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The Comradeship Circles service enables socially isolated older members of the veterans communities to enjoy camaraderie with others who share an armed forces background in regular and facilitated telephone group calls. The role is to connect and welcome veterans to the group call,monitor the connection throughout and update the contact management database.

We are seeking Trustees to join our charity Temple Old Kirk Friends. The charity is committed to bringing the beautiful Temple Old Kirk and kirkyard alive by raising money for conservation and involving local people and others interested in history, the environment and genealogy. Becoming an Old Kirk Friends Trustee means sharing your time and helping run the charity, joining in the fund-raising and taking part in workshops and events. It means being part of a dedicated group of Trustees and volunteers. In return know you are making a difference to our heritage and developing and abiding fascination with the richness found on the site of an Old Kirk.

1 in 6 people in Scotland have a hearing impairment . You will know someone who has it, or may have hearing loss yourself. In Midlothian we have recently introduced the hearing aid battery pick up points in all our local libraries. This has been a huge success. It draws people into Libraries, to interact with staff and other members of the community and makes them aware of the wide range of activities which are on offer there. This saves time and money for people, reduces social isolation and eases pressure on the over-stretched staff in Audiology in Edinburgh. It means fewer hearing aids lie unused in drawers, for want of a battery. It really is a win, win. We now want to expand on this by offering repair and maintenance clinics locally too. The replacement of tubing in the hearing aid for example, is required every so often. It is not difficult to do, but it is a bit fiddly, especially for older or disabled people who are a large proportion of hearing aid users. Full training is provided prior to involvement. We have established a clinic which runs on the first Wednesday of every month in Dalkeith Library, 10.30-11.30 am. We also have now established a clinic in Penicuik Town Hall on the last Wednesday of every month 10:30 - 11:30am. If we can recruit more volunteers, we would like to start a clinic in Gorebridge, which would involve a similar monthly commitment. At present due to Covid-19 clinics are suspended but do get in touch if you are interested in this opportunity. Contact will then be made with volunteers once the clinics are re-opened.

“Our volunteer projectionists help set up the Sunday evening cinema in the Town Hall and collect tickets. If required, they introduce the film. They play the DVD, with subtitles when available, and with a pause at an appropriate moment for an intermission for refreshments to be served. Sunday evenings except during summer holidays.”

Inchgarth Community Centre provide a fantastic programme of activities for the community with the tremendous help of volunteers. Inchgarth has over 170 sessions of activity per week-serving every age group and section of the community. As a big and vibrant community centre, we offer a large range of activities for all ages and welcome a range of charities at the community centre. We have a great opportunity for people to help as Gym/Gentle Exercise Instructor Volunteers. We are looking for people experienced in fitness instruction and/or with gym experience to help people get the best out of the keep fit and gym facilities at the community centre and progress safely. We are also planning sessions targeted at people over 60 years of age. All volunteers are greatly appreciated and provided with excellent support. Please contact us to find out more, join our amazing team of volunteers and make a real difference in the community: please email: volunteerinchgarth@gmail.com / Tel: 01224 325191 / Website: https://www.inchgarth.co.uk/volunteer.html

The aim of our small charity is to improve the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of those who feel isolated and also to offer support to those living with dementia, as well as their carers. We offer a Befriending Service for older people as well as dementia cafés in local communities. We are looking for someone to develop a new website and to review and improve our IT and email set-up. You will need IT skills and experience of website development as well as practical experience and knowledge. We are a team of three who have limited technical expertise so we need someone with the necessary skills to liaise and communicate with us in simple English! We are very enthusiastic about what we do and try to find the fun in things, but IT issues are SO not fun for us and we need help! This is a great opportunity for someone to develop and showcase their IT skills. It could suit someone who finds themselves with spare time and who would like to offer our charity the benefit of their experience. For an informal chat to find out more information about what’s involved, please call Ruth on 07423 071448 or email us at admin@thelivingwellproject.org.uk

Fresh Community Wellness is a growing grassroots charity, registered Scottish Charity Number, SC051346. We operate out of Aberdeen city, working within a (S.I.M.D) high neighbourhood to create lasting change and build a legacy for the future. Predominantly in Seaton neighbourhoods and outdoors, we work with volunteers/residents, with a salutogenic approach to community wellness. To help with this we have great opportunities and need people to help out as volunteers for a range of roles including: *Food growing, gardeners, greenspace management, tidy ups volunteers. *Mentors, community engagement, events, entertainers (kids, adults, 55+). *Outdoors games & sports volunteers, building outdoor areas for residents (sheltered housing seating), health. *Artists/ Sculptors to begin on our Street Art & Design projects, and sculptures. *Admin, coordinators, team lead volunteers, advisors & support volunteers. *Drop-in café helpers, advisors, cooking assistants. All are fantastic opportunities to make a real difference for people and communities in Aberdeen. Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers. For more details about these volunteer roles or other ways you can help support the important work and volunteering at Fresh Community Wellness SCIO, please contact our website www.freshcom.org.uk or email us at chair@freshcom.org.uk or secretary@freshcom.org.uk

Support our exciting community Compass Project and help to transform the naturally-beautiful and historic 4.1 acre former Waldorf School site into a centre demonstrating practical solutions for healthy, sustainable lifestyles. The project has something for everyone including opportunities to find out and participate in: • sustainable building practices with conservation of the listed main building & sensitive repurposing of the others – dry-stone wall restoration, stripping back damaged plasterboard ready for refurbishment, sorting building materials and items for re-purposing and upcycling. • an integrated, creative health & education approach, supported by the natural & built environment – we offer opportunities for volunteers from secondary schools to participate in appropriate outdoor projects onsite. • sustainable social enterprise projects serving the local community and involving those with learning disabilities – experience circular economy in practice as we start to outlet local organic produce and plants onsite on a donation basis. • organic/biodynamic land use with nutritious food production, no-dig demonstration allotments, composting, beehives, wild flower meadow and woodland – keen gardeners are always welcome to come and help create a no-dig system from scratch so you never have to weed again! Experienced chain-saw operators can help manage our woodland. • repair, reuse & recycle practices minimising waste and encouraging sustainability – furniture and other items for upcycling. -Compass needs you! We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are willing to lend a hand with whatever needs doing. We hold regular volunteer days where you can enjoy meeting like-minded people working together to make a visible difference to our site after each session. Volunteers tell us it is very satisfying to see how much of a difference their work can make. Volunteers with specialised skills such as joiners, plumbers and DIY-enthusiasts will be especially welcome as we enter the next phase of our project to strip out the existing buildings ready for refurbishment. ‘Being out in the fresh air with others, seeing changes happening and feeling like I was part of a bigger process. I have also enjoyed meeting others who are enthused about the project. Sense of community, healthy activities. Very friendly co-ordinator and other helpers so feeling of welcome is lovely. I also value the fact that I only manage a couple of hours but this is still appreciated and I don't feel guilty when I feel like my body needs to stop! Beautiful grounds to work in’. – Compass volunteer ‘Such a great sense of satisfaction and wellbeing experienced at the end of 2 hours of hard physical work. This has sparked off an interest in gardening and growing plants at home. And also enjoyed being part of a community and meeting new people each time I come along who are equally enthusiastic about this project’. – Compass volunteer Everyone is welcome at Compass and we look forward to working with you onsite! You can find out more on our website: www.camphillwellbeing.org.uk/compass or email: compass@cwt.scot for further details on volunteering with this exciting project.

The Comradeship Circles service aims to reduce loneliness by offering older members of the ex-service community the opportunity to enjoy regular group camaraderie by telephone. A Comradeship Circle will host typically six people on the same day and time each week to chat about a range of topics and interests over the phone. A Volunteer Facilitator or Supervisor will be on every call to encourage discussion and ensure the conversation flows. We are looking for Technical Support Volunteers who will ensure the smooth running of the Comradeship Circle by connecting veterans to the call, monitoring connection throughout the hour, and updating the contact management database. This role is home based and requires access to a laptop, headphones and the internet. Main tasks include dialling in the veterans and connecting them to the circle an updating the charity database. 1-2 hours per week at the same time each week (with some flexibility for cover) over a 6 month minimum period. For more information please contact Caroline McDonald, Comradeship Circles Coordinator at email: caroline.mcdonald@agescotland.org.uk or tel.: 0131 378 7206.

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. -For more details and to apply to be a Guide Dogs - Puppy Raiser please visit: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering-for-guide-dogs/ or -If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role further before applying please email Guide Dogs Volunteer Coordinator, Aaron Puckrin at aaron.puckrin@guidedogs.org.uk Thank you.