Find opportunities

If you like to keep active and stay in shape, volunteering in one of our local furniture store warehouses could be the answer you’re looking for. We need helpful and active people to help keep our stock moving from the van to warehouse and onto the store and from store back to the van for delivery! This role involves keeping active but it’s not just moving furniture. There are other opportunities to help our warehouse team such as booking in and checking over stock for sale, putting together our flat packed furniture and testing electrical items. For more information please contact our Store Manager at email: A25@bhf.org.uk or tel.: 01224 432910.

Local children’s charity, Befriend a Child are looking for kind, caring and reliable people to bring fun, positivity, and new experiences to the lives of children and young people across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. At Befriend a Child we support school-aged children in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who are growing up in difficult life circumstances. We match them with trained volunteers or ‘Befrienders’ or ‘Mentors’ who act as positive role models to help children develop resilience, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Typically, these are children whose fundamental childhood years have been neglected or lost due to issues outside of their control. Volunteers meet the child on a one-to-one basis and help the children and young people with their self-esteem and confidence and give them experiences they may be unable to have otherwise. Befrienders meet with the children twice a month and mentors meet on a weekly basis. Befriend a Child provides volunteers with full training and support, so volunteers don’t need to have any previous experience working with children. Befriend a Child receives referrals from a number of sources including Education, Social Work, Health and Third Sector partners. We are the only dedicated befriending and mentoring service for children in the Northeast. It’s not just the children who benefit from befriending and mentoring, our volunteers also feel they gain a great deal from the experience. For example, Befriend a Child volunteer Craig feeds back: “Befriending is the biggest achievement of my life, knowing I’ve been a positive influence in someone’s life whilst creating some fantastic memories and experiences. I would recommend it to anyone. It’s a great way to add sunshine into your own life as well as doing the same for others. Many of these children just simply need a friend and so it’s not what you do that is important but the fact that you are doing something together." (Craig Duncan, Volunteer Befriender). If you want to help a local child, make sure to get in touch by emailing us at volunteer@befriendachild.org.uk or visit www.befriendachild.org.uk to find out more.

*Looking for a fun and exciting way to inspire the next generation? Help local children get active? Boost your confidence? Develop important life skills? Enhance your CV?* Active Schools are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help support existing activities or develop new ones to enhance the opportunities available to children throughout the City. Whether it’s football, netball, tennis, yoga, dance or multisport, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Opportunities are available before school, during lunchtime, after-school or in the evening. There is a Club out there for everyone! Most volunteers attend activities within their local area on a weekly basis and commitment is from as little as one hour a week. Getting involved in an Active Schools Club will help get more children active and give them the opportunity to develop important life skills. Be it making friends, getting active, improving health and mental well-being or gaining self-esteem, the benefits of participating in sport is endless. Aged 12-25? Boost your CV and prospects by joining the Saltire Awards. Gain certificates based on your volunteering and earn extra Young Scot award points for fantastic prizes. Full support and training is provided to all volunteers. To find out further information about becoming an Active Schools volunteer, please visit sportaberdeen.co.uk/active-schools/volunteer-with-active-schools/ or contact the team directly at activeschools@sportaberdeen.co.uk

The Board of Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, developing the charity’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines. While all Trustees always retain their responsibility for the Charity as a whole, some will be chosen for their specific expertise in particular areas and will support and advise the Board on that area of expertise. -Main Responsibilities: • Work together to provide leadership and strategic direction to the charity • Ensure that M4U meets its charitable objectives as laid out in the constitution • Ensure that M4U is effectively run and meets all of its legal and regulatory requirements • Ensure that assets are safeguarded and used efficiently for those for whom the charity exists • Ensure that the charity is accountable financially and in other ways • Take on specific roles as required for the smooth operation of the Board of Trustees and charity • To maintain absolute confidentiality about all sensitive/confidential information received in the course of trustee’s responsibilities to the charity. • Act in the best interest of the charity, beneficiaries and future beneficiaries at all times • Promote and develop the charity in order for it to grow and maintain its relevance to society -Commitment: Trustees are expected to contribute around 10 hours per month to the charity and to attend 6 Board Meetings per annum. A minimum commitment of 12 months is requested. Trustees are expected to attend a minimum of 2 Workshops, 2 Performances and 2 Fundraising Events per annum. -Remuneration: This is a voluntary position, although reasonable travelling expenses can be refunded. -Accountable to: As the board are responsible and liable for the governance and functioning of the charity, they are accountable in varying degrees to a variety of stakeholders, including: service users, funders and OSCR. M4U depends on Trustees having a wide range of skills, and each Board member should have strengths in at least one of the following areas. We do not expect Trustees to be skilled in all of these areas. • Musical theatre • Organisational development/strategy • Financial management • Charity legal compliance responsibilities • Management and development of paid staff/volunteers • Fundraising • Lobbying & campaigning • Ability and time to represent M4U in meetings with stakeholders • Best in employment • Evaluation • IT Management • Project development/management experience A fantastic opportunity to assist in the continued successful development of Music 4 U. All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. For further details please email info@m4u.org.uk

Altens and Cove Community Association Centre is a local independent charity, run by volunteer Trustees and a small staff team from Altens Community Centre. Serving Altens and Cove, the centre offers a wide range of community activities, along with private hires of our meeting rooms, sports hall and community rooms, and a café. Our highly recommended Fishies Playgroup operates within Altens Community Centre on weekday mornings during term time. As we emerge from pandemic restrictions, we are looking for new trustees to join our friendly group of staff and trustees. In particular, we are seeking a treasurer to manage the association’s accounts in conjunction with the centre manager and other members of the board of trustees. The Centre provides a vibrant atmosphere and essential support for the community of Cove and Altens, and we would be pleased to welcome additional volunteers to our team. For further information please contact Rob Sim, Chair of Board of Trustees at E Mail: altensccchair@gmail.com or tel.: 07801683011. Details about activities and volunteering at the Centre is also available at our Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/altencc/

Volunteering with Action Tutoring is an easy and rewarding way to make a difference to the lives of young people. By volunteering and tutoring for just one hour a week, you will be able to directly support disadvantaged young people to build their confidence and help ensure they leave school with the grades needed to build a bright future, as well as developing your own skills. And now you can volunteer with us as an online tutor to support pupils to reach their potential. Online tutoring is a great option for anyone on a busy schedule or those continuing to keep their distance from groups of people. For our online programmes, tutors work remotely and support pupils in English or maths in a virtual classroom. For further details please contact us at email volunteer@actiontutoring.org.uk

Role Description ▪ Attending invited events, for example community/social group meetings, schools, and cheque presentations to give presentations/talk about the work of Befrienders Highland and the difference we are making, to inspire people to support us through fundraising, or to thank supporters for the fundraising they have completed. ▪ Representing the charity in a professional manner. ▪ Making conversation with members of the public as appropriate and answering questions about the charity. ▪ Promoting and facilitating planned fundraising initiatives and activities. ▪ Working with local businesses and recreational facilities to promote fundraising opportunities and procure raffle prizes. ▪ Liaising with the Coordinators and Fundraising Coordinator from Befrienders Highland. ▪ Support social media and website posting, through provision of photographs, stories, and giving notice of upcoming events/talks. Dress Code • Casual but professional attire • Volunteer ID badge Skills, experience and qualities • Personable, enthusiastic and approachable • Initiative • Confident in public speaking • Experience of organising or attending fundraising events The benefits to you • Experience working with a charitable organisation • A sense of satisfaction and pride for helping to make a valuable difference • Develop your skills • References for future employers • Meet new people What you can expect from Befrienders Highland • An induction session to introduce you to the charity, recognise your skills and identify any ongoing support you may need from us to fulfil the role • A designated point of contact for support and guidance, when needed • Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses, for example, travelling to and from the fundraising venue, small value prizes for quiz nights • Provision of some promotional material for events (e.g. banners, contents for goody bags) • Wee Blether Newsletter Time commitment This is a flexible role to suit your availability, and as such there is no minimum time commitment. Fundraising Volunteers will be contacted as appropriate and offered the opportunity to attend events to which we are invited, or may choose to run events themselves to fundraise for the charity. Recruitment Process Complete our simple application form to express your interest in the role. We’ll arrange an informal meeting to discuss your application and the role, before obtaining references. Following this, we’ll invite you to a short induction meeting.

Mentoring in Highland schools, including Dingwall, Alness and Invergordon Academies, MCR have a full time "Pathways Coordinator" who works with small groups of pupils in S1 and S2 to increase confidence and social interaction. From S3 onwards these individuals are offered a 1:1 Mentor, who is a volunteer from the local community, trained and supported by MCR Pathways. Having a reliable, trusted adult in their life is transformational for our young people. Someone who believes in them, is their friend, doesn't judge them, listens to them, helps them grow and develop their skills. Young people then become more engaged with school, with their peers, with other adults - and have hope for the future. We operate in term time only, within the school - you will be allocated a space each week with your mentee. Your PC will support you throughout your journey. Mentoring can be flexible to suit Mentors work patterns and family commitments. Mentors learn new skills and enjoy meeting other mentors in the area at our regular get togethers. Training Applicants receive comprehensive training and ongoing support via our Mentor Hub, Mentor Services area team, PC in the school and our Partnership Team. Training and Social gatherings are organised throughout the year, for all Mentors. For more information, visit our website or email highland@mcrpathways.org

Make a difference to the life of a young carer (12 - 18 years). Lead Scotland's befriending service offers young carers living in Fife some "me" time away from their caring role, allowing them to have access to more opportunities within their community . A befriender can have a positive impact on someone's life. Activities can include going for a short walk together, meeting for a coffee, finding a hobby, accompanying them to college or assisting them to make connections with their local community. Befrienders carry out a purely social role and do not undertake any personal care or domestic duties. We are especially interested in hearing from male volunteers for our male young carers. "I was very lonely through the pandemic, and I looked forward to talking to my befriender each week" - Young Carer "Befriending has really helped Katie, it really helped build her confidence back up. " - Parent "Befriending is a rewarding experience where your time is invaluable. With encouragement and support a Young Carer can improve their self-esteem and confidence and re-connect with their community." - Befriending Coordinator. When expressing an interest in this volunteering opportunity, please provide your name, email address and a contact telephone number.

Make a difference to the life of a young carer (12 - 18 years). Lead Scotland's befriending service offers young carers living in Fife some "me" time away from their caring role, allowing them to have access to more opportunities within their community . A befriender can have a positive impact on someone's life. Activities can include going for a short walk together, meeting for a coffee, finding a hobby, accompanying them to college or assisting them to make connections with their local community. Befrienders carry out a purely social role and do not undertake any personal care or domestic duties. We are especially interested in hearing from male volunteers for our male young carers. "I was very lonely through the pandemic, and I looked forward to talking to my befriender each week" - Young Carer "Befriending has really helped Katie, it really helped build her confidence back up. " - Parent "Befriending is a rewarding experience where your time is invaluable. With encouragement and support a Young Carer can improve their self-esteem and confidence and re-connect with their community." - Befriending Coordinator. When expressing an interest in this volunteering opportunity, please provide your name, email address and a contact telephone number.