Good Neighbours Buddy scheme
DESCRIPTION
The Good Neighbours project recruits, trains and supports volunteers to carry out a variety of practical tasks commonly associated with those carried out by a ‘Good Neighbour’.
We have developed a volunteering role to support local residents in regaining their confidence and independence. The role of a Good Neighbours Volunteer Buddy will be to providing practical, one to one support with a person to improve their confidence with accessing their local community. The volunteer buddy role is intended to be a short term offer of support over a temporary period and can help someone in many ways.
Based on interests, availability and location volunteer buddies may help someone by:
- To build up their confidence and fitness levels by going out for a walk, taking a person to the gym or other physical activities that may interest you both
- Accompanying a person to the shops, or a group class/activity
- Going out to a cafe for a chat
- Travelling by public transport
- Returning to much loved community activities or finding a new hobby to engage with
- Helping to navigate supermarkets and community venues
Good Neighbour volunteer buddy activities all centre around helping people to regain their independence, build confidence and connect to local services, activities or groups to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
If you are a compassionate individual wishing to help someone in your local community, then VODA and the Good Neighbours project would love to hear from you. Our team will seek to match you with someone based on your skills, interest and availability that you’ll hopefully get on with!
About North Tyneside VODA
North Tyneside VODA supports volunteers and voluntary and community sector organisations across the borough of North Tyneside. We provide support, advice on training on a range of topics including starting and setting up a group, governance issues, charity law, funding, finance, involving volunteers and more.
What skills do I need?
WE WANT A GOOD NEIGHBOURS BUDDY TO:
· Empower beneficiaries, encourage physical exercise and getting some fresh air
· Have patience and take it at the person’s own pace
· Be flexible and understand that a person’s plan may need to adjust
· Listen to beneficiaries’ concerns and help to provide reassurance through addressing these concerns in an empathetic manner
· Build confidence and encourage independence as end goal
· Refer to VODA for signposting if someone needs support in other areas
· Validate worries, but providing reassurance on getting back into the community.
· Fill in a report on Volunteero every week to keep the Good Neighbours Team up to date.
To help us route your application appropriately, it would be helpful if you could answer the following questions in your application:
Do you have a current DBS check? (Please note, a DBS is not essential for this role, but may be of benefit for other relevant roles)
Do you have access to a car? (Please note, a car is not essential)
Posted for
North Tyneside VODA
Interests
- Civic Responsibility and Communities
- Disability
- Health and Social Care
- Mental Health
- Older People
Activities
- General Helping
- Outdoors
- Supporting Charities
- Supporting People and Befriending
Details
- Accessibility
- Age restrictions
- DBS check required
- Equal Opportunities Policy
- Expenses reimbursed
- Health and Safety Policy
- Ongoing support
- Training provided
- Volunteer induction
- Volunteer Policy
- Volunteers covered by insurance
- Vulnerable Adults Policy (where relevant)
- Written role description
When can I volunteer?
Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Morning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Afternoon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Evening | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Availability Details
Flexibility arranged around your availability and the beneficiaries needs.
Location
This opportunity has no specific location.
Similar Opportunities
-
Community Champion
Tools With a Mission
-
Weekend helper
Whitley Bay Big Local (Hub)
-
Good Neighbours Moving Furniture Volunteer
North Tyneside VODA
-
Macmillan Telephone Buddy (North - North East)
Macmillan Cancer Support – Macmillan Buddies Service
-
Nightstop Volunteer Host
Depaul UK North Tyneside