Volunteering at Scottish Families

We are a small team and we couldn’t do half of what we do without the support from volunteers. We appreciate any support and time you can spare and have different roles including helpline advisers, storytellers, and fundraisers.

If you want more information on any of the roles email us at info@sfad.org.uk or call 0141 465 7523.

Helpline Adviser

Due to Covid19 we have had to suspend our volunteer recruitment and are unsure when this is likely to recommence. This page will be updated when we are in a position to accept new helpline volunteers.

Our helpline advisers listen to anyone who calls or webchats us who may be going through a difficult time, looking for information, or who may be struggling to cope.

People contact us with all kinds of problems. It could be alcohol or drug use, grief, depression, loneliness, stressful situations, domestic abuse, money worries, relationship issues, and many other things. As a helpline adviser, we ask you to listen, give the person the chance to get things out in the open and talk things through with them. You will be helping people at difficult times and will make a difference to their day. Most of our calls end with the person being signposted to a group or service or being referred to a Scottish Families support service.

You need to be:

Supportive and friendly
Open-minded and understanding of someone else’s opinion even if different to yours
Empathetic to the person’s feelings
Non-judgemental of the person’s life, views, choices, and family
Honest in telling the truth even if it is difficult to say

This role is home-based or office-based. You can choose your shift for the week and what time of day works best for you. Shifts are 3-hours long. We will invite you to a training session which will include drug and alcohol awareness, why families need support, call-handling, and navigating our website and service directory. You will be given supervision from a member of staff until you are ready to start taking calls.

Is being a helpline adviser the role for you? Some things to consider:

I have a phone, PC/laptop, and internet access so that I can answer calls from home
I have good online skills including finding information online, filling in forms and sending emails
I have my own email account or I am happy to set one up
I have good English communication and writing skills
I have some knowledge of alcohol and drugs (training will be given)
I have experience studying/training/volunteering/working in health and social care, mental health, addiction or trauma support services/organisations
I understand the importance of data protection, confidentiality, and protecting people’s personal details
I am in Scotland and can attend a training session in Glasgow at my own expense

For your safety, we ask for you to be two years of alcohol or drug-free if you have previous experience problems with alcohol or drugs. If you have a family member who has experienced problems with alcohol or drugs, they must also be two years of alcohol or drug-free for your safety and wellbeing.

We would love to have you on our team, submit some details in our form below and we will be in touch.

Due to Covid19 we have had to suspend our volunteer recruitment and are unsure when this is likely to recommence. If you are interested in this volunteering role please contact our Helpline Development Officer Suzie Gallagher suzanne@sfad.org.uk who will send you an application form. If you have the required skill set she can keep your details on file and contact you when our volunteering recommences.

‘It seems such a small duty but the difference it can make to someone else to help make them feel they are not alone is incredible. To know that I am the light at the end of someone’s dark tunnel is so rewarding and fulfilling and it makes volunteering all so worthwhile and you can do it comfortably from your own home! Scottish Families is an amazing organisation to volunteer for and I would recommend to anyone that they should become a volunteer if they can. The experiences you can gain are simply invaluable.’ – Ashleigh

Help with our fundraising

Fundraising helps us raise money and raise the profile of our charity. It helps get our name out there which in turn helps people get support sooner. You will organise events, represent us locally, learn and develop your skills in grassroots fundraising, and will help us reach our fundraising target which allows us to continue our work supporting families.

As a fundraiser you can:

Organise events like bake sales, coffee mornings, afternoon tea, etc.
Build relationships with local businesses
Find homes for our collection cans
Help out at events like bag packs, information stalls, and sporting events
And much more!

Full training and support will be given, as well as regular catch-ups.

Is being a fundraiser for you? Some things to consider:

I will not judge others
I understand that some of the things I may hear from members of the public while working in the community might be difficult
I understand it is important to follow procedures when handling cash
I am a confident person
If someone says no to my request I won’t take it personally

We would love to have you on our team, contact Sarah sarah@sfad.org.uk for more information.

Your privacy

We collect personal information from you when apply to be one of our volunteers. Full details can be read in our Volunteer Policy Notice.