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As a volunteer you: - play a vital role in our research, since many of our studies rely on collecting data from human participants - can take part in research studies online and in-person at our research facilities - choose which studies you want to get involved in - can withdraw from the research at any time. We email our volunteers with information about our current studies and they decide if they wish to take part.

Volunteers are essential in every area of RDA life. From coaches to cake bakers, people support RDA in many different ways – and we always need more. Whatever skills you can bring, giving your time to your local RDA group will mean that more disabled people can enjoy the therapy and fun of horses. Volunteering with RDA should be rewarding and fulfilling – and we want you to benefit from your time with us. Our award-winning programme of volunteer training means it’s not just our participants who get the chance to learn and achieve their goals. We welcome volunteers of 12 and over, there is no upper age limit and we need a wide range of skills – not just with horses. RDA is a diverse organisation and we are at our best when we bring together people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the RDA family, so why not find your nearest group today

it would involve being matched with someone that is suitable , spending an hour a week on the phone with the Befriendee. Full training will be given

Do you live in the G64 area in East Dunbartonshire? A local community group is looking for a social media volunteer so if you know your way around Facebook and Instagram this could be a fabulous opportunity for you. You would be required to post on a regular bases and keep up to date with community activity on other pages from the local community

What will I be doing? Aberlour Sycamore Services offer a safe and loving place to live for children who have experienced abuse or trauma. As an Activity Buddy, you can play an active role in encouraging children to take part in activities, develop confidence and experience new opportunities. This can include in-house activities, day-trips and outings organised by staff. Activity Buddy Volunteers can bring a range of interests and a sense of fun to the service. The impact you can make Activity Buddy Volunteers can have a positive impact on children in the Sycamore Residential Services, by encouraging children to take part in activities and giving them opportunities to try something new. Taking part in an activity together can help a child to develop confidence, self-esteem and to form trusting relationships. Activity Buddy Volunteers can be a positive role model in the lives of children and young people. The benefits to you By volunteering as an Activity Buddy in our Sycamore Residential Services, you can gain valuable experience of working with children, learn more about supporting children in a group, and develop an awareness of the issues affecting them. Volunteers can gain a sense of satisfaction knowing they are helping others to develop new skills and achieve their potential, while developing their own confidence and having fun. Volunteers are valued members of Sycamore Residential teams. Activity Buddy Volunteers typically support either in-house activities, day-trips or outings once a fortnight.

Would you like the opportunity to support Mary’s Meals’ work to feed hungry children in some of the world’s poorest countries and help give them a brighter future? We are looking for Shop Assistants who are available to work at our Dunblane shop on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. Volunteering is fulfilling and fun. By gifting your precious free time to Mary’s Meals, you can learn useful new skills, meet new people, and make a valuable contribution to our important work to reach more hungry children with life-changing meals in schools. We really need your help so we can keep our promise to the more than 1.8million children who rely on a nutritious daily meal at school from Mary’s Meals, especially as Covid-19 has hit many developing countries so hard. WHAT ARE MARY'S MEALS UK LOOKING FOR? We are looking for people who are passionate about ending child hunger and ensuring that every child receives a daily meal in a place of education. As a Shop Assistant, you will support the Shop Manager to ensure the smooth daily running of the shop, keeping Mary’s Meals vision, mission and values at the forefront of your mind at all times. Working with the shop manager and other volunteers to achieve the shop aims. Other key activities may include: • Cash handling • Help ensure shop is tidy and safe for both staff and customers • Sort and replenish stock as required • Serve customers and answer any enquiries they may have • Be an ambassador and promote the work of Mary’s Meals This is a great opportunity to enhance your communication and customer service skills, while also making a huge impact on the lives of some of the world’s poorest children. Mary’s Meals will provide training and support to help you in your role. If you have some time to spare and would like to join our global movement, to help raise awareness about Mary’s Meals and fundraise for our work. Please visit www.marysmeals.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer, email info@marysmeals.org or call us on 0800 698 1212 to find out more

We are currently looking for a Branch Souvenir Secretary to join the Aberdeen Fundraising Branch. The RNLI has a network of local fundraising teams organising a wide range of activities and events which last year raised £14 million to save lives at sea. Each team is supported by a Community Manager, although the range and frequency of fundraising events is determined by the team members themselves. You will enable volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews to save lives at sea by carrying out and supporting vital fundraising activity in your local community. What you will be doing: -Creating attractive displays of souvenirs and gifts for sale at local events -Stock ordering and completion of relevant financial records -Recording and banking of sales income, completion of annual stock take An excellent opportunity to assist the RNLI in its vital work. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Emma Ledingham, Vice Chair – Aberdeen Fundraising Committee at E Mail: emmaledingham89@gmail.com or tel.: 07917190001.

We are currently looking for a Branch Secretary to join the Aberdeen Fundraising Branch. The RNLI has a network of local fundraising teams organising a wide range of activities and events which last year raised £14 million to save lives at sea. Each team is supported by a Community Manager, although the range and frequency of fundraising events is determined by the team members themselves. You will enable volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews to save lives at sea by carrying out and supporting vital fundraising activity in your local community. What you will be doing: -Being the primary point of contact between the group and the Volunteer Experience Team -Dealing with all group correspondence and regularly distributing information to members -Ordering fundraising materials and printing -Organising and administering meetings and assisting at fundraising events and activities -Encouraging and welcoming new members and supporters into the RNLI, driving our One Crew ethos An excellent opportunity to assist the RNLI in its vital work. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For more information please contact Emma Ledingham, Vice Chair – Aberdeen Fundraising Committee at E Mail: emmaledingham89@gmail.com or tel.: 07917190001.

At Safe Families, our Connect Friends volunteer with local families, supporting them remotely through phone and/or video calls and perhaps an occasional parcel drop to the family. Fully trained, they offer connection and friendship to those in need. Safe Families is offering an opportunity to volunteer as Connect Friends with us. We are a charity that seek to befriend families when they are struggling, support them through the support our volunteers can offer them, and strengthen them as a family long term. Connect Friend is a befriending role, keeping things remote within the confines of Covid-19 restrictions. Connect Friends will be fully trained and go through a full recruitment process in order to be able to befriend local families in their community via phone and/or video calls and perhaps offer regular parcel drops to the family they are involved with, only, no face to face befriending work. Whilst this opportunity has arisen during the lockdown, we envisage these roles remaining as a long term opportunity for volunteers if they find this a rewarding and positive way of volunteering with Safe Families.

Sometimes life is hard and family members need a break. Our fully trained volunteer Host Families host child(ren) for short periods of time to provide rest and respite for both the child(ren) and their family. Becoming a Host Family with Safe Families is an amazing gift to local families in your community who are struggling to manage life for whatever reason. Safe Families works across all of Midlothian, is a UK wide Christian charity and seeks to provide early intervention to the lives of struggling families in order to reduce any statutory service input. We provide full training and support for all our volunteers, who come from all walks of life, and give them the chance to get alongside local people, helping to strengthen their family life by supporting them through a time of crisis. Volunteering opportunities can be flexible around the needs of the family and the volunteer so that they suit both parties. Hosting involves caring for children from a local family in your home overnight for a fixed length of time – either a few nights in a row or on a regular basis, a night at a time.