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!
We appreciate and value the support given to us at RGA by volunteers. Our volunteers help and support our residents, garden, social enterprise projects and charity to grow and develop. They become part of the community, which is at the heart of River Garden.
If you are interested in gardening, you can volunteer at our grounds in Auchincruive. If you have skills and enthusiasm to support our work in the garden, here are some of the duties that you might enjoy doing:
- Weeding
- Bed construction
- Planting and sowing
- Harvesting and watering
- Scrub clearance
- Guided walks
Desirable Qualities
- A passion for horticulture and gardening
- Happy working in a team
- Enjoy working in an outdoor situation
- To be reasonably physically fit (garden tasks can be physically demanding)
- Have a basic knowledge of ornamental and edible plants.
We appreciate and value the support given to us at RGA by volunteers. Our volunteers help and support our residents, garden, social enterprise projects and charity to grow and develop. They become part of the community, which is at the heart of River Garden.
If you have skills and an enthusiasm to support our work then please do contact us; we would love to hear from you. We have many different areas for you to consider, such as the technical and artisan supported workshops we offer to our residents, such as woodwork, metalwork, painting and decorating or any other trade that you might be experienced in.
One of our volunteer, had these thoughts to share- "Volunteering can be a very satisfying and worthwhile endeavour, particularly if you feel you can make a difference from your efforts. Never more so than at River Garden, where with woodworking and woodturning skills as part of my skillset, I found the opportunity to become part of the major project to refurbish the existing woodworking workshop and to help it grow and develop into a thriving social enterprise.
With a passion for all things wooden, I have become immersed within the current refurbishment programme as well as in the interim, teaching residents woodturning at my own workshop in Ayr. Never before have I been so rewarded and fulfilled with the results that ensued. Similarly the progression of residents’ woodturning skills over the preceding months has been amazing to watch.
I have been exceptionally fortunate to have had the opportunity to volunteer in a charity that makes a difference to people’s lives and ultimately enhance and enrich their journey of rehabilitation and recovery."
Volunteers required to assist in the running and upkeep of the wildlife centre, including the cleaning out of animals, preparing of food, putting away of stock and cleaning the site
Food Train Connects provides a one to one grocery shopping services for older people who are no longer able to manage independently, through age, ill health, frailty or disability.
Becoming a Food Train Connects Shopping Friend is rewarding and it makes a huge difference to people’s lives. It’s amazing the impact that regular support with grocery shopping can have on someone who is isolated or lonely. If you want to make sure that an older person is able to live well in their own home this is a great opportunity to do so.
Food Train Connects provides a one to one meal share service (Meal Makers) service for older people who would benefit from a regular home cooked meal and some company. The Food Train Connects Meal Share service is a fantastic way to make an impact on the lives of older people in your community. The aim is to support older people to eat well, age well and live well.
The role is rewarding and it makes a huge difference to people’s lives. It’s amazing the impact that a regular meal and company can have on someone who is isolated or lonely. If you want to make sure that an older person is able to live well in their own home this is a great opportunity to do so.
The Role:
• Contact the older person you are matched with on a regular basis, usually weekly, deliver a home cooked meal to their home and stay for a chat.
• Submit brief records and report any matters of concern to staff
• Keep within the boundaries of the role
• To inform Food Train Connects Staff of any accidents, incidents or complaints
• To maintain confidentiality
• To represent Food Train in a professional manner to our members and the wider community
Meal Makers will be matched with an older person near them, ideally within 10 miles. Although a volunteer can indicate if they are willing to travel further.
Bring woodwork skills and support our work in local hospital community gardens. Your experience will be invaluable in constructing potting area, raised beds completing our outdoor kitchen and more!
All around the garden there are woodwork and construction tasks to undertake.
Opportunities involve:
• Maintaining existing woodwork around the site
• Helping to construct a potting area, helping to finish our outdoor kitchen, building new resources like planters and raised beds.
• Source materials for these projects
• Work with others to build these things
We require volunteer assistants to help out at our Shelter Scotland shop by providing practical support - the role involves being the face of Shelter Scotland when collecting donations, dismantling beds, tables, etc. for easier transport and storage; lifting heavy furniture through sometimes awkward spaces and angles, removing and replacing furniture on the shop floor and helping to prepare route plans for the day ahead in the most cost effective way.
One of Scotland's Great Trails, The Dava Way, is maintained entirely by volunteers...Could you join the team for the occasional Saturday? The Dava Way links the 24 miles between Forres and Grantown mostly following the route of the dismantled Highland Railway Line and is used by thousands of walkers, cyclists and horse riders each year. It is maintained by members of the Forres-based Dava Way Association and funded by donations and occasional grants from local and national charities. The Association organises monthly maintenance days to clear drainage and cut back undergrowth and fallen trees so that the path remains usable.
As well as maintenance tasks, the volunteers are progressively improving the track as and when funding permits. Key to the ongoing success of the Dava Way is the team of volunteers who give their time to maintain the trail. Please consider joining the team on a regular or even occasional basis.
The purpose of this role is to help with light maintenance of the grounds and facilities at our Dumfries and Stranraer Resource Centres. Duties may include anything from maintaining flowerpots to cleaning up the leaves in the car park, as well as some light maintenance jobs within the buildings, such as hanging a picture or moving items around for staff. This role could be for as little as just an hour or two a month and is very flexible, to suit the volunteer’s availability.