Many of the people we support struggle with social situations for a variety of reasons and are at risk of isolation. At Simon Community Scotland we want to help people to regain social confidence and encourage positive, interesting and fun interaction with others. 

Our Activity Volunteer role supports our work to provide a varied and full experience to the people using our services, enabling  us to encourage and promote learning, skills development and overall wellbeing. Hosting a workshop, activity or sharing your skills in our services is a rewarding and fulfilling way for you to get involved in the work of Simon Community Scotland.

The support given by an Activity Volunteer can take many forms: from teaching a one off yoga class, to regular cooking/baking, art, crafts, discussion groups, coffee mornings, or simply sitting down for a cup of tea and a chat. Workshops could provide real learning outcomes such as literacy, budget planning and practical skills or a service such as hairdressing, massage or therapies.

The Access Hub drop in service provides a variety of support depending on the needs of the people we work with. As a Front of House Volunteer, Support Volunteer or Helpline Volunteer you will assist with the successful delivery of a first class service, in line with the Values of Simon Community Scotland. Most of the people who visit our Access Hub are experiencing extremely difficult and often complex circumstances. We want to ensure that we can provide as much support and advice to as many people as possible on a daily basis. The additional help from our valuable volunteers can make a real difference.

Above all we need people who care about our client group, who are enthusiastic and able to respond flexibly to a role that can sometimes be challenging but bring great rewards and satisfaction. We value our volunteers and want to ensure they are equipped with the skills they need to fulfil their role. A full and comprehensive induction and training is provided for the roles of Front of House Volunteer, Support Volunteer and Helpline Volunteer.

This role will be carried out during normal office hours and we ask for a regular commitment. 

We need volunteers with a number of good IT skills such as Google Drive, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and diary management. We want volunteers who have a practical approach, and are ready to take on a whole range of tasks.

With StreetCycles, E-Cargo Bike deliveries and an E-Bike loan scheme we’ve built quite the fleet of bikes! Bike Maintenance Volunteers are responsible for maintaining our fleet of bicycles to make sure they’re road worthy between professional services. 

We need volunteers with a knowledge or passion of cycling but full training is provided. Overall we need a can-do attitude and volunteers who can work under minimal supervision. 

We want to make sure sleeping bags, essential items of clothing, toiletries and food items are distributed regularly to the people we support.

Volunteers use E-Cargo Bikes or our van to collect and deliver requested items to services and partner organisations. 

Volunteers promote gardening and its many benefits to service users and have the opportunity to work alongside them to create calm, safe spaces which would help improve mental, physical and social wellbeing.  

We need volunteers with an interest in gardening and working outdoors for this reasonably physically demanding role. The ability to approach the volunteering role and tasks with an empathetic and non judgemental attitude is important and we will provide Volunteer Induction Training to prepare you.

Our Helpline service is based in our Access Hub and provides a variety of support depending on the needs of the service users and in accordance with our Street Team guidelines. As a Helpline Operator you will be responsible for giving support, signposting enquiries, taking referrals and the associated administration processes. 

Many of the women we support struggle with a wide variety of health complications including their period. Simon Community Scotland provides access to Period Friendly Points to make the struggles they face at this time a little easier to cope with.

Volunteering as a Period Friendly Pal is a rewarding and fulfilling way for you to get involved in the work of Simon Community Scotland.

The support given by a Period Friendly Pal volunteer takes many forms including: look after your allocated Point in the city, helping raise awareness of the issues homeless women face when looking after themselves, being an ambassador for Simon Community Scotland, organising pack and distribute the Period Friendly products at the warehouse, helping us to raise funds and donations to keep the Period Friendly Points and Pax running. You will be directed by our Volunteering Coordinator, attend regular fun group meets with our team of Period Pal volunteers to give and take part in updates and project objectives.

The aim of PALS is to form positive working relationships with service users highlighted by the PHOENIx team, supporting them regularly in community based activities. This can include anything from taking them for a coffee and a general chat to enrolling in an education programme. Service users will be matched with a PAL based on interests and personality. Although PHOENIx PALS is an extension of the PHOENIx Pharmacy team, it is hoped that you will develop an independent relationship with the service users and will work autonomously with them.

Our Street Cycles base is Simon Community Scotland’s Warehouse (12-14 Reidvale Street, G31 1SZ) The majority of a shift will be conducted in urban areas around Glasgow and involve interactions with the Street Team (based at The Hub, currently 72 London Road, G1 5NP).

Street Cycles Volunteers are an important part of our Street Team. They use our bikes to reach further than the city centre. They look out for places where people are sleeping rough – mapping Glasgow and surrounding areas. The bikes also carry sleeping bags, basic first aid provisions and other essentials to offer people in need. Street Cycles Volunteers visit B&Bs around the city, where people are in temporary accommodation, to deliver essentials such as kettle foods and toiletries. Street Cycles Volunteers can also visit and deliver items to Simon Community Scotland accommodation services around the city.

We need confident (and fit!) volunteers for this important role. We provide Volunteer Induction training, and shadow shifts with both the Street Team and Street Cycles Team to prepare you for your role. All required equipment, including a bike, is supplied. Ongoing training is available for volunteers too. This is an active outdoor based role and will involve travelling considerable distances across the city by bike. Along with your Street Cycles partner you will engage with and offer support to vulnerable people.

The role of a Streetreads Volunteer involves selecting appropriate books for our service users and taking them, usually by car, to different services. Volunteers then set up a Streetreads table and encourage people to come up and take a book. The books are a gift and therefore we want to tailor the books to the readers where possible. A volunteer role may also involve helping to collect, receive, sort and catalogue book donations.

Some tasks require a certain amount of physical mobility (e.g. packing and lifting book boxes), whilst some are more sedentary (e.g. cataloguing books). Roles can therefore be tailored to individuals’ needs.
We need people who care about our client group, who are enthusiastic and able to respond flexibly to a role that can sometimes be challenging, but bring great rewards and satisfaction.

The Street Team Volunteer Role will provide positive, practical support to people who are rough sleeping in Glasgow or at risk of rough sleeping.

Working in pairs with our trained staff team, you will engage with Rough Sleepers and Vulnerable People providing support and encouragement to seek and achieve positive solutions. This will include regular interaction with our Street Cycles Project, engagement with accommodation, health and addiction and other homeless services.

You will be supported and trained to maintain effective, professional relationships with a range of external partners.

Volunteer Translators provide support to our frontline staff who are working with people whose first language is not English. They are contacted via telephone at times they have specified they are available to aid conversations between support workers and the people they are supporting.

We want to ensure sleeping bags, items of clothing, toiletries and dry foods are distributed regularly to the people we support. We need help to receive, sort, store, record, package, distribute and plan every aspect of the donations received by Simon Community Scotland.

Often the people we support have very little or nothing. Our warehouse is a central outlet where we receive, sort and co-ordinate the distribution of the kind donations from our supporters. Having volunteers working alongside staff allows us to maintain this unique service. The warehouse provides stock and replenishment for our Hub. The Hub is a place where people experiencing homelessness can come to access items of clothing and toiletries, the simple things most of us take for granted.

When people first arrive at our supported accommodation services, we want them to feel safe and welcome. The staff and volunteers at the Warehouse help to construct welcome packs for the people we support. These packs contain basic essentials like toiletries, sanitary products, underwear and maybe even a pair of pyjamas. This small gesture has a huge impact on a person’s often difficult transition into a homeless service.

The Warehouse will maintain an active range of supplies that are relevant to the needs, weather and requirements of the people we support. This service will be the main point for public donations throughout the year.