Volunteers can sign up for online courses at Clan open day on June 8.
Clan Cancer Support is giving its volunteers the chance to gain nationally recognised qualifications in courses ranging from mental health awareness to sustainability, as part of a new partnership with a leading online learning and skills training provider.
The North-east cancer charity has partnered with The Skills Network, which offers more than 40 online government funded courses to help individuals achieve distance learning qualifications and upskill.
The courses cover subject areas including childcare and education, business leadership and management, retail and hospitality and health and wellbeing. The learning is online based with support available through local tutors from North East Scotland College (NESCoL).
Existing and new volunteers will be able to find out more and sign up for the courses at Clan’s volunteering open day at Clan House in Aberdeen on Wednesday June 8, with staff on hand to talk about the different volunteering opportunities available within the charity.
Kay Johnston, Head of Cancer Support Services at Clan, said: “Clan’s agreement with The Skills Network underlines our commitment to providing benefits and development opportunities to our volunteers who dedicate their personal time to help people affected by cancer in their communities.
“Clan is extremely fortunate to have a force of amazing volunteers who come from all different walks of life and age ranges. Some are looking to gain experience as they prepare to enter the world of work, many look to volunteer around work commitments, while others want to explore new opportunities at the end of their careers.
“This partnership allows our volunteers to continue their professional and personal development, boosting their knowledge, employability and skills base. We look forward to discussing the partnership, along with the many other benefits volunteering at Clan can bring, at our volunteering open day this week.”
Paul Wakeling, Executive Director of Curriculum and Quality at The Skills Network, added: “The Skills Network is thrilled to be partnering with Clan, to offer our full suite of qualifications to the volunteers.
“As a leading provider of distanced learning, we are passionate about enriching lives through learning and we do this through the quality and accessibility of our online technology and educational content.
“We hope that this partnership will provide flexible, accessible and enriching learning opportunities to support and give back to the many wonderful volunteers who give their time to Clan.”
Clan’s volunteering open day will take place at Clan House on Westburn Road, Aberdeen on Wednesday, June 8 from 3-8pm.
The event is open to all and will give anyone interested in volunteering the opportunity to find out more about the charity, its work across the North-east and Northern Isles as well as how volunteering can make a difference to the local community.
The event coincides with Volunteers’ Week (June 1 - 7) and will encourage people to sign up across all aspects of Clan, including volunteering at events and shops, as well as volunteering to assist with listening and support and driving clients to and from their hospital appointments.
The charity plans to host several more open day events for volunteering throughout its community bases, including Banchory, Inverurie, Crimond, Elgin, Orkney and Shetland.
For more information email volunteering@clancancersupport.org
or call 01224 647000.