Befriend a Child supports children in Aberdeen growing up in troubled and disadvantaged circumstances. 

The children are matched with a trained volunteer who supports them and helps develop resilience, self-confidence, self-esteem and to experience more of life. 

Charlie House aims to help make life better for babies, children and young people who have life-threatening or life-limiting conditions. They also offer support for their parents, brothers and sisters, and all those who love them. 

Since forming in 2011 their goal has remained to develop and grow projects to support children and create a place where all can enjoy family time without feeling like they are in a medical environment.

Home-Start Aberdeen aims to prevent family crisis and breakdown in vulnerable, struggling families with young children and provide trained volunteers to visit and support families in their homes. 

Through providing emotional and practical support, the charity aims to give families the tools to manage their own situation and move forward independently. 

BeFriends supports vulnerable and disadvantaged children aged 5-18 providing them with a One-to-One Befriending Service. 

This service aims to help the children realise their full potential and build upon the children’s skills and abilities including their social and communication skills. 

Dundee Blind and Partially Sighted Society (DBPSS) aims to create a world where blind and partially sighted people enjoy the same rights, opportunities and responsibilities as everyone else. 

Providing a wide range of services to people with a visual impairment and advising members on all aspects of support services in relation to their visual loss. 

Dundee Carers Centre aims to improve the lives of carers aged 8 to 95 by offering emotional and practical support, training and information about services, short breaks and self-directed support.

They frequently run events, activities, groups, training courses and information sessions for carers, people with a disability and professionals. 

Better Days aims to reduce the barriers people with learning disabilities face when going out and about in the North East, helping them feel more safe and confident and encouraging their independence.

Throughout the year Better Days has regular monthly activities and one-off events including adapted bike sessions, gardening projects and exercise classes.

St Oswald’s Hospice aims to make the most of time and improve quality of life for everyone in the North East living with an incurable condition, and their families. 

With the vital support of their staff, volunteers, donors and supporters, St Oswald’s Hospice continues to develop and grow their services so that everyone in the region gets expert, dignified and compassionate care when they need it.

The Children’s Foundation focuses on providing excellent health care and well-being to children and young people in the North East & North Cumbria.

Helping children that other charities don’t always reach, last year The Children’s Foundation directly helped 29,000 children across the North East. This included The Clown Doctor Programme which brings V-pods to hospitals to relieve pain and distress by distracting from unpleasant medical procedures. 

Coatbridge Community Foodbank helps people in the local area that are struggling to provide enough food for themselves and their families. They accept donations directly to their foodbank or via their Just Giving Page and also have trollies in ASDA and Tesco for the public to donate directly.

The foodbank accepts a range of donations including rice and pasta, milk, cleaning items and nappies and helps on average 150-200 families a month.

Dates-n-mates is Scotland’s national dating and friendship agency for adults with learning disabilities. They offer the opportunity to make new friends, support to improve confidence and build personal relationships. 

Dates-n-mates invites members to at least four social events every month ranging from creative workshops to talent contests to club nights and supports them on their first dates. 

Elpis Trust accommodates and provides support to women aged 16-25 years who are homeless, have experienced living in care or are seeking asylum. 

Young women can prepare for independence through individually tailored plans focusing on developing living skills, social skills and finding employment opportunities to maximize their opportunities to develop and grow. 

Fool On supports adults with mental health issues through performing arts at their workshop in Coatbridge. Volunteers teach guitar, keyboard, singing, creative writing and comedy and members get the opportunity to showcase their new talent at one of the four shows held throughout the year. 

Additionally, Fool On regularly performs at charity events, nursing homes, local mental health wards as well as hosting specialist workshops. 

Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity aims to be there for every child treated in hospital in the West of Scotland looking after a range of illnesses including Kidney Disease, Crohn’s Disease and Retinopathy of Prematurity.

They raise funds to invest in equipment, research and the continued improvement of facilities and services for children and families in hospital. 

The Scottish Fire & Rescue Family Support Trust provides assistance to employees & families of Scottish Fire & Rescue Service. Last year the charity helped over 880 individuals and their families, helping them through a wide range of personal issues and difficult circumstances. 

Services they provide include financial assistance, children’s investment grants and bereavement and hardship grants.

Community One Stop Shop is situated in the heart of Broomhouse, an area affected by poverty and deprivation, and supports those affected through times of crisis. 

They offer advice, one-on-one employability support, a self-referral food bank and delivery, free sanitary product provision and Holiday support programmes with local schools.

Edinburgh’s oldest charity established in 1733, Dean and Cauvin Trust, provides a range of support to young people who are at the risk of homelessness, have experienced adversity and struggle to see their own potential. 

They provide a range of supported residential placements and single supported tenancies to young people between the ages of 15 and 21 years and help them recognise their self-worth and individual strengths. 

Make 2nds Count aims to provide hope to women and men living with secondary breast cancer (also known as metastatic breast cancer) and those around them. 

They aim to raise awareness and fund medical research that will contribute to increased quality of life for patients.

Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids responds to the needs of children in Edinburgh who are living in poverty, suffering from life limiting illnesses or have additional support needs. They fund small organisations which help children build memories and make friends and also buy equipment the NHS can't fund for making a big difference to children's day to day lives. 

Last year they operated the largest Christmas toy appeal – Mission Christmas and made sure 24,000 children woke up to a gift from Santa. 

St Columba’s Hospice cares for patients with a range of illnesses including motor neurone disease, heart and respiratory conditions, cancer and many more. The Hospice has a 30-bed inpatient unit and the average length of stay is 19 days with 34% of patients being discharged.

They work with patients and families to find out what matters most to them by making time to explore what’s important to patients and include them in any decisions about their care.

Step to Hope are a non-profit charity dedicated to caring for the homeless and those suffering with addiction. 

Over half of their volunteers are addicts in recovery; this means they can pass on their learning from experience and show others how to achieve a new life. They carry out a range of non-profit charity work including handing out basic necessities, paying for accommodation and organising charity and awareness events in Edinburgh.

For nearly 50 years St Ann’s Hospice has been caring for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones.

St Ann’s treats every patient uniquely and aims to maintain their dignity. They don’t only focus on the patients but also recognise the difficulty relatives, carers and friends face. The centre offers a ‘supporting you’ programme along with counselling, dietary advice, creative therapies and more.

The Springboard Charity helps young people achieve their potential and nurtures unemployed people of any age into work; supporting disadvantaged and underprivileged people into sustainable employment within hospitality, leisure and tourism.

Springboard’s work encourages, motivates, builds confidence, develops the skills required and mentors those people to succeed in a career in these industries.

Since 2004 Wipe Your Tears has been making a difference for ill children and their parents, and children who are victims of domestic violence. 
They want to help in whatever way they can, whether that is providing a vital piece of medical equipment, assistance to parents who stay in the hospital to be near their child or a simple Christmas present for the children in the wards or refuge.