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Volunteering Matters Overview At Volunteering Matters we believe everyone in the UK should have the opportunity to thrive, so we bring people together to overcome some of society’s most complex issues through the power of volunteering. We partner with communities to overcome adversity, tackling social isolation and loneliness, improving health, developing skills and opportunities. And because we’re a national charity, we do this at scale, sharing our expertise and building partnerships to make an even bigger impact. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all. Project Overview Our Family Supporters in Edinburgh project offers practical and emotional support to families across the city of Edinburgh, empowering them to face a range of life challenges. We recruit, train and match dedicated, local volunteers to help families every step of the way, spending 1-1 time together on a personalised set of goals chosen by the family, for the family. We can help in many ways, such as improved living standards, budgeting, healthier eating, better school life and behaviour, access to health and wellbeing aid, as well as introducing parents to community resources, to name a few. So far, thousands of families across the UK have benefitted from our service and we are now delighted to extend the programmes reach to families in Edinburgh. Who can volunteer with us? Our volunteers are locally based people with an understanding of the challenges that families are facing. Aged 18+, each volunteer brings different life experiences and skills that they can use to help the family they are matched to, offering support on a weekly basis for an hour or so each week, usually for 6-9 months at a time that suits everyone. They build a strong relationship based on trust and mutual respect, acting as a friendly face who listens and cares about the family. All volunteers are interviewed, trained to the highest standards and undergo disclosure checks before being matched with a family. We also encourage and welcome volunteers who have the ability to speak multiple languages join our team! What can we offer volunteers? As well as the sense of achievement that comes through supporting a family, our volunteers will have the opportunity to learn and develop new skills, attend social events with other volunteers and enhance their employability. Certificates are provided upon completion of induction training and at the end of the commitment, with project staff happy to provide references for future studies or employment.

Wee County Veterans was set up as a charity in 2022. Originally run by Duncan Paterson, the former chair. Their office in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire called Duncans Den, has been set up for Former armed forces personnel and their families who are encouraged to head in when the shutters are up, with the kettle always at the ready for a cuppa and volunteers on hand to provide support on a wide variety of issues. Come in and socialise with other veterans, tell your stories. They can also hopefully resolve any problems or signpost you to other groups such as SSAFA or ASAP where they will get the help or information you need. Wee County Veterans are looking for a veteran, good at arithmetic to help with their accounts. No experience in accountancy required, training will be given on a basic excel spreadsheet. Flexible working, 2 -4 hours a week Volunteer must be a Veteran (but does not need to have accountancy experience, just basic arithmetic).

- Willing to participate in activities and learn about new cultures? - Ready to create social change and improve peoples lives? No matter where you are in Scotland, you have access to training and learning opportunities abroad that can help you gain skills, boost confidence, and earn qualifications. Our organisation offers multiple trips throughout the year, with mentors available to provide support. We partner with other organizations to offer placements in Ghana, Romania, and potentially Eastern European countries, each with a unique set of activities and tasks that focus on developing various skills. We offer shorter 3 to 4 day trips for young people, aged 16-30, as well as longer trips of 2 to 3 weeks for anyone over 16. An exciting and great opportunity to help and make a difference. For more information please contact Megan Beattie, Project Delivery Lead at email: start@standinternational.org or telephone: 0131 659 9943. Further information is also available at: https://www.standinternational.org/

Through a range of support structures and services, LINKnet aims to provide a quality experience for volunteer mentors/befrienders and successful outcomes for mentees. Your commitment as a mentor/befriender will be two or three hours per week, spread over a day or two for a few months, not exceeding six months. One to one mentoring is found to be one of the most effective methods of people development . Befriending is a rewarding, personal gratification experience.

Mentors spend one hour per week supporting an adult from an ethnic minority community in the areas of language development, employability, education or personal development. Mentor training will be provided via What’s app /Zoom/Skype. The mentors will be matched with a suitable mentee via a conference call. The weekly mentoring can be over the phone, email or zoom/skype.

A fantastic ethnic minority charity is looking for enthusiastic minority ethnic volunteers (from all ethnic groups) to join the Fundraising team. You will be part of the team to raise fund to support volunteer mentoring and befriending services. You will be adding value to LINKnet by supporting the Fundraising team and maximizing the efficiency of the fund raising process through creative thinking, creating fundraising opportunities, carrying out administration duties and networking with key contacts.

LINKnet are looking for minority ethnic volunteers to support paid staff with the smooth running of mentoring and befriending services. This is a great opportunity to gain work experience and develop your skills in various fields of work as the roles at LINKnet will be varied. Volunteering involves once a week (5hrs per day).

LINKnet is looking for minority ethnic volunteers (from all ethnic groups) to become development assistants to support the development team in the evaluation and prioritization of volunteer mentoring and befriending services. Through a range of support structures, the voluntary job is likely to include: Assisting the development process of various projects, Helping in completing all project-related documentation, Working with the development team in project initiation.

LINKnet are looking for volunteers to support paid staff to increase awareness of oral health among ME (minority ethnic) communities by bringing the communities in and delivering oral and wider health improvement messages in an accessible manner. “Edinburgh Smile”, is a project of LINKnet that partners MEHIS (Minority Ethnic Health Inclusion Service)- NHS. The successful candidates will be involved in the development and coordination of activities to raise awareness.

The successful volunteer would be matched with a New Scot or a family who require support to practise their English language learning in “real” situations. Buddies also support learning about Scottish culture and customs, and may help learners to find out how to access services. The volunteer would be contributing to the integration of the new arrivals into the society, reducing their isolation and enhancing their employability prospects, which is a hugely important and rewarding activity. They would be offered support and training by the ESOL Officer, so someone thinking of teaching English might be particularly interested in this opportunity.