Volunteering Fair

Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent arts venue and registered charity in the heart of Aberdeen, Scotland — delivering a varied programme of theatre, dance, music, spoken word, comedy, film and creative learning events.

For over 60 years, we have been passionate, ever-present supporters of creativity and the performing arts in Aberdeen, and we are proud to champion an approach that emphasises openness, participation, lifelong learning and engagement with a wide range of audiences, artists and communities from across North East Scotland.

With a storied history at our back, we're equally excited about the future — and greatly look forward to welcoming new and returning audiences for more memorable moments, inspiring shows, big nights out and exciting new creative projects.

Aberdeen Linking Lives Befriending Service is an initiative of The Bridge Scotland. Our objective is anchored on the provision of support to the elderly who are lonely and or socially isolated. The Campaign to End Loneliness, declared loneliness as a public health crisis in the UK. Currently 9 million people in the UK identify as lonely, of which almost half (4 million) are older people. This figure has continued to increase.  Additionally, many people find themselves alone after their partner’s demise or are isolated due to illness or disability. We match trained and PVG-checked volunteers with older people who would like to see a friendly volunteer visitor on a regular basis. Such arrangements can be through physical visits, or telephone conversations for a minimum of one hour weekly. The volunteer and service user can also go out for short outings to local places of interest, subject to mutual understanding.

Aberdeen SANDS is run by volunteers who  have experienced pregnancy and baby loss and we rely on donations from funerals and fundraisers for our funding to help support bereaved parents and families.
  
Sands vision for the future: A world where fewer babies die and when a baby does die, anyone affected receives the best possible care and support for as long as it's needed. It’s important to state that SANDS will support anyone at any stage of their loss, whether it’s some years after a loss, or if its early on in the pregnancy. We are a Pregnancy and baby loss charity.

We require volunteers to help maintain every month the Forget Me Not Garden at Hazlehead Crematorium. We also would like a few helpers to help us once a month at our Family Afternoons at Airyhall Community Centre, helping set up, serve tea and coffee and tidy up at the end of the afternoon.

AVA are part of a Scotland-wide network of Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) called the TSI Scotland Network - we are one of 32 working with communities across the country. AVA is Aberdeenshire’s TSI, and our mission is to promote the growth of strong, resilient, communities in Aberdeenshire by connecting, supporting, and promoting volunteers, charities, community-led organisations, and social enterprises collectively referred to as the Third Sector. We support organisations to recruit support and recognise their volunteers. We also help to match up  volunteers to organisations that need their help.

The Archie Foundation transforms experiences and outcomes in healthcare and bereavement for babies, children and families across north Scotland. We provide emergency funding for families, tailored support for bereaved children and specialist equipment to enhance NHS paediatric services. We’re here for children and families when they need it most.

Archway is a small, parent-led Aberdeen charity, established over 35 years ago. We support nearly 200 children and adults with learning disabilities, many of whom also have complex health needs, physical or sensory impairments, autism, or additional challenges. Our residential and respite services operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, offering vital care and support to families across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

At the heart of all we do is a deep commitment to valuing the uniqueness, upholding the rights, and respecting the dignity of each individual we support - empowering them to reach their full potential, whatever that may be.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAF), is Scotland’s only dedicated asthma charity, which provides evidence-based health information, confidential advice, and practical support to children, young people and adults with asthma, their families, carers, and friends across Scotland. The charity also provides targeted asthma training to schools, businesses and healthcare professionals.

Volunteers are essential in helping Clan to provide a wide range of services, free of charge, to anyone affected by cancer. No matter what time you can give or what skills you can bring, Clan can offer you a special and rewarding volunteering experience.
Each role contributes significantly to our mission of providing support to anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis.

FACEYOUTH is a charity that support young people from under-represented groups and socially disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their full potential. Through culturally sensitive and inclusive programmes, we aim to break down barriers, nurture potential, and build a better tomorrow – one child at a time.

Four Pillars offers Mental, Emotional, Physical and Sexual Health support amongst the LGBT+ Community across the whole of Grampian, as well as a coffee shop which is open five days a week as a way to make friends and socialise.

We are one of Aberdeen’s leading family support charities. Every year we provide practical and emotional support to around 200 families with young children in Aberdeen. We help them to create a secure and loving home environment where their children can grow up happy, healthy and confident, and able to achieve their full potential.

From advice and information on day-to-day issues, through to detailed support and specialist topics, we can help.

LATNEM is a free, comprehensive mental health peer support charity for mothers and birthing people in Scotland. Our core mission is to promote and protect their mental health by providing a safe, judgment-free space for support. Mums are at the heart of what we do.
We deliver our services through a multi-faceted approach to ensure accessibility and effectiveness, some examples are: 

• Peer Support Groups across the North East and Moray as well as an online and virtual group.
• Access to practical and financial support.
• Social Prescribing through our ‘Next Steps’ project. 

Marie Curie is a leading UK charity dedicated to caring for people with terminal illness and supporting those who love them. Through expert nursing, hospice care and community-based services, Marie Curie helps people live as well as possible for as long as possible, with dignity, comfort and compassion. We support families with emotional, practical and bereavement care, offering reassurance at one of life’s most difficult times. Marie Curie also invests in training, research and campaigning to improve end-of-life care for everyone. Working in partnership with the NHS and local communities, Marie Curie is there day and night, ensuring no one faces terminal illness alone.

For too many young people, an unfair start means navigating life's toughest challenges alone. Changing lives through mentoring. Our award-winning programme believes in the power of connection, communication, and the overall transformational potential of mentoring in school and community settings.

At MCR Pathways we match adult volunteers from all walks of life, careers, and experiences with young people experiencing a range of challenging circumstances, to build confidence, overcome obstacles, awaken ambition, and much more. 

Just one hour a week can ignite the vital spark in a young person, helping them find a path to positive futures. Change a life. Be the difference in ensuring young people don't have to navigate life's toughest challenges alone.

Heritage Charity, protecting Scotland's places.

Childline is an essential service for children every single day, and having volunteers at the end of the phone supporting children is vital in keeping them safe and feeling valued. Young people are seeking support from our counsellors on a range of issues including loneliness, their mental health, and suicidal thoughts and feelings.
We are looking for new volunteers to join our Childline family and help children and young people who need us in their darkest hours. The service is here for children 24/7, but as a volunteer you offer a few hours a week. Many more volunteers are needed so we can continue to provide this vital service to children nationwide. Childline is a service delivered by NSPCC.

Oxfam is a global community of people who believe in a kinder, and radically better world, where everyone has the power to thrive not just survive. We believe we can overcome poverty by fighting the injustices and inequalities that fuel it.
Oxfam retail volunteers make a real impact every shift and help us work towards a kinder and radically better world, one without poverty. For example, by giving just 4 hours a week for a year, you could help fund two Oxfam Water Tanks that provide safe, clean drinking water to a crisis-affected community.

You can volunteer in one of our shops from the age of 14. Volunteering at Oxfam is the perfect way to make friends and gain new skills, whether you're looking to improve your CV, take on a new challenge or just have fun!

Charity for empowering girls and women in menstrual health.

Rape Crisis Grampian is the only service dedicated to providing support to survivors of sexual violence in Aberdeen City and Shire. Among our services, we provide person-centred one-to-one support, as well as legal advocacy, prevention workshops and raising awareness in the community. Our clients are aged 11+, any gender, and from a wide range of backgrounds and histories.

The River Dee Trust is a community-based charitable company set up in 1998 with the aim of improving our knowledge of the ecology and biodiversity of the River Dee so that practical improvements and restoration of the River and the wildlife it supports can be achieved; and to  deliver educational information to schools, organisations and individuals living in the North East of Scotland. Our work is guided by the principle of how we can better understand and improve the River so that we may look after it for this and future generations.

Since 1923, SAMH has been Scotland’s national mental health charity.

The mission of SAMH is to lead by example - to be innovative, purposeful and challenging in all that we do. SAMH campaigns for rights and rights-based services, challenges stigma and discrimination and promotes inclusion. 

We work to raise the aspirations and expectation of people who use services, people who deliver services, and society as a whole, 

SAMH is a beacon of excellence delivering 70 services in communities across Scotland; cities, areas of multiple deprivation, remote rural spaces, villages, towns and islands: 

We're here for people, where and when they need us.

Our services cover 30,090 square miles and support 20,000 service users per year.

Our services are person-centred and based on an ethos of recovery. We provide social care support, supported living, addictions and employment services, among others.

We provide holistic family support services to promote emotional wellbeing, offering hope and compassion and relieving the needs of parents, unpaid carers and families in conditions of stress or financial hardship due to their caring responsibilities. Our services include:

• Parents Cafe - peer networking
• Information, advice and guidance
• Training and skills for unpaid carers
• 1-1 emotional support 
• Music therapy session
• Inclusive recreational activities
• Skill development support

We exist to help the community of Udny to develop and are working hard to re-shape local facilities to best serve the needs and wishes of Udny.

Udny is a rural community in Aberdeenshire which includes the villages of Pitmedden, Udny Green and Hattoncrook.

We are mainly funded by our subsidiary organisation, Udny Community Wind Turbine Company, which manages the community owned wind turbine at Tillymaud (just outside of Pitmedden going towards Aberdeen).   The funds produced from selling locally produced clean energy are ploughed back into the community.

We have a range of  free activities that relate to heath and wellbeing for all our users. We have recently become a community health point. We work collaboratively with schools different community groups and other charities to support those in the parish of Udny the best we can.      

We are based at The Medan Centre at 14 Oldmeldrum Road in Pitmedden along with our successful community cafe, Cafe48.