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Volunteer

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Volunteering

Volunteering is a fantastic way to build your skills, meet new people and have fun, all while making a real difference to your community.

Welcome

Volunteers are the heartbeat of our community and we couldn’t do what we do without them!

Whether you have a few minutes or a few months, by giving your time you’ll be helping us on our mission, to bring people together in their local community and have a positive impact on their health and well-being. Read on to discover how you could get involved, or drop us a message and have a chat about what you would like to do.

Get in touch today
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120+ Active
Volunteers

We are supported by over 120 volunteers

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800+ Hours
donated

every month to support our vital work with and for our community

Young smiling person

“Volunteering has improved my confidence and my mental health, due to interactions with staff and customers, whilst doing something worthwhile for the community. It feels good to volunteer.”

Over 80% of our
volunteers

say that they would recommend volunteering with us!

Volunteer at our Community Hub

Inside our Community Hub there are a number of ways you can get involved as a volunteer, including:

At our Dementia Day Service, you can help look after many people who are living with dementia. This person-centred service helps reduce social isolation and stigma of the person living with dementia while providing respite for carers. We will provide all the necessary training and support.

In Café Connect, our community café located at the entrance of the Community Hub. You can help welcome people to the building, take orders and serve delicious healthy food made by our chef.

Becoming a Befriender! Befriending involves matching volunteers with unpaid carers or people living with dementia to have regular chats, and encourage a friendship to reduce isolation.

Supporting our programme of Dementia Friendly Activities. Our staff and volunteers help facilitate a number of activities, lunches, and get togethers that help to make people living with dementia feel include, engaged and have fun.

As part of our Fundraising and Community Hub teams! There is a number of volunteer opportunities with our fundraising teams and our operations team, drop us a message to find out more!

Find out more
Click here to apply

Volunteer at an event

Bring your energy and enthusiasm and volunteer at one of our fundraising events!

Whether you’re joining one of our challenge events, to support and encourage everyone taking part or you come along to an event at our Community Hub, to help steward guests, welcome them to the event or even take photographs – as an event volunteer, you will be invaluable in making an exciting atmosphere and helping everything run smoothly. We would love to have you join us!

We’ll provide full briefings before each event, so you know what to expect on the day.

“I am really enjoying volunteering at The Eric Liddell Community’s events! It is helping me to connect to other people and give me a new sense of purpose. I feel it will help with my physical and mental health and has boosted my confidence! I really like everyone and enjoying giving a little back to the community. Thank you so much for the opportunity!”

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Volunteer in your local community

We are always looking for way to broaden our community and network and our volunteers do a wonderful job spreading the word! From placing collection tins to representing us at community events, you’ll play a vital role. Our amazing team of community volunteers demonstrate incredible dedication, commitment and compassion.

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Volunteer
at work

Working in partnership with The Eric Liddell Community can bring lasting benefits to your company while driving progress and raising vital funds to help us make a difference. We’re delighted to invite corporate groups to volunteer with us, whether to use their volunteer day with us, or share the skills on a longer-term basis. We will tailor a volunteer experience that is meaningful and beneficial for everyone. Find out more about how you can get involved at work, here.

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Student Opportunities & Placements

We are committed to providing excellent opportunities for students and young people. We work closely with local schools and colleges to provide a wide range of roles to enable young people to complete their Duke of Edinburgh award, develop their skills and employability and offer placements to complement qualifications and degree programmes across hospitality, community support and social care.

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Other ways you can support us

As a registered charity, The Eric Liddell Community is dependent on the generous support of funds and time donated by individuals, groups and corporates to continue to run our crucial services. Find out other ways you can help support us here.

Impact of
volunteering during COVID pandemic

During lockdown, we delivered a home cooked meal to over 7,500 vulnerable people in Edinburgh! This was only possible because of the amazing community volunteers, 76 of whom sprang into action in response to our community’s need – and 12 have continued on in new roles to help support our services!

“What a human adventure! When I started volunteering during lockdown in emptied streets, I didn’t think we will be delivering for all those weeks. I was really happy to meet and exchange few words with the women and men of our community. What’s more? I got to learn about the city as I was new to Edinburgh. Indeed, I discovered new places while doing the deliveries.”

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Volunteering policies

Here you will find copies of all the policies relating to volunteering at The Eric Liddell Community.

Our volunteers are onboarded through the following process:

  • Volunteer Application
  • Informal interview with our Volunteer Co-ordinator
  • References
  • PVG Check
  • Relevant training identified
  • Induction and “Taster Shift”
  • These processes are in place to ensure high quality service delivery and best practice and to help our volunteers feel supported and equipped to fulfil their roles. We are committed to providing volunteers with training that is required of their position.

If you have any questions about our volunteer policies and practices please contact hh@ericliddell.org

Volunteer Helper application form

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