Description
The Home Support service offers practical and social support to people affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C helping them to take care of their homes and their wellbeing. For many, this enables them to maintain their tenancies and encourages self-care. When illness, mobility or side-effects of medication makes housework too difficult we can offer the support that enables people to feel more comfortable with their environment. You will work with the Service User to achieve goals together which may include assisting them with cleaning and decluttering, making a shopping list, understanding household bills or one-off tasks such as gardening or DIY (dependent on volunteers’ skills). Home Support also builds social connections in order to tackle isolation and stigma.
Organisation aims and objectives
Positive Help offers practical help to people affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The four core services are delivered by a team of trained volunteers. The services provided include: Befriending for children and young people; Home Support (cleaning, de-cluttering, painting, DIY, gardening, and other domestic tasks); a free Transport service, which helps people to get to and from medical appointments as well as support groups or local supermarkets; and Study Buddies, a homework mentoring service for children.
Availability
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Each session will be approximately 1.5 hours plus travel time and you can volunteer on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
Restrictions
Experience required: Many of the Service Users we support have experienced traumatic events in their life and suffer from health conditions. Therefore, as a Home Support volunteer you will need to be kind, patient and personable in order to be able to offer a supportive and non-judgemental listening ear. You need not have any specific DIY or gardening skills, though if you possess any we welcome you to use them. Contact us: 0131 225 4766 or admin@positivehelpedinburgh.co.uk
Travel details: The volunteer will support Service Users in their homes located in Edinburgh and the Lothians. You can use your own transport, public transport or an Enterprise hire car.
Minimum age: 18
Support
Expenses paid: Yes
Expenses details: After each session you will complete a feedback and expenses form. You will be fully reimbursed for any travel expenses.
Training details: Our training covers a range of topics including: information on HIV and Hep C; stigma and discrimination; maintaining boundaries; child protection protocols and trauma informed approaches. All volunteers are required to complete a mix of in person and online training with other volunteers. This is usually one full day at the weekend followed by four 2 hour sessions in the evenings. We will also provide you with First Aid training. Once you are matched with a child, you will meet with the coordinator for a one hour support meeting every 6 months, however this can be more regular if you require. We also offer ongoing training and peer support sessions to enable you to fulfil your volunteering role with confidence! We are happy to provide references for you to help you into future employment or education.