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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.

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.

The Cornerstone Foundation, launched in April 2017, was set up in response to growing financial demands within the health and social care sector, to ensure, that in addition to Cornerstones contracted work we are able to enhance our services by providing access to specialist support, equipment, activities and opportunities to ensure the people we support can live a valued life, the life they choose. Community collections allow The Cornerstone Foundation to promote our activities and provide much need funds for our vital projects. We are looking for dedicated Collection Can Volunteers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to support us with the work we do. Duties would include: •*Delivering and collecting cans to a wide range of services, community groups and local business across the North East of Scotland. • *Developing strong relationships with your communities and donors and seeking out new opportunities. • *Recording can placement and collection on the fundraising software ThankQ in accordance with Cornerstone Foundation guidelines. • *Providing Community Fundraiser and wider Cornerstone Foundation team with regular updates on progress. This role is flexible and can fit around your personal commitments. For this role a Standard Disclosure will need to be completed. If you'd like to find out more, please contact Lorna Hornsby, Volunteer Coordinator at email: Lorna.Hornsby@cornerstone.org.uk / tel.: 01382 220238.

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.

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.

Lead Scotland, is a voluntary organisation set up to empower disabled young people and adults and carers across Scotland to access learning opportunities. Lead Scotland is looking for two volunteers to support learners with basic computer skills in the ABERDEEN City Centre area. All volunteers are greatly appreciated and provided with excellent support. If you or someone you know would like to volunteer with us please contact Marie at mlaw@lead.org.uk

VSA Friends For Life Club for 11 -14 yrs: Helping with a range of activities at Saturday Fun Club 3.00 - 5.00pm for children with additional support needs. Helping, preparing, and taking part in, construction games, educational activities, sensory play, board games, arts & crafts, music & dance, indoor and outdoor play. The club is established, lively and has a good welcoming atmosphere. For further details please email elaine.michael@vsa.org.uk / tel.: 01224 212021

It starts with ‘Hello’. From new mums to empty nesters, it's often surprising who is affected by loneliness. That's why we're teaming up with The Co-operative. Together we want to reach out and reconnect thousands of lonely people with their communities, and tackle a problem that is shortening lives and eroding wellbeing. The aim of the Community Connector is to support people affected by social isolation and loneliness and to help them gain confidence and to reconnect to their community in partnership with existing and new partner organisations. We will place the person at the centre of what we do and help them by offering positive encouragement, practical help and emotional support, for up to three months, depending on their needs. Full training and excellent support is provided to all volunteers. This is a great opportunity to make a real difference in the local community. All help is greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Ieva Nevulyte, Community Connector Co-ordinator at email inevulyte@redcross.org.uk / tel:: 07872 839864.

*Volunteers are key to the success of SensationALL! *Do you have an hour or more to spare and want to make a difference in a fun and friendly environment? SensationALL run sensory based therapy groups and services for children and adults with multiple support needs. We need volunteers to assist our team in delivering engaging and rewarding sessions for all our service users. You would be involved in activities such as crafts, baking, games and music as well as helping with the set-up, making refreshments and tidying up. Our children’s groups include access to our soft play area so they can experience free play in safe and comfortable surroundings as well as structured messy play, sensory story-time or craft activities. Individuals interested in gaining experience working with people who have sensory and learning disabilities and autism will particularly benefit from volunteering with us however no previous experience is required. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. We also require volunteers to help with: *Fundraising *Events *IT/admin tasks *Maintenance/equipment cleaning *Trustee Board Members Good support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers. Every volunteer is given an induction prior to starting. Once actively volunteering with us we will extend the opportunity to attend any in-house training such as first aid, introduction to Autism, Makaton amongst others. Contact us for more information on any of these roles. Any time volunteers can give is greatly appreciated and will make a real difference to our charity! For more information please email us at volunteering@sensationall.org.uk or tel.: 01224 476699

Inspire have opportunities for people to assist as Befrienders. Befriender Volunteers allow individuals supported by Inspire to have regular contact with a volunteer who shares their interests and with whom they can carry out activities, such as going for coffee, going to the cinema or even going with them to the football. A befriender is someone who will make a regular commitment to an individual supported by Inspire, to come with them to events or do activities with them, but will also be there to listen and talk with and share experiences. This is a great, enjoyable opportunity where you will make a vital contribution to the work of Inspire and the people we support in the North-east of Scotland and be part of a friendly and supportive team. For more details please contact: Volunteer Co-ordinator tel: 01224 280005 / e-mail: volunteering@inspiremail.org.uk