Family Befriending Volunteer Roles in St Katharines Amp Wapping, Greater London

The service supports people living with memory loss and dementia who have been identified as isolated, living in the community. Volunteers are matched with an older person who would like a befriender to provide social contact and company by visiting them in their home.

What you will get out of it?

• You'll be making a difference to the lives of older people.
• You'll gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact on older people’s lives.
• You'll have an opportunity to build confidence and skills in engaging with people.

Family Friends carefully recruit, train, and match volunteers with families in Central-West London. Our volunteer befrienders offer practical and emotional support based on each family's unique needs and potential. We offer two volunteer opportunities - Big Buddies and Parent Buddies.

Volunteers will aim to help parents to discover their strengths, build confidence, and resolve difficulties. Volunteers meet with their match weekly for a period of 6 -12 months.

Activities might include:

• Supporting a parent to take their children on days out.
• Helping to strengthen family relationships.
• Providing a listening ear.
• Helping parents to build confidence in themselves.

Essential Criteria:

• You must be able to commit to the Parent Buddy programme for a minimum of 6 months.
• 18+
• Must have lived in the UK for the last 2 years

What we provide in return:

• Full induction training and ongoing training
• DBS check
• Weekly supervision and support
• The chance to learn new skills
• References provided after 6 months' commitment
• Reimbursement of travel and session expenses

We are an equal opportunities charity and value the principles of diversity and inclusion, which is central in providing successful support to our families. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, including people from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTQI+ and individuals from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds.

In the first instance, please register your interest in becoming a volunteer with us - you can do that by contacting us here for an application form.

Once we've reviewed your application, a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

Chatterbox is a free telephone befriending service for socially isolated and lonely people. Our clients are carefully matched to DBS-checked volunteer befrienders, with whom they exchange supportive, friendly phone calls. They chat about their lives, families and interests.

As a volunteer telephone befriender, you will make one phone call a week to a Chatterbox client for a minimum of 6 months. You will receive 2 hours of induction training, which can be done remotely. You will be required to complete a short log following each client call.

The service supports older people who have been identified as isolated, living in the community.  Volunteers are matched with an older person who would like a befriender to provide social contact and company by visiting them in their home weekly.

What you will get out of it?

• You'll be making a difference to the lives of older people.
• You'll gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact on older people’s lives.
• It's a great way to share your knowledge and keep your skills fresh.

The Dementia Wellbeing Service provides practical and emotional support to help older people live independently and safely at home for as long as possible, stay socially engaged, and carry on doing what they love. The service supports Camden residents over the age of 55 in the early or moderate stages of dementia. The coordinator works with the client, their family, or carers to produce a personalised wellbeing plan.

Staff and volunteers for this service are located at our Henderson Court Hub in Hampstead.

What does the role involve?

Volunteers assist the Dementia Services Manager with all administrative aspects of delivering the services including communicating with people referred to the service.

What will you get out of it?

• You'll be making a difference to the lives of older people.
• You'll gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact on older people’s lives.
• You'll have an opportunity to build confidence and skills in engaging with people.
• You'll gain administrative experience such as updating databases, dealing with correspondence and dealing with enquiries.

We are looking for a patient volunteer to visit a gentleman who lives in Newcastle. This man has learning disabilities. The visits will likely be short, enough time for a chat, a cuppa, and to check in on how he is doing.

This gentleman is supported by a dedicated team who regularly take him swimming, horse riding, out for walks and for meals in the local pub or café, which any volunteer is very welcome to join.

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year to create a 1-2-1 connection, offer companionship, encourage people to do the things they enjoy and check-in on their wellbeing.

In many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them. In this role you will spend quality time with the person you visit and could do a range of different activities like:

• Sitting and having a chat
• Checking in on their well- being
• Going out to a local cafe/pub for a meal/drink
• Enjoying a walk
• A craft activity at home
• Reading a book/magazine together

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

• Friendly and approachable
• Accepting of others who might be different to yourself
• Reliable and patient
• Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

• Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit
• Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training
• Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed
• Meet new people
• Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

About Mencap 

Mencap is the leading learning disability charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with people with a learning disability and their families to challenge prejudice and change laws, and we directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose. We have an ambitious vision for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

Volunteering with us is YOUR opportunity to help us achieve this, whilst having the chance to develop your skills, meet new people and join a passionate and dedicated team.

Role of a Home-Start Trustee

Home-Start is a voluntary organisation in which volunteers offer regular support, befriending and practical help to families with young children who are under stress in their own homes, helping to prevent family crisis or breakdown. Trustees collectively oversee the work of the organisation and are legally responsible for all aspects of its operations.

Within the Board, individual Trustees have specific roles that enable them to use their individual skills and experience to lead in particular activities. Each role has specific responsibilities that a Trustee will lead on to enable the Board as a whole to operate more effectively. 

Home-Start Barnet (HSB) Trustees give a high level of commitment and reliability in their roles and work very closely with the staff team to enable HSB to deliver a high quality and well-respected service. Trustees are empowered to make well informed decisions through training and reporting systems. 

What do Home-Start Trustees do? 

Trustees work collectively, to hold HSB in trust for current and future beneficiaries by:

• Attending quarterly Board meetings and any additional sub-committee meetings to keep informed and plan an active role in decision making for Home-Start Barnet
• Providing leadership and direction for the charity within the ethos and values of HSB 
• Ensuring that the charity has a clear mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these 
• Ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard 
• Being responsible for the effective performance and management of the charity 
• Ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, the objects of the charity, the governing documents and quality standards 
• Undertaking an ambassadorial role for Home-Start
• Attending ongoing support and training sessions as necessary to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the role

What are the responsibilities of a Home-Start Trustee? 

Home-Start asks all Trustees to commit to the Home-Start ethos and to understand and implement relevant Home-Start’s policies which will be explained at the Trustee induction.

Trustees work collectively to: 

• Set the strategy and undertake the strategic management of the charity
• Ensure that the charity pursues its objects as defined in the governing documents 
• Ensure the charity accounts for its activities to its funders, the relevant Charity Regulators, its members, the local community and others 
• Ensure that the charity applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects
• Ensure the financial stability of the charity 
• Ensure proper accounting records are kept 
• Ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds
• Ensure that the major risks to which the charity is exposed are reviewed annually and managed
• Ensure the organisation has appropriate risk assessment procedures in place and appropriately mitigates against perceived risks 
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity 
• Approve the charity’s policies 
• Ensure the charity fulfils its responsibilities as a good employer and is an effective manager and supervisor of staff and volunteers 
• Ensure the charity is appropriately insured 
• Protect and manage the property of the charity 
• Monitor and evaluate the work of the charity and to contribute to quality assurance self-assessments and reviews 
• Safeguard the good name and ethos of Home-Start Barnet

What Duties are involved in being a Trustee?

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Scrutinising board papers in advance of meetings
• Approving the strategic plan annually and monitoring progress against it 
• Determining and approving the annual budget and monitoring progress against it 
• Preparing and approving the annual report and accounts 
• Ensuring compliance with the Home-Start Agreement and Quality Assurance system
• Acting within the spirit and in accordance with Home-Start’s equality of opportunity and diversity policies and procedures 
• Signing acceptance and understanding of the Home-Start Safeguarding/Child Protection Code of Conduct annually

Individually to:

• Regularly attend Board meetings 
• Play an active part in the trustees’ meetings and deliberations 
• Exercising due care and attention and using reasonable skill in dealing with the charity’s affairs 
• Use own skills, knowledge and experience to help the trustees reach sound decisions 
• Avoid any conflict of interests and declare areas where they may arise
• Reflect annually on the board’s performance and your own performance as a trustee
• Take part in Quality Assurance self-assessments and reviews 
• Ensure that major decisions and policies are made by trustees acting collectively
• Work within the organisations policies and procedures

What is the time commitment? 

• Attendance of quarterly Board meetings held at HSB offices
• Attendance at the Annual General Meeting
• Attendance of any sub-committee meetings for any additional work taken on
• Attendance of training when required
• Work at home to deliver the requirements of the role (estimate 3 hours a month)

What will Home-Start do for me? 

In return for your hard work and commitment, you will receive: 

• Excellent preparation for your role, through the induction programme course 
• Information required for you to fulfil the role appropriately
• Opportunities for self-development and ongoing training
• Social events and the opportunity to get more involved in the charity if you would like (e.g., fundraising, promotional events) 
• The opportunity to be involved in a vital local service and to be part of a national network 

This is exciting and rewarding work which requires energy, commitment, reliability, creativity and a sense of humour.

Person Specification

Essential

• Time to commit to meetings, preparation and additional tasks to fulfil the role of Trustee
• Understanding of and commitment to Home Start Barnet’s work and ethos
• Reliability
• Have a positive, non-judgmental attitude to working with people of any gender, family status or sexual identity, or who are from any ethnic origin, culture, or religion, or who may have a disability 
• Have a clear understanding of the confidential nature of the service and safeguarding in the context of family support
• Have good communication skills including an ability to listen 
• Have a warm and open personality and a sense of humour 
• Be able to work as a member of a team 
• Be prepared to attend any training needed to deliver the role. 

Training can be provided if there is no prior knowledge or experience of the following:

• Understanding of the Legal responsibilities of a Trustee
• Understanding of effective charitable Governance

Desirable

• Local knowledge
• Knowledge and experience relevant to the operations of Home-Start Barnet
• Role specific experience to inform an aspect of the Board of Trustee’s responsibilities

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

Would you like to have fun in your local area and get reimbursed for your time? We are always looking for caring and compassionate people to take out a local child or young person for fun activities.

Right now we are looking for applicants in the wider Newport area for a fabulous young person who enjoys the gym, boxing, cinema, food and chats. They would prefer a male, but we have other young people who would fit with a female volunteer.

Activities can include things like: playing football in the park, trampolining, cinema, food, swimming, climbing, play centres, beach, cycling, board game cafes, escape rooms, circus, shows, concerts, go karting etc.

We reimburse reasonable expenses, including travel, for you and your young person up to around £40 a month.

Preferred experience:
- Driving and use of a car due to sometimes rural locations. (We are unlikely to be able to find you a suitable match if you do not drive.)
- Ability to communicate in English.
- Basic IT skills for completing reports and submitting receipts via an easy to use App.

Benefits:
- Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
- Gain valuable experience in supporting children and families.
- Access to online training portal with hundreds of courses. - Access to local authority training.
- All travel and reasonable documented expenses reimbursed.

If you are passionate about helping others and making a positive impact, we would love to hear from you.