Mencap Volunteer Visitor (Storybook Reading & Sweets! - Gosport)

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year to create a 1-2-1 connection, offer companionship, encourage people to do the things they enjoy and check-in on their wellbeing. In many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them.

We are looking for someone to come and visit a lady in her mid 50s, who absolutely loves having a book read to her. She particularly likes classic fairy tales, so if you like reading aloud and enjoy storytelling this is the role for you! She has limited verbal communication, but loves people coming to see her and spend some time reading a book (or two!) with her. She is also a great lover of sweets (jelly babies are number one), so no visit is complete without sharing some sweets and biscuits.

The best time of day for a visit in around 11am in the morning, and ideally on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday - but there is some flexibility around this so weekend visits could be arranged if necessary.

This is a Stop and Stay, let’s get busy visitor role which means the person you will be visiting can communicate actively with you and take part in choosing or planning activities. As you get to know each our you may choose to ‘go out’ either with or without support from the staff that supports the person you visit. Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions for things you can do. Visits will vary in length but tends to be around an hour or longer, depending on what you do.

In this role you will spend quality time with the person you visit and could do a range of different activities like:

• Sitting and having a chat
• Checking in on their well-being
• Going out to a local café/pub for a meal/drink
• Enjoying a walk
• A craft activity at home
• Reading a book/magazine together

As a Mencap visitor you will:

• Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit
• Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training
• Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed
• Meet new people
• Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

Skills

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

• Friendly and approachable
• Accepting of others who might be different to yourself
• Reliable and patient
• Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability