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FriendZ Volunteers

  • VO99484

Description

Want to make a difference? Do something fun and inspirational with a serious impact? Become a FriendZ Meetups Volunteer!

Social isolation and loneliness have a major impact on the health, well-being, and the life expectancy of adults with Down’s Syndrome. Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s exciting new FriendZ Meetups programme aims to tackle the loneliness and social isolation experienced by adults with Down’s syndrome in Scotland.

By becoming a FriendZ Meetups volunteer you can help young adults and adults with Down’s syndrome get out and about more, meet up with each other and grow their friendships as well as their confidence, self-esteem, and independence skills. On top of that, it's also fun, rewarding and will make a serious impact on people experiencing social isolation in Scotland!!

FriendZ volunteers will form part of a team of trained, skilled, volunteers who will support small groups of adults with Down’s syndrome to come together for monthly social, community Meetups designed to promote the development of friendships, social skills, community confidence and independent decision making. Volunteers will also support the group members in identifying activities, groups, and places of interest in their local community that they can access independently.

*The Role:

To support young people and adults with Down’s syndrome to participate in social activities in small groups within their local areas to develop and sustain friendships with their peers through engaging in fun group activities together and gain community confidence.

*What the role involves:

  • Person centred support to young adults and adults with Down’s syndrome in participating in a range of fun activities in a social group situation.
  • Enable adults with Down’s syndrome to develop their friendships with each other by helping to make meeting arrangements, supporting independent travel and planning the social activities they choose to do.
  • To provide discrete individual/group support and promote a positive group dynamic, encouraging participation, responsibility taking and positively acknowledging skills and qualities of group members.
  • To ensure group safety and wellbeing through dynamic risk assessment and adaptive decision making.
  • Communicate positively with participants, parents and carers.
  • To establish and maintain appropriate boundaries within the volunteering relationship.
  • To support members to think about what’s on in their local areas and encourage positive lifestyle choices.
  • To participate in support, individual and peer supervision meetings and training events.

Activities will take place monthly in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire during weekday evenings and during the day or evenings at weekends. The programme will offer a range of social activities lasting approximately 1-5 hours (3 hours on average)

Interviews and training will take place online.

A fantastic opportunity to help and all volunteers are greatly appreciated. If interested/for further details please contact Shaun Powell, Friendz Meetups Programme Development Worker at email: shaun.powell@dsscotland.org.uk or telephone: 07825586444.

Organisation aims and objectives

Down’s Syndrome Scotland promotes the interests of people with Down’s syndrome and their families in Scotland by influencing public policy and attitudes. We provide a range of services and activities to help those with Down’s syndrome reach their full potential.

Frequency and commitment details

Flexible times available to suit volunteers-all help greatly appreciated.

Restrictions

Experience required: We’d like our Friendz volunteers to: - Be open minded, accepting and non-judgemental – to see the world in a different way. - Be reliable, consistent and work on your own initiative. - Have good organisation, listening and communication skills. - Be confident, kind, friendly, outgoing, with a great sense of humour. - Have a willingness to learn, take the lead and also be guided by the group. Full training will be provided
Travel details: Friendz Meetups will take place across a broad range of community venues and places of interest in Aberdeen City and surrounding areas of Aberdeenshire. Expenses paid for activity and travel costs and parking including mileage for car use (where appropriate).
Minimum age: 18

Support

Expenses paid: Yes
Expenses details: Public transport costs, activity costs and a mileage allowance (where appropriate) will be paid monthly by funds transfer. Volunteers will be asked to provide receipts for the costs incurred.
Training details: Excellent support and relevant training is provided. Thorough online training including topics such as Down's syndrome awareness, communication skills and boundaries, relevant to the role will be provided. We support out volunteers through regular ongoing, online individual support and peer supervision sessions and training events .
Support: Named Contact For Volunteer,
Wheelchair Access/Disabled Access Toilet

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