Moray Handyperson Services are looking for new DIY-ers to join their team, especially in the Elgin area. Volunteers complete small/minor maintenance jobs that some older or vulnerable people cannot do by themselves in their own homes. Each year, this local charity helps hundreds of people stay safe and independent in their own home. Small jobs can range from changing a light bulb, to fitting curtain rails, from assembling flat-packs, to even doing a bit of decluttering.
These jobs usually take less than an hour and you can choose to do a job at a time that is convenient for you. Volunteers are usually matched to a job in their local area, and if you can't help out, that isn't a problem either, as you can say no or yes to a job. Now that's flexible volunteering! Contact them if you think you could part of their volunteer team.
How It Works:
The MHPS staff receive requests from clients and collect relevant details, usually over the phone. They then find a volunteer who has the skills, is nearby and is available. If the volunteer accepts the job, MHPS send the volunteer all the details they need to do the job. Most jobs require the volunteer to visit the client in the client’s own home.
The volunteer first makes a brief assessment to ensure the job is as described and it is safe for them to proceed. Once the job has been carried out, there is usually opportunity to chat with the client to determine if they are well, need support in any other areas. Completion paperwork (easy and quick to do) is returned to the MHPS office.
Assist Senior Education Officer to deliver a series of homeless prevention and financial education workshops in local secondary schools.
Assist to develop and deliver programmes of preventative work to young people
Record statistical information as required.
Full Driving licence and access to motor vehicle required
Could you help to raise vital funds for SSAFA in your local area? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with all kinds of people and some occasional free time.
Help us raise vital funds by representing SSAFA at local fundraising events, providing a friendly and approachable service to potential donors.
What is a Fundraising volunteer?
As part of a local team, our fundraisers represent SSAFA at events, and in public. The role includes helping at fayres, street collections, concerts, quizzes, raffles, sporting events etc.
Why do we need you?
SSAFA branches rely on regular charitable income to fund all the necessities behind our support for clients. This includes volunteer travel expenses, phone bills, publicity and grants for clients in urgent need. A varied programme of fundraising also keeps the SSAFA profile high in the local community, so everyone knows who we are and how we can help.
Key role responsibilities
Being part of a team with collection/buckets tins at events, supermarkets, shopping centres, etc.
Acting as a marshal at a public event e.g. handing out water to runners, supervising parking etc.
Being part of a team running a stall at an event, Armed Forces Day, fayre, county show etc.
Helping with putting up posters, building gazebos, serving refreshments, packing/unpacking cars etc.
Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA, engaging people of all backgrounds and interests
Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
This role involves being out and about at public events and would suit someone looking to give the occasional day, half day or evening to support SSAFA; when and where would be flexible to suit you.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others
Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising funds used directly to support clients
Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
What are we looking for?
Friendly and approachable people
Confident people who feel happy to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face
Reliable attitude, keeping in touch the Fundraising Coordinator about your availability
Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely
Access to public transport or a car to get to events
Able to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well (other than relatives)
Referees
We have a few restrictions on who can act as a referee for you and your application:
The referee must have know you for at least two years - and you must still be in contact now.
The referee cannot be a member of your family.
The referee cannot live at the same address as you.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support disabled volunteers, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as non-disabled volunteers.
Could you help to raise vital funds for SSAFA in your local area? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with all kinds of people, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If you already have some fundraising experience that would be great too but it’s not essential.
As a Fundraising Coordinator, you would work with your local SSAFA branch to develop a Fundraising Plan. You would be central to delivering this local plan to raise funds through a range of local sources including grants, trusts, appeals, collections.
As Fundraising Coordinator, you would work with your local SSAFA branch to develop a Fundraising Plan. You would be central to delivering this local plan to raise funds through a range of local sources including grants, trusts, appeals, collections and events
Why do we need you?
SSAFA branches rely on a regular charitable income to fund all the necessities behind our support for clients. This includes volunteer travel expenses, phone bills, publicity and grants for clients in urgent needs. A varied programme of fundraising also keeps the SSAFA profile high in the local community. We’d love to hear from you if you could help by coordinating this vital aspect of your local SSAFA branch.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others
Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising funds used directly to support client
Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
What are we looking for?
Friendly and approachable people with good communication skills including written and spoken English
Confident to deal with the public, potential clients, volunteers, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues – face-to-face, by phone, email or via social media
Experience of running events and or submitting funding applications would be welcome but not essential
Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address
Ability to make enquires about fundraising opportunities by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms
Reliable attitude, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability
Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely
Access to public transport or a car to get to meetings and events
Able to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well (other than relatives)
Referees
We have a few restrictions on who can act as a referee for you and your application:
The referee must have know you for at least two years - and you must still be in contact now.
The referee cannot be a member of your family.
The referee cannot live at the same address as you.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support disabled volunteers, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as non-disabled volunteers.
The SSAFA Mentoring service provides long-term, one-to-one, face-to-face support during transition and for up to two years post discharge to all members of our armed forces. By supporting, guiding and signposting individuals we can ensure a successful transition is achieved. Our volunteer mentors are an integral part of the team supporting the service user into civilian life often helping them to understand and navigate their new environment.
A SSAFA Mentor is an individual who commits the time to build a professional relationship with a service leaver or their family through a challenging period of time. Providing support and guidance along the way. Mentoring is natural skill that we all have, the ability to listen and empathise as well as question and challenge in an environment that sees rewards at different levels.
Leaving the Armed Forces can a difficult and stressful time for serving personnel: to ensure the SSAFA mentoring team can continue to offer face to face mentors to those in transition it is important to encourage and recruit new mentors to the team.
Mentors provide weekly meetings within a 50 mile radius of their home address and will:
Assist the client to establish realistic goals and work towards achieving them.
Act as a sounding board when the client wants to discuss decisions and ideas.
Challenge opportunities, problems, personal strengths and weaknesses.
Signpost to other organisations and sources of knowledge.
Seek opportunities to help the client practice and develop key skills for the future.
Pass on know-how and essential thinking patterns and attitudes.
Generate workable solutions together in a mutually respectful way.
Motivate, advise and support whilst empowering the service leaver to make their own decisions and take responsibility for their own actions and development.
Maintain regular contact with your Regional Mentoring Coordinator and provide accurate meeting records after every meeting via a secure email system.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
Support people in your community with a military background using your patience, time and life experience
Support and friendship from the Mentoring team and fellow mentors
Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
Key role responsibilities
Meet with their client for an hour each week for a period of up to but not limited to12 months.
Support the client and SSAFA ensure they receive any necessary support from SSAFA or external organisations.
Complete (mandatory) accurate records of all contact made with the client, by using the SSAFA Email system
Maintain regular contact with their Regional Mentoring Coordinator
Agree to any supervision deemed necessary.
Attend mandatory Network/Refresher training every three years
Uphold the aims and values of SSAFA and comply with all current policies; confidentiality, impartiality and equal opportunities.
To be reliable and fulfil any time commitment made to a client
DBS Check will be required.
IT literacy.
What is a Branch Secretary?
There are 19 SSAFA branches across Scotland. Each branch has a secretary to organise day-to-day activities. This is a key role involving administration and coordinating people. As the first point of contact for SSAFA in the area you will play a crucial part in promoting SSAFA locally, organising local events and ensuring the smooth running of SSAFA across the branch.
What would you be doing?
Managing the branch office (if applicable) and providing support to all volunteers, especially new ones
Work with the branch Chair, treasurer and others to ensure smooth running of the branch
Accepting referrals and coordinating SSAFA caseworkers, visitors and helpers accordingly
Oversee all SSAFA casework across the branch ensuring clients get support that is effective and timely
Monitor volunteer numbers against the demand for support and recruit new volunteers as needed
Working with the local training officer to ensure all volunteers are kept up to date with the training and information they need
Build relationships with regional and central office staff to ensure an effective flow of information
Maintaining accurate records of volunteers and cases, submit accurate data to Central Office
Providing administration for an annual programme of meetings including an AGM, recording and implementing decisions
Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser
Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)
We are looking for a volunteer who would like to become our minute secretary. This involves attending once monthly meetings for about 2hrs (7-9pm) usually the third Thursday in Forfar to take minutes for the meeting, typing these up and distributing to the members. This is an excellent opportunity to get involved in your local community and might suit a volunteer hoping to further develop IT and admin skills.
We meet usually once a month for about 2 hrs (7pm- 9pm) usually the 3rd Thursday of the month. We can offer a small payment to cover expenses. Some examples of our involvement are monthly meetings involving locally elected councillors, police and guest speakers. We regularly review local planning applications, local news/ concerns and organise community events such as beach cleans, seasonal town decorations/ events such as the summer bunting and Christmas Lights display/ switch on. We also support to facilitate local projects and collaborating with organisations to distribute community funds. There is opportunity to become involved in such a wide variety of projects/ groups dependant on your availability of time.
Street Friends operate between 10am to 2pm distributing food and hot drinks to anyone in need in the centre of Aberdeen. We are a friendly team who are looking for volunteers to help on the streets. Volunteers must be fairly fit as the role entails walking whilst pulling a trolley, making hot drinks and, this is probably the most important quality for working at street friends, being non judgemental.
We help anyone, if you are kind and believe in helping others, we would like to talk to you, we are on the go 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday, you can volunteer as much or as little as you can, it's totally up to you, give us a shout and let the adventures begin.
A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. If you would like to discuss volunteering with us/for further information please contact Colin Robertson at email: darkhorse74@btinternet.com
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.