Local Volunteer Opportunities

Thinking about volunteering?

There are many reasons why you might want to volunteer. Maybe you like a challenge, wish to do something different, meet new people. Perhaps you have interests, skills and experience you would like to share with others, or wish to make a worthwhile contribution to a particular cause. Besides giving a sense of achievement and personal satisfaction, volunteering can also be fun, and sometimes it may offer a route back to work through the acquisition of new skills. Being able to demonstrate your committment to a particular cause, subject or project by volunteer work will strengthen your CV.

Volunteers can and do carry out a wide range of activities and without them many initiatives in Skye and Lochalsh would not exist. New volunteers are always welcome in a variety of situations, for example, to organise and help with fundraising, running events, providing support, care, services or training to others, campaigning for something the community needs, serving on a committee or even administration. The volunteering opportunities are as varied as the community groups and voluntary services currently on the go.

In receipt of benefits and not sure how volunteering will affect these?

There are no limits to the number of hours a week that you can be a volunteer - even if you are receving benefits. However, there may be conditions that you will need to meet in order to continue getting benefit whilst you volunteer. If you are getting State Retirement Pension or Pension Credit,  there is no need to inform anyone when you take up volunteer work. If you are in receipt of other benefits such as Job Seekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Income Support or Carers Allowance- you should tell your local Job Centre Plus officewhen you take up voluntary work. If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit you should inform the local council.  More information on Volunteering when you are in receipt of benefits here.

Of course, not all volunteers are unemployed - in fact many people are working full time during the day and fulfill voluntary committments outwith their paid working hours. It really depends on how much time you feel you have for volunteering and your reasons for wanting to volunteer.  Remember - volunteering can be very rewarding and can introduce you to new people as well as new skills.... 

Where do you start looking for voluntary work?

A good starting point is Skye & Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations based in Portree. Our work includes helping our members to recruit volunteers by responding to individual enquiries about voluntary work. We constantly update our Volunteer Opportunities File and member Community Groups Register, so we can tell you where volunteers are needed and how to contact the groups concerned. At present S&LCVO has a membership of over 200 groups which includes youth clubs, sports clubs, arts, culture and heritage groups, organisations involved in health and welfare, local history societies, environmental groups, Community Councils, village hall committees, and community development associations.

Many groups and organisations which need volunteers are happy for you to contact them directly. However, before you contact a group think about what you can offer them, i.e. your interests, skills and experiences, whether you would be prepared to do training and how much time you can offer. Remember, if appropriate, they may ask if you have a criminal record and carry out a Disclosure check.

A selection of current local volunteer opportunities

If your group is looking for volunteers and would like to place an entry on this page, send details of the volunteering opportunities available, including type of project work, activity times, any skills needed, necessary training, etc, and the contact details for your group, through the Contact Us facility.

Highland Hospice Charity Shop Portree
The Highland Hospice is looking for volunteers for their Portree charity  shop (opening Dec 09). Contact Judith Charmer 01397 701488 or 07833467656

Volunteer Stroke Service in Skye
Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland is an independent medical charity. It aims to improve the quality of life of people in Scotland who are affected by chest, heart and stroke illness through Medical Research, Advice and information and Support in the Community. The Community Services Department operates the Volunteer Stroke Service (VSS). The VSS provides a range of services across Scotland which meet the needs of people who have communication difficulties following a stroke, by helping to reduce the amount of social isolation they experience. The objective is to provide a welcoming and stimulating environment in which individuals are:
•supported in their use of communication strategies;
•respected as competent adults;
•encouraged to access other social, leisure, employment and educational facilities.
The Community Services are provided by local Coordinators, who are supported by volunteers. The type of services include group meetings, home and / or hospital visiting and individual support. All offer a program of communication-based activities. A range of other activities are being developed, including:
•supporting people in their own hobbies and interests e.g. bowling clubs, fishing, college courses;
•support for carers;
•supporting people who have had a stroke to become volunteers;
•consultation events
•helping to recruit staff and volunteers.

Volunteer opportunities currently available in Skye include Communication Group facilitators, Communication partners, Social Volunteers, Refreshment Helpers and Drivers.

To find out more about these opportunities please contact:
Local Skye Co-ordinator Irene Kay, phone 01471 820001, or email irene.kay1@tiscali.co.uk

Regular Stroke Groups meet in Broadford from 2-4pm on Mondays, and in Portree from 1-3pm on Wednesdays.

For more information contact CHSS Advice Line 0845 077 6000  or visit the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland website

Lochalsh Youth Liaison and Action Committee (LYLAC)
Our group has recently set up a youth cafe in Kyle of Lochalsh for young people in the surrounding areas and needs all sorts of volunteers to further our project. We especially need help with running the cafe while it's open, decorating it, and providing transport. We also have a list of equipment we would love to have. Sponsors are also in demand. If you can help or need more info please contact David Ashford Tel: 01471 833 463, or by email ashford@legalisp.net.   

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Cuillin FM Community Radio in Skye & Lochalsh
Volunteers are welcomed to get involved with practical studio support, behind the scenes assistance, fundraising, programming and editing. Appropriate training will be given to all volunteers.
Contacts:  Cuillin FM Studio 01478 611234

Skye Talking Newspaper
Volunteer readers and copiers needed to help produce tapes of West Highland Free Press for people who are registered blind. Every Thursday evening readers (4 English and 1 designated Gaelic) meet from 7.30 - 9.15 in Portree to record edited sections of the paper onto a master tape. The same evening the master is copied onto around 60 tapes using a Multi-Trax fast copying machine, and this is done by one person at home, in approx 2 hours. (There is a rota of copiers working in 6-week shifts.) The copier passes the tapes to the co-ordinator on Friday mornings for posting.
If you would like to help produce the Talking Newspaper, or would like to receive tapes, contact co-ordinator Morna MacLaren: daytime at Portree Library 01478 614823 or evenings 01478 612749.


Highland Real Nappy Project
If you are an experienced real nappy user (mum, dad, grandparent, carer) and you want to help promote the use of real nappies across Highland area, then join our team of volunteers. You will be presenting real nappy demonstrations to parents and health professionals, or looking after a display stand at public events. Travel expenses and childcare are covered, and the commitment is just a few hours a month. Regular volunteer support provided by Project Co-ordinator. Contact Katy Kitchingham on 0845 201 2609, email travellingkaty@yahoo.com

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Skye & Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau
Last year Skye & Lochalsh CAB handled in excess of 1400 enquiries on a wide range of topics including money, benefits and employment issues. This year they hope to expand their service and are inviting people to think about volunteering a few hours per week to help. Full training would be given and the work is rewarding, stimulating and challenging.Contact  01478 611880 for more information.

Crossroads Charity Shop
The Crossroads shop in Portree is always keen to hear from people willing to help with sales and receipt of donations. Help would be on a rota basis and they are particularly keen to recruit someone who could spare a few hours on the odd Saturday.

Contact Veronique at the shop 01478 613777.

Distance Befriending
Could you be a volunteer befriender to people throughout the Highlands who have experienced a mental health problem and are rurally isolated or homebound?
Regular, safe, confidential and enjoyable friendship is developed by phone, letter or email. The service is co-ordinated by the charity Befrienders Highland, who provide support and training to volunteers.
The service covers the areas Skye and Lochalsh, Inverness-shire, Nairnshire, Lochaber, Ross-shire, Badenoch & Strathspey, Caithness and Sutherland.

For more information talk informally to the Distance Befriending Co-ordinator, Yvonne Reid based in Inverness, on 01463 235675 or email distance@befriendershighland.org.uk.  Or visit our website.

For a Distance Befriending Volunteer Information Pack contact S&LCVO at Tigh Lisigarry in Portree.

Forward with Families
A tailored support service to families with at least one child under 17, delivered by trained volunteers who provide a flexible home visiting service and facilitate group meetings and workshops where parents can share their skills. 
Forward with Families is a registered charity and a subsidiary of Highland Pre-School Services and works in close partnership with all agencies in the community. If you would like to volunteer your help in Skye & Lochalsh please contact:
Tekela Koek, 07810 480972, tekela@forwardwithfamilies.org

 
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