Vibrant Health Advocates – North Star is a small organisation doing work that only happens because people choose to show up for it — as volunteers, as donors, as partner organisations, and as advocates in their own networks. Inverclyde's arrival communities are not a distant cause: they are neighbours, parents at the school gate, colleagues. If you believe that language should never be the reason someone cannot see a doctor, there is a place for you here.
Every role matters. Every pound given goes further than you might think. Every partnership strengthens the net that catches people before they fall through the gap. Here are three ways to become part of the work.
We are always looking for people with language skills, health or community backgrounds, or simply a willingness to be a friendly and reliable presence. Volunteer roles range from appointment accompaniment to workshop facilitation to admin support, and full training is provided.
Your donation directly funds health navigators, translated resources, and community outreach in Greenock and Port Glasgow. We are a lean organisation: the majority of every pound we raise goes directly into frontline work, and every gift — however modest — makes a tangible difference to a real family.
If you are a GP practice, community organisation, housing association, school, or employer working with migrant communities in Inverclyde, we would welcome a conversation about how we can work together. Warm referral relationships are at the heart of what we do, and we are always looking to strengthen the local network.
Our volunteers, Greenock waterfront
Every volunteer role comes with full induction and ongoing support. No health background required — just reliability, empathy, and a willingness to learn alongside the people we serve.
Our volunteer health navigators and peer champions come from a wide range of backgrounds — community health, social care, languages, administration, and most powerfully, lived experience of being a new arrival in the UK. Several of our most effective navigators first came to us as service users themselves.
Volunteers receive full training in NHS navigation, safeguarding, and cultural competency. We provide supervision, expenses, and references. The commitment varies: some volunteers give a few hours a month attending appointments; others run workshops or translate written materials from home.
We also value the networks that volunteers bring. If you work in a school, a faith group, a housing association, or a workplace that regularly encounters newly arrived people from migrant backgrounds, you may already be in the best possible position to make a warm referral or spread the word about our services.
Get in touch to find out moreWhatever your background, there is a role for you at North Star. We'd love to hear from you.
Get in touch