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Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK) supports people with a muscle-wasting condition, anywhere in the UK. There are 110,000 children and adults with a condition, and unfortunately it is life-limiting. Everything we do is designed to improve the quality of life of people living with muscle-wasting conditions. We won't stop until effective treatments and cures are found for all muscle-wasting conditions. MDUK is offering this exciting opportunity to create a brand new Fundraising Group in Falkirk to raise vital funds and awareness, so we can support more families who need our support in Scotland. With other group members from your local area, you will organise fundraising events, collections and bring your community together in supporting Marie Curie. There is no pressure, and you can give as much or as little time as you like! Fundraising is a great opportunity to be social and have fun, while making a great difference to people affected by muscle-wasting conditions. What you’ll get out of the role: • Meeting and working with new and inspiring people • Developing your communications, fundraising, PR and organisational skills • Adding to your CV • Developing your leadership skills • Making a difference to your local community by raising funds and the profile of MDUK in your community • Having fun, sharing your enthusiasm and doing something new • Guidance on fundraising, finance and health and safety What you’ll be doing: • Planning, organising and promoting fundraising events and collections with other group/committee members • Collecting funds on behalf of the charity and servicing collection tins • Attending group meetings • Acting as an ambassador for MDUK through building community networks and in talking enthusiastically about the work of the charity • Giving presentations to community organisations / schools • Distributing promotional leaflets for MDUK (general / national event / local event / legacy) • Collecting and delivering MDUK merchandise to local supporters • Liaising with your local RDM contact to keep up-to-date with MDUK local and national events, activities and future direction as well as sharing successes and best practice • Complying with legal requirements e.g. health & safety legislation for fundraising events and MDUK’s internal policies • Where you have an interest in finance or accounts: using these skills in keeping records of the group’s financial activities and overseeing the submission of monies and of year end accounts in line with MDUK guidelines and in keeping with the Charities Act

Volunteer drivers to lead the Trishaw [rickshaw] in and around Wick. This vehicles enables disabled or poor mobility people to get out and about for recreational purposes. The vehicle is pedal power and electric back up. volunteers receive full training and support.

Volunteers help ensure the shop is tidy and attractive; you can use your creativity to make eye-catching window displays, sorting and replacing stock to keep the shop looking fresh and stylish. Incoming donations are organised and labelled, and clothes steamed and tagged. Our polite, approachable volunteers assist customers; welcoming them through the door, ringing purchases through the cash register and encouraging signing up to the Gift Aid scheme. A bonus of volunteering in this role is having access to great quality items at reasonable prices, as soon as they hit the shop floor! In the shop volunteer role you will develop your understanding of stock management, marketing and customer service. These skills are valuable for personal development as well as very relevant to careers in retail, advertising and business. You will have the opportunity to meet lots of people, play an active role in your community and make friends.

Support the wellbeing of a resident at QME Care, Kelso, with volunteer companionship. Spend time together participating in a mutually enjoyed hobby, or just having a cuppa and a chat. Our aim is to provide a service that helps improve health and well-being, providing companionship to increase confidence and reduce loneliness and isolation. Companionship/ Befriending visits are tailored to meet the needs of our residents with volunteer companions/ befrienders carefully matched to residents based on shared interests. They can accompany their ‘companion’ to groups of interest to help build their confidence or return to a hobby they previously enjoyed. During a weekly or fortnightly visit to their assigned resident, volunteers will provide friendship and companionship. This might include participating in shared interests, playing a game, going for a stroll, or simply having a cuppa and a chat.

Community alarms support many older and more vulnerable people in Moray to continue living as independently as possible in their own homes. At the press of a button they can quickly raise an alert if they need assistance. There are a number of people in our communities who unfortunately have no family or friends living close by who are able to act as their alarm responder and go check on them when an alarm is activated to provide initial assistance. We are currently experiencing a greater demand for volunteer alarm responders across Moray, especially in the Forres, Elgin, Buckie and Dufftown areas for people who do not have close family, friends are neighbours for this type of support. This volunteer service is very much about remaining calm and providing reassurance. If you would like to know more about what is entailed please contact the Volunteer Development Team email volunteering.CC@moray.gov.uk.

Ability Net's network of volunteers provide free tech support to enable older and disabled people to make full use of their home technology. They are seeking volunteers in Moray to join their IT Can Help network to support people with their IT or computer needs. This role involves contacting and supporting clients, feeding back on progress, and supporting the local Co-ordinator with promoting the IT Can Help service in the local area. Volunteers will take all necessary precautions to ensure that both volunteer and client stay as safe as possible, and volunteers and clients will wear face coverings and social distance where possible. If you like to help others, have good IT and computing skills, knowledge of standard operating systems and software and the ability to communicate well, please consider volunteering with our growing in Moray! Roles are flexible and can fit around your schedule, too.

Real Life Options offer services across the country such as Day Centres, Outreach and supported living to support people within our care to live their lives as full as possible. We are currently looking for volunteers to join our Real Life Volunteers programme. We also are looking for anyone with an interest in enhancing the lives of the people we support to get in touch, as although we are a social care company, we are seeking both individuals interested in social care and also other individuals who have some other skill set and would like to use this within our services. This could be from playing musical instruments to gardening or taking service users into the community. The main tasks of community volunteers will vary but may include; chatting or befriending people or practical tasks such as going on a social outing or assisting with shopping. During these difficult and unsettling times, more than ever the people we support would benefit from any time and commitment you could give.

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.

Advising clients on issues such as benefits, money advice, housing, employment, energy. Full training will be given.

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.