Opportunity

Aim & Objectives:

The project aims to pair a trained volunteer with a person who needs some additional support to access social opportunities, to become more involved in their community, to pursue hobbies and interests or to become more active. Individuals are supported for a fixed period.

Anyone supported will be over the age of 18 and are referred to the project via a professional route. Individuals are not able to self-refer.

Individuals referred to the scheme may be lacking in confidence, isolated, lonely, anxious, or stressed for any number of reasons including mental health issues, illness, caring responsibilities, bereavement, moving to a new area, shielding during the pandemic, etc

It is important to understand that Buddy volunteers DO NOT carry out home visits or provide transport for those being supported.

Days/times/venue:

This will depend on the needs of the person that the volunteer supports, and the availability of the volunteer and will be agreed in advance between them and the Community Resource Project Officer. Buddy is a flexible volunteering opportunity and can easily fit alongside existing work, education, or other volunteering commitments.

Tasks and responsibilities may include:

Provide support and encouragement to people who would like to get out of the house and become more socially integrated and engaged in their community. This could simply involve meeting for a coffee and a chat, a walk around their village or local park or having company to ride on public transport.

Provide support and encouragement to help people pursue their hobbies and interests by attending these activities and classes alongside them. Activities could include art classes, singing groups, book club, knitting group etc.

Provide support and encouragement to help people who want to become more active by attending exercise classes (yoga, swimming, gym etc) or walking groups but are nervous or reluctant to attend an exercise session or activity on their own.

The support provided will be for a limited amount of time (maybe 6 -12 sessions or meet-ups) with the aim that the person being supported will eventually have the confidence to be more involved in their community and/or attend classes and activities on their own without the company or support of the Buddy volunteer. 

Additional Responsibilities:

Understand the importance of the organisation’s Health & Safety procedures.

Understand the importance of confidentiality & safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Be aware of the standards set by Community Resource and the need to always work to these standards.

Rewards:

The opportunity to meet new people and perhaps develop new interests.

The satisfaction of helping people who because of your support become more socially confident and involved in the community, develop new interests, and become more active.

The knowledge that your support is helping the mental and physical health and wellbeing of people who may feel marginalised, isolated, and excluded.

The knowledge that your support is helping to create a more inclusive community for everyone.

Training:

Every volunteer will receive our mandatory induction which covers Safeguarding, Professional Boundaries, Unconscious Bias, Mental Health Awareness, Lone Working and Personal Safety Awareness.

Every volunteer will have access and be signposted to any other training which Community Resource feels is appropriate for the role.

Every volunteer will be trained in all the tasks they are required to carry out to ensure they have the skills and confidence to fulfil their role. Tasks in the main will be to support and accompany people on social outings and to activities for an agreed period. It will include the recording of hours spent and activities undertaken with the person you are supporting as well as the submission of travel (and other expense) forms as appropriate.

All volunteers will be supported by Sue Chalk, Head of Service, and their skills and contribution to the project will be reviewed on a regular basis.

Additional information:

Volunteers are covered by Aviva Insurance Ltd public liability and personal accident insurance while working with us.

Volunteers must be 18 or over. There is no upper age limit.

Buddy Volunteers are required to complete (or already hold) a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as they are working with vulnerable adults. If you already hold a DBS for the same workforce category which has been issued in the last 3 years, then you will not be required to have a new check undertaken however you must be prepared to provide your original certificate so we can record the certificate number and date it was issued. 

What skills do I need?

The Buddy System Volunteer works as part of a team of volunteers but meets on an individual basis with the supported person. You need the following skills:

Confidence in meeting new people

Good communication

Non-judgmental and accepting of people from different backgrounds to your own and who may find themselves in difficult circumstances

Reliable and dependable – you should arrive at meet-ups as agreed

You may require a degree of physical fitness – however this will depend on the needs of the supported person, and you are not obliged to support if the activities/interests are not to your liking

Access to a car/transport of your own may be useful – it is not mandatory but depending on the location of the supported person and the chosen activity, then you may need to travel (expenses are re-imbursed). 

Details

• Certificate of public and employers liability that covers young people in all their activities with you
• Complaints Policy and procedures
• Confidentiality Policy
• DBS Policy for staff and volunteers
• Diversity Policy
• Equal Opportunities Policy
• Ex-offenders Policy
• Expenses Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• Regular Risk assessments of the work environment
• Safeguarding
• Volunteer Task/Role description
• Volunteering Policy & Agreements
• Vulnerable Adults Policy

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