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Could you give a bike a tune-up? Know your way 'round the basics of repairing and maintaining the systems of a bike? If so, the Dufftown & District Community Association would love to hear from you! With a variety of 24 eBikes, trikes and kids bikes, DDCA provides online hires through their website. They also deliver cycling events in collaboration with Outfit Moray and Dorenell Rangers. To ensure a high-quality service to everyone in the community, they are looking for volunteers to help with bike maintenance and rentals. Help us grow this community bicycle program! Volunteering is flexible and is done in our workshop at Tininver Park with all the tools provided. Anyone over 16 years can volunteer.

As part of the lost/found team, scanning volunteers go out to scan a cat if it has been reported to us as stray to establish if the cat has been micro-chipped. In the event the cat has got a micro-chip, scanning volunteers providing the code to the coordinator in order for the owner to be found and contacted. One of the problems we have as a branch is that when people report stray cats to us, we don’t have a space to take them in. We have to ask people to keep feeding cats until we have a space, but it is better if they are chipped that we get them back to their owner before we get them into care.

Volunteering with the Forres, Nairn & District RDA is one of the most rewarding things you can do, not only for the children who will benefit enormously from your contribution, but also you personally will gain so much. We need volunteers who can help in any number of ways, not just helping on the rides, or being directly involved with the ponies. From crazy fundraisers to baking cakes, event organising to poo picking, as well as walking with riders, volunteering with us is so rewarding for all involved. No experience of horses necessary as there are so many things that volunteers can do where they don’t need to be in charge of a horse/pony and all training can be provided. Volunteer opportunities will be allocated depending on preferences of the volunteer. The Forres & Nairn group RDA is currently held at Muiryhall near Elgin. Sessions are 9.30- 1pm and are only in term time. The children come by minibus from many of the local primary and secondary schools. They are the ONLY RDA group to not charge anything to the riders and they receive no central funding so everything has to be fundraised. To operate safely they need many volunteers as they often need 3 volunteers/pony depending on the disability.

Wave Radio is a broadcasting service for the wellbeing of patients at Dr Gray’s Hospital -- and by broadcasting online, they aim to bring the community into the hospital and the hospital into the community. This volunteering opportunity is also a great one if you have a love in music. They are not just looking for people to present on air, but would also welcome people who have a bit of spare time to catalogue music or music production. For people interested in any of their presenter slots, please know these programmes can be pre-recorded for broadcast at a later time. Right now, volunteers can do their shows from home, through the studios at Dr. Grays. Volunteers who have an interest in specific musical genre (i.e./Classical, show tunes, soul etc. ) or have a wide musical taste can find out more about how to help with their breakfast, afternoon and early evening programmes. Wave Radio is run entirely by volunteers and donations. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about volunteering with them!

Seagull Trust Cruises provide free canal cruises for the elderly, infirm, and those with special needs. Founded back in 1978, and operating from 4 Scottish bases, we are wholly run by volunteers, and 100% funded by grants and donations. Our Ratho team are currently looking for a fundraising coordinator, who working with others in the team, can source grant opportunities, liaise with potential funders, prepare quality application forms, and process through to successful completions. Liaison with our Executive Board will be required to ensure a consistency and avoid duplication in applications. You will be an excellent written communicator to identify and apply for trust and corporate grants. You will be researching funding opportunities and writing grant applications for the charity, keeping records on appropriate grant giving bodies, (application closing dates and processes), and reporting back to donors the difference their grant has made. You will also keep in touch with the team at local and executive level about the progress of applications. This is an exciting opportunity to work with one of the most respected charities operating on the Scottish Canal network.

We are currently looking for additional crew members to join our team of enthusiastic volunteers based in Ratho, to assist with welcoming our passengers onto our boats for their canal cruising experience. You will then cruise with other members of the team ensuring an enjoyable, safe and comfortable experience for all on board. Cruises run in the mornings and afternoons (occasional evenings) and normally last 2 - 3 hours max. Many members only crew for one of the sessions, and only on their preferred day(s) for volunteering. Full training will be given ~ you may even be given the opportunity to drive the boats (under supervision of course !!!)

You will be providing a puppy with a vital foundation for its future role as a guide dog. This is a full-time volunteering opportunity as a puppy will live with you in your home for around 12-16 months. It should be noted that although it is possible for another Puppy Raiser to look after a dog on your behalf for short periods of time that this may not always be possible. Consideration should be given to your future plans such as holidays abroad. “It’s so rewarding to know that the dog will go on to help people with sight loss gain independence and freedom.” – Chris, Puppy Raiser We rely on volunteers like you to help us improve the lives of people with sight loss. In this role your support will include: • Developing, caring and providing for the needs of one of our puppies using Positive Reinforcement Techniques and following Guide Dogs Puppy Raising for Excellent Partnerships (PREP) programme • Familiarising a puppy to a wide range of environments including shops and outdoor off lead exercise areas in all climates and seasons. • Teaching a puppy it’s ok to be left alone by gradually building up from a few minutes to a maximum of 4 hours • Attending regular puppy classes • Regularly meeting with Guide Dogs representatives to discuss your pup’s development • Completing regular on-line questionnaires to help us monitor puppy progress Ideally you will: • Be able to handle large breed dogs (around 25-40kg) • Have access to a car on a weekly basis for training and vet visits • Have your own home or written permission to have a dog in the home • Have access to a secure area where the puppy could go to the toilet during the day, especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night • Be able to access online content and training materials (you will need your own email address) If you don’t feel you tick every box but are sure this role is the one for you, please drop us a message and tell us why. We’re open to suggestions and happy to chat with you to find out what’s possible! Volunteering is a two-way street, so in return for your time you will get; • A dedicated volunteer manager/key contact who will help you settle in and support you during your time with us. • The challenge and reward of seeing a puppy develop in your home. • The opportunity to learn and develop your understanding in dog body language, learning theory, the human animal bond and the life of a Guide Dog. Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any expenses related to your volunteering with us in line with our policy. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role further before applying please email volunteer coordinator Aaron Puckrin at aaron.puckrin@guidedogs.org.uk. Thank you.

The SOUNDS OF THE GALLERY BAND is a group of young people with a range of Additional Needs, including physical disability, Learning Disability and autism. Over the past five years they have worked together to create and play their own songs and music. The band has performed at the Bearsden Festival and the Big Helix Picnic Festival in Falkirk. The group requires an enthusiastic person to help set up and maintain their equipment (including electric guitars, keyboards, drums and vocals), and assist the group members to rehearse and perform safely and effectively.

An exciting opportunity to undertake a maintenance role within a dedicated team, with the Hard of Hearing Group, providing life changing support to people with hearing loss. You will be responsible for assessing the needs of our service users and carrying out any practical maintenance of their hearing aids. You will play a vital role in helping people manage their hearing loss by providing practical and emotional support. You will also be sharing information with clients, signposting and referring to other agencies in your local area. Successful people in this role will be organised, sociable and able to communicate comfortably particularly with people with hearing loss and the elderly. Full induction and appropriate training will be given for this role, with ongoing support from the Service Coordinator as we want you to feel part of the team and enjoy your experience with the group. You will receive the satisfaction of giving back to others through their hearing aids and you will be working in an inclusive environment sharing knowledge and experiences. The role requires a person to be able to dedicate at least 8 hours a month, from home and the drop-in session. Once trained, volunteers will support service users by: • Undertaking an assessment of any problems or needs the Service User is experiencing • Where the assessment requires the intervention of professional services; by agreement with the Service User make a referral through the appropriate procedure to their GP, NHS Audiology or Social Work. • Providing advice on the use of Hearing Aids and other related Hard of Hearing matters. This may include the provision of equipment through the Social Work Sensory Support Unit. • Communicating with the relevant parties in order to ensure there is sufficient stock available locally. Once trained, where practical assistance can be provided: • Check and change batteries when appropriate • Re-tube and clean hearing aid where required • Replace the hearing aid hook where required • Clean through slim fit tubes where required.

An exciting opportunity to undertake a maintenance role within a dedicated team, with the Hard of Hearing Group, providing life changing support to people with hearing loss. You will be responsible for assessing the needs of our service users and carrying out any practical maintenance of their hearing aids. You will play a vital role in helping people manage their hearing loss by providing practical and emotional support. You will also be sharing information with clients, signposting and referring to other agencies in your local area. Successful people in this role will be organised, sociable and able to communicate comfortably particularly with people with hearing loss and the elderly. Full induction and appropriate training will be given for this role, with ongoing support from the Service Coordinator as we want you to feel part of the team and enjoy your experience with the group. You will receive the satisfaction of giving back to others through their hearing aids and you will be working in an inclusive environment sharing knowledge and experiences. The role requires a person to be able to dedicate at least 8 hours a month, from home and the drop-in session. Once trained, volunteers will support service users by: • Undertaking an assessment of any problems or needs the Service User is experiencing • Where the assessment requires the intervention of professional services; by agreement with the Service User make a referral through the appropriate procedure to their GP, NHS Audiology or Social Work. • Providing advice on the use of Hearing Aids and other related Hard of Hearing matters. This may include the provision of equipment through the Social Work Sensory Support Unit. • Communicating with the relevant parties in order to ensure there is sufficient stock available locally. Once trained, where practical assistance can be provided: • Check and change batteries when appropriate • Re-tube and clean hearing aid where required • Replace the hearing aid hook where required • Clean through slim fit tubes where required.