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The secretary plays a vital role in assisting the committee organise the smooth running of the support group ensuring vital support is given to those who have suffered a brain injury, their families and carers. Preparing for meetings: Sending notices of all meetings to members within the time required by the governing document; Making arrangements for meetings – booking rooms, arranging refreshments, ensuring access for all attending; Preparing the agenda in consultation with the Chair and distributing the agenda with any background papers; Checking that members have carried out tasks agreed at the previous meeting. Participating in meetings: Ensuring that the minutes of the previous meeting are accurate, agreed and signed and dated on each page by the Chair; Taking and producing minutes of the meeting, noting the names of those attending and apologies, major decisions, any votes taken and agreed further actions; Distributing minutes in a timely manner. Regulatory Documents: To keep proper records for at least 6 years (or more if certain funders require it). To declare your charitable status on all correspondence, cheques, invoices and receipts.

Make a difference to your local community. Develop new and existing skills and gain experience volunteering in a charity. The satisfaction of knowing you are making a vital difference to those with brain injury.

At Save the Children, we believe in changing children’s future, we operate in the UK and around the world to ensure children are safe and healthy. We support them to learn, grow and become who they want to be. Our shops help raise vital funds, and our volunteers are the leading force in making this possible. Our Peebles Save the Children Shop has been a much loved part of the local community for years and continues to be hugely popular with customers and supporters, thanks to the kindness and creativity of the volunteer team! If you would like to volunteer with us all you will need is some enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference. The role is diverse, taking place on the shop floor and behind the scenes. Volunteer tasks include anything from sorting donations, steaming clothes, pricing products, managing the till, and helping with the window displays. You can choose how much time you dedicate, and we’ll give you training and support along the way. No special skills are needed, and we welcome people from all nationalities and backgrounds. Your donation of time, creativity and kindness can help us change the future for children all over the world. If you are over 18 and would like to be part of our wonderful team in Peebles then apply to become a Shop Volunteer today!

We need home-based telephone befriending volunteers to call our members, who are all service veterans with a vision impairment. Your regular calls will help our members overcome isolation and loneliness. It’s good to talk! If you love a relaxed, friendly chat on the phone and if the idea of doing this whilst also making a genuine impact as a volunteer sounds too good to be true … read on. Our members tell us that their regular check-ins and chats with someone at Sight Scotland Veterans are something they look forward to. Sometimes they can even be a lifeline. Just a simple phone call once a week can make the difference that helps one of our members overcome the effects of isolation and loneliness. We need a friendly and naturally chatty home-based volunteer who can check in regularly with our members by phone, take some time to make sure they are doing OK, and fill them in with all the latest gossip at Sight Scotland Veterans. You will never be cold calling, there’s no pressure and nothing to sell. We will only ask you to call signed-up Sight Scotland Veterans members who we know will be only too happy to hear from you. As a volunteer, you will get to know inspiring people, gain valuable experiences, and help us to change the lives of those who have served their country.

Give some of your time to support someone in Tweeddale to build their confidence to ‘get back’ post-pandemic. Borders Buddies is a project funded by Scottish Borders Council Tweeddale Community Fund. It was begun because we were hearing from people who were feeling increasingly isolated and disconnected during Lockdown. Some of them had lost touch with friends or groups, some had lost some physical ability. Others had just lost confidence about rejoining groups or getting back to previous activities, even when the rules said it was ok to do this now. We are looking for ‘Buddies’ in the Tweeddale area to befriend people to support them to get back to doing what they would like to do. In some cases this may just involve going round to a garden for a chat every so often. In others it could mean escorting someone to a club or group activity, or even on a bus to do their shopping! You would be fully supported by our relevant policies and risk assessments, and reasonable expenses would be reimbursed. Dates and times to be confirmed. You can meet a person first to see if you get on; after that a regular commitment would be good, we understand that volunteers may need to take a break at times or circumstances may change, which is fine too

Helping run a peer support group in your local community: By giving your time, you will help us to reach the thousands of people living with sight loss in your area and provide life-changing support. Why we need you: The Macular Society is the UK’s leading charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world-class research, and the best advice and support Our groups provide information, support and new friendships to those with macular disease, along with their family and friends. Whether you can spare a few hours or a couple of days a week, you’ll be doing something great to help people with macular disease. Rewarding and enjoyable roles Everyone has a reason for volunteering. Perhaps you know someone who has macular disease, are currently supporting a loved one, or want to give something back to support your community. If you want to gain experience or develop new skills, we are sure we have something for you too. Will it suit me? You will be working as part of a team to ensure the smooth running of the group. No one person is responsible, which helps to lighten the load. Select the task(s) that feel right for you. Tasks shared by volunteers may include: • Meet and greet – welcoming members and guests, sharing information, wrapping things up at the end. • Group programme – organising guest speakers and suggesting social activities. • Keeping in touch with group members. • Maintaining a list of members and sharing updates with head office. • Collecting meeting subs. • Organising and/or serving tea and coffee. • Setting out the chairs. Time commitment Most of our groups meet monthly. The Galashiels Macular Support Group will be meeting at a central venue in Galashiels. Two to three hours is all we need each month, with flexibility if things change for you. Offering your help If you see yourself in this role, get in touch to have a chat. If it isn’t for you, then we would still love to hear from you. We have other exciting volunteer opportunities that may be a better fit for your time and talents.

Join our friendly SCAA team as Can Collectors, by raising awareness and funds we can keep saving time and saving lives across all of Scotland. Speak with local shops and businesses about the life-saving work SCAA provides and placing a new can if they are happy. Keep SCAA updated on locations of cans. Monitor your area of cans if they need collected. Some are busier than others. Uplift full cans and providing clean, empty cans. Count and bank locally (some banks have change counters, but not all). Contact the office with details of the funds, they will send a thank you and update you on how much was raised.

Various volunteer roles are available: Kitchen Assistants. Front of house service assistants. Collection Driver. DIY jobs. Event Staff.

The Volunteer Ranger positions at Bowhill House and Grounds will involve working closely with the Learning and Engagement Ranger to help complete general maintenance tasks, improve estate infrastructure and complete Environmental Surveys. Role description: Working as part of a small team of volunteers led by the Learning and Engagement Ranger you will have opportunity to help with a variety of tasks on the Bowhill Estate. This will range from maintaining and expanding an extensive walks network, improving the interpretation offering on the walks, general maintenance of the woodlands including cutting back of rhododendron and clearing of storm damaged branches. There will also be opportunity to have some involvement in monitoring of flora and fauna on the estate.

You would be part of a small, friendly team helping to enrich the lives of our service users, by giving them the confidence and ability to socialise within their local community. The Volunteer Befriender will actively encourage and accompany a DCF Service User, to access and enjoy a range of social and recreational activities. The Befriender will provide companionship, conversation and occasional (rarely) physical support to enable a service user to manage physical difficulties with mobility and fatigue (which can impair cognitive functioning). Interests and activities are to be discussed. These could include going to the cinema, attending music/sporting events, visiting museums, discussing current affairs, going for coffee and short walks etc. Dynamic Community Fusion operates two projects in the Scottish Borders, The Borders Brain Injury Service and Reconnect with Confidence. Both of these aim to assist adults who have sustained a brain injury, to live independently and to re-integrate into their communities.