- Administrative / Office Work, Advice / Information Giving, Advocacy / Human Rights, Community / Economic Development, Marketing / PR / Media, Events
- Anti-Poverty, Carers, General Public, Human / Civil Rights / Justice, Learning Disabilities, Local Community, Low Income Households, Mental Health, People with Ill Health, Physical Disability
Description
Could you support unpaid carers or people with disabilities to access benefits? Could you help someone find local services? Could you help someone understand the information they have been given about their care and support? Could you support or lead a group of people on a topic of interest?
You could help improve the quality of someone’s life.
This role is ideal for social work students, an interest in the care sector or retired professionals.
Support Session Volunteers help our clients with general advocacy, supporting people with a variety of challenges. This helps us to reduce waitlists and support more individuals by:
• Helping clients understand about advocacy
• Supporting clients to self-advocate with our tool kits
• Signposting clients to other services where required
• Supporting the service to deliver “collective” advocacy sessions
• Light Touch Advocacy
• Supporting advocates with casework
• Promotion of services and the organisation
• Logging activity onto our systems
Volunteer, Ben’s priorities changed after a serious illness. “I wanted to give something back. It’s really rewarding as you get to use your knowledge and skills for a really good purpose.”
You’ll develop skills in communication and confidentiality, add experience and knowledge to your CV, and know you’re making a genuine difference to people’s lives.
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Frequency and commitment details
3 hours a week, 6 month commitment.
Restrictions
Volunteering will commence on satisfactory completion of a PVG check, right to work check and volunteer training.
Experience required: Volunteering with VoiceAbility is ideal for people who have or want experience in human rights, health, care and wellbeing - but we care more about your values and empathy than your level of experience.
Some beneficial skills and qualities to have are:
• Good communication skills – written and verbal
• A basic level of IT literacy – email, docs
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to manage own time and prioritise workload
• Ability to work independently & as part of a team
• A commitment to the aims and ethos of VoiceAbility
Travel details: The role is a hybrid role, as we have no main "office base". Volunteers are expected to volunteer in and around their local area, and must be able to travel by themselves.
However, volunteers are also expected to meet clients in person to offer face-to-face support if needed. This would be across your local area and you will be expected to travel locally and attend networking events to promote the service.
Minimum age: 18
Support
Expenses paid: Yes
Expenses details: Travel expenses reimbursed.
Training details: You’ll develop skills in communication and confidentiality, add experience and knowledge to your CV, and know you’re making a genuine difference to people’s lives.
As a volunteer you’ll receive full training, support from the volunteer team and your local advocates, and paid expenses.
Training covers topics such as: what is advocacy, an introduction to Social Security Scotland, safeguarding, networking, salesforce and more!