Our vision for Social Suppers is simple, we want to be able to provide delicious and nutritious food to people who are currently homeless or experiencing food poverty. We believe in meeting people’s basic needs for food and shelter, and at the same time as building positive relationships providing individuals with opportunities to make the changes they want to make in their lives.
*Why we need you:
To volunteer alongside Social Bite staff and a team of volunteers to provide regular hot meals and support to people affected by homelessness (on a Thursday afternoon).
*What will I be doing?
• Volunteering with Social Bite shop staff to prepare the shop and get food and drink set up for each evening session.
• Welcoming people to the shop. Being a friendly face and talking to them about how they are doing.
• Passing on information to people about how they can access services provided by our partner charities e.g. housing/benefits advice, courses, drug/alcohol support.
• Cleaning and tidying up at the end of the service.
*Relevant training and excellent support is provided to all volunteers. Including:
• Food Hygiene training (can be done remotely through our online training portal)
• Induction with a staff member
• The chance to complete a trial session to see if volunteering suits you.
• A training evening, where you will be shown how we run the sessions plus information about the local services that our homeless visitors can access.
• One to one support from a designated staff member as and when you need it.
A fantastic opportunity and all help makes a real difference for people we support and is greatly appreciated.
For more information please contact Paul Rodger, Development and Support Worker, Social Bite at email: Paul.Rodger@Social-Bite.co.uk or telephone: 07946125705.
The SSAFA Mentoring service provides long-term, one-to-one, face-to-face support during transition and for up to two years post discharge to all members of our armed forces. By supporting, guiding and signposting individuals we can ensure a successful transition is achieved. Our volunteer mentors are an integral part of the team supporting the service user into civilian life often helping them to understand and navigate their new environment.
A SSAFA Mentor is an individual who commits the time to build a professional relationship with a service leaver or their family through a challenging period of time. Providing support and guidance along the way. Mentoring is natural skill that we all have, the ability to listen and empathise as well as question and challenge in an environment that sees rewards at different levels.
Leaving the Armed Forces can a difficult and stressful time for serving personnel: to ensure the SSAFA mentoring team can continue to offer face to face mentors to those in transition it is important to encourage and recruit new mentors to the team.
Mentors provide weekly meetings within a 50 mile radius of their home address and will:
Assist the client to establish realistic goals and work towards achieving them.
Act as a sounding board when the client wants to discuss decisions and ideas.
Challenge opportunities, problems, personal strengths and weaknesses.
Signpost to other organisations and sources of knowledge.
Seek opportunities to help the client practice and develop key skills for the future.
Pass on know-how and essential thinking patterns and attitudes.
Generate workable solutions together in a mutually respectful way.
Motivate, advise and support whilst empowering the service leaver to make their own decisions and take responsibility for their own actions and development.
Maintain regular contact with your Regional Mentoring Coordinator and provide accurate meeting records after every meeting via a secure email system.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
Support people in your community with a military background using your patience, time and life experience
Support and friendship from the Mentoring team and fellow mentors
Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
Key role responsibilities
Meet with their client for an hour each week for a period of up to but not limited to12 months.
Support the client and SSAFA ensure they receive any necessary support from SSAFA or external organisations.
Complete (mandatory) accurate records of all contact made with the client, by using the SSAFA Email system
Maintain regular contact with their Regional Mentoring Coordinator
Agree to any supervision deemed necessary.
Attend mandatory Network/Refresher training every three years
Uphold the aims and values of SSAFA and comply with all current policies; confidentiality, impartiality and equal opportunities.
To be reliable and fulfil any time commitment made to a client
DBS Check will be required.
IT literacy.
Our vision for Christmas is simple, we want to be able to provide delicious and nutritious food to people who are currently homeless or experiencing food poverty. We believe in meeting people’s basic needs for food and shelter, and at the same time as building positive relationships providing individuals with opportunities to make the changes they want to make in their lives. Our Christmas Eve and Day allows people to sit in, have a Christmas meal and to not be alone this Christmas.
A fantastic opportunity and all help makes a real difference for people we support and is greatly appreciated.
For more information please contact Paul Rodger, Development and Support Worker, Social Bite at email: Paul.Rodger@Social-Bite.co.uk or telephone: 07946125705.
Could you help to raise vital funds for SSAFA in your local area? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with all kinds of people and some occasional free time.
Help us raise vital funds by representing SSAFA at local fundraising events, providing a friendly and approachable service to potential donors.
What is a Fundraising volunteer?
As part of a local team, our fundraisers represent SSAFA at events, and in public. The role includes helping at fayres, street collections, concerts, quizzes, raffles, sporting events etc.
Why do we need you?
SSAFA branches rely on regular charitable income to fund all the necessities behind our support for clients. This includes volunteer travel expenses, phone bills, publicity and grants for clients in urgent need. A varied programme of fundraising also keeps the SSAFA profile high in the local community, so everyone knows who we are and how we can help.
Key role responsibilities
Being part of a team with collection/buckets tins at events, supermarkets, shopping centres, etc.
Acting as a marshal at a public event e.g. handing out water to runners, supervising parking etc.
Being part of a team running a stall at an event, Armed Forces Day, fayre, county show etc.
Helping with putting up posters, building gazebos, serving refreshments, packing/unpacking cars etc.
Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA, engaging people of all backgrounds and interests
Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
This role involves being out and about at public events and would suit someone looking to give the occasional day, half day or evening to support SSAFA; when and where would be flexible to suit you.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others
Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising funds used directly to support clients
Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
What are we looking for?
Friendly and approachable people
Confident people who feel happy to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face
Reliable attitude, keeping in touch the Fundraising Coordinator about your availability
Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely
Access to public transport or a car to get to events
Able to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well (other than relatives)
Referees
We have a few restrictions on who can act as a referee for you and your application:
The referee must have know you for at least two years - and you must still be in contact now.
The referee cannot be a member of your family.
The referee cannot live at the same address as you.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support disabled volunteers, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as non-disabled volunteers.
We are looking for friendly, non judgemental and sociable individuals to help organise and run activities for the people that we support in our services. Ideally you are enthusiastic, patient, have a sense of humour, good communication skills and experience of life. We are looking for people who can teach or pass on skills and tailor activities to small groups or individual interests. We are always looking for suggestions and activities that are fun and will add enjoyment to a supported person’s life.
Specific tasks:-
• Help organise and run fun and engaging activities for the people that we support in our services
• Supporting group sessions
• Participate in group activities and help the people we work with to identify personal interests, strengths, skills, and their own potential.
• Leading on activities
• Contribute ideas and attend planning meetings
• Demonstrating life skills to people receiving ongoing support or whose support could be heading towards a close e.g., encouraging them to cook a meal or bake, leading by example.
• Accompany small group outings where appropriate.
• Encouraging our supported people’s sense of belonging and connection
• Building our supported people’s confidence and self esteem
GRACE - Group Recovery Aftercare Community Enterprise
A volunteer bookkeeper is currently being sought by GRACE. We run a number of fundraising events throughout the year as well as funding which comes from a variety of sources. A bookkeeper is required to keep track of the funds and ensure that restricted and unrestricted funds are allocated accordingly. Experience of SAGE would be essential
Volunteering at Shelter Community Shop, 179 George Street, Aberdeen, AB25 1HX is a fantastic opportunity that can offer a range of benefits, both for you and your community. It's a great opportunity to meet new people, develop friendship, expand your social circle, - building a supportive network in a brilliant atmosphere. Volunteering at Shelter Community Shop, Aberdeen will give you valuable experience in customer service, visual merchandising, inventory management, teamwork, also develop communication skills.
You will be engaging with a very diverse community. All while creating social focus for your community, supporting a worthwhile cause to help homeless people and/or people struggling with bad housing by raising funds for professional advice, support and legal service.
No experience needed to join. Volunteering at Shelter Community Shop, Aberdeen allows you to contribute according to your ability and availability. Most importantly, the act of Volunteering itself can, and may bring a sense of purpose and fulfilment which sometimes gives an end result of happiness.
So please visit our Shelter volunteer page at https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/get_involved/volunteer and sign up or come and visit us at the Shelter Community Shop, 179 George Street, Aberdeen, AB25 1HX - we will love to see you. For any further details please contact Libby James, Community Shop Manager at email libbyayuso@yahoo.com or telephone: 01224 639818. We look forward to hearing from you.
LinkLiving are looking for volunteers aged 16-24, to help them deliver their SmartLiving project in high schools all over Fife. SmartLiving is a homelessness prevention project, aiming to educate young people on the risks and realities of becoming homeless at a young age. Volunteers will be trained to become peer educators and take part alongside a LinkLiving project worker to deliver workshops to young people.
LinkLiving are looking for volunteers with (or without) lived experience of being homeless, to share their experiences and advice with others. They know that young people are much more likely to relate to their peers (other young people) and learn from them. You should be able to volunteer around 4 hours a week.
Volunteers will be provided with induction training and ongoing support with their own self-development. They will volunteer alongside a dedicated project worker and a small group of other volunteers and will be well supported in the role. Lunch will be provided for volunteers throughout.
At Counselling Care we provide free Counselling to the community of Skye and Lochalsh. Although we are largely trauma orientated we provide specialist counselling in many areas. Our Counsellors have varied specialist knowledge and we are usually able to help with any issue that presents to us.
In order to provide our services for free we are completely reliant on our team of able and willing volunteer Counsellors. We need qualified (to Diploma Level) Counsellors who are members of the BACP, COSCA, or their equivalent who can spare 2-3 hours a week to work with our clients. All individuals will have been assessed.
Whilst we are looking for people to work online, over the phone or face to face, we especially need those who are willing to work in a Face to Face capacity. Supervision will be paid for and travelling expenses (within reason) will be honoured. You can also expect to be included in training provided for our Counsellors. You will be part of a friendly team consisting of paid, volunteer and student Counsellors, there are regular team meetings and communication with others within the organisation so you will not be alone.
Being given the keys for a new tenancy after being homeless can seem like a dream come true. But sometimes the dream can fade at the first sight of a flat with stained walls, flaking paint and bare floorboards. This is where Fresh Start’s Hit Squads can help. The Hit Squads are teams of volunteers who will work alongside new tenants in their home to decorate up to two rooms. If you think you can help, then please get in touch with either Chloe (07387 141060) or Sylvia (07955 315340) at Fresh Start.