Social Group Volunteer

Come and join the fun …. We need friendly, outgoing people to assist at our monthly group meeting in East London.

Our members really enjoy getting together each month to have a good chat and a catch up. For many, it provides a much needed opportunity to get out and to meet and make new friends in a safe supported environment. Managing combined sight and hearing loss can sometimes be an isolating and lonely experience so we aim to make our social groups as friendly and welcoming as possible.

How can you help… our friendly Group Volunteers are a fantastic support to our members and we are looking for those special people who can bring that extra sparkle to our social groups.

As a volunteer in this role, your tasks would be varied and typically would include; meeting and greeting at the start of each session, assisting with lunch and refreshments, and being available to chat and spend time with those attending. Sometimes, we get out and about on a day trip or enjoy a meal out - so being a car driver would be useful too. Guiding our deafblind members will be required and you may also be required to push a wheelchair.

Deafblind UK have many Groups set up to support those with sight and hearing loss. Each Group’s aim is to be inclusive and supportive, ensuring a safe environment encouraging local members to attend regularly thus reducing isolation and loneliness. As a Group Volunteer you will provide support to our social groups, enabling members to widen their social networks and friendships.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

As a Group Volunteer you are there to help alongside others with a combination of the following activities:

• Preparation of drinks
• Setting up the room where the activity will take place;
• Communication and guiding support,
• Group and one to one conversations and assisting with equipment
• Organise monthly social groups, including activity planning and member transport supporting Deafblind UK members
• Welcome and support any visiting speakers, activity providers, etc. 
• To support the development of new activities within the group
• To promote involvement in presentations, and other activities offered to the group from various organisations
• Keep simple but accurate finance records such as balance of petty cash account
• (If required), collect subs, assist with raffles, collect donations and complete attendance registers
• Opening and secure closing of premises.
• To maintain the conduct of the group within existing Health & Safety policies, Covid guidance and risk assessments
  
• To provide regular updates of your volunteering activity to your named Deafblind UK contact

Benefits to the volunteer

• Opportunities to meet like-minded people in your community
• Be part of a friendly and dedicated team
• The satisfaction of knowing you will be making a difference to real people’s lives
• New communications skills
• Establishing positive employability skills to help you in your career path

What skills do I need?

Skills, attributes, experience and qualifications

• Confident with a warm, friendly and engaging manner
• Can empathise with the pressures on deafblind people, their families and understand the need for support
• Have a sense of humour
• Self-motivated with an ability to work on own initiative
• Have excellent communication and organisational skills with the ability to work on own initiative
• Reliable, confident and responsible individual, with enthusiasm and effective interpersonal skill.
• Able to demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of the needs of people who have sight and hearing loss
• Willingness to learn communication and guiding techniques to meet the needs of the deafblind person / people
• Have experience in organising group activities and session planning
• Confident in handling cash and logging information
• Have access to the internet and a suitable device for completing online training (approx. 2-3 hours in total)
• Aged 18 plus.

We would be very interested in anyone who has a particular talent…so if you are a singing superstar, enjoy quizzes and crafting or have a few magic tricks up your sleeve, your skills could make all the difference to our group. Whatever your talents, a friendly, welcoming manner is essential.

When do I need to be available?

Details

This role requires regular monthly attendance, days and times vary depending on location. We are seeking volunteers who are able to commit to a minimum of 3 months’ involvement. Our East London group meets on the last Thursday of every month from 1.00-3.00pm.