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This role is to assist with the governance of the Branch; in particular by attending the monthly meetings of the Management Committee and by taking responsibility for agreed tasks suited to their abilities. Also to be one of the key-holders responsible for opening and locking the building before and after club meetings. To help with our three clubs (which include a disco, indoor games, arts and crafts, Scottish country dancing).

Promoting the services of National Autistic Society in Biggar and surrounding areas.

• Raise the profile of NAS and the branch within the Clydesdale area (ML8,11 and 12 postcodes) • Support fundraising opportunities in the above postcodes • Feedback to the committee on any local issues within the above postcodes for appropriate action • Deliver in person Understanding Autism Talks to local businesses where requested • Represent the branch at any local area meetings

At Blackwood we provide care (in care homes), care at home services and tenancies to people with different support needs. We believe that using technology can significantly support independent living and have offered our customers a tablet which is set up with our innovative system CleverCogs©. To support the successful adoption of this programme, we need the help of volunteers to ensure our customers are comfortable using their tablets and make the most of their tech. -What will I be doing as a Digital Buddy?: Digital Buddies will combine befriending with digital literacy, so your role will include: • helping people set up their new devices • using video calls and messaging apps • accessing online learning opportunities • explaining how to stay safe online • helping to problem solve where you don’t know the answer yourself • enjoying a chat with people to find some common interests and build a rapport quickly • helping people to find online resources that match their interests • Support sessions with learners usually take place in person, once or twice a week, so 45-60 minutes is usually enough time to make progress. • Reporting on progress made and encouraging volunteers to provide feedback on sessions This is an opportunity to be more involved with others in your local community - Helping others can also improve your own health & wellbeing! It is also a chance to develop your own skills and competencies with the option to pursue a qualification in digital skills.

Introduction: To be part of Real Life Volunteer Service providing services that help vulnerable people within the community and supports the work of local Real Life Options teams. Our values of Respect, Honesty, Responsibility & Excellence underpin our approach and all our services recognise people for their individuality and are afforded the same dignity, respect, status and rights as other citizens. Key Tasks: Are varied and dependent on the needs of the people we support. We try to match volunteers to people with similar interests and provide opportunities for volunteers to utilise existing skills and knowledge. • Chatting to and befriending people we support • Home checks to make sure vulnerable people are safe and well • Everyday practical household tasks • Provide information and support to allow people to make informed choices about their lives • Assist with shopping • Support with correspondence • Provide transport • Support with social outings • Assisting with pet care • Assist with food preparation • Prescription collections • Support with Gardening and some physical tasks. • Get involved with Social Events and being vital in improving the social lives of the people we support Benefits to Volunteers: • Assisting to support people maintain their independence • Helping people in their local community • Personal development • Meeting new people • Making friends • Improving health & wellbeing Reports to: Local Service Manager

This role will require the volunteer to be enthusiastic about gardening and working with residents and staff in a creative and friendly manner. We would like to create a space for residents to enjoy and grow their own vegetables but also look at expanding the garden in more creative ways. Do you think you can help and give something back to the local community? What will I be doing? To help plant and maintain the gardens, main tasks include: • Planting, Pruning, Sowing Seeds, Weeding • Edging Borders, Digging, Ground Clearance, Grass Cutting What training will I receive? • ‘On the job’ training. • Optional training courses. How will I benefit from the role? The Volunteer Gardener role offers: • Opportunities to learn new gardening skills and gain more gardening experience. • Creating a haven for residents that have learning disabilities. • Opportunities to make new friends. • Satisfaction of helping to maintain the gardens. • Assisting staff and becoming part of a friendly care team that help vulnerable people. What skills, experience or abilities do I need? • Previous gardening experience or gardening knowledge. • Enthusiasm to work in the gardens and work with people who have learning disabilities. • Moderate level of fitness. All volunteers will have their expenses reimbursed and will receive a warm welcome to our Services.

Autism Rocks want to see Fife as a place where people with Autism and their families, are accepted as valued members of the community. Their mission is to promote and provide understanding, acceptance, inclusion, education and support. Their centre in Buckhaven is open Wednesday and Thursday for drop-in sessions from 10am to 1pm, with Friday evenings from 6-8pm for teen/adult sessions and Saturdays for family days from 10.00am- 1.00pm. Within these sessions there are many different activities on offer for service users and their families, including sensory integration, arts and crafts, music therapy, lego therapy. They have a sensory garden that they maintain together giving families the opportunity to learn some new skills. Volunteers are needed to help at any of these times & days. There will always be a Trustee present, and you will help by speaking to family members or service users who might want a chat as well as helping to run/tidy up after the various groups or help to maintain the garden.

Moray Reach Out is a charity that runs several social enterprises that provide work and training opportunities to vulnerable adults throughout Moray. We are looking for volunteers to help support our vulnerable adults through our projects. Moray Reach Out's Upcycling Project takes discarded wooden pallets from local business and turns them into saleable house and garden items. Pallets are taken apart, the planks sanded, measured, sawn and made up into decorative boxes, shelving and planters for the garden. All carried out using hand tools, suitable for varying skills and ability. To volunteer for this project, it would be preferred if you have basic DIY skills, so these can be transferred to help our vulnerable adults. These would include using a handsaw, hammering nails, and using simple power tools such as cordless drills and sanders. Most importantly, volunteers need to have patience, kindness and empathy. Please bring your own overalls if you can!

Moray Reach Out is a charity that runs several social enterprises that provide work and training opportunities to vulnerable adults throughout Moray. We are looking for volunteers to help support our vulnerable adults. For our projects, communication skills and empathy are essential. The Moray Reach Out Art Yarn Project delivers the many processes of turning locally farmed Shetland sheep fleece into saleable hanks of wool. This offers opportunity for all abilities to be involved, from washing the fleece, teasing the wool fibres open, carding the wool ready for spinning, spinning the wool and hanking it for sale. Everyone of these processes is carried out by hand, allowing for physical activity, reducing stress levels and developing social skills as you will working as part of a team. Volunteers need no experience of working with wool or spinning. There are so many facets to this project, there is something for every skill level. If you do spin, great! If you would like to learn, you soon will!

Do you own a friendly, outgoing, though not too boisterous dog who loves to have a fuss made of them? Then perhaps, you might like to thank about registering them in our THERAPET visiting service. You heard of it? Let me tell you about it. For some years now it has been recognised, more nd more, that pets are good for us! Indeed it has been scientifically proved that the mere action of stroking a dog, cat, slows down the heartbeat, reduces blood pressure, and makes someone who has already suffered a heart attack much less likely to have another. Through no fault of their own, many people find themselves deprived of the companionship of a much loved dog. It may be they have had to go into sheltered housing, residential care, a long stay hospital etc. The same applies to children and adults who have an additional support need and those suffering from a terminal illness. THERAPETS come in all breeds, cross-breeds, or 57 variety mongrels! They can be small, medium or large. The only vital statistic is a steady and happy temperament. The dogs are approved for temperament and general stability being accepted and are not considered until at least one year old. Volunteer owners must become actual members of CANINE CONCERN SCOTLAND TRUST - mainly so that we can be sure of insurance cover - although happily so far we only know of one, very minor accident, a happy day's tail sweeping a vase from a low table. Volunteers must be willing to make a regular commitment to visit, it need not be very often, once a fortnight, once a month or whenever, but the visits must be regular because the residents and patients look forward to them so much and are disappointed if they suddenly cease. Sometimes small miracles occur - people who have never spoken, turned their faces to the wall in fact - magically come to life at the first appearance of a dog in a ward! This to the surprise and delight of the nursing staff, in many cases the dogs and owners provide some light relief for them too. Sadly, it has to be said that some of the residents or patients the THERAPETS are their only visitors. We like to encourage them to regard the doggy visitors as their very own. There is no charge for this service which is organised and carried out entirely by volunteers. We fund raise in various ways to keep it going. More than anything else, we need MORE VOLUNTEERS! The service has proved so popular that they demand has overtaken the supply. So, if you think this might be for you, or once importantly, for your dog, please do contact us for more detail and perhaps an application form to register your dog.