AVA Newsletter September 2016

Search for volunteering opportunities on the AVA Website
AVA now have a volunteering opportunities search facility on our website which makes it easier to find opportunities in the Aberdeenshire area. You can refine your search depending on what kind of volunteering you are looking for and you can also make it area specific. Visit the AVA website at: http://avashire.org.uk/volunteeringopps.html.

Our Magpie Charity Shops in Banchory and Inverurie offer a range of volunteering opportunities. If you have a few hours to spare per week, could help uplift or deliver furniture, are good on social media, could help out at the Crow's Nest or in the shops then please call or visit us to find out more. Also if you have a particular interest in upcycling or vintage and antiques and would like to volunteer, we'd love to hear from you.
Call Renee Joss on 01330 823800.
Visit the Magpie website at: www.magpieshops.org.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magpieshops/
Twitter: @Magpie_AVA

Volunteer Befriender opportunities with Cornerstone
Cornerstone offer a "matching" service when it comes to this fun side of volunteering. They have opportunities across the whole of Scotland where you can get involved and make a big difference to the lives of the people they support through befriending. Let them know your interests and availability (even a couple of hours once a fortnight will make a big difference) and they will match you to someone who could use your company within the community. Cornerstone have opportunities all over North Aberdeenshire but are keen to hear from interested volunteers in the Peterhead and Banff areas. This is a great, fun way to add something to your CV, gain experience and improve confidence or an excellent opportunity to just try something new. If you are patient, understanding and are motivated to volunteer then they would love to hear from you. All expenses will be reimbursed and full support will be given.
If you'd like to find out more, please contact James McQueen on 01224 256051 or email: James.McQueen@cornerstone.org.uk.

Volunteers required to help out at Bonty Court, Aboyne
Lunch time meals are being provided for tenants at Bonty Court, Aboyne, and help is required to collect the meals at 11.45am and take them to Bonty Court for 12.00 midday. Volunteers are also sought who would be willing to assist with serving the meals to the tenants which would be between 12 and 1.00pm. If you can help out, please contact Natasha at: natasha@marrareapartnership.org.uk or Bonty Court direct on 0345 608 1208.

Bonty Court in Aboyne is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator or two who could help put together lunch rotas and coordinate volunteers on lunch service as well as drivers. If you are an organised soul give Aileen a shout on 07824 096531 or email Aileen.Longino@avashire.org.uk

Volunteer web designer needed
Aboyne Men's Shed need help designing their website. If you have some spare time and some expertise in this area please contact: Aileen.Longino@avashire.org.uk

Volunteering opportunity - Ballater
Victoria & Albert Halls in Ballater are a wonderful resource for a small community like Ballater. These halls are a real asset to the village and are run by a very hardworking and overstretched group of Volunteers. With a jampacked calendar of events the V&A Halls Trustees need your help! Can you help at events? They will be having a stall on 1st October in Victoria Hall from 10-2 pm come along and say hello.

Marie Curie Helper service
The Marie Curie Helper service is provided by trained volunteers who offer one-to-one support to people with a terminal illness (cancer and other illnesses), completely free of charge. This support may also continue for their carers and families after bereavement. The service was launched in Grampian last August and is now operational with over 30 volunteers now trained and ready to offer support. Marie Curie Helper volunteers support people in their homes, offering a few hours of their time each week to provide a listening ear and companionship; give families and carers a short break from their caring role; offer practical support, such as accompanying individuals to appointments or simply going out for a coffee; or help with sourcing information on other available support. A Marie Curie Helper does not provide any nursing or medical care or advice. Our Helper volunteers are provided with training and support to enable them to undertake their roles. There are trained volunteers available now in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray.

If you are interested in finding out a little more about this service or know someone who might benefit from some support please contact: Ingrid Penny, Helper Service Manager for Grampian on 0800 304 7024 Email: grampianhelper@mariecurie.org.uk.

Banchory Day Centre volunteers
A relief driver is needed to pick members up (c 9.30am) from their homes, take them to Dalvenie and drop off home again at around 3.45pm. Most are in the village and the furthest away is Drumoak. Relief drivers are needed when our regular drivers are away or can’t manage for any reason. Volunteers are also needed to help out in the centre - there are 2 shifts (9am - 12.30pm and 12.30pm - 4pm) and people can say how often they would like to be on the rota. Duties include serving tea/coffee and lunches, chatting with members, playing games etc. For more information, contact Denise Roberts at: denise@canny.me.uk.

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Services in Aberdeen
Stroke is the major cause of disability throughout Scottish communities and in North East of Scotland alone more than 11,000 people are living with the effects of stroke. Scotland’s Health Charity Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland runs stroke services throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire for people who have had a stroke and is appealing for volunteers to help support the charity’s services across the area. As the charity’s local coordinator Shaheen Salaripour explains: “Our Community Stroke Services offer support to people living with the effects of stroke. The services depend entirely on the help of local volunteers and we’d like to hear from anyone interested in giving some time to help in this rewarding role. Full training is provided and expenses reimbursed.”
If you don’t see yourself volunteering within the stroke service we have other roles for you to consider. Perhaps you have a passion for fashion and would prefer to be using your skills volunteering in one of our boutique charity shops in Banchory? Or maybe you would rather be assisting with some of our exciting fundraising events. Whatever you feel you could manage in your spare time we will have a role to suit you. Also did you know that research has shown that volunteering is good for your health? It helps beat stress and keeping physically and mentally active can often improve your state of mind. Whether you’re looking to enhance your CV or simply do something worthwhile in your spare time you can be sure of a rewarding experience.
To find out more about CHSS or how you can help, please visit our website on www.chss.org.uk or call Shaheen on tel: 07918 690648 email: Shaheen.salaripour@chss.org.uk

Volunteer Café Assistant required for a busy Community Café in Fraserburgh
Café Connect, Broad Street, Fraserburgh requires a volunteer Café assistant, for their busy and friendly community café. The Café gives employment and personal development opportunities for adults with disabilities in an environment integrated into the community, and through this has an opportunity for someone who can work well in this happy environment.
Volunteer hours: Wednesday and Fridays between 9am – 3.30pm.
(Hours can be negotiated and can be shared with someone else!)
Duties: A variety, starting with general food preparation and hygiene duties, moving onto dealing with the public.
Minimum age: 16 years
Skills/Qualifications preferred: General kitchen experience, possession of a valid Food Hygiene certificate.
Benefits: Free Lunch and refreshments given to the right volunteer candidate, plus the opportunity to work towards a Volunteer Award, appropriate to the person.
An excellent opportunity for someone who would like to gain experience or simply give something back to the local community, whilst working alongside others. Café Connect would like to hear from you! Contact: Gwen on 01346 511202 or by simply popping into the Café. Alternatively you can contact AVA at: north@avashire.org.uk or call 07724 617648.

Active School Volunteers needed throughout the Aberdeenshire Area
Role: Volunteer Active Schools Coaches
Where: Throughout the Aberdeenshire area, but local to you.
Duties: Varied within the realm of the sports activity
Contact: Active Schools on 01569 768235 or email: activeschools@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or your local AVA Volunteer Development Officer, see our website for details: http://avashire.org.uk/contactus.html

Volunteers needed - Garioch Community Kitchen
Volunteers are needed for collection and delivery of groceries.
Tuesday evenings from 8.30pm - as little or often as you can manage. Volunteers must have their own transport. If you are interested or need more information, please contact: Sarah Bell at gariochcommunitykitchen@hotmail.co.uk or call: 07729 297892.

Befrienders sought to support older people
Could you provide some companionship for an older person in your community?
Kincardine & Deeside Befriending are looking to recruit Volunteer Befrienders to support older people who are socially isolated. Volunteers are recruited, trained and matched on a one to one basis with an older person. They meet regularly to go out and about, to share hobbies and interests or just to enjoy each other’s company. For a person experiencing loneliness, the support of a Befriender can make a real difference. Anyone who is over 18, who enjoys talking and listening to older people and who has a couple of hours every week or fortnight to spare is welcome to apply. Volunteer Befrienders attend an informal interview and a short introductory course. They will also have to undertake an enhanced disclosure check. Having your own car would be of benefit and travelling expenses are provided as well as ongoing support. Volunteers are currently sought to cover the Deeside and Mearns area. More information and an application pack is available from the Organisation’s website : www.kdbefriending.org.uk.
For further queries please contact the Deeside Co-ordinator on Tel 01330 823368.

Volunteering Opportunity: Chaperones for 14-19 year olds
sound (Scotland's Festival of New Music) have a composition course coming up from 9^th until 11^th October in Woodend Barn, Banchory and they're looking for two people to act as chaperones for this (one man, one woman). The chaperones would be required for two nights: Sun 9^th and Mon 10^th October. The duties include making sure the young people are all safe and sound in their accommodation and are ready for the workshops the next mornings at 10am. sound will cover the accommodation and can pay £75 per night per chaperone. The place for accommodation is to be confirmed, but it is somewhere near the Woodend Barn, Banchory. The person would need to be PVG checked. If you are interested, please contact: Kadri Soerunurk, Festival Coordinator on 01330 826526 or email: admin@sound-scotland.co.uk.

Volunteering Opportunity: Treasurer to the Westhill and District Community Sports Hub (WDCSH)
WDCSH is a voluntary organisation with charitable status consisting of local sport and leisure clubs. Goals of the Hub include promotion of sports and leisure in the community, to increase membership of member clubs and improve sports facilities in the area. They are seeking an individual who has experience in book keeping and production of annual accounts for organisations. Time commitment is anticipated to be 2-3 hours each month. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Grant Coull via email grantcoull@sky.com.