Disability Equality Scotland is a national charity working to make life more accessible, equal and inclusive for disabled people in Scotland. We are the umbrella organisation for all local disability Access Panels in Scotland, providing them with support and guidance to improve the lives of disabled people at a local level throughout Scotland. Our Nairn panel is currently operating in Moray and would welcome new volunteers to support their work.
What is an Access Panel?
Access Panels are groups of volunteers who work to improve access and inclusion for disabled people in their local community. They do this by raising awareness and helping to change attitudes among the general public about the need for inclusive access.
Access Panels are made up of people of all ages and abilities who share a passion for the issues faced by disabled people. With the help of Disability Equality Scotland as the national umbrella body, Access Panels support their communities to become as accessible as possible, particularly in relation to the built environment, healthcare, employment, education, and transport.
Ability Net's network of volunteers provide free tech support to enable older and disabled people to make full use of their home technology. They are seeking volunteers in Moray to join their IT Can Help network to support people with their IT or computer needs. This role involves contacting and supporting clients, feeding back on progress, and supporting the local Co-ordinator with promoting the IT Can Help service in the local area. Volunteers will take all necessary precautions to ensure that both volunteer and client stay as safe as possible, and volunteers and clients will wear face coverings and social distance where possible.
If you like to help others, have good IT and computing skills, knowledge of standard operating systems and software and the ability to communicate well, please consider volunteering with our growing in Moray! Roles are flexible and can fit around your schedule, too.
Riding for the Disabled (Forres, Nairn & District Group)
Volunteering with the Forres, Nairn & District RDA is one of the most rewarding things you can do, not only for the children who will benefit enormously from your contribution, but also you personally will gain so much.
We need volunteers who can help in any number of ways, not just helping on the rides, or being directly involved with the ponies.
From crazy fundraisers to baking cakes, event organising to poo picking, as well as walking with riders, volunteering with us is so rewarding for all involved. No experience of horses necessary as there are so many things that volunteers can do where they don’t need to be in charge of a horse/pony and all training can be provided. Volunteer opportunities will be allocated depending on preferences of the volunteer. The Forres & Nairn group RDA is currently held at Muiryhall near Elgin. Sessions are 9.30- 1pm and are only in term time. The children come by minibus from many of the local primary and secondary schools. They are the ONLY RDA group to not charge anything to the riders and they receive no central funding so everything has to be fundraised. To operate safely they need many volunteers as they often need 3 volunteers/pony depending on the disability.
From Monday – Friday our friendly and dedicated team of staff, volunteers and trainees steam, organise and label tonnes of items donated by the local community, including second-hand clothing and a range of one-off collectables.
Volunteers not only help in the shop but importantly also help our trainees learn and make the most of their experience in this friendly, supportive retail environment. Volunteering is flexible, please consider joining the team!
There are 2 walk leaders per pre risk assessed easy terrain walks in the Golspie area. Walks last up to 1 hr with plenty of stops along the way if required.
Seagull Trust Cruises provide free canal cruises for the elderly, infirm, and those with special needs. Founded back in 1978, and operating from 4 Scottish bases, we are wholly run by volunteers, and 100% funded by grants and donations. Our Ratho team are currently looking for a fundraising coordinator, who working with others in the team, can source grant opportunities, liaise with potential funders, prepare quality application forms, and process through to successful completions. Liaison with our Executive Board will be required to ensure a consistency and avoid duplication in applications.
You will be an excellent written communicator to identify and apply for trust and corporate grants. You will be researching funding opportunities and writing grant applications for the charity, keeping records on appropriate grant giving bodies, (application closing dates and processes), and reporting back to donors the difference their grant has made. You will also keep in touch with the team at local and executive level about the progress of applications.
This is an exciting opportunity to work with one of the most respected charities operating on the Scottish Canal network.
We are currently looking for additional crew members to join our team of enthusiastic volunteers based in Ratho, to assist with welcoming our passengers onto our boats for their canal cruising experience. You will then cruise with other members of the team ensuring an enjoyable, safe and comfortable experience for all on board. Cruises run in the mornings and afternoons (occasional evenings) and normally last 2 - 3 hours max. Many members only crew for one of the sessions, and only on their preferred day(s) for volunteering. Full training will be given ~ you may even be given the opportunity to drive the boats (under supervision of course !!!)
We are seeking individuals to help with running face-face communication sessions for babies, children and young people with Ds. We are also recruiting volunteers to assist with online delivery and resource making.
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.
East Dunbartonshire Health & Social Care Partnership
The SOUNDS OF THE GALLERY BAND is a group of young people with a range of Additional Needs, including physical disability, Learning Disability and autism. Over the past five years they have worked together to create and play their own songs and music. The band has performed at the Bearsden Festival and the Big Helix Picnic Festival in Falkirk. The group requires an enthusiastic person to help set up and maintain their equipment (including electric guitars, keyboards, drums and vocals), and assist the group members to rehearse and perform safely and effectively.