Companion Service Volunteer
Hosted by: Age UK - Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Opportunity Description: Age UK Notts are seeking expressions of interest from individuals who would like to be considered as a volunteer for the NEW Companion Service which launches on 1st April 2024.
Volunteers will be supporting people remotely, in their own homes and in the community within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and ideally, we ask all applicants to provide a minimum of 1 hour volunteering a week.
The companion service volunteer can choose to be:
• A companion telephone/video caller
• A companion within the person’s home
• A companion outside the person’s home
• Or a combination of all three.
Examples of the type of support the service offers include:
• Telephone / video calls for an older person/s on a regular basis at a mutually agreed time for a friendly chat.
• Supporting an older person/s hobbies and interests or simply chatting with them in their own home on a regular basis.
• Supporting with digital access & building confidence skills & motivation to access the opportunities of the internet.
• Supporting the person outside of their home e.g., by accompanying them on a walk, to the shops, to a café, garden centre, theatre or cinema or other social activities / community groups.
• Where appropriate, supporting the older person to access other services through information and signposting or referring to the Companion Service Coordinator for support.
We are looking for the following skills/interests:
• Individuals with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of older people who are committed to volunteering on a regular basis.
• Commitment to complete our Volunteer Report Form accurately and regularly.
• Ability to travel for visits in the local community either by car or public transport for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.
• Digital literacy for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.
Please contact the volunteering team on volunteering@ageuknotts.org.uk for further information
Volunteers will be supporting people remotely, in their own homes and in the community within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and ideally, we ask all applicants to provide a minimum of 1 hour volunteering a week.
The companion service volunteer can choose to be:
• A companion telephone/video caller
• A companion within the person’s home
• A companion outside the person’s home
• Or a combination of all three.
Examples of the type of support the service offers include:
• Telephone / video calls for an older person/s on a regular basis at a mutually agreed time for a friendly chat.
• Supporting an older person/s hobbies and interests or simply chatting with them in their own home on a regular basis.
• Supporting with digital access & building confidence skills & motivation to access the opportunities of the internet.
• Supporting the person outside of their home e.g., by accompanying them on a walk, to the shops, to a café, garden centre, theatre or cinema or other social activities / community groups.
• Where appropriate, supporting the older person to access other services through information and signposting or referring to the Companion Service Coordinator for support.
We are looking for the following skills/interests:
• Individuals with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of older people who are committed to volunteering on a regular basis.
• Commitment to complete our Volunteer Report Form accurately and regularly.
• Ability to travel for visits in the local community either by car or public transport for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.
• Digital literacy for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.
Please contact the volunteering team on volunteering@ageuknotts.org.uk for further information
Type of Activity: Befriending & Buddying
Areas of Interest: Elderly
Skills:
Who we are looking for:
Requirements: Will require a Criminal Record Check (DBS)
Suitable for: People with Visual Impairment, Long Term Commitment, From Home, University Students, People Seeking Work, Older People
Practical considerations:
Recruitment method: Application Form, Interviews, Police Checks, References
Disabled Access details: na
Expenses details: Reimbursement of travel expenses as defined in the Age UK Notts Volunteer Handbook
Any Age/Gender restrictions: 18+
Support for volunteers with additional needs: This will depend on the volunteer and what those needs are, and whether the service the volunteer is applying for can comfortably support a volunteer whilst maintaining the delivery of the service.
Induction Arrangments: Yes
Insurance Cover: Yes
Support Available: Yes
Training: Yes