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We can all feel lonely and isolated at times and those feelings can be more intense and devastating if you are also facing financial hardship. Aberdeen North and South Foodbanks have come together, with funding from the Trussell Trust, to provide a financial resilience service where individuals who require a food parcel can receive money, debt, and energy advice. Aberdeen Citizen Advice Bureau will provide this advice. This service which will support those struggling with financial hardship will be supported by our Befriending Project. Volunteer befrienders will encourage those referred, to engage with the wider project. Our aim is to ensure that our trained and compassionate volunteers provide a lifeline to people, in the form of friendship and offer a helping hand to enable them to engage with the financial support on offer. If you would like to be a part of this holistic service, please apply to become a Volunteer Befriender. Activities include: • To befriend individuals who have used the food bank and who require financial/energy advice from Citizens Advice Bureau advisors and who would benefit from someone to accompany them to their appointment. • To participate in the TLC Volunteer befriender induction programme, and ad hoc training throughout the year as and when required. • To attend 3 monthly volunteer supervision sessions. • Commit to a regular 1hr 30min befriending session each week. • To establish and maintain appropriate boundaries within the befriending relationship. • To ensure that confidentiality is always upheld and be willing to report any concerns, including safeguarding issues to the project co-ordinator. • To work within a non-discriminatory framework. • TLC are looking for befrienders to ideally commit to the project for at least 12months. *(Note: Volunteer befrienders will not be asked or required to meet any personal care needs.) All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further information please email us at volunteer@tlc.org.uk

NEEDS - North East Eating Disorder Support (Scotland) is looking for volunteer facilitators, 1 evening per month, for our monthly support group meeting for those who are suffering from an eating disorder, as well as for our carers who are supporting someone with an eating disorder, either in person or from a distance (e.g., a family member at university or living elsewhere). Have you suffered from an eating disorder and been fully recovered for at least 2 years, or have you had experience of caring for a family member or friend who has suffered from an eating disorder and who is now fully recovered or who is still suffering from an eating disorder having had it for several years? If the answer is yes, are you someone who can and is willing to support others in this journey, who can always observe confidentiality, be empathetic, kind, and non-judgemental, be a good listener, be sensitive to those who are not yet able to share, and who can demonstrate the value of self-care. Volunteers should be aware that their social media profiles may be examined to ensure that these are compatible with the aims of our charity. Meetings are held on the 1st Monday of each month 7.30-9.00pm at The Macrobin Centre, Royal Cornhill, Hospital. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further information please contact Irene Kerr, Charity Administrator at email: gram.needsadmin@nhs.scot or telephone: 07789888345.

If you are interested in serving your community by making positive changes then this is for you. Your role will be Treasurer of a multi-agency group who will support each other in delivering a new youth hub for the young people and wider community in Northfield. You should have a steady lifestyle and be able to commit long term, with a view to being present throughout the build phase to the project end and beyond. Main duties and responsibilities are: • Oversee the financial affairs of the group and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice • Ensure proper records are kept and that effective financial procedures are in place • Monitor and report on the financial health of the group • Oversee the production of necessary financial reports/returns, accounts and audits • Assist with funding bids on behalf of the group This is a team effort with a six person committee and wider multi-agency approach. The existing group are very supportive of each other and will likewise support you in integrating with the wider group and your new role. A fantastic opportunity to make a real difference for young people and the community. All volunteers are greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Derek Bain, Partnership Development Officer at email: derek.bain@scotland.police.uk or telephone: 01224 301068.

A young carer is someone up to the age of 18 who provides unpaid help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who due to illness or disability cannot manage to live independently without the carer’s help. It may involve practical support like cooking, housework, or emotional support. Aberdeen Young Carers are looking for volunteers to spend some quality time with a child or young person between the ages of 5-18 on a regular basis, getting to know them, and building up a positive relationship by being reliable and non-judgemental when listening to them. A befriender volunteer will support the young person to enjoy activities and experiences within the Aberdeen community therefore reducing isolation, and promoting self-esteem and confidence. This is a flexible opportunity and you can commit to meeting with a child or young person for a few hours on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis depending on what time you have available. This would take place out with school hours, predominately over evenings or weekends. To be a befriender volunteer we ask for a minimum time commitment of six months, so that the child or young person has some consistency. To apply, please visit: https://volunteer.barnardos.org.uk/opportunities/16050-befriender-aberdeen-young-carers-2020-11-24 or contact Jacqui Hall, Volunteer Coordinator at email: jacqui.hall@barnardos.org.uk / telephone: 07783 848410.

Can you be a good listener? Could you help someone explore what they are going through? The Community Listening Service helps people (re)discover hope and inner strength in times of “illness, change and loss”. Community Listening Service Listeners do not offer counselling, but they offer the person a space to talk, to tell their story in their own time, for their own wellbeing, with the knowledge that the listener is there to listen. Volunteers can play a vital role supporting the work of the Department of Spiritual Care within NHS Grampian/CLS. Listening to people’s concerns can help them feel less isolated and anxious while helping them feel more hopeful and valued in a confidential and non-judgemental way. There is no requirement for volunteers or service users to be a member of a faith or belief group, just be able to provide a service that has patients at the heart, where they can feel safe, seen and heard, allowing them the space to reflect on their own personal situations. A fantastic opportunity help. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact us at email gram.listening@nhs.scot or telephone: 07584 217 192 or 01224 553316.

COG: Community Outreach Group provides support to homeless and vulnerable people in the City of Aberdeen. We provide meals and essentials for the homeless and vulnerable people of Aberdeen on a Wednesday and Sunday evening. We are looking for drivers to pick up and drop off various food donations. This is a vital role in what we do as an organisation, collecting all the donations and dropping them off so we have the food ready to serve. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Rebecca Fyfe at email: beccafyfe@hotmail.com or telephone: 07415723938.

We have opportunities to join our brilliant team of volunteers to help us at our offices at 33-35 Carnie Drive, Aberdeen, AB25 3AN (has free parking/good public transport access). We have opportunities for you to assist in any tasks you can ranging from assisting with reception duties, person our phone in the office, support initial and general enquiries and be a friendly, supportive voice and face to those who call and attend at our office. Whatever amount of time you can provide is massively welcomed. Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers and all help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. If you think this may suit you, please get in touch, give us a call on 01224 277900 or email claire.crichton@a-nd.org.uk

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.

Inchgarth Community Centre provide a fantastic programme of activities for the community with the tremendous help of volunteers. Inchgarth has over 170 sessions of activity per week-serving every age group and section of the community. As a big and vibrant community centre, we offer a large range of activities for all ages and welcome a range of charities at the community centre. We have a great opportunity for people to help as Pool and Snooker Club Volunteer Helpers. We are looking for motivated people to join our Pool and Snooker Club. It is running on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 3pm and volunteers can assist at any or all of these times. In this role, you will play games of pool/snooker with our members, organise games and wee tournaments. You will also engage with the members talking, helping people to get teas and coffees and have fun! All volunteers are greatly appreciated and provided with excellent support. Please contact us to find out more, join our amazing team of volunteers and make a real difference in the community: please email: volunteerinchgarth@gmail.com / Tel: 01224 325191 / Website: https://www.inchgarth.co.uk/volunteer.html

Leading north east cancer charity Clan Cancer Support is appealing for 100 new volunteers across the north-east as it aims to reach more local people affected by cancer ahead of its 40th anniversary next year. Clan is looking for people to take on a range of roles involving listening and support services, event support, retail support, driving clients to medical appointments and gardening to help maintain the grounds at Clan’s support centres. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to take part in Clan’s sculpture trail, The Big Hop Trail, which is due to take the public on a cultural tour of the north-east and the islands from July to September in 2023. The event, which coincides with Clan’s 40th anniversary next year, will see 40 striking hare sculptures located throughout Clan’s geography celebrating the charity’s commitment to supporting people affected by cancer, their family, carers and friends.    Claire Mechie, Clan’s volunteer coordinator, said: “Volunteers are the lifeblood of Clan and we are indebted to them for the amazing role they play in ensuring we can provide first class support services to people affected by cancer across the north-east. “Lockdown completely disrupted our operations and our volunteering programme, but we’re now back with face-to-face events and client services, meaning we are looking for motivated and positive people who are keen to invest their time with us. “Whether it’s listening and providing support, helping at one of our events or supporting our shops or driving our clients to appointments, our volunteers have the power to help people affected by cancer in their local area.” To find out more and to enquire about volunteering at Clan please email volunteering@clancancersupport.org or call 01224 647000.