equality and rights network (earn)

Make Edinburgh a city for everyone! #EdinburghForEveryone

What is it?

The network was set up to enable any group, forum, organisation or individual to work in partnership with public services to advance equality, promote human rights, and to tackle inequality and poverty.

EaRN is committed to providing a supportive and safe space for vulnerable communities and individuals. Part of this commitment involves taking an intersectional approach to tackling inequality. This means that rather than focusing on themes like race, disability or sexual orientation separately, we explore how such themes overlap with and affect one another and how groups and individuals can experience multiple discriminations at a time. The intersectional approach enables Members to identify common needs and priorities and ensures that the most marginalised voices have opportunities to be heard.

The project works across four different areas to make Edinburgh a city for everyone:

Raising awareness: We raise awareness about equality and rights, through our digital communications, giving talks, holding events and making resources available to our members.
Community engagement: Our volunteer Equalities Ambassadors can visit community groups and projects, and facilitate discussions and workshops; and we regularly hold our own events so we can hear what you have to say on certain topics.
Research: Our Equalities Ambassadors spend time researching key equality and rights issues and current affairs. We also make sure we focus on ‘real world’ research, i.e. finding out what issues are affecting the people of Edinburgh right now.
Dialogue: We offer the opportunity for dialogue with key public sector representatives on particular issues, and feedback information we gather through events, conversations and surveys. We aim to make sure that your voices are being heard by the right people.

More information

If you would like more information on this project please visit the project website and social media pages by clicking on the button and icons opposite (or below on a mobile device). You can also email equalityandrights@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk.

Family Befriender	Connections Volunteer Mentor	Adult Supportive Transport Driver	Activity Buddy	Lothians Perinatal Befriender
Are you someone who believes in the power of listening and connection? Join us as a Family Befriender at Home Link Family Support, where your support can make a world of difference to families with young children.	Our volunteer mentors are matched with young people who have completed either our Choices or Chances programmes with a positive destination. Main activities will include meeting with your mentee regularly for up to 12 months. Developing an action plan to help them sustain their positive destination. Support your mentee in figuring out what goals they want to work on next. Offer support and advice to your mentee as they navigate the next chapter of young adulthood.	The Supportive Transport Service is a key part of what we offer. It provides transportation to individuals living with or affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C, helping them meet medical, social care, and daily needs. This might include transport to medical appointments, community activities, or essential errands like grocery shopping. Many Service Users face barriers to traveling independently due to factors such as limited mobility, social anxiety, or financial constraints. In addition to transportation, our drivers often provide a supportive presence by listening or helping individuals reflect on information shared during appointments.	The role of the Activity Buddy is to provide practical support and reduce isolation. The people we work with can find it hard to attend appointments and leisure activities due to poor physical/mental health, limited mobility, social anxiety or literacy issues. When illness, mobility, or side-effects of medication make housework or going out difficult, we offer support to make the home environment more comfortable. Volunteers play a vital part in improving service users’ physical health, mental well-being and quality of life through supportive relationships, community connection, creating pathways for personal growth and collaborative goal setting.	Parents of babies who have received care in hospital from the neonatal team can experience perinatal mental health issues and feelings of isolation.A befriender can provide emotional support to help build positive relationships between parents and their baby and improve parents’ mental health. Accessing activities in the community, going for a walk, or talking over a cuppa are some of the ways in which a Befriender can make a real difference for parents and their babies.
https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/online-support-pre-school-children-and-families-15161/		https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/supportive-driver-volunteer-1/	https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/home-support-service-1/	https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/lothians-perinatal-befriender-16432/

Family Befriender

Connections Volunteer Mentor

Adult Supportive Transport Driver

Activity Buddy

Lothians Perinatal Befriender

Are you someone who believes in the power of listening and connection? Join us as a Family Befriender at Home Link Family Support, where your support can make a world of difference to families with young children.

Our volunteer mentors are matched with young people who have completed either our Choices or Chances programmes with a positive destination. Main activities will include meeting with your mentee regularly for up to 12 months. Developing an action plan to help them sustain their positive destination. Support your mentee in figuring out what goals they want to work on next. Offer support and advice to your mentee as they navigate the next chapter of young adulthood.

The Supportive Transport Service is a key part of what we offer. It provides transportation to individuals living with or affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C, helping them meet medical, social care, and daily needs. This might include transport to medical appointments, community activities, or essential errands like grocery shopping. Many Service Users face barriers to traveling independently due to factors such as limited mobility, social anxiety, or financial constraints. In addition to transportation, our drivers often provide a supportive presence by listening or helping individuals reflect on information shared during appointments.

The role of the Activity Buddy is to provide practical support and reduce isolation. The people we work with can find it hard to attend appointments and leisure activities due to poor physical/mental health, limited mobility, social anxiety or literacy issues. When illness, mobility, or side-effects of medication make housework or going out difficult, we offer support to make the home environment more comfortable. Volunteers play a vital part in improving service users’ physical health, mental well-being and quality of life through supportive relationships, community connection, creating pathways for personal growth and collaborative goal setting.

Parents of babies who have received care in hospital from the neonatal team can experience perinatal mental health issues and feelings of isolation.A befriender can provide emotional support to help build positive relationships between parents and their baby and improve parents’ mental health. Accessing activities in the community, going for a walk, or talking over a cuppa are some of the ways in which a Befriender can make a real difference for parents and their babies.

https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/online-support-pre-school-children-and-families-15161/

https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/supportive-driver-volunteer-1/

https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/home-support-service-1/

https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/volunteer/find-opportunities/lothians-perinatal-befriender-16432/

Entries
Link to Single Entry	Name	Summary
	Mojtaba (Moji) SedaghatKerdar	Web designer and SEO specialist in Musselburgh. Website builds, updates, local search and social media. WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and other platforms.
	Lauren Gilmour	Jill of all trades former journalist with experience across PR, communications, marketing, social media, photography and volunteer recruitment.
	Alastair Dunn	Able to help with outdoor or indoor tidying and clearance on an occasional basis (as not always in Edinburgh).
	Stewart Dee	Experienced Civil Service Manager looking to use my management and governance experience as a Board Trustee.
	Declan Chambers	IT professional offering tech, data and Infrastructure support, plus teaching and creative skills. Available Mon-Sun, 10am-8pm.
	Sam Clark	Experienced administrative professional offering organisational, data and records management support to charities needing reliable, detail focused help.
	Alastair Logan	Self taught Python and AI developer offering NLP, data, cloud and automation skills to help charities solve problems and work more efficiently.
	Stephanie Alcazar	Available Tuesdays–Wednesdays to support with social media management and training, as well as deliver illustration workshops.
	Jake Whittet	Edinburgh Microsoft 365 security specialist offering free cyber security assessments. Plain English reports, no jargon.
	Samantha Towers	Hello, I'm an experienced joiner, plasterer and painter.
	Thomas Quiroga	Helping charities use AI and low-cost technology to automate admin, improve processes, save time and focus more on supporting their communities.
	Scott Croucher	I’m an experienced chef with over 4 years experience.
	Joshua Stokes	Experienced professional in Data Protection, Records Management and all things considered Information Governance.
	Douglas McEachan	Well-travelled retiree can offer friendly and informal scenic travel slide shows.
	Sophie Jones	Karate coach with 10 years of experience and looking to inspire other people to become karateka (karate kids).
	Declan Gates	French Tutoring
	Valerii Kostikov	Experienced gynaecologist-oncologist (18+ years). Kind, reliable, compassionate and patient-focused. Keen to support people and gain UK healthcare experience.
	Sarah Cleary	Do you have a regular need for someone to sort jigsaw puzzles, bits and bobs (for example sewing beads) that need tidied or organised and sorted by size?
	Dr Donald Glass	Retired University Lecturer offering volunteering time to support visitor experiences at one of Edinburgh's museums.
	ABDUALSME	Experienced barber- qualified for three years.
	BILL KEIL	anything considered
	IAN JACKSON	Team of 10 people available for one day volunteering opportunity. Flexible on what this would entail.
	Izunna Agupusi	I am an Embedded AI Engineer with Raygonal Ltd, Edinburgh, holding an MSc in Artificial Intelligence. I specialise in embedded systems, early career in IT
	Laura McGlennon	As a qualified Yoga & MeditationTeacher I can offer classes teaching children, teenagers and adults. Available Monday to Friday mornings and afternoon
	Rapinder	Pianist, classically trained to above average level.
	Aoife	Passionate volunteer supporting community projects through event help, outreach, and content creation to promote inclusion and positive change.
	Nicole Carter	Qualified Nutrition Adviser who specialises in Eating Well For Good Mental Health free sessions.
	Reuben Nishan Christmas	An engineering degree holder offering to help with STEM tutoring. Also, looking to help out in any capacity related to food/cooking/baking.
	ola amroush	I recently graduated with a degree in Business Management from Edinburgh Napier University. I’ve found it challenging to secure a role in my field
	Brandon Williams	With 35+ years of operational expertise and a passion for helping others, I offer reliable, organised support to make a tangible, positive impact.
Link to Single Entry	Name	Summary

Link to Single Entry

Name

Summary

Mojtaba (Moji) SedaghatKerdar

Web designer and SEO specialist in Musselburgh. Website builds, updates, local search and social media. WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and other platforms.

Lauren Gilmour

Jill of all trades former journalist with experience across PR, communications, marketing, social media, photography and volunteer recruitment.

Alastair Dunn

Able to help with outdoor or indoor tidying and clearance on an occasional basis (as not always in Edinburgh).

Stewart Dee

Experienced Civil Service Manager looking to use my management and governance experience as a Board Trustee.

Declan Chambers

IT professional offering tech, data and Infrastructure support, plus teaching and creative skills. Available Mon-Sun, 10am-8pm.

Sam Clark

Experienced administrative professional offering organisational, data and records management support to charities needing reliable, detail focused help.

Alastair Logan

Self taught Python and AI developer offering NLP, data, cloud and automation skills to help charities solve problems and work more efficiently.

Stephanie Alcazar

Available Tuesdays–Wednesdays to support with social media management and training, as well as deliver illustration workshops.

Jake Whittet

Edinburgh Microsoft 365 security specialist offering free cyber security assessments. Plain English reports, no jargon.

Samantha Towers

Hello, I'm an experienced joiner, plasterer and painter.

Thomas Quiroga

Helping charities use AI and low-cost technology to automate admin, improve processes, save time and focus more on supporting their communities.

Scott Croucher

I’m an experienced chef with over 4 years experience.

Joshua Stokes

Experienced professional in Data Protection, Records Management and all things considered Information Governance.

Douglas McEachan

Well-travelled retiree can offer friendly and informal scenic travel slide shows.

Sophie Jones

Karate coach with 10 years of experience and looking to inspire other people to become karateka (karate kids).

Declan Gates

French Tutoring

Valerii Kostikov

Experienced gynaecologist-oncologist (18+ years). Kind, reliable, compassionate and patient-focused. Keen to support people and gain UK healthcare experience.

Sarah Cleary

Do you have a regular need for someone to sort jigsaw puzzles, bits and bobs (for example sewing beads) that need tidied or organised and sorted by size?

Dr Donald Glass

Retired University Lecturer offering volunteering time to support visitor experiences at one of Edinburgh's museums.

ABDUALSME

Experienced barber- qualified for three years.

BILL KEIL

anything considered

IAN JACKSON

Team of 10 people available for one day volunteering opportunity. Flexible on what this would entail.

Izunna Agupusi

I am an Embedded AI Engineer with Raygonal Ltd, Edinburgh, holding an MSc in Artificial Intelligence. I specialise in embedded systems, early career in IT

Laura McGlennon

As a qualified Yoga & MeditationTeacher I can offer classes teaching children, teenagers and adults.
Available Monday to Friday mornings and afternoon

Rapinder

Pianist, classically trained to above average level.

Aoife

Passionate volunteer supporting community projects through event help, outreach, and content creation to promote inclusion and positive change.

Nicole Carter

Qualified Nutrition Adviser who specialises in Eating Well For Good Mental Health free sessions.

Reuben Nishan Christmas

An engineering degree holder offering to help with STEM tutoring.
Also, looking to help out in any capacity related to food/cooking/baking.

ola amroush

I recently graduated with a degree in Business Management from Edinburgh Napier University. I’ve found it challenging to secure a role in my field

Brandon Williams

With 35+ years of operational expertise and a passion for helping others, I offer reliable, organised support to make a tangible, positive impact.