At Lead Scotland we believe in the power of learning. We believe that offering disabled people and carers the right supportive environment in which to learn and grow which enables the self-creation of positive futures in education, community involvement and work.
We offer SCQF accredited formal learning and informal confidence building activities, focused on digital skills to disabled people throughout the north of Scotland, their carers and the organisations who support them so that they will be able to actively contribute to their own communities and improve their own lives. We will tailor support to individuals and groups as per their self-defined needs.
This service is supported by volunteers who act as service deliverers and enablers and who can provide dedicated one–to–one input, supporting participants into learning, training and/or volunteering opportunities as appropriate to need.
“Learning is more than just an experience, learning builds your future”
A fantastic opportunity to help and make a difference. All volunteers are greatly appreciated and provided with excellent training and ongoing support.
For more details please contact Fiona Fraser or Marie Law (Learning Coordinators at E Mail: ffraser@lead.org.uk or mlaw@lead.org.uk / tel: 07741742560 (for Fiona) or 07741899507 (for Marie)
ProjectScotland (part of the Volunteering Matters Family)
Give the gift of your time and become a volunteer mentor for young people. It could be life changing for you both!
Would you like to support a young person on their journey to gaining new skills and experience, becoming more self-confident and achieving their goals? If the answer is yes, we would love to hear from you.
Why mentoring?
Mentoring is at the heart of what we do here at ProjectScotland and we offer every young person we support, the opportunity to be matched with a volunteer mentor. We are searching for people in and around Aberdeen who are able to offer one hour of their time once a week or fortnight for up to 12 months to help transform the life of someone else. The young people we work with all face different challenges in their lives such as; mental ill health, long term unemployment, low confidence and self esteem, care experienced, limited English communication skills due to being new to this country or disabilities.
As a volunteer mentor, you could support your mentee with whatever is important to them. This could be: goal setting; identifying interests and strengths; confidence building; helping to establish a routine; support to explore job, training and further education opportunities; social connections; or just someone consistent to talk to and check in with to see how they are. The support you can offer is invaluable and can be life changing.
How does it work?
• Following recruitment, we provide training, support to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme, ongoing support, access to lots of resources and a wonderful community of mentors across the country to connect with, learn from and build friendships with.
• you are matched to one young person and meet with them once a week or fortnight for around one hour
• meetings can be face to face or virtual using email/telephone/video chat/WhatsApp. There is also an opportunity to do a mixture of the two which offers a flexible and accessible approach to this volunteering role in addition to the match itself.
•matches can last from 3-12 months depending upon the relationship and the needs of the mentee
What’s in it for you?
• Help transform your mentee’s life
• Develop communication and interpersonal skills e.g. coaching, motivating others, adaptability
• Gain transferable skills and experience volunteering with disadvantaged people
• Participate in regular support and training
• Meet new people, connect and have fun!
• Learn about yourself and gain a sense of achievement supporting others
• Learn more about your community and the challenges that people can face
If you are interested in this opportunity please email: asia.wieloch@volunteeringmatters.org.uk
We would love to hear from you!
More info about ProjectScotland:
ProjectScotland (now part of the Volunteering Matters Family of Brands) works with people (predominantly young people) across the country who are struggling to overcome challenges such as social isolation, mental health issues, low confidence and general uncertainty about their futures. By providing wrap around support and the chance to complete a voluntary placement with a local charity; not only can this enhance confidence and self-belief, but it gives that individual the opportunity to build on their skills and experience and potentially move on to a job, further education or training. Everyone we work with is also offered a volunteer mentor.
The Phoenix Club is a wonderful social club for adults with learning or physical disabilities, where people have fun and socialise together. Every Monday night from 7pm-9pm, the club meets at Inchgarth Community Centre to play pool, video games or board games, to sing karaoke or paint.
We are seeking new volunteers for the club and for befrienders. Your role would be to take part in activities, play pool and board games with our members, take people to the cafe and have a hot drink. No experience necessary we just need you to be friendly and enthusiastic. We want our Phoenix Club members to feel special during this fantastic club and you could be that difference in people’s lives.
It is also a good opportunity to improve your communication skills, to gain experience working with people with learning and physical disabilities and to help the community grow. You will also be joining team Inchgarth that was awarded the highest award in the country by Her Majesty the Queen via the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, a collective MBE for all team members who volunteer. Be part of this fantastic centre and the wonderful Phoenix club.
If interested, please call us at 01224 325191 or email us at volunteerinchgarth@gmail.com
The Partnership works to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and to break down barriers, overcome challenges and improve quality of life.
The group comprises approximately 15 members of the public, working with five local councillors, and its vision is to:
a) To bring about improvements to the lives of people in Aberdeen City who experience exclusion because of disability by promoting a rights-based approach to disability equality.
b) To create a society where disabled people are valued, respected and included in the life of the City.
c) To encourage and promote inclusion and equality.
d) To create fair opportunity by identifying and removing the disabling barriers which disabled people face daily including prejudice, discrimination and negative attitudes.
e) To provide a means of partnership, consultation and joint action with Aberdeen City Council
Meetings are held at Aberdeen Town House (entrance from Queen Street, Aberdeen). There is also the option to join the meeting remotely if you choose to do so. The Disability Equity Partnership (DEP) has 6 meetings over the year. Examples of projects we have been working on include the City Centre Masterplan, Union Terrace Gardens, webpage and information accessibility to reduce barriers and improve access to information, goods and services.
A fantastic opportunity to make a real difference and all volunteers are greatly appreciated.
For further details please contact Baldeep McGarry, Equalities Officer at email: BMcGarry@aberdeencity.gov.uk or tel.: 07767353006.
Inchgarth Community Centre is currently looking for new Volunteer Minibus Drivers for our Phoenix Club. The Phoenix Club is a social club for people with physical and learning disabilities. It is a very important place for our members as it's often the only opportunity people have to talk and socialise during the week. Some of them live far away from the centre, or just cannot come here by themselves, hence the need for a driver.
The Phoenix Club is held every Monday from 7-9pm, while the driver would need to be at Inchgarth at 5.15pm to get the bus and start the round. The role is only driving, there will be an escort in the bus to support and manage every needs from our members. The driver is welcome to stay in the centre during the Phoenix Club, and we'll be happy to help you with coffee and a slice of cake! At the end of the club, the driver would take home our members. To be able to drive you would need a D1 on your license.
If you wish to volunteer, or know someone who might be interested, please get in touch with us. Even once a month would be great and your help would make a massive difference to some of societies most socially isolated and vulnerable adults and ensure people can get to their club.
For more details please contact Jules Ory, Inchgarth Community Centre Volunteer Coordinator, at email volunteerinchgarth@gmail.com or tel.: 01224 325191.
The Breadmaker (part of Aberdeen Day Project charity)
The Breadmaker is part of the Aberdeen Day Project (a registered charity), is a social enterprise, artisan bakery and coffee house.
We are seeking Bakery Volunteers. This is a chance to volunteer as part of a team at an established charity and social enterprise in the heart of Aberdeen. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers with a passion for cooking and baking to help grow and develop our apprentices, while volunteering in a fun environment.
Volunteers will need to be patient and understanding, you should be confident in your abilities and be able to take responsibility.
An exciting and fantastic opportunity to volunteer in an award winning bakery and help make a real difference for people we support as well. Excellent training and support is provided to all volunteers and all help is greatly appreciated.
For more information please contact Alistair Reid, CPD Manager at email alistair.reid@thebreadmaker.org.uk or tel.: 01224 641520.
The Breadmaker (part of Aberdeen Day Project charity)
The Breadmaker is part of the Aberdeen Day Project (a registered charity), is a social enterprise, artisan bakery and coffee house.
We are seeking Coffee Shop Volunteers. This is a chance to volunteer as part of a team at an established charity and social enterprise in the heart of Aberdeen. Volunteering alongside our coffee shop staff and our adults with learning disabilities (Apprentices). We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers with retail knowledge and good customer service to help grow and develop our apprentices, while volunteering in a fun environment.
Volunteers will need to be patient and understanding, you should be confident in your abilities and be able to take responsibility.
An exciting and fantastic opportunity to volunteer in an award winning bakery and help make a real difference for people we support as well. Excellent training and support is provided to all volunteers and all help is greatly appreciated.
For more information please contact Alistair Reid, CPD Manager at email alistair.reid@thebreadmaker.org.uk or tel.: 01224 641520.
The Breadmaker (part of Aberdeen Day Project charity)
The Breadmaker, as part of the Aberdeen Day Project (a registered charity) is an artisan bakery and coffee house. Located in Aberdeen City we produce and sell a range of quality handcrafted breads and confectionary to wholesale and retail customers alike with the purpose of providing a range of work placements, training and social activities for adults with learning disabilities (apprentices) who can otherwise experience exclusion and isolation in society.
As Volunteer Trustees/Directors you would help maintain the objectives and aims of the Breadmaker to include and empower people who attend the charity to play a full and active role in the community, reduce isolation, increase friends/social life, increase confidence and self esteem of individuals who have a learning disability. We would especially be appreciative of people to join our Board of Trustees who have a professional background, people who come from HR, IT, Marketing, Care, Counsellor background etc.
Our Board of Trustees meetings take place monthly and there is also an Annual General Meeting.
An exciting and fantastic opportunity to volunteer at an award winning social enterprise/charity, working alongside our CEO and senior management team to enhance apprentices/people we support lives.
For more information please contact Donald Anderson, CEO at email donald.anderson@thebreadmaker.org.uk or tel.: 01224 641520.
Camphill School Aberdeen has exciting new volunteer opportunities to help. As a volunteer you will become part of a team within one of our 10 residential Care homes, set in beautiful surroundings 5 miles outside of Aberdeen City centre and close to the Deeside Railway line. We are currently seeking people to volunteer as:
> Voluntary Coworkers within Residential School and Care Homes: Our pupils age from 12-25 years old and as part of your position, you will be with them when they attend the school, farm and gardens, workshops or even riding stables as part of their personalised daily routines and assist them with their tasks throughout the day.
> Voluntary Farm and Gardens Volunteers: Our farm cares for cows, pigs, goats, hens and alpacas. As part of your position, you will be with our pupils when they attend the farm and gardens as part of their personalised daily routines and assist them with their tasks.
> Voluntary Workshop Assistants: You will be with our pupils when they attend the various workshops (woodwork, metal, weavery, felt, candle, pottery, bike and Fruver- our food workshop)as part of their personalised daily routines and assist them with their tasks.
These opportunities do not require you to have previous experience, we just ask that you are caring, patient and willing to help our pupils, have an interest in people and different ways of communications.
Training is provided in induction and support given throughout the volunteering time within Camphill School Aberdeen.
Fantastic opportunities to help with all assistance making a real difference and greatly appreciated.
For more details please contact Naomi Paton, Recruitment Administrator at E Mail: n.paton@crss.org.uk or tel.: 01224 866162.
We have been running a card making group for a group of people with learning disabilities for the past 7 years.
There is a group of 6 people with learning disabilities who attend the group and there is always a great atmosphere at the group who all greatly enjoy attending.
The group meets on a Wednesday afternoon between 1.30 to 3.30pm but we are looking for folk to help between 1- 4pm to allow for preparation and clearing up. Queens Cross Church where we meet has some storage space.
We are looking for 3-5 people to be volunteers to allow for times when volunteers cannot attend, so we at least have two volunteers involved at all times.
We are looking for volunteers who ideally have some experience of making cards or similar crafts but anyone who has an interest is welcome to apply. Your involvement would be greatly appreciated.
For more information please contact Jonathan Russell, Co – Chair at E Mail: accesstotrainingandemployment2@hotmail.co.uk or tel.: 01224 586435.