Volunteer Buddy - for an adult with learning disabilities

Becoming a Volunteer Buddy is a wonderful opportunity for you to do what you enjoy while changing someone else’s life at the same time! Just a few hours of your time will enable an adult with learning disabilities to do more of things they enjoy, meet new people and access more activities within their community.

Supported by our dedicated staff and Volunteer Team, we will carefully match you to someone who shares the same hobbies and interests. This may include (dog) walking, shopping, gardening, sports, going to the cinema or a enjoying a pint and burger in the pub! Or your buddy may be keen to attend a specific group or activity and just needs a little extra help to do so.

But being a Buddy is much more than just taking people places; you can help to build their confidence, give them something to look forward to and encourage them to achieve so much more. With your support you can not only help to enable their participation in active, healthy and enjoyable activities as enjoyed by the rest of society, but also help to break down any barriers to their inclusion in the community as well.

Availability:

Time spent as a Buddy can be hugely varied and flexible. It may be that your Buddy is keen to attend a regular club or group at the same time each week, or it might be that you agree to meet once a fortnight / month to enjoy a coffee and a chat! We can work around you and your commitments but we do suggest meeting on a fairly regular basis (if possible) in order to form a strong relationship of support and trust.

Skills

Who are we looking for?

Friendly, kind and approachable, this role requires someone who is happy to commit to providing regular one-to-one support and encouragement to an adult living with a learning disability. With strong communication and interpersonal skills, this role would ideally suit someone who is enthusiastic, motivational and confident, yet patient, calm and a good listener. Reliability is essential.

No previous experience is necessary as we will ensure you are given all the support and training required to carry out your role safely and effectively, and to make sure your volunteering experience – and that of the person you are buddying - is always a positive one!