Healthcare

A V on the right hand side on this list means that the organisation is actively seeking volunteers.

Action on Smoking and Health
"ASH Scotland is the leading charity campaigning for effective tobacco control legislation in Scotland. For over 30 years, ASH Scotland has played a key role in raising awareness about tobacco use and its harmful effects and has contributed to the implementation of effective public health policies to help smokers to quit and to protect children from tobacco."

Alcohol Information Scotland
"The Alcohol Information Scotland website provides a wide range of information on alcohol for Scotland. This includes statistics, research, publications, key policy documents and practice guidelines as well as links to useful websites. Up to date news is reported through daily media monitoring."

Amica Pregnancy Crisis Centre
"The Amica Pregnancy Crisis Centre opened in May 2000 after 2 years of planning and preparation. A few individuals had the vision to see a centre established in Edinburgh, recognising the need for people to have time to discuss their options when faced with an unplanned pregnancy."

Arthritis Care
"Arthritis Care exists to support people with arthritis. We are the UK’s largest organisation working with and for all people who have arthritis."

Asthma UK
"Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma."

Backcare
"BackCare represents people with back pain, a broad range of health professionals treating back pain, researchers and employers and is uniquely placed to act as a conduit for information exchange and debate."

Bowel Cancer UK
"Bowel Cancer UK is a leading charity dedicated to raising awareness of bowel cancer, improving the quality of life of those affected by the disease, and, ultimately, reducing deaths from the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, affecting men and women equally."

Brain Tumour Action
"BTA arose out of a need from patients and carers attending the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh to have someone to talk to, to know that they were not alone and to realise that there were other people going through the same problems and experiences as themselves."

Breast Cancer Care
"Breast Cancer Care is the UK's leading provider of information, practical assistance and emotional support for anyone affected by breast cancer."

British Heart Foundation
"Our vision is of a world in which people do not die prematurely of heart disease."

British Polio Fellowship
Support and information for those affected by polio.

British Red Cross
"We are a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are."

C Plus
"The UK Hepatitis C Resource Centre (UKHCRC) believes in the quality of life for all. We are a project within the national charity Mainliners operating across the UK for anyone with an interest in hepatitis C."

Cancer Research UK
"Cancer Research UK is the world's leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research. We support research into all aspects of cancer through the work of more than 4,500 scientists, doctors and nurses."

Castle Drug Project
Counselling, support, advice and information for those affected by drug use in South East Edinburgh.

CCLASP
"Children with Cancer and Leukaemia Advice and Support for Parents (CCLASP) is a children's charity run by parents, whose children have been affected by various types of cancer."

Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland
Funding research, care expenses, and promoting better health.

CLIC Sargent
"CLIC Sargent is the UK's leading children's cancer charity.  We provide the widest range of services and the highest number of care professionals to look after children and young people with cancer and their families. Our services are tailored to family-needs, using feedback from our service-users."

Coeliac
"Coeliac UK is the leading charity working for people with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH)."

Ed MESH - ME Self Help
"We aim to provide support, information and friendship to people affected by [ME]."

Edinburgh and Lothians Council on Alcohol
"ELCA services are open to anyone over the age of 16 who is worried about their own or someone else’s drinking.East Lothian residents can visit ELCA bases in Edinburgh and Musselburgh."

Headway Edinburgh
"Edinburgh Headway Group is a Scottish Charity dedicated to helping and supporting people with acquired brain injury their families and carers."

Health All Round
"Health All Round works with people from Gorgie/Dalry and surrounding areas of Edinburgh.  We aim to improve the health and well being of members of the local community through direct services and access to other agencies. We promote a community development approach to health, encouraging involvement in planning and influencing services."

Health Link 360
"HealthLink360 exists to provide medical and psychological care to global workers and their families."

Health Strategy Group
"The Health Strategy Group (HSG) works together with the community in Broomhouse & North Sighthill, Edinburgh. We run a fruit & vegetable Food Co-op which is open five mornings a week. We also manage a confidential Counselling Service."

High Blood Pressure Foundation
"Mission Statement: To improve the basic understanding, assessment, treatment and public awareness of high blood pressure, and, in so doing, help promote the welfare of people with high blood pressure."

HIV Scotland
"HIV Scotland is the leading national policy and strategic HIV charity."

Lifeline Pregnancy Counselling
"Lifeline counsellors are always supportive, non-directive and non-judgemental. We work in a way that values the individual needs of each person and offers support no matter what decision is arrived at.Our Mission is to offer Care and Understanding to people facing issues surrounding pregnancy. "

Lothian Community Health Projects Forum
"The Forum works to encourage community participation, collective action, and collaborative inter-agency working in an attempt to address inequalities in health."

Macmillan Cancer Support
"Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. We provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and campaign for better cancer care."

Marie Curie Cancer Care
"Marie Curie Nurses provide free nursing care to cancer patients and those with other terminal illnesses in their own homes."

Meningitis Research Foundation
"We fund research to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, and to improve survival rates and outcomes. We promote education and awareness to reduce death and disability, and give support to people affected. Our vision is a world free from meningitis and septicaemia."

MS Society Scotland
"The Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland is Scotland's largest charity for people affected by multiple sclerosis."

Music in Hospitals
"Music in Hospitals in Scotland is part of a registered charity Music in Hospitals whose aim is to bring the joy and therapeutic benefit of live music to people of all ages in hospitals, hospices, care homes and day care centres across the United Kingdom."

Myeloma UK
"Myeloma UK is the only organisation dealing exclusively with myeloma and its related disorders in the UK. Our broad and innovative range of services cover every aspect of myeloma, from information and support to improving standards of treatment and care through education, research, campaigning and awareness."

National Childbirth Trust
"Edinburgh NCT provides classes, groups and counselling services, offering parents information and support during pregnancy and the early years of parenthood."

NHS Lothian Voluntary Services
Supporting the work of the NHS.

North Edinburgh Drug Advice Centre
"For the past twenty-seven years we have been based in the Muirhouse Shopping Centre, developing the many aspects of our harm reduction provision, in direct response to the needs of drug/alcohol users accessing our service."

Queen's Nursing Institute of Scotland
" The QNIS is a Registered Charity (No SC005751) carrying out a programme of work within the community using the investment income together with an annual donation from Scotland’s Gardens Scheme."

Royal College of Nursing
"RCN Scotland campaigns on issues of concern to nurses and patients, influences health policies and promotes excellence in nursing practice on behalf of its members."

Royal Society for Home Releif to Incurables
"The Society aims to give assistance to persons (normally under retirement age at the time of application) who are no longer able to work on account of having an incurable illness."

Scottish Drugs Forum
"Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) is the national non-government drugs policy and information agency working in partnership with others to co-ordinate effective responses to drug use in Scotland."

Scottish Health Council
"The Scottish Health Council has been set up to help improve the way that people are involved in decisions about health services. As well as being a champion for patient and public involvement in NHS Scotland, the Scottish Health Council will scrutinise local NHS Boards to ensure they are working with, and listening to, people in their community."

Scottish Huntingdon's Association
"The Association provides expert care to families living primarily in their own homes. Just as importantly, support is offered by families for families via a network of local family support groups."

Scottish Spina Bifida Association
"Scotland's voice for spina bifida, hydrocephalus and related conditions."

Sleep Scotland
"The Vision of Sleep Scotland is that all families of children and young people with additional support needs and severe sleep problems in Scotland can be helped to achieve a qualitative improvement in the whole family’s life, and that this service should be provided in partnership with the statutory sector."

Sorted Project
Assistance for those affected by drug use.

St Columba's Hospice
"We are committed to the highest standards of care for patients with active, progressive, far-advanced illness - and support for their relatives and carers."

Stresswatch Scotland
"The principles of the organization are to aid and support in the recovery of people who suffer from Stress, Anxiety, Phobias, Panic Attacks and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders."

Swanfield MS Therapy Centre
"We provide practical therapies in a welcoming, friendly, supportive and positive ambience. These include affordable physiotherapy, reflexology, yoga and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (sometimes known as High Dosage Oxygen Therapy or HDOT) and other services."

UK Public Health Association
"A unifying and powerful voice for the public's health and well being in the UK, focusing on the need to eliminate inequalities in health, promote sustainable development and combat anti-health forces."

Voluntary Health Scotland
"VHS strives to convey the aspirations and concerns of the voluntary and community health sector to the Scottish Executive and the NHS and encourages participation by the sector in policy making and service development."

Waverley Care
"Scotland’s leading charity supporting people living with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C."

Wester Hailes Health Agency
"The Agency will seek to enable local people to make a positive impact on their own and their community's physical, mental and emotional well-being."