Marchwood Volunteer

Reporting to: Lead Youth Worker / Breakout Manager.

Hours: Three hours per youth group session.

Commitment: A commitment of a minimum of 2 youth group sessions per month plus the potential for occasional additional hours to support Breakout events and activities by previous agreement.

Principal Function: To assist in the delivery and running of youth groups that support LGBTQ+ or questioning young people aged 11-25.

Duties of the role:

• To greet and help young people feel welcome and comfortable.
• To engage with young people in a supportive and educative way.
• To help plan and facilitate informative and fun sessions designed to increase self-esteem and peer support within the group
• To support the design of sessions that can be used at any of the Breakout youth groups.
• Potential to assist in delivering anti homophobic and transphobic training and information in schools and colleges as needed (if the volunteer feels comfortable / is available to do this).
• To work in an impartial and non-judgemental way.
• To participate and engage in regular supervision
• To take part in handovers and wash-ups before and after volunteering sessions and discuss any issues, including safeguarding concerns, with mentor and / or management
• To be willing to work as part of a team, deliver within the responsibilities expected of a volunteer and check any concerns and / or actions with a paid member of staff
• To keep up to date with relevant current information provided by Breakout Youth and / or No Limits
• To read and abide by the organisation’s policies and guidelines, especially to safeguard children or vulnerable adults
• To complete the mandatory identified training as provided by Breakout / No Limits and annual updates / refreshers when asked to do so and to complete a DBS application.

Dress Code:

• Smart / casual.
• A volunteer badge must be worn at all times.

Skills

• a genuine interest in LGBTQ+ or questioning young people and supporting them to take control of their lives.
• a non-judgmental and welcoming attitude.
• a willingness to listen and learn.
• an ability to work well in a team.
• good communication skills.
• commitment and reliability.
• the confidence to facilitate difficult conversations with young people.
• the resilience to cope with young people sharing distressing information / situations.
• the ability to work within Breakout Youth and No Limits policies, particularly safeguarding and confidentiality.
• an understanding of yourself and your own emotional states.
• an ability to role model and maintain healthy professional boundaries.