Community Buddy Volunteer

Community Buddy Volunteers support children and young people aged 7 to 17 with disabilities and/or additional needs to access their local community, helping them develop key life skills and meet outcomes outlined at the start of their Buddy journey.

Buddy Volunteers are matched with a child or young person and offer one-to-one support during an activity or outing into the community. A crucial aspect of the volunteering role is the ability to build positive relationships with a child or young person with a disability and/or additional need enabling them to build confidence to access the community or their chosen club or activity.

Participation in activities, clubs or accessing the community will be set out by the child or young person and their parents or carers and may take place in a variety of local settings. Examples of the type of support a volunteer would provide are as follows:

·        Visiting cafes

·        Going shopping

·        Accessing public transport

·        Taking part in sports activities

attend a youth club

Buddy Volunteers will receive a full training programme which will equip them to provide support when out and about as a Buddy Volunteer with their child or young person. As part of the support package Buddy Volunteers will have regular access to a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator – who will provide each Buddy Volunteer with guidance, advice, and supervision - while they are delivering their volunteering activities. 

Skills

As a volunteer I will: 

• Work with the Volunteer Coordinator to agree a match to a child or young person 

• Attend an initial meeting with the child or young person and Volunteer Coordinator to agree the type and frequency of support to be offered and agree ongoing activities and support 

• Meet with the child or young person and deliver the ongoing support agreed 

• Record and share information as agreed 

As an organisation we will: 

• Offer training relevant to the role 

• Include you in the matching process for the child or young person 

• Provide you with ongoing, high-quality, and timely support 

• Pay mileage expenses at 45p per mile (mileage expenses can only be paid on evidence of business insurance and a valid MOT) 

This volunteering opportunity is subject to an application form, interview, two references, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and satisfactory completion of training