Our statistics have revealed that 218,000 over 50s in Scotland say they feel lonely all or most of the time. As people get older, it can be harder to maintain social connections. Retirement, bereavement or moving somewhere new can leave people feeling lonely and isolated.
That's where you come in!
The Age Scotland Community Connecting Service aims to connect older people across Scotland to social groups and clubs in their local community.
As a Community Connector you'll help to combat loneliness and social isolation by providing older people companionship and information on social opportunities over the phone.
A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All volunteer assistance is greatly appreciated.
For more information please contact Ashley Marr, Age Scotland Friendship Manager at email: ashley.marr@agescotland.org.uk or telephone: 03333232400.
Our statistics have revealed that 218,000 over 50s in Scotland say they feel lonely all or most of the time. As people get older, it can be harder to maintain social connections. Retirement, bereavement or moving somewhere new can leave people feeling lonely and isolated.
That's where you come in!
The Age Scotland Community Connecting Service aims to connect older people across Scotland to social groups and clubs in their local community.
As a Community Researcher, you'll help to identify and research groups and clubs around the country, updating our Community Connecting database with the most accurate and up-to-date information.
A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All volunteer assistance is greatly appreciated.
For more information please contact Ashley Marr, Age Scotland Friendship Manager at email: ashley.marr@agescotland.org.uk or telephone: 03333232400.
As a call companion, you will make regular telephone calls to a lonely and isolated older person. These calls provide a lifeline of friendship for our older people, and the regular, warm, friendly chats and companionship provide a vital link with the outside world from which they have become isolated. Over time, you and the older person you have been matched with will get to know each other well and together you will spend many hours full of fun, laughter and stories. You will need two references and to complete an ID check for this role. Tasks include: Calling the older person you have been matched with two to four times per month at an agreed time. Following the guidance in your call companion training modules to ensure that your calls are enjoyable, appropriate and in line with our charitable aims. Keeping in regular contact with your call companion coordinator and letting them know how everything is going. Completing monthly online reports about your call companion calls.
As a volunteer interviewer you will telephone applicants on behalf of Re-engage and ask them a series of informal interview questions. You will need to be comfortable making telephone calls and connecting with people remotely and using online applications to record answers to the interviews. Each interview should take around 20-30 minutes and you will need time to record the outcome. You will need to be comfortable with using online applications to record answers to the interviews. This role requires you to be available for at least two to three hours a week to make telephone interviews to potential volunteers, either during the day or evening. This is a remote voluntary role which can be carried out from home. You will need two references and to complete an ID check for this role. Tasks include: Making four to six phone calls per week to prospective volunteers. Arranging interview appointments. Using relevant interview form to record volunteer answers during interviews. Recording the outcome of every interview on a spreadsheet. Following guidance in Re-engage interviewer training modules to ensure that the interviews are completed in line with our charitable aims.
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.
We are looking for welcoming and enthusiastic volunteer(s) to lead short health walks in Moray -- currently these gentle walks are based in Forres, Fochabers, Hopeman, Elgin, Cullen, Buckie, Lossiemouth, Dufftown, Rothes and Keith. It's sociable, relaxed, fun and flexible -- and there is great support for our volunteers.
Becoming a volunteer walk leader requires you to commit around an hour or so of your time weekly (but there is room for flexible dates!) and to sometimes complete a small amount of preparation & paper work for the walk.
Health walks encourage people who have not exercised for a while, find walking boring, or lack confidence to join a walking group because they think they will not be able to keep up. Walks are free, short, low intensity, safe and social and are usually followed by a cup of tea or coffee and a chat!
Over the next year we plan to build upon our network of gentle exercise activities across the Moray region. To help us achieve this we are looking for friendly and supportive volunteers who enjoy walking, meeting new folk sharing the wide ranging health and well- being benefits of gentle physical activity.
Volunteers all receive Paths for All Walk Leader training to give them the skills and confidence to lead walks in your community. You will be encouraged to join a Health Walk and chat to a Health Walk leader before your training so that you have an idea of how it works on the ground.
Volunteer walk leaders receive on-going support from the local Health Walk co-ordinator, too
Volunteer drivers provide transport and help using their own vehicle to Car Share Scheme members so that they can attend medical appointments or opportunities to socialise. This transport scheme is vital for many people who cannot readily access transport. You will be joining a pool of volunteer drivers who are all kind and considerate and like meeting new folk. A mileage allowance of 45p a mile will be paid to you.
There are 2 ride leaders, one at the front one at the back to guide the group around safely on a led ride approximately 10-12 miles riding at approximately 8mph. Routes are on quiet roads and /or easy off road terrain.
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.
Our statistics have revealed that 218,000 over 50s in Scotland say they feel lonely all or most of the time. As people get older, it can be harder to maintain social connections. Retirement, bereavement or moving somewhere new can leave people feeling lonely and isolated.
That's where you come in!
The Age Scotland Community Connecting Service aims to connect older people across Scotland to social groups and clubs in their local community.
As a Community Connector you'll help to combat loneliness and social isolation by providing older people companionship and information on social opportunities over the phone.
A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. All volunteer assistance is greatly appreciated.
For more information please contact Ashley Marr, Age Scotland Friendship Manager at email: ashley.marr@agescotland.org.uk or telephone: 03333232400.