inspectorate and the SSSC. It is an offence to provide housing advice or services unless a person is regulated by the designated professional body. Under no circumstances should volunteers discuss housing matters with service users. However, as a volunteer you will be able to engage, take information and ensure they are linked with an appropriately trained Adviser and your role will be to establish this link to ensure positive engagement.
Wherever volunteers are approached for housing advice they should always refer them to Ayr Housing Aid Centre employees.
Volunteer roles are unpaid, but we can reimburse volunteers for travel costs and lunch expenses if volunteering for a full day. All training required for the role will be provided inhouse by the Centre.
To apply: Please send your CV and Covering Letter (maximum length 1 side of A4 please) to info@ayrhousingaidcentre.com In your Covering Letter please explain how you meet the requirements above and why you are specifically interested in volunteering with Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO. Please include the contact details of 2 referees that we may contact if you are successful. Please call Hilary on 01292 288111 if you wish more information or simply wish to talk through the role and have any questions. Have a look at our website for more information on what we do.
The St Magnus Way is looking for a volunteer to keep our social media presence updated. At present we have an active Facebook page and hope to develop an Instagram page. The volunteer would be asked to prepare regular updates on our activities, events and news. A full job description is available on request