Opportunity

The Buddy project aims to pair a 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 that the volunteer will be supporting may be lacking in confidence, isolated, lonely, anxious, or stressed for any number of reasons, including mental health, illness, caring responsibilities, bereavement, moving to a new area, etc.             

Tasks and responsibilities include:

Providing support to people who would like to get out of the house and become more engaged in their community, for example, meeting for a coffee and a chat, a walk around their local village or park or having company to ride on public transport.

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

Helping people who want to become more active by attending exercise classes or walking groups, but are nervous or reluctant to attend an exercise session or activity on their own.

The support provided by the volunteer will be for approximately 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. 

Rewards:

The personal 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 in the community who may feel anxious, isolated, or lonely.

What skills do I need?

Skills:

• Confidence in meeting new people
• Good communication
• Non-judgmental and accepting of people from different backgrounds
• Reliable and dependable
• 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 reimbursed).

Training:

• Every volunteer will receive our mandatory induction which covers Safeguarding, Professional Boundaries, Unconscious Bias, Mental Health Awareness, Lone Working and Personal Safety Awareness, and will be supported by Community Resource’s Health and Wellbeing Team Lead.
• Every volunteer will be trained in all tasks to ensure they have the skills and confidence to fulfil their role. This includes the recording of hours spent and activities undertaken with the person you are supporting, and completing travel (and other expenses) forms where necessary (full support on this will be given).
• Please note that Buddy volunteers do not carry out home visits or provide transport for those being supported.
• Buddy Volunteers are required to complete (or already hold) a DBS check as they are working with vulnerable adults. 

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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