Social Group Helper

Come and join the fun …. We need friendly, outgoing people to assist at our monthly group meetings. 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 a 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.

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. Our Newham Social Group takes place on the 4th Thursday of each month from 1.00-3.00pm.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• 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.
• 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.
• Guiding our deafblind members may be required and you may also be required to push a wheelchair.

Benefits to volunteer

• Full training and 1:1 support is provided to all our volunteers as well as further learning opportunities once in the role.

What skills do I need?

Skills, attributes, qualifications and experience:

• Confidence with a warm, friendly and engaging manner
• To be able to empathise with the pressures on deafblind people, their families and understand the need for support
• A sense of humour!
• Are self-motivated with an ability to work on own initiative.
• Have good communication and organisational skills.
• Are reliable, confident and responsible individual, with enthusiasm and effective interpersonal skills.
• Are able to demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of the needs of people who have sight and hearing loss.
• Have a 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.
• Are confident in handling cash and logging information.

When do I need to be available?

Where does this role take place?