Help out at one of our weekly clubs for children or adults from volunteering at the Friday Night Social where over 70 service users attend to supporting our fun Friday groups for children, there’s plenty to get involved in! Contact us for more information on times.
Role: Clubs and Activities Assistant
Supported by: Learning and Leisure Manager/ Team Leader & Volunteer Coordinator
Location: Centre 404, Finsbury Leisure Centre and other sites in and around Islington
Timeframe | |
Length of commitment: | 6 months |
Frequency: | Once a week |
Estimated total hours: | Usually a couple of hours a week |
Purpose of the Clubs assistant volunteer role:
To support the running of our clubs and activities by positively interacting with our members with learning disabilities and help provide a rewarding and enjoyable experience for all involved.
A clubs assistant may support people to socially interact more fully as well as engage positively in activities. They will also assist the support workers in the setting up and running of our club, group or play scheme. A clubs assistant supports the group or club members to achieve more independence in their lives as well as helping reduce social isolation and interacting more with their community. The volunteer would make a positive impact on the club members both individually and as a group by helping provide enjoyable experiences, outings and activities. Volunteers will be part of a team and will be supported and supervised by a senior support worker.
Examples of the support you will offer:
- Enabling people to build confidence and self-esteem through sports, games and activities.
- To provide and participate in a wide range of social activities, outings and skills-based groups.
- To support an individual or small group to engage more fully with the activities and with other members in the group
- To positively encourage participation in activities, groups and clubs.
Other expectations:
- To work with people in a way that takes account of their individual, cultural and religious needs.
- To work with people who may have high needs and variety of communication needs
- To co-operate with other team members.
- To communicate with other team members and on a regular basis with the Volunteer Co-ordinator on how it’s going as well as reporting any incidents.
- Volunteers will be invited to support sessions and offered training where appropriate.
Personal attributes:
Volunteers will be expected to be a good listener and to be calm and patient with the ability to help someone understand issues without imposing their own opinion.
This role offers volunteers the opportunity to enable people to enjoy a friendly, relaxed and inclusive experience and to learn to be more confident, assertive and happy in their lives.
Previous experience of or knowledge of working with a vulnerable client group would be helpful but is not essential as training and an induction is provided.
As a Centre 404 volunteer you will receive:
- An induction to the role
- Reimbursement of out of pocket travel expenses relating to your volunteer placement (up to £5 per session)
- Ongoing support and supervision with the Volunteer Coordinator
- Any identified training required to enable you to perform the volunteer role to the best of your ability, which will be arranged by and paid for by Centre 404
- After 3 months as a Centre 404 volunteer, we will provide a reference if required for paid work or for other purposes
- Protection through Centre 404’s employee liability insurance policy whilst on the premises or engaged in any work on behalf of Centre 404
- Opportunities to meet other Centre 404 volunteers to share experiences
- Invitation to the Centre 404 Annual General Meeting Summer Garden Party
- Centre 404’s bi-annual newsletter
Other information:
This volunteer placement is subject to references and a DBS check. The recruitment of all volunteer placements adhere to Centre 404’s equal opportunities policy.