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Scottish Charity No. SC030132
Company Ltd by Guarantee, No. SC297772


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Volunteering with Interest
Link
Do
you
think you’re too busy to volunteer??
Can we
change your mind?
We
understand that volunteering can seem like a big
commitment but we can offer a variety of great
opportunities that will fit in with you and your lifestyle.
-
How about going out for coffee or to
the cinema or shopping once a month/fortnight with an adult with learning
disabilities? Click here for more
information
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Are you 16-25 years old and free on
a Tuesday or Wednesday evening every fortnight? Then what about our youth groups? We have
great fun and you could join us as a volunteer mentor.
Click here for more information
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Or how about a term or two attending
evening classes with one of our service users as a Buddy? Courses range from
skin care and make-up to motorbike care and everything in between.
Click here for more information
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Our Childrens Service links adults
with children aged 11-16. You might take someone to the Guides, or ice
skating, to the cinema, out for a burger – we all like a bit of social time,
don’t we? Please help local children enjoy that chance too.
Your role as a
volunteer:
-
As a
volunteer your role in Interest Link could be demanding and require a good
deal of patience and persistence. Communication with the service user may be
difficult and it may take a while to establish a relationship. However:
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You would be
given as much preparation and support as you needed. The co-ordinator would
always be available to give advice and you should not hesitate to phone them
if you have a question or a problem. They would keep in touch, and send you
a newsletter and a feedback form every four months to find out how things
are going.
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The
satisfaction to be had from the role, and the difference it makes to a
service user’s life can be immense: By being linked with a volunteer,
service users can do the things they want to and know that the person
helping them is doing so because they want to, not because they are paid to
or feel obliged to. As well as improving their quality of life (and giving
respite to their carers), being linked to a volunteer can help them with
their social skills and self-confidence and give them a sense of
independence.
-
Being a
volunteer also provides very good work experience and a source of references
if you are thinking about applying for courses or paid jobs in Care.
Confidentiality:
All personal information
about service users must be kept confidential unless it is something that
you feel their carer or somebody else should know for the good of the
service user.
Expenses:
Interest Link will pay all your expenses, including car costs at
30p per mile and activity
costs
such as cinema tickets and
basic refreshments. Costs are claimed monthly and paid promptly. They will
not affect Benefits.
Click below to download:
Leaflets about volunteering with the
Adult,
Young People's and
Children's Services
Volunteer Application Form

If you are
interested in volunteering, please contact your local branch
or
download an application form
and send it into
your local branch.
| Branch |
Co-ordinator |
Contact details |
|
Berwickshire |
Judy Kay |
Platform One, Station
Road,
Duns, Berwickshire
TD11 3HS
Tel: 01361
88366/07776 221843
e-mail:
judykay@interestlink.org.uk
|
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Buddies Central Borders
|
Stefanie Poletyllo |
Low Buckholmside,
Galashiels TD1 1RT
Tel: 01896 750020/07717
403529
e-mail:
stefaniepoletyllo@interestlink.org.uk
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|
Roxburgh |
Val Reilly |
Katherine Elliot Centre, Howdenbank,
Hawick TD9 7JT
Tel
01450 377600
e-mail:
valreilly@interestlink.org.uk
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|
Tweeddale |
Mary Mouat |
Volunteer Resource Centre, Newby Court, School Brae, High Street,
Peebles EH45 8AL
Tel: 01721 729348/0777 3303829
e-mail:
marymouat@interestlink.org.uk |
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