Community Buddy Scheme Volunteers

Community Buddy Scheme Volunteers

Posted for Hampshire County Council - Children's Services - Children and Families Volunteers

Posted by Volunteer North Hampshire

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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 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 
• Attending 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.

Volunteers 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

The next induction training session is in Winchester on Monday 11th January 2027 (9:3oam-4:30pm) followed by an online Community Buddy training session (date to be advised)

Watch a film about our volunteering service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_wY0yZasIo 

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 to their Volunteer Coordinator 

Training dates for volunteers are released throughout the year and occur roughly quarterly.