The Boys’ Brigade is the oldest uniformed youth organisation in the country. We promote habits which leads young people to be good all round citizens, through an extensive programme. It is rewarding and an honour to watch 5 year old shy children grown into confident young adults, ready to play their part in society.
With Covid-19 rules many Companies are looking for additional volunteers to help run the different Sections separately.
Helping out in a BB group with children and young people can make all the difference to young lives – meaning happier young people, happier communities and a society that values the contribution that we can all make; young, old or in-between. We call our volunteers “leaders” because they guide a course for children and young people.
*What do volunteers do?
There are lots of different ways that you can help. We work with boys and girls from all backgrounds and of all faiths, and with those with no faith. Most of our volunteers come along for a couple of hours a week in the evening and get involved with one or more of our four age sections: Anchors, Juniors, Company, Seniors.
We need volunteers to help children with activities, games, sport, arts and crafts, hobbies, music etc. Whatever you can help with is greatly valued. We also want volunteers who will be able to relate to young people and over time, become adults they can trust and talk to.
*I can't help every week, do you still want me?
Yes! The beauty of volunteering with the BB is that you can be flexible, and if you can only help out once a month, or even once a year at the annual camp then we are happy to welcome you.
*What is the age limit?
You can volunteer from 14+ as a Young Leader, with a wider range of roles for those aged 18+. There’s no upper age limit. We really do welcome applications from all ages.
*Do I have to be Christian?
Some churches where BB groups are based like leaders to be members of that church, but are happy that certain roles are performed by people who are in sympathy with the Christian basis of the BB. Other than that, we welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and cultures.
There are BB groups in and around Aberdeen, looking for volunteers, from Cove to Balmedie, Powis, Northfield, Woodside and the Bridge of Don, and everywhere in between. There will be a group near you who will welcome and greatly appreciate your help.
A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference for people and communities. For further information please contact Andy Cowie at email: acowie999@btinternet.com or tel.: 01224 7903248 / 07715279478.
Childline is a vital service available 365 days a year to support children and young people, whatever their worry or concern.
A ChildLine counsellor provides an essential service to children and young people who contact the helpline by telephone or via the ChildLine website. As a trained volunteer, Childline Volunteer Counsellors are able to respond to children and young people in a variety of ways that meet their needs at the time they contact.
Full training is provided and ChildLine Supervisors always work alongside counselling volunteers giving support, advice and any direction required.
A great opportunity to help make a real difference for the lives of children.
For further details regarding this and other volunteer opportunities at our Aberdeen base or to apply to be a volunteer please:
apply online via: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do/volunteering-nspcc-childline or email: kerri.stewart@nspcc.org.uk / phone:01224 973030.
*None Residential Services SOUTH: Opportunities: Befriending / Mentoring; Care / Support Volunteers; Practical /DIY; Supporting with activities such as crafts/baking and gentle walks and exercise:
Bon Accord Care recognises the invaluable contribution that the general public: friends and relatives can provide to the care and well-being of the people we support. We will encourage the involvement of individuals who wish to volunteer in a service in a voluntary capacity, whilst ensuring that the health, safety and well-being of volunteers, the people we support, staff members and visitors is maintained at all times.
We are looking for kind, caring individuals to support our front-line staff and services, making a positive difference to the day to day life experience of our service users. Current opportunities include, Befriending where we will link you with a service user, to chat to over a cuppa, reminisce about old Aberdeen, read a paper with, chat about your favourite TV soap, go for a local walk etc. Supporting with mealtimes and serving Teas & Coffees, helping in our Service User with laundry, and shopping, supporting group activities such as crafts and light exercise. In addition, we are seeking volunteers with some practical DIY experience to help keep our outdoor communal areas and car parks clean and tidy.
Get involved with Bon Accord Care. A chance to make a difference, help others, make new friends, gain work experience and more! Excellent support and relevant training are provided to all volunteers. A fantastic opportunity to help make a real difference-all volunteers are greatly appreciated.
*About Bon Accord Care:
Bon Accord Care is at the forefront of the continuing development of services to enable independence and reduce hospital admissions, as well as promote active ageing and well-being. Working together with our key partners, we are aligned with the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver services. Bon Accord Care work together with service users, partners, employees and volunteers to support our communities and create meaningful relationships with those around us. We deliver a range of services that are aimed at prevention, maximising independence, and enhancing wellbeing. Our focus from the outset is to get to know individual preferences, wants, history and lifestyle to ensure that each person receives a service that is unique to them. Our range of services cover: care at home, housing support, residential care homes, rehabilitation, re-ablement, occupational therapy, SVQs through learning and development, community equipment, telecare, day care, responder, respite and community meals.
For further details please contact Julie Suttar, Engagement & Liaison Lead at E-Mail: BACVolunteering@bonaccordcare.org or tel.: 01224 570400.
CHAS-Childrens Hospices Across Scotland (Aberdeen & North East Services)
*Caring for a child with a life-shortening condition is a full time job. Our families need help with activities and practical tasks. As a CHAS Home Support volunteer you will be matched to one family to support them with whatever tasks will help them most.*
-What activities will I be involved in?
The tasks will vary according to the family’s needs but will mainly be:
• Sibling support – which can include help with homework, activity and play, drop off and pick up from clubs or groups
• Practical tasks for the family - such as cleaning, ironing, shopping and/or dog walking
• Emotional support – providing companionship, listening to concerns and building a relationship with the family.
-What skills and abilities will I need to have?
• Compassionate nature
• A desire to support families in their own home
• Ability to be flexible and reliable
• Good listening skills
• Shared values with CHAS: respect, care, honesty, accountability
• Access to reliable public transport or a clean and current driving licence and access to a vehicle is required, as visits will take place within the families own homes therefore travel will be required
-How much time should I offer?
We are currently looking for individuals aged 18 or over who can visit families within their own homes, once a week for a minimum of 2-4 hours. Visits take place during the day, as well at evenings and weekends, so Home Support volunteers need to be able to be flexible and potentially available 7 days per week.
Travel time will also need to be considered but we will try to keep this to a minimum where possible.
-Where is the Opportunity based?
We are looking for volunteers in the North East of Scotland, covering Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
-What ongoing learning/support/guidance will I receive?
It is important to us that you feel happy, safe and confident in your role. As a CHAS Home Support volunteer you will be thoroughly trained and supported throughout your volunteering journey with us.
Before you start your role you will receive an induction to CHAS, along with an assessed learning package which will consist of 4 x 3 hour weekly sessions which is tailored to your role (these sessions will take place via Zoom due to the current Covid-19 restrictions).
Along with this, you will also receive regular support and supervision.
We are always developing new opportunities for volunteers to learn and offer a range of options for volunteers including ongoing training and volunteer meet ups.
-What are the benefits to me?
• Learning new skills
• Making a real difference to the families of children with a life-shortening condition.
• Adding to your CV which can open up employment and studying opportunities
• Meeting new people
• Increased self-esteem and confidence
-What else should I know?
Home Support volunteers must be aged 18 or older.
We will pay your out of pocket expenses in line with the CHAS volunteer expenses policy.
All our Home Support volunteers require membership of the PVG scheme, CHAS will cover all costs associated with this.
-What’s the next step?
If you’re interested in the role you can apply online at https://www.chas.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-application-form
If you have any questions please contact the Volunteering Team on volunteering@chas.org.uk or 0141 779 6195.
We are looking for Volunteers who feel able to support a lady to maintain her cooking skills, and support with some batch cooking. If you maybe have a background in catering, or just enjoy cooking this is a great opportunity to support an individual to keep on cooking with confidence. The lady is a keen cook and enjoys and values home cooked food but can often forget the process. She would value a Volunteer working alongside her to help her follow a recipe and potentially prepare some batch cooking, for when the lady is alone.
Get involved with Bon Accord Care. A chance to make a difference, help others, make new friends, gain work experience and more! Excellent support and relevant training are provided to all volunteers. A fantastic opportunity to help make a real difference-all volunteers are greatly appreciated.
For further details please contact Julie Suttar, Engagement & Liaison Lead at E-Mail: BACVolunteering@bonaccordcare.org or tel.: 01224 570400.
*Our award-winning charity is looking for Tech volunteers to support older and disabled people with their tech at home.*
- Our Vision:
Do you have a passion for the power of technology? Our vision is to create …..
“A world in which digital services are equally accessible to all”
As an AbilityNet Tech volunteer you can help unleash the power of technology to ensure that older people and disabled people are not excluded from the digital world.
“One of your advisors, Trevor, has been helping me with some very basic computer skills on a tablet that I have hardly touched since it was bought for me as a present from my wife. I suffer from Parkinson’s and it is very difficult for me to concentrate. Trevor has been extremely kind and patient and has opened up a world I hardly knew existed.” (AbilityNet client).
- Overview:
All across the country our 300 volunteers support older and/or disabled people at home to offer one-to-one support with their technology, whether that’s a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet.
Our volunteers:
-Trouble shoot technical issues.
-Offer impartial advice on technology.
-Set up new tech and install hardware and software.
-Show people how to use their tech at home e.g. shop online, send and receive emails and Skype with family and friends.
-Make adaptations to support a disabled person’s specific technology needs.
- What will I be doing?
-Contacting clients to arrange a date/time to support (home visits or supporting them remotely).
-Carrying out tech support for the clients you have accepted.
-Feeding back on progress via our online ticketing system.
-Supporting your local Coordinator with promoting the volunteer service in the local area.
-Getting together with other tech volunteers at team meetings and wider company events.
-Undergoing training on technology, particularly adaptive technology.
-Supporting other volunteers through our online chat facility.
- What skills do I need?:
You don’t need to be a tech guru to help out. If you use a computer at home or work, and perhaps support family and friends with their tech issues, you are likely to have the skills we need:
-A passion to help others.
-Good IT and computer skills.
-Knowledge of standard operating systems and software.
-The ability to communicate well with people.
-Patience and empathy.
- What are the benefits to me?:
As an AbilityNet Tech volunteer you can:
-Change the lives of disabled and older people.
-Benefit from technology and disability training.
-Network with a nationwide team of other Tech volunteers.
-Be flexible with your volunteering and plan it around your other work and home commitments.
- How much time will I need to offer?:
The service is client led and will depend on the demand in your local area. The work is flexible and you can arrange visits around your home and work commitments. On average a volunteer undertakes 4 hours of volunteering a month, this can be in or out of work hours, in the evenings or weekends.
- What else do I need to know?:
-We pay travel expenses at 45p per mile.
-As you will be help vulnerable adults you’ll need an enhanced PVG (Scotland) –Protection of Vulnerable Groups check which will be renewed/checked every 2 years (at no cost to the volunteer).
- What should I do next?:
If you think you have what it takes to be an AbilityNet Tech volunteer please either apply online at https://abilitynet.org.uk/abilitynet-itcanhelp-volunteer-application or if you would like more information, or to chat further about the volunteer role contact the AbilityNet Free Services team on 0800 048 7642, or email volunteers@abilitynet.org.uk
You will be contacted by a local volunteer Coordinator to arrange an informal interview.
Street Friends Helping the Homeless Aberdeen is working towards a brighter future for homeless people, vulnerable and people in poverty.
With dignity Street Friends Helping the Homeless offer fresh chilled sandwiches and desserts as meals, food parcels for a few days, clothing, pet food, toiletries/condoms/sanitary products to those most in need as a result of homeless, poverty or vulnerable. We have established links with specialist services. When we befriend, we keep a note anonymously, on how people are doing, if they are in danger/emergency they are given immediate help. If they wish to progress we can use the referrals to get people to the correct professional service.
We offer kindness, empathy, friendship and safe choices if people wish to pursue them.
We are seeking kind, computer savvy people with a good telephone manner, interpersonal skills, team members, to assist us as Virtual Befriending Team Members providing support to homeless people. This is a work from home/virtual assistant, (phone/ PC access & broadband required). At times there will be zoom or alternative meetings. All help provided makes a difference for homeless people in Aberdeen and this is also an opportunity to gain positive experience and develop skills.
We have a full volunteer pathway with training opportunities and all help makes a real difference and is always greatly appreciated.
For more information about volunteering in this role and any other roles with Street Friends Helping the Homeless please contact Sam Raion, Communications Secretary at email admin@streetfriendshelpingthehomeless.com
Street Friends Helping the Homeless Aberdeen is working towards a brighter future for homeless people, vulnerable and people in poverty.
With dignity Street Friends Helping the Homeless offer fresh chilled sandwiches and desserts as meals, food parcels for a few days, clothing, pet food, toiletries/condoms/sanitary products to those most in need as a result of homeless, poverty or vulnerable. We have established links with specialist services. When we befriend, we keep a note anonymously, on how people are doing, if they are in danger/emergency they are given immediate help. If they wish to progress we can use the referrals to get people to the correct professional service.
We offer kindness, empathy, friendship and safe choices if people wish to pursue them.
As our outreach grows we need cleaning volunteers, twice a week for our storage facility. We are looking for people with skills to do basic tasks such as deep cleans, sterilising and tidying.
We have a full volunteer pathway with training opportunities and all help makes a real difference and is always greatly appreciated. For more information about volunteering with Street Friends Helping the Homeless please contact Sam Raion, Communications Secretary at email admin@streetfriendshelpingthehomeless.com
Based in health, care and community settings, CCL is a service that promotes wellbeing by offering an active spiritual listening service. CCL helps people explore their deepest hurts and draw strength from their own inner resources and from the communities of support around them. CCL is a short term, early intervention model of person-centred, assets-based, spiritual listening with the aim of promoting personal and communal spiritual wellbeing.
We are looking for volunteers to become listeners with the following experience: 1. Recognition of a spiritual dimension to life in self and/or others (create a safe space for the person to verbalise whatever gets in the way of their wellbeing and resilience) 2. Personal resilience, receptiveness to the pain of others 3. High degree of reflexivity, ability to recognise own inner process 4. Accepting and non-judgmental presence, commitment to person-centred ways of being and doing 5. Advanced communication skills, ability to handle raw feelings and emotions 6. Ability to foster wellbeing and autonomy rather than cultivate neediness and dependency 7. Ability to hold clear boundaries about issues and relationships 8. Ability to demonstrate previous experience in active listening it is expected that potential Listeners would be able to demonstrate these skills within their training and continue to develop these qualities when delivering the service.
Based in a health care setting, usually a GP Practice. Commitment to 4 days training and a half day a week am/pm listening. Referral based listening service usually from GP or other Health Professionals.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss our volunteer opportunity please contact Evonne Llewellyn, Community Chaplaincy Listening Service Volunteer Coordinator at evonne.llewellyn@nhs.scot or call 07584 217192.
Talkable offers a talkline to anyone suffering from panic or anxiety.
We are currently looking for someone who has knowledge and understanding around legal matters and could advise us on any such matters as our organisation continues to grow, develop and help people.
This would not be a full time role, it would be flexible to suit volunteers/on an as and when required basis when we need documents looking over or creating.
An excellent opportunity to help in our vital work. All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated.
For more information please contact Chelsea Birkett at E Mail: info@talkable.online or tel: 07999 453655.