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Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteers provide competent, friendly, proactive support in their local communities and / or in the postnatal wards at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and Dr Grays. Our confidential service provides evidence based information and support from mothers who have personal experience of breastfeeding and / or expressing for their child(ren) to mothers, parents and other service users to support them to meet their personal feeding goals. An excellent opportunity to help with the NHS. For further information please contact Emma at email: gram.breastfeedingsupport@nhs.scot

Have you been Bereaved by Suicide? Do you have a desire to help other people who have also been Bereaved by Suicide? Are you comfortable listening to the experiences of others? You could be just the person we are looking for. We have self-help support groups across the UK, where you can meet with other people who have been bereaved by suicide and we want to enroll some new volunteers to set up a group in Aberdeen. Typically, our groups meet once a month and last for around 2 hours. Presently many groups are meeting virtually via Zoom but when regulations allow, they will return to Face to Face. They provide an opportunity to listen, to share, to ask questions and to connect with others. Each local SoBS group is run by a team of 3: the group leader and two group volunteers, all of whom have been bereaved by suicide themselves. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, and generally look out for people and each other. The team also work together to manage the administration, fundraising and communication for the group, sometimes with the help of additional support volunteers. There is no set structure to a session – people are free to talk and listen as they wish. The topics discussed vary from week to week but often includes people sharing their story, how they are feeling, what has happened since their last group visit, questions about coroners and discussions about common challenges such as flashbacks, supporting children or facing neighbours. Many groups also offer a small resource library and can share information about local sources of support. For further details please contact Phill Abbiss, Volunteer Coordinator (North) at E Mail: phill.abbiss@uksobs.org or tel.: 07535 854 860.

Have you ever wanted to volunteer all to do within the concept of Football? Well look no further! Street Soccer Scotland is currently looking for volunteers to join their team. No two days the same, working alongside our players developing them personally and mentally. The role includes working with coaches and players pitch side, monitoring games, inputting data, building relationships with partner organisations. We work with all ages from 10 years old all the way to past retirement . We currently run in Aberdeen: Walking Football, Kids 10-13 Year olds, Street 45 (Women's Programme) and Adult Sessions. Opportunities are available Monday to Friday - Please get in touch with Peter Wood, Programme Co-ordinator at email: peter@streetsoccerscotland.org or telephone: 07487603708, if you would like to know more.

Positive Changes (Scotland) CIC-Community Interest Company / Grace Chocolates is a social enterprise supporting women with convictions as they journey towards new beginnings. Our RISE Mentoring Programme inspires, supports and empowers women through a meaningful mentoring relationship whilst working towards their goals and actions set at the beginning of the programme. Mentors receive CPD accredited training, which means that while you are making a meaningful difference to a woman’s life, you will also be furthering your own skills that can be used across different aspects of your life and job. There are also preparation sessions for mentees to ensure that they get the most out of the experience from the outset. Regular support meetings with the mentor coordinator will ensure that everyone is getting the most out of the programme. We are sure that there are amazing potential mentors in our communities across Scotland, and We particularly welcome women with lived experience of the criminal justice system who have made positive changes in their lives and are keen to share the benefits of their experience with others. People living with addictions are welcome to apply but we ask that you have not used for a minimum of 2 years and actively managing any addictions. We would love to hear from anyone who: - Can dedicate the time to support and empower women by committing to mentoring for a minimum of 1 year - Wants to further their own skills and have access to training whilst helping make a difference - Is available for training online on various dates throughout March and April, and can commit to an online training course in your own time - Has the qualities to support women in a range of circumstances. You don't need experience, but you will need to be a good listener, be positive, encouraging and be able to help people set goals and action plans. Here are some quotes from those who have taken part in the programme previously: - Mentee, 2022 - "Every single goal I made, I smashed it and my mentor helped me achieve these!" - Current Mentor - "Ultimately, you have no idea how inspiring and amazing your mentee will be for you, as you work together on their goals. I value the experience of mentoring because these women deserve the time and positive relationship that mentoring brings." The programme is funded by Impact Funding Partners and the Scottish Government. A fantastic opportunity to help. All volunteers make a real positive difference and are greatly appreciated. For further details please contact: Elizabeth McGowan, Mentoring Programme Support Co-Ordinator at email: elizabeth@gracechocolates.co.uk or telephone: 07309719209.

MISS (Miscarriage Information Support Service) is a registered charity. We are a miscarriage support service covering all of Scotland for anyone who has experienced baby loss. We are offering a rewarding and exciting opportunity for Fundraising & Events Volunteers who will play a key role within the MISS charity as it continues to expand and develop. You will be working closely with the Fundraising & Events Manager and be supporting the fundraising team. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. If you would like to help/for more details please contact Abi Clarke, Chief Executive Officer at MISS at email: abi@miss-support.org.uk or telephone: 07808638428. Further details about our work and volunteering is also available at https://miss-support.org.uk/

Aberdeen in Recovery (AiR) was granted Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) charitable status in March this year. We are now looking to find talented, passionate and skilled people to fill some vacant seats on our Board of Trustees to help us grow and develop our innovative and solution focused new charity. This is a unique opportunity to help lay the foundations to ensure AiR has a long-term future as a charity with solid processes in place to ensure it meets its mission of: “To be a bridge from ‘dependence’ to ‘independence’ for the individual seeking to recover from problematic substance use and addictive behaviours”. This is such an exciting and invigorating prospect for individuals to get involved and be participant in the tsunami of change which is now gaining momentum and being driven by “Experts by Experience” and the vibrant Lived Experienced Communities which are blossoming, not only locally but are now established as a national phenomena. Since its conception, AiR and its members have worked tirelessly to establish and build collaborative relationships with professional services and third sector support agencies. We have consistently driven the message that individuals who have personal lived/living experience of active substance use, including Family members who have been affected by the addictive behaviours of a loved one, and the Recovery Communities they represent have something valid, essential and extremely beneficial to bring to described Recovery Orientated Systems of Care (ROSC). We can provide existing services and clinical structural systems with resources, skills and capabilities that they, no matter how much effort, time and money they invest, will never be able to offer or provide. So, it gives the greatest of pleasure to see this is now recognised on the highest levels that “Recoverists” can productively contribute to the design, development and delivery of truly person-centred ROSC. This being evidenced by the vision, philosophy and content of the Scottish Governments “Rights, Respect and Recovery” Drug and Alcohol Strategy. We also believe it is reaffirmed by the recent success in being granted funding from the Government’s National Development Fund, with our principle partner Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA), for our ‘Recovery Peer Pathway’ joint two-year project. This collaborative venture will build on three years of pilot work to further establish and build proactive and productive Developmental Pathways within ADA and their Volunteer network while in synergy with AiR membership for individuals who desire to initiate change in their behaviours and outlook as they progress on their recovery journeys within, and imperatively out-with, statutory and formal support services. We believe that the blue sky thinking behind this project categorically and emphatically fits with the expectations, outcomes and concepts of the above Government policy. So, if you have lived experience, or a stakeholder interest, and a passion for recovery and are willing to give of yourself that another may learn, you will not find a better opportunity to indulge your appetite than from within Aberdeen in Recovery. For more information please contact Dermot Craig, Recovery Community Development Manager at E Mail: dermot@aberdeeninrecovery.org or tel.: 01224 638342 / Mobile: 07751 213108.

Fife Women's Aid are looking for Volunteer Befrienders to join their team. The Befriender Service offers support to women across Fife who have experienced domestic abuse. Their volunteer befrienders provide regular visits to women allowing the opportunity for interaction and a chance to talk. Volunteer Befrienders usually meet weekly for 1 - 2 hours where they encourage and support women to get out their home and do something together - like going for a walk, or a coffee or shopping. You may help her to find information and advice or maybe engage in a class in the local community. The goals of the befriender service are to ; Empower Women, Build Indepenance, Build Confidence, Reduce Isolation and Loneliness Full training and support will be offered throughout your time with FWA. You will have the option to attend volunteer meetings, training and social events throughout the year.

You will be helping a group project designed to help refugees living in Inverness to get out in the local area (and maybe further afield!) to experience hillwalking in the Highlands. We want to give them the opportunity to see more of the beautiful nature we have in Highland, and to learn skills and gain experience which will enable them to access outdoor space beyond the end of the program. In order to reach different start points for our walks we need to hire a minibus- and here is where you come in! We need a team of competent drivers who hold minibus licenses who will help us to get the group out of town and into more varied locations. It will involve picking up the community minibus from Nairn, meeting the participants, driving with the group and the mountain leaders to the walk start point, and returning the journey at the end. You will also be able to join the group walks and explore together, while meeting new people. Please reach out to Anna Holda at Anna.Holda@highlifehighland.com

Kirkwall parkrun takes place every Saturday morning, starting at The Peedie Sea at 9.30am. It is an organised run, jog or walk which is free to participate in. Registration is online with participants printing off their personalised barcode which is scanned at the finish line to allow the results to be emailed to the participant. They are in need of volunteers to be marshalls, tail walkers, barcode scanners, handing out finishing tokens and being timekeepers. Both scanning and timekeeping will require use of the parkrun app so a mobile phone will be required.

We are looking for qualified counsellors to take up a volunteering role with Hear Me. Hear Me provide counselling for men, women and children (aged 8 and above) who are survivors of sexual abuse. To help reach more people we are recruiting suitably qualified counsellors. Do you have…? · A postgraduate counselling diploma or equivalent · Minimum 450 hours (post-qualifying) 1-1 experience · Ability to commit 4 hours weekly for a year or more · Ability to travel throughout Angus If you do and would like to know more, leave your contact details using the 'I want to volunteer' button below and we'll be in touch. Watch our volunteer recruitment video on https://vimeo.com/678228300 and find out more about our organisation on our website.