Respite Support Volunteer (Willowgrove Residential/Saturday Link)

The children and young people that use our service participate in a range of leisure activities on an individual and/or group basis. We provide volunteer opportunities for both Saturday Link and the Residential Unit. Depending on your availability and skills you could volunteer for one or both of these.

Key activities:
You will engage in providing a safe and stimulating environment for our children and young people which enables them to develop their independence and life skills. You do this through playing games, doing activities with them with them and having a bit of craic, as well as the more serious stuff about helping them to learn more about doing things for themselves, beginning to take on some responsibilities and keeping themselves safe. Due to the nature of some of our young people's disabilities, you may also on occasion be involved in providing 'personal care' such as assisting with toileting or dressing.

Attitude/skills/knowledge required:
We are not looking for experts in disability or experts in child care. We are looking for ordinary people to join us in some extraordinary work - people who have some free time and able to give a commitment to working with us. We are looking for individuals who are motivated, enthusiastic, flexible, able to use their initiative as well as work as part of a team, people who are patient, have a sense of humour, interested in working with children who need a bit of extra help and support, people who are able to make decisions and take some responsibility, people who are approachable and who can communicate well.