Find opportunities

We are a pan-Ayrshire group of community volunteers who sit with people who are dying; we also offer respite and support to those with families who need a break. We aim to ensure No-one Dies Alone by providing training and support to volunteers who will sit with people who are dying and alone, or with families who need some support. Volunteer Companions are needed to help people who are dying and may be alone at the end of life. We also want to help empower communities to break down taboos around death and dying; to engender respect and self-worth. Volunteers will be part of an invaluable team with a wonderful support network through monthly Companion meetings.

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.

What is involved in being a Treasurer? You will be a Director on the Board involved in focussing on the current health and stability of the organisation while also thinking of long-term financial strategies. You will work with the other Directors to make Creatovators sustainable with a potential for future growth. Reponsibilities Treasurer tasks include: • Being a counter signatory to banking transactions. • Dealing with payroll and pensions. • Presenting financial reports, raising issues and answering questions at Board meetings and the AGM. • Liaising with the financial examiners. • Ensuring statutory returns are made to any relevant regulators when necessary. • Producing costing information for projects and funding applications.

Could you help your local SSAFA branch recruit volunteers in your area? You just need some good I.T and admin skills, patience, the ability to get on with a wide range of people and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you. What is a Recruitment Coordinator? Recruitment Coordinators help us find local people interested in supporting SSAFA and take them through our recruitment and selection process. The role is about recruitment and may involve attending local recruitment fairs a few times a year as well as meeting volunteers both face-to-face and virtually. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but the administration part of the role can be done form home. What would you be doing? • Be the first point of contact for all volunteering enquiries, ensuring that all potential volunteers receive a timely response. • Supporting volunteers through the recruitment and induction process and ensuring volunteers are communicated with throughout. • Arranging informal interviews for new volunteers conducted in-line with SSAFA policies. • Conducting ID checks (where relevant) so the volunteer can begin the vetting process. • Supporting volunteers to book onto role specific training and ensuring they complete their mandatory training. • Working with the Volunteer Development Manager to ensure branch vacancies are advertised on the branch website and national websites and support any national recruitment campaigns. • Maintaining good relationships with local Volunteer Centres and other local sources of volunteer promotion and attend local recruitment fairs. • Evaluating volunteer recruitment activity, experimenting with creative ways to recruit volunteers from a variety of sources to create a diverse network of volunteers.

Your role as a Clan LISTENING & SUPPORT VOLUNTEER is essential in helping to provide our vital Listening and Support service to people affected by a cancer diagnosis in your local community. The listening and support service offers a welcoming, relaxed, safe and confidential environment for people to talk about the cancer experience with someone who can listen and provide emotional and wellbeing support either face to face or by telephone. Typical activities include: • Meeting and greeting clients attending our local wellbeing centres • Providing emotional, practical and wellbeing support and information to new and existing clients using the Clan client pathway either face to face or by telephone • Colaborating with Clan staff to ensure the best possible support and service for clients and signposting where appropriate • Recording client session notes and debriefing with Clan staff • Receiving donations and providing support where appropriate • Helping to raise awareness of Clan services by attending and supporting internal and external events • Activities may vary depending on the location of the wellbeing centre Role commitments • Volunteering on a rota basis attending a 3-hour shift (approx.) either weekly, fortnightly or monthly for a minimum of 12 months and on occasions be flexible and available to help at short notice • Attending required training and volunteer meetings to receive updates, ongoing development and support • This role is regulated activity and requires membership to the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme which will be applied for on your behalf by Clan Essential skills and experience required There are no prerequisites for this role in terms of professional qualifications and Clan will provide you with the relevant training and ongoing supervision to support you in your role. However, some experience in support skills, health and social care and third sector would be an advantage. We value personal experience and would welcome anyone without the preferred skills and experience but are passionate about making a difference and supporting local people in their community to apply for this role. How Clan will support you Your role as LISTENING & SUPPORT volunteer can often involve dealing with difficult situations. It’s our responsibility to ensure you have all the relevant training and support to enable you to fulfil your role and have a rewarding volunteering experience. Clan will provide you with: • Comprehensive induction to Clan and your role • Clan SUPPORT VOLUNTEER training program including Listening and Support Skills and Safeguarding • Ongoing training, supervision, development and wellbeing support • Reimbursed expenses incurred whilst volunteering in accordance with our Expenses Policy

South Ayrshire Council Ranger Service are offering the opportunity for young persons aged between 13 to 18 to learn new, or develop existing skills in practical outdoor work. These sessions will introduce essential environmental conservation skills like basic bushcraft, use of manual hand tools and invasive non-native species control. The programme will run once a month on a Sunday, from 10am to 12pm. Booking is essential so to book a place or for more information, please feel free to contact the ranger service via ranger.service@south-ayrshire.gov.uk The sessions are held with the collaboration of the Friends of Fullarton Woods - a small charity concerned with the restoration and care of the ancient woodlands of Troon. In operation since 2015, raising funds for improvements and planting. We host regular volunteer work parties, tackling jobs such as invasive species control, tree planting and repairing paths. Together with the South Ayrshire Ranger Service and Scottish Wildlife Trust, Ayrshire, we regularly involve schools and community groups in woodland activities. No experience or tools required. We have tasks to suit all abilities.

We are looking for parents with children who can offer a minimum of 2 hours a week for a year to meet with another family within Midlothian to offer peer support. This may take place in the families home or out in the community. The volunteer would be provided with ongoing training throughout this role and be offered continuous support and supervision, supervision is a requirement with our project therapeutic worker.

The Killin walking group meet every week on a Wednesday morning to go for a short, accessible walk, before winding up in a café for a cuppa and a blether. This simple activity has enormous health and social benefits for the walkers, as well as providing an opportunity to connect with and enjoy nature. We are looking for walk leaders to provide a friendly face on the walks and keep participants safe and happy throughout the walks. This is an opportunity for you to help out in a local community, and also to gain new skills, as well as staying active and making new friends on the walk. All our volunteers receive walk leader training, and are also offered other trainings throughout the year, as detailed below. Please get in touch if you are interested in joining us!

The Arrochar walking group meet every week on a Tuesday morning to go for a short, accessible walk, before winding up in a café for a cuppa and a blether. This simple activity has enormous health and social benefits for the walkers, as well as providing an opportunity to connect with and enjoy nature. We are looking for walk leaders to provide a friendly face on the walks and keep participants safe and happy throughout the walks. This is an opportunity for you to help out in a local community, and also to gain new skills, as well as staying active and making new friends on the walk. All our volunteers receive walk leader training, and are also offered other trainings throughout the year, as detailed below. Please get in touch if you are interested in joining us!

The Callander walking group meet every week on a Tuesday morning to go for a short, accessible walk, before winding up in a café for a cuppa and a blether. This simple activity has enormous health and social benefits for the walkers, as well as providing an opportunity to connect with and enjoy nature. We are looking for walk leaders to provide a friendly face on the walks and keep participants safe and happy throughout the walks. This is an opportunity for you to help out in a local community, and also to gain new skills, as well as staying active and making new friends on the walks. All our volunteers receive walk leader training, and are also offered other trainings throughout the year, as detailed below. Please get in touch if you are interested in joining us!