Scotland’s leading Armed Forces charity, Poppyscotland, has put out a call for volunteers to step forward and make a difference across Edinburgh.
Every year, Poppyscotland runs the iconic Scottish Poppy Appeal, which provides the nation with the national symbol of Remembrance, the four-petalled Scottish Poppy.
Hundreds of volunteers step up annually to help organise the Scottish Poppy Appeal in their local area, volunteering their time to help distribute poppies and collecting tins, and arrange collections at supermarkets, shopping centres and other key locations.
This year, volunteers are needed in the capital to help organise the Appeal, with dedicated support from the Poppyscotland team. The charity is seeking members of the community, a community group, school, local business, or anyone who wishes to make a difference to Scotland’s Armed Forces community in the city.
The money raised during the Scottish Poppy Appeal goes directly to Poppyscotland’s Welfare services, supporting veterans, those still Serving and their families at times of need. This could include, for example, providing an emergency grant to stop a veteran losing their home, funding housing adaptations so that a disabled veteran can continue to live with their family, and much more.
Current Poppyscotland volunteer, Eilidh, said: “It has been really interesting getting to meet people who have Served or have had family Serving. They provide the most incredible stories. People just want to talk to you when they see you volunteer with Poppyscotland, so it never gets boring.
“Poppyscotland are amazing and have supported me with every step. Any time I have a slight worry or confusion, they’re there to help me out and they are some of the friendliest people I’ve met. I’ve loved everything about my experience to date.”
Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, Gordon Michie, said: “Every year, we are so grateful for the generous support of the public. But our volunteers are the strength behind the Scottish Poppy Appeal. Their tireless dedication and professionalism means that the national symbol of Remembrance can be found across the nation.
“We have a dedicated team that look after our volunteers. This makes volunteering for Poppyscotland easy and stress free. But we need you to step forward so that we can continue to change lives for the better.”
To find out more about volunteering for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, contact Poppyscotland’s Volunteering team on 0131 550 1597, email:
Are you fan of 80s and 90s music? Child Bereavement UK needs you! The charity is looking for music fans to give 4 hours of their time to volunteer atLet’s Rock Scotland at Dalkeith Country Park on 24 June 2023.
Volunteers sell wristbands and raffle tickets to raise funds to support the charity’s work and in return get to enjoy the rest of the event free of charge!
The line-up for the festival includes The Human League, Wet Wet Wet, Tony Hadley, Midge Ure, Roland Gift, The Farm, The Beat, Betty Boo, Stray Cats Slim Jim Phantoms Trio, Hue and Cry, and Doctor and the Medics.
Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. The charity supports children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying.
Lorna Murchie, Fundraising Partnership and Engagement Manager for Child Bereavement UK said: ‘This year Child Bereavement UK is delighted to be the beneficiary charity of some of the UK’s most anticipated festivals and gigs.
“Our volunteers tell us they have a great time soaking up the festival atmosphere and seeing their favourite acts, in return for just a few hours of their time helping us raise much-needed funds. If you’re tempted to join in, please visit our website to find out how you can get involved .’
For more information on volunteering or to see our full list of events please visit:
PDSA is calling on kind hearted people who want to make a difference in the local community
The UK’s leading vet charity, PDSA, is calling on kind hearted people who want to make a difference in the local community to support its life-saving work by offering a helping hand at its South Bridge shop in Edinburgh.
The shop, located at 88-89 South Bridge, helps to fund vital veterinary work across PDSA’s 48 Pet Hospitals – including Edinburghl Pet Hospital – which cares for thousands of pets every year.
Shop Manager Ingrid Neill is urgently appealing for locals to volunteer some time at the store: “The success of PDSA charity shops is all down to our amazing team of volunteers,” Ingrid explains. “We urgently need help from more local people to continue the life-changing work we do every day in our Pet Hospitals.”
One of more than 100 PDSA shops in the UK, the South Bridge team plays a pivotal role in helping to fund the charity’s 48 Pet Hospitals, including the Edinburgh Pet Hospital, which provides a lifeline to local pet owners who would otherwise struggle to afford veterinary treatment if their pet unexpectedly becomes ill or gets injured.
In 2022, the Edinburgh Pet Hospital carried out more than 18,000 consultations, 13,000 of which were face-to-face. The hospital costs more than £1.3 million a year to run.
“Volunteering for PDSA is not only rewarding, knowing you’ll be helping a brilliant cause, but it is also fun – you’ll get to meet new people and make some friends along the way in a warm and supportive environment” Ingrid adds.
““It also looks great on your CV and you’ll receive full training so no previous retail experience is required and we’ll reimburse your travel expenses so you’re not out of pocket.
“If you are an animal-lover who is aged 18 or over and would like to play a part in helping pets in need, we’d love to hear from you!”
There is a network of more than 3,000 devoted PDSA volunteers across the UK who save the charity over £4 million a year by dedicating their time to helping out.
Volunteers can choose to spend as much or as little of their spare time to helping out as there is no minimum time commitment.
To find out more please contact Ingrid on 0131 2264925 or pop into the shop.
People across Scotland are being asked to consider if they could open their homes to displaced people from Ukraine as part of a new campaign to find new hosts.
The campaign aims to increase the supply of volunteer hosts across the country for people who are currently in short-term welcome accommodation. A new webpage has been set up to provide prospective volunteers with clear information on the application process and what is expected should they be matched with a displaced person from Ukraine already in Scotland.
Hosts will register their details online which will then be sent to their local authority, where checks are undertaken to ensure that homes offered are suitable to host displaced people from Ukraine.
Minister with Special Responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine Neil Gray said: ““I’m so proud of the warm welcome the people of Scotland have given to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
“We have welcomed so many people through our Super Sponsor Scheme who would otherwise not have been able to travel. We don’t want people to spend any more time than necessary in temporary accommodation and we are keen to match people with hosts as soon as we can.
“We need more hosts and that’s why we’ve launched this campaign. We know that being a host is a big commitment so we have set out exactly what will be expected so people can make an informed choice before providing their details.
“The most successful arrangements happen when both the needs of hosts and Ukrainians align. Many people may prefer to live in areas close to amenities and services, or close to pre-existing Ukrainian communities. In addition, volunteer hosts will have their own preferences and may not have space for larger family sizes or complex group compositions.
“Matching takes time and considerable input. This is why we have increased resources to our local authorities to boost the process.
“I’m extremely grateful to people who are already hosting, as well as those who have already put their details forward and are still waiting to be matched. Rest assured your generous offer is under consideration and your local authority will be in touch. Anyone who has already provided us with their details, will not need to do so again.”
Simon Tyas MBE from Scot Hosts said: ““We are pleased to support this campaign, which is very much needed. Over the past nine months, Scot Hosts been working with hosts (through the Facebook group Scotland Ukraine Host Support Group) and Ukrainian families across Scotland to try and ensure that they have a positive and effective time during their time together in Scotland.
“We’ve created a support network where hosts can share positive and negative experiences, and we stand ready to welcome new hosts who are willing and able to offer their homes.”
PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, is calling on kind-hearted volunteers to support its life-saving work by offering a helping hand in its soon-to-be launched Edinburgh charity shop.
The store, which is set to open next month, will help to fund vital veterinary work across PDSA’s 48 Pet Hospitals – including its local centre in the city – which care for thousands of pets whose owners struggle to afford essential treatments.
Cluster Shop Manager Fiona Lawrie, who will co-ordinate the opening of the South Bridge shop, is encouraging animal lovers who can spare a few hours a week to get in touch and find out about the exciting opportunities available.
Fiona said: “The pandemic had a huge impact on PDSA’s fundraising activities which is why the support provided by the incredible people who volunteer in our shops is so important.
“We receive no government funding towards running our vital vet services and everything we do is supported by the generosity of the pet-loving public whose kind donations of time, money, and items mean we can be there for pets and their owners when they are most in need.
“Volunteering is an excellent way to assist charities and do something that makes a real difference to the lives of others, but it is also a great way to make new friends, gain confidence, and enhance your CV.
“We’re looking for friendly and dedicated people aged 18 or over to join our team at South Bridge in Edinburgh – it doesn’t matter if you don’t have previous retail experience, we provide full training and we’ll reimburse your travel expenses so you’re not out of pocket. All you need is a few spare hours a week, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn.”
To find out about volunteering opportunities at the new store, please contact Fiona Lawrie by calling 07557 196831 or email lawrie.fiona@pdsa.org.uk.
No pet owner should be faced with losing a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to pay for treatment. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.
PDSA encourages all supporters to sign up for Gift Aid* if they are a UK taxpayer, to help their donations go even further. Gift Aid allows PDSA to claim an additional 25 per cent of the value of each item sold.
Hello. As most of you will know, Davidson’s Mains Gala will take place on Saturday 18th June this year.
We are super excited and have already filled all stall holder spots, secured both Mordor Gundogs and Drakes of Hazard display teams, as well as the fair ground rides returning.
However, we desperately need volunteers to help us put on this historical community event. If you can donate some time to any of the following, please let me know.
Your help would be very much appreciated:
Friday 17th June 1.30pm – putting up tents.
Saturday 18th June –
•11.30 – 17:00 Help to run stalls
•17:00 Take down of tents, clear up of field and returning tents, tables etc
Applications now open to be part of Hidden Door 2022
Our festivals showcase theatre, spoken word, visual art, dance and music by local and international artists, and aims to create a platform to bring the arts to a wider audience.
Hidden Door is a volunteer-run charity, with our work funded through ticket sales, sponsorship and fundraising. All money goes straight back into the festival and paying our creative contributors and artists.
This year we’re bringing the old Royal High School on Calton Hill to life for a ten day festival of live music, visual art, dance, theatre and spoken word. The festival will completely transform the entire complex from 9 – 18 June 2022.
We’re looking for friendly faces to help us with a range of duties before, during and after the festival and to help make this the most exciting Hidden Door Festival yet.
We’re looking for self-motivated team members for a range of duties before, during and after the festival such as:
Clearing and preparing the site before the festival
Venue building and set up
Event stewarding, greeting visitors and crowd control
Invigilating artwork installations across the sites
Box office support
Stage management and artist support
Checking wristbands and tickets
Queue management and monitoring noise levels
Cleaning up after the festival
Supervising gates and access points to the festival
Why volunteer?
FREE access to the festival (dependent upon hours volunteered)
The chance to work with an experienced team and learn new skills
An opportunity to get involved in the local arts scene and work with a great line-up of artists and contributors
Be a part of the festival team, make friends and meet new people
If you aren’t sure if volunteering is for you, or would like to understand a bit more about what’s involved, please email hello@hiddendoorarts.org and we’ll be happy to help.
