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DEESIDE GROUP currently meet at Aberdeen Riding Club, Peterculter during the school term, on Thursday mornings between 09.30 and 12.30 p.m. which provides flexibility for our volunteers. If you have one or more hours a week and would like to know more or wish to apply. Typical activities for volunteers in the weekly riding sessions may include: Setting up the school Grooming and tacking up the horses Assisting riders with mounting/dismounting & instruction Side walking with riders during the session Leading ponies Volunteering involves being part of a friendly team and is a great way to learn new skills, make new friends, keep fit and get a fantastic feeling of satisfaction that you are making a difference. No previous experience is needed and the volunteering hours are very flexible. It’s not just about working with horses, in RDA there is a role for everyone! If you have skills you could share for example, administration, organization, publicity, web design, events, fundraising or other area we would love to hear from you. Like all of the volunteers who assist in riding sessions you will be given full training and support in your role whatever you choose to do.

Role of Group Secretary The overarching responsibility is to provide secretarial services to the group and support the Chair in ensuring the smooth functioning of the Management Committee. Specific duties will include the following: • Attendance at offsite meetings with internal and external bodies • Management Committee meetings (minimum 4 per year with additional as/if required)– schedule; book accommodation or Zoom time; produce agenda (in liaison with Chair); minute meeting and distribute minutes. • Annual general meeting – duties as above for management meetings • Record keeping – within the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), maintain accurate volunteer records including internal and external training, compilation of annual returns, upholding legal requirements of governing documents, etc • Liaison with RDA Regional / National Personnel – circulating information that will be helpful to volunteers, particularly with regard to training opportunities. • Newsletters – collation of articles and material for, at the most, a quarterly newsletter (for volunteers, riders and supporters) • General secretarial support – organise special events, fundraising etc. • Deputise for the Group Chairperson in their absence Special Requirements of the role • The Group Secretary appointed will be co-opted as a trustee (minimum age 16) by the existing trustees and will be nominated to stand for election at the next AGM. • The role of Group Secretary requires membership of the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme.

How would you like to be part of the Guide Dogs family and help people with sight loss live the life they choose? We would love to have you onboard to help with our ambition of a future where every person with sight loss has the confidence and support they need to live their lives to the full. Did you know that we don’t just provide life-changing guide dogs, we also provide advice, skills, emotional and practical support for children, adults and their families living with sight loss to help them live actively, independently and well? To do all this we need the support of amazing volunteers like you! If you would like more information, are unsure or need flexibility around the role then chat to us first by emailing VolunteerScotNI@Guidedogs.org.uk and someone will be in touch. What does the role involve? Assisting your local fundraising group in organising, promoting and taking part in a variety of activities to raise money for Guide Dogs. It costs £58,000 to support one single guide dog throughout it's life, so without our amazing Fundraisers raising money for us, we wouldn't be able to provide our life changing services! Main responsibilities: * Organise and facilitate fundraising events such as street collections, stalls at local fairs, tea parties, garden sales, sponsored events and anything else you can think of! * Attend group meetings * Take collection boxes to local businesses * Keeping track of what we sell on our stalls at events (including the cuddly toys!) * Count donations Please contact VolunteerScotNI@guidedogs.org.uk for more information.

Become an inspection volunteer Our work is improved by involving people who use services and their carers. We have many innovative ways that people can get involved with us and can influence our work.  Our Involvement and equalities charter outlines how we involve people who use care services and informal carers in our work. If you have personal experience of using a service or you have cared for someone close who has used a service there are many ways you can get involved with us. You do not have to have any qualifications. Your personal experience gives you a unique insight. If you would like to find out more or if you would like us to post you an application form - please email us at get.involved@careinspectorate.gov.scot

What two things a recruiter would ask you? Experience and Skills. Did you know that you can volunteer and gain skills without dedicating plenty of time? Think micro! Our Microvolunteering Team seeks for more members to join us in delivery of this revolutionary project! As a volunteer for this project, you will be a companion to our clients. Our clients are mostly elderly or people with disabilities affected by exclusion. In order to help them, we are providing a network of volunteers who accompany them while going out on public transport, going to pictures or, simply, grabbing a coffee. As simple as it sounds, all our clients need is to have someone with them in order to boost their confidence. As requests are coming in, we are contacting our microvolunteers with various tasks. Every time when there is a request it is up to you to decide if you are able to assist or not. We do recognise that many individuals are willing to help but they might be occupied with family, work or school. By joining our team you can help without compromising other commitments as it takes only about 2 hours to complete any task. And it all counts! In exchange we will provide you with fab courses equipping you with transferrable skills which will boost you CV! For more details regarding this and other opportunities at Shopmobility please contact: tel.: 01224 254338 / e-mail: shopmobility.aberdeen@gmail.com

Scotland Versus Arthritis is looking for individuals willing to lead short health walks in your area, lead on other physical activities, or facilitate virtual support groups. Full training and on-going support for volunteers will be available. We are also looking for expressions of interest from anyone keen to become an instructor of Tai Chi or Qi Gong for arthritis. The current Covid restrictions have meant that for many the wait for treatment may be a year or more away. Painkilling prescriptions are seldom more than a temporary relief. Support and exercise can however offer a better way to self-manage the daily on-going pain and fatigue. In readiness for the eventual lifting of lockdown we are asking, can you spare an hour or two each month to help? Please contact your local Development Officer, Dr. P. Neville, p.neville@versusarthritis.org or phone 07501 501114 for details.

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is Scotland’s health charity supporting people and their families across Scotland with chest, heart and stroke conditions. We want to make sure life living with a chest or heart condition or after a stroke is a life lived to the full. To help in this we are currently seeking people to volunteer with us as Community Support Services Volunteers. As a Community Support Services Volunteer you will support people who have had a stroke to develop autonomy and confidence in self-management, enabling them to fully engage with their community and activities of their choice. The service is delivered to provide specified person centred support for those with a communication difficulty and/or to support a specific physical or everyday task. The role includes: • providing specified support for the service user, this will be dependent upon their individual goal(s). • supporting with specific physical and/or everyday activities. • supporting with specific use of communication strategies. This may involve either one-to-one or small group support or a combination of both. To undertake your role you will be required to undertake membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Adults) Scheme in Scotland (PVG) (there is no cost for this for volunteers). Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland will provide all necessary training, provide excellent ongoing support to all volunteers and all authorised out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed. For more details please contact us at volunteering@chss.org.uk or visit our website at https://www.chss.org.uk/volunteer-with-chss

We are Alex, The Leukodystrophy Charity (Alex TLC). Alex TLC is a trusted and experienced organisation offering support and information for all those affected by leukodystrophies. These are a group of often terminal, rare neurodegenerative conditions, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds, most notably children. Established in 2004, we are recognised by the NHS and global stakeholders as the "go to" organisation for those affected by these devastating conditions in the UK. Like many other small charities, we have grown organically from an informal support group to a thriving organisation supporting over a thousand individuals affected by leukodystrophy worldwide. Our charitable work is supported by our chain of five charity shops across south east London. With scant resources we are currently unable to employ dedicated small grant fundraising staff and are looking to the voluntary sector for assistance. Although existing staff manage grant applications as best they can, we have identified this area as a key weakness. Could you spare a few hours a week to help us? ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for volunteers, preferably with experience of grant fundraising (although this it not essential), to: research potential grant making trusts for relevance to our specific objectives send applications using existing templates update our systems with details of applications This is a wonderful opportunity to develop your existing skills within a unique arena, learn about the difficulties facing those with rare disease, and give vital and tangible support to sufferers of genetic leukodystrophy. We need help to give hope and support to people affected by genetic leukodystrophy – could you be that help? Alex TLC is committed to promoting diversity.

Home Support Volunteers visit families in their own homes to provide practical support. This can include helping with housekeeping, spending time with siblings, meal preparation, or other tasks to ‘lighten the load’ of family life. -What activities will I be involved in? • You will be introduced to a family, your initial visit will be with a member of staff, but you will then visit unaccompanied • Supporting families with ‘everyday’ tasks – these will vary and be dependent on the family’s needs, and the skills you bring. They may include: o Housekeeping – hoovering, ironing, changing beds, general tidying o Meal Preparation - batch cooking or supporting families to cook (this does require specific training, which we will provide) o Practical Sibling Support - collecting siblings from school/clubs within walking distance of their home, assisting with homework, spending time with siblings/play o Other - gardening, dog-walking, basic DIY eg. helping with flat-pack furniture • Develop positive relationships with families, being respectful of their home and belongings • Immediately communicate any concerns which may arise about a families wellbeing, including child protection concerns • Be respectful of sensitive and confidential medical and personal information regarding the children and families accessing our services -How much time should I offer? You can volunteer on any day of the week; mornings, afternoons, or early evenings. An average shift is approx 2 hours and ideally we are looking for a weekly commitment. Usually, volunteers support each family for a period of 3-6 months, then would be introduced to another family. It is possible there will be a short time between supporting different families, depending on needs, availability etc. -What ongoing learning/support/guidance will I receive? It’s important to us that you feel happy, safe and confident when volunteering. We provide Induction Training to give you insight into this role, and together decide if it is the right choice for you, before proceeding. As a CHAS volunteer you will be invited to complete a short core learning package that is tailored to your role. We are always developing new opportunities for volunteers to learn and offer a range of options for volunteers. You will receive ongoing support and supervision from the Home Support Lead, and opportunities to connect with other Home Support Volunteers. -What are the benefits to me? • Using your skills and developing new ones • Making a real difference to the families of children with a life-shortening condition • Experience, adding to your CV and career prospects • Meeting new people • Having fun! -What are the benefits to the children and families supported by CHAS? Families supported by CHAS are often under a lot of strain, and caring for a child with a life-limiting condition can take a lot of the family’s time and attention. Often other household tasks, and family life, can become more difficult to manage, and can begin to feel overwhelming. This role makes a direct and instant difference to families. -What else should I know? This role is for those aged 18+. You are required to be able to drive and to have access to your own vehicle (travel expenses can be claimed) You will need to complete Visit Logs online, these can be accessed through a phone, computer or tablet, and will require an internet connection (a high level of ‘technology’ knowledge is not required to complete these). This role requires membership of the PVG scheme. There is a simple form to complete and we will assist you with this. You may already have a PVG form – if so you will only need to complete an update form. The process won’t cost you anything and having a criminal record will not automatically exclude you from volunteering. We will assess each applicant on an individual basis. We will pay your out of pocket expenses in line with the CHAS volunteer expenses policy. CHAS is committed to providing a quality volunteering experience to all volunteers free from discrimination and prejudice. Ensuring that CHAS is an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation will improve the quality of care we provide, help us reach more families and children, and maximise a wide variety of knowledge, experience and expertise. For further information/to apply online please visit: https://www.chas.org.uk/volunteers/home-support-volunteer-aberdeenshire or feel free to contact Jack Daniels, Home Support Lead for further details /if you have any questions at email jackdaniels@chas.org.uk or on tel.: 07824 457767.

Providing practical and emotional support to help clients recovering from ill health or facing isolation gain independence and re-engage in their community. Provide tailored support and encouragement to individual clients to support recovery, reduce isolation, improve health and wellbeing and reduce likelihood of hospital admission. This varies by individual and can include: - phone-calls, visits, accompanied walks/visits/shopping including driving or public transport - mobility practice, seated exercise, practicing domestic tasks in any hospital reablement plan - encourage healthy eating and hydration - offer practical support e.g. prescription collection, dog walking, household paperwork, IT support - guide clients to other sources of support and activities