Description
Social isolation and loneliness have a major impact on the health, well-being and 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 volunteer you can help young people 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 the 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.
This role is a great opportunity to do something fun and inspirational while having a serious impact!
Further details about this role:
- Person centred support to young people and adults with Down's syndrome 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.
Availability
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Frequency and commitment details
Approximately 1-5 hours a month is the average frequency and we request that volunteers do their best to commit for at least 8 months.
Restrictions
Travel details: Various locations across Falkirk & District, travel expenses will be reimbursed.
Minimum age: 19
Support
Expenses paid: Yes
Expenses details: Activity costs, public transport costs, mileage (where appropriate at 0.45p per mile) paid via bank transfer.
Training details: All volunteers will undertake an online induction training which will take place in two blocks of 3 hours with an additional 1 hour online inclusion training course. An ongoing training programme will reflect the support needs of the volunteers. Volunteers will receive supervision on a formal and informal basis with additional peer support sessions.