Volunteer Scotland

CARDS Volunteer Befriender

  • VO83095

Description

Human contact is vital. As we are all finding out, without it, life changes.
Community Alcohol Related Damages Service is a befriending service run by Rowan Alba. Health care specialists, GP’s, hospitals and mental health services refer individuals to our service. These people, for various reasons have been living the way we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of them for most of their lives. We need to recruit and train volunteers now so we can respond to those that have been referred to us during this time.

Organisation aims and objectives

Rowan Alba is a charity set up to work with people who are at risk of becoming homeless. We believe that all individuals have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, and offer support in a person centred way, with the individual actively involved in planning their care. We work with older homeless men and women in our supported accommodation and individuals in the community who are having difficulty sustaining their current accommodation. Many of our service users would benefit from more social contact and just having someone to talk to could make a big difference to them.

Availability

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2 hours per week for at least 6-9 months. We ask that you prepare to spend the first two months joining the team and doing the necessary admin including your application to join the PVG scheme. Only after this would you be introduced to someone and start to form a befriending relationship.

Restrictions

Experience required: To understand or have compassion towards those individuals who have had a difficult relationship with alcohol now or in the past. Being able to listen without judgement and understand the benefit of human contact and connection.
Travel details: Our head office is situated at Fountainbridge; however we are operating from home with limited meetings as a team in different locations. Your induction process will take place online and then you will begin the in person double visits with our excellent team of experienced staff. You will be required to travel to and from your appointments which will be in the individuals own home or in a local café or community setting within Edinburgh.
Minimum age: 18

Support

Expenses paid: Yes
Expenses details: Travel and refreshments will be reimbursed. Email or hand in an expenses form and paid on the 20th of each month. Arrangements can be made to support with advance payments if this is helpful or would otherwise prevent you from volunteering.
Training details: Induction training takes place via Zoom with other volunteer recruits and experienced staff members. Lots of information will be provided in interview with service staff. Shadow visits with key staff to do introductions and support along the way to understand and widen knowledge of basic induction training. One to one Support & Check Ins take place with a designated staff member every 6 months and volunteers have the opportunity to attend monthly Group Support & Supervisions tied in with different training themes. For full details of our application process, please follow this link: https://rowanalba.org/volunteering-for-cards/
Support: Wheelchair Access/Disabled Access Toilet

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