RAY MCDONALD - FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN

​Ray McDonald is a retired businessman and active member of the local community. Promoting equality and diversity within workplace and community settings, he established Ray's Opportunities in 2015 with the aim of providing quality training and employment opportunities to people affected by disability.

As a Community Services Volunteer at Towerview Day Care Centre, Treasurer of Moray Men's Shed Forres and previous Chair of MENCAP (Barking and Dagenham), Ray has spent many years volunteering within the health and social care sector. Ray's Opportunities is the result of listening to service users and taking on their views with regards to the establishment of a support package that moves away from the traditional model of day care.

Ray McDonald leads the Board of Trustees for Ray's Opportunities, which includes Ruth White, Pat Ellison, Ewen Watson, Scott Meredith

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers have an enormously positive impact on the work that we do. Their contribution to the day to day operation of Ray's Opportunities means that we are able to continue supporting people affected by disability. We recognise the diversity of our local community and hope to draw upon the skills, knowledge and experience that local people have. In return, we provide a duty of care to all volunteers, ensuring our volunteering programme is of the upmost benefit.

​Ray's Opportunities offers a wide variety of volunteering roles, including:

Cafe Assistants - supporting our Cafe Team with the day to day running of the Community Cafe.

Training Assistants - supporting our Training Facilitator to deliver workshops and other programmes.

Fundraising Assistants - sparing a little time to assist with coffee mornings, bag packs and other events.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteers have an enormously positive impact on the work that we do. Their contribution to the day to day running of Ray's Opportunities and the Community Cafe means that we are able to continue supporting those affected by disability.

We recognise the diversity of our local community and hope to draw upon the skills, knowledge and experience that local people have. Whether you're looking to increase your vocational skills, socialability and confidence; or whether you simply want to meet friendly folk and support a young charity in the heart of your community; Ray's Opportunities offers volunteering opportunities for all ages and abilities.

In 2015, Ray's Opportunities gained the Volunteer Friendly Award, in recognition of our support of volunteers. Whilst we specifically support people with physical, hidden and learning disabilities, we also welcome volunteers from other disadvantaged groups - our overall ambition being to help people gain or re-gain control over their lives, offering pathways to employment.

If you're interested in volunteering with Ray's Opportunities, please contact , or pop into the Community Cafe and speak to a member of staff. This project is supported by the Impact Funding Partners formerly known as the Volunteer Action Fund.