General Purpose of Role
To support the work of Children 1st staff in helping families become more resilient by getting alongside families and building relationships with the family group and/or an individual family member to:
• help reduce isolation and promote a sense of belonging by encouraging families to engage with their wider communities
• build on identified strengths to increase self-esteem and confidence in individuals
• support the work of Children 1st staff to assist parents to provide a safe and nurturing environment for their children
All volunteering activity is linked to an assessment and workplan produced by the Family Wellbeing Worker and the family.
Key Tasks
Key tasks may include:
Family Support
Spending time with families in their own home to build trusting relationships so as to compliment and add value to the work of the Family Wellbeing Worker. Time may be spent:
• out and about with the family in the local community accessing resources such as libraries or groups, attending appointments or other similar family activities
• helping to establish and support individual/family play and activities
• offering support and encouragement to help a parent or carer maintain their relationship with their children
And/or
Befriending
Developing a 1 to 1 supportive, reliable, social relationship with a child, young person or adult in the family. Time may be spent:
• Organising and undertaking weekly activities with a child or young person, collecting them from their home and returning them safely to their parent/carer
• Building a relationship with a child or young person that is focussed on their needs and abilities
• Supporting and developing a child or young person’s personal and social development
• Helping the child, young person or adult to build their self-esteem and confidence
• Creating opportunities for a child or young person to experience new activities and develop their interests
Group work and drop-in sessions
This may include working with young people, kinship carers, parents and children, supporting Children 1st staff in a group work setting.
All Family Wellbeing and Befriending Volunteers will:
• Ensure prompt and ongoing communication with Children 1st
• In conjunction with paid Project Workers, record interactions with children and family members as per Children 1st recording policy and requirements
• Attend relevant meetings such as supervision sessions, team meetings and training
We recruit and train volunteer mentors who are matched with a young person based on personality and career aspirations. Mentors meet with their young person at their school for just one hour a week and provide a compassionate, listening ear.
MCR Mentors:
Build a relationship, improving the self-esteem of their young person
Help their young people discover their own passion for learning & achieving
Empower their young people to overcome the challenges thrown at them
We recruit and train volunteer mentors who are matched with a young person based on personality and career aspirations. Mentors meet with their young person at their school for just one hour a week and provide a compassionate, listening ear.
MCR Mentors:
Build a relationship, improving the self-esteem of their young person
Help their young people discover their own passion for learning & achieving
Empower their young people to overcome the challenges thrown at them
Shetland Women's Aid are looking for women to join us in promoting the safety and wellbeing of women and children in Shetland who are affected by domestic abuse and gender-based violence. SWA is a registered charity funded by local and national grant aid to provide safety planning, counselling, refuge, advice and guidance about housing, finance and legal issues to women. There is also a children and young person's service focused on offering therapy and support to children and young people. The aim for Shetland Women's Aid is 'An equitable society in which women, children and young people are valued participants, able to determine their own future and are free from all forms of abuse.'
As a trustee you will be instrumental in helping us realise our vision and mission. Part of your role will be to ensure that our day to day operation fulfils our strategic vision.
If you decide to join Shetland Women's Aid, you can make a real difference to the women and children who experience domestic and sexual abuse.
Supporting children and young people to take part in activities such as sports, arts and crafts; games; visits to places of interest such as the fire station, open days and cinema.
Supporting children and young people aged from 4 to 19, to take part in activities such as sports, arts and crafts; games; visits to places of interest such as the fire station, open days and cinema.
*Do you enjoy meeting people? *Are you a good listener?
*Advocacy offers a great opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives.
Our volunteers help people to take control over their lives and make their voices heard. All volunteers are fully trained in the skills needed to become an advocate. This is a great opportunity to help make a positive difference.
If you think you might be interested please call or email and come in and have a chat to find out more. Please contact Joanne Grant at email joannegrant@advocacy.org.uk or tel 01224 332314 / 01224 332366.
MCR Pathways has been partnering with schools since 2007 so we know just how amazing the young people of Scotland are. However, sometimes due to situations out of their control, young people face challenges that make it more difficult for them to succeed. That’s why providing the simple support of a mentor is so important and has been proven to make a life-changing difference. This is where you can help...
MCR recruits and trains volunteer mentors who are matched with a young person that shares similar interests, hobbies or career aspirations. Mentors meet with their young person at their school for just one hour per week and the difference this makes is transformational.
The mentoring relationship is unique as young people establish a friendship with someone who’s there, just for them and is not a teacher, parent, guardian or counsellor. The impact on their life is huge. Recent ScotCen research shows 81.6% of mentored care-experienced pupils left school for college, university or a job, compared with 56.3% of those young people not being mentored.
We are hoping to help even more young people in the area reach their potential and are looking for over 150 mentors from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
In Aberdeen St Machar Academy has been part of the programme since August 2018 and, in 2020 was joined by Northfield, Hazlehead, Dyce, Harlaw and Lochside Academies.
Aberdeenshire schools participating in the programme are Banff, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Peterhead and The Gordons Schools Huntly
The only qualification you need to be a mentor is the desire to help. All young people are different and have different needs, so it’s important that our mentors come from all walks of life.
Volunteer mentors are asked to commit just one hour a week for a minimum of one year and will be fully trained and PVG checked before being matched with a young person from an Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire school.
The building of the relationship with a young person is facilitated by our fantastic MCR Pathways Coordinators who are based in each school and work with our young people on a daily basis.
We’re asking you to #BeTheBridge between a young person’s talent and life possibilities. For only one hour per week, you can change a life. This year, why not do something to make a difference that lasts a lifetime.
Register online at https://mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor/
For any further details please contact Heidi Bisset, Programme and Schools Manager- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire at email: mentor.services@mcrpathways.org or tel: 07587104597
*Help us make important decisions with and for infants, children and young people in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. Become a Children’s Panel Member Volunteer. Find out more: www.chscotland.gov.uk *
The qualities you use every day are exactly what Scotland’s infants, children and young people look for in a Panel Member. Children’s Hearings Scotland is looking for people who care about making a difference in the lives of children attending hearings in Scotland. A Panel Member’s role is to listen and make legal decisions with and for infants, children and young people, and to ensure that the young person is at the heart of every decision taken.
There’s no one type of person or background that makes the ideal Children’s Panel Member. What you do need are certain qualities, such as being a good listener, caring, compassionate, and reliable. You will receive extensive training so that you are fully capable, and comfortable, making decisions at a hearing in the best interest of a child or young person.
Children’s Hearings Scotland is dedicated to recruiting a Children’s Panel that represents Scotland’s communities, and so to ensure a balanced panel they are looking for more applicants 18 – 30 years old, as well as more male Panel Members. If you are passionate about driving positive change in your local community, then this is a volunteering role for you!
Find out more and apply at: www.chscotland.gov.uk
*(closing date for applications is midnight 15 February 2021.)
The Boys’ Brigade is the oldest uniformed youth organisation in the country. We promote habits which leads young people to be good all round citizens, through an extensive programme. It is rewarding and an honour to watch 5 year old shy children grown into confident young adults, ready to play their part in society.
With Covid-19 rules many Companies are looking for additional volunteers to help run the different Sections separately.
Helping out in a BB group with children and young people can make all the difference to young lives – meaning happier young people, happier communities and a society that values the contribution that we can all make; young, old or in-between. We call our volunteers “leaders” because they guide a course for children and young people.
*What do volunteers do?
There are lots of different ways that you can help. We work with boys and girls from all backgrounds and of all faiths, and with those with no faith. Most of our volunteers come along for a couple of hours a week in the evening and get involved with one or more of our four age sections: Anchors, Juniors, Company, Seniors.
We need volunteers to help children with activities, games, sport, arts and crafts, hobbies, music etc. Whatever you can help with is greatly valued. We also want volunteers who will be able to relate to young people and over time, become adults they can trust and talk to.
*I can't help every week, do you still want me?
Yes! The beauty of volunteering with the BB is that you can be flexible, and if you can only help out once a month, or even once a year at the annual camp then we are happy to welcome you.
*What is the age limit?
You can volunteer from 14+ as a Young Leader, with a wider range of roles for those aged 18+. There’s no upper age limit. We really do welcome applications from all ages.
*Do I have to be Christian?
Some churches where BB groups are based like leaders to be members of that church, but are happy that certain roles are performed by people who are in sympathy with the Christian basis of the BB. Other than that, we welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and cultures.
There are BB groups in and around Aberdeen, looking for volunteers, from Cove to Balmedie, Powis, Northfield, Woodside and the Bridge of Don, and everywhere in between. There will be a group near you who will welcome and greatly appreciate your help.
A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference for people and communities. For further information please contact Andy Cowie at email: acowie999@btinternet.com or tel.: 01224 7903248 / 07715279478.