Community Buddy

Community Buddy Volunteers support children and young people aged 10 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/activity.

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

• Visiting cafes
• Going shopping
• Accessing public transport
• Taking part in sports activities
• Attending a youth club

Buddy Volunteers will receive a fully flexible 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 them with guidance, advice and supervision while they are delivering their volunteering activities.

What skills do I need?

Training and support will be provided, therefore previous experience is not essential.

We are seeking volunteers who feel able to:

• Communicate and ensure children and young people, with varied levels of ability understand information in order to access the community successfully.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with children and young people with a disability or additional need.
• Listen and remain calm and impartial when dealing with children and young people.
• Record information.
• Respect differing views of individuals and work in a non-judgmental way.
• Respect confidentiality and the agreed information sharing process.
• Have the confidence to report concerns.

Location

This opportunity is available Countywide.