Volunteer

Our Vision

Life is great for children and young people

Our Mission

Provide a range of support services for children and young people who have not had a fair deal in relation to housing, homelessness, mental health and participation

Our Ethos

We need each other to make life work

Our Values

We make our own choices

We take risks

We make mistakes and learn

We recognise our differences and challenge judgments

Wellbeing Volunteer Role Descriptions

The MACS Wellbeing Support Team facilitate a volunteering service supporting children and young people to live the dream and succeed with inspiration from volunteers.

Person Specification

Skills

You should have an ability to verbally communicate with children and young people on all levels and have good listening skills

Ability to build purposeful and nurturing relationships with children and young people

Ability to support children and young people to set and achieve goals

Personal qualities

Resilient and compassionate towards our children and young people

Openness to being challenged and ability to seek and receive support

Self-motivation and ability to motivate others

Willingness to try new things and challenge yourself

Values

Work within the ethos, values and culture of MACS

This role is a REGULATED ACTIVITY. Therefore, in order to volunteer you must be willing to undertake an Enhanced Level Access NI check. Please discuss with worker if you have any queries with this process

MACS Volunteer Support:

• We reimburse volunteers for their travel at 40p per mile or the cost of their public transport ticket. Mileage is claimed monthly, tickets for travel can be claimed as and when.

• You will be covered by insurance for your volunteer activities.

ROLE DESCRIPTION: 1-2-1 VOLUNTEER MENTOR

Responsible to: 

Wellbeing Volunteer Co-ordinator

Day to day support provided by Volunteer Coordinator and Wellbeing Workers

Locations:            

Across all MACS locations 

Role Overview:    

MACS Wellbeing Support Service provides mental health support and mentoring to children and young people aged 11-25. Wellbeing Service supports children and young people who experience low mood, suicidal ideation and self-harm to build resilience, increasing coping strategies and develop support networks. This is achieved through one to one mentoring support from volunteers and group work.

Key tasks:

• To support children and young people aged 11-25 years who haven’t had a fair deal

• To provide 1 to 1 support to children and young people ensuring this is underpinned by MACS ethos and value base

• To offer support to children and young people with goal setting and achieving their dreams
• To develop purposeful and nurturing relationships with children and young people
• To have fun with children and young people
• To adhere to Health and Safety policies and procedures as outlined in MACS training
• Adhere to Child Protection, Vulnerable Adult and Lone Worker policies to safeguard young people, staff and volunteers.
• To accept support and direction from Wellbeing staff.

Time & Commitment:

• Complete MACS Volunteer training (2 days) and MACS ‘top up’ training (1day)
• Meet a young person once a week for 2-3 hours, building a relationship lasting up to 6 months
• Meet with worker monthly for one to one supervision
• Keep in weekly phone contact with Wellbeing worker for ‘check ins’
• Attend quarterly group support meetings
• To complete annual Child Protection training (1day).

ROLE DESCRIPTION: GROUP WORK VOLUNTEER

Responsible to:   

Wellbeing Volunteer Co-ordinator

Day to day support provided by Volunteer Coordinator and Wellbeing Workers

Location:              

Across all MACS locations

Role Overview:     

MACS Wellbeing Support Service provides mental health support and mentoring to children and young people aged 11-25. Wellbeing Service supports children and young people who experience low mood, suicidal ideation and self-harm to build resilience, increasing coping strategies and develop support networks. This is achieved through one to one mentoring support from volunteers and group work.

Key tasks:

• To support children and young people aged 11-25 years who haven’t had a fair deal
• To co- facilitate groups to meet the relevant needs of children and young people ensuring this is underpinned by MACS ethos and value base
• To develop purposeful and nurturing relationships with children and young people
• To focus the on the needs of the children and young people in the group
• To record and evaluate group sessions
• To have fun with children and young people
• To adhere to Health and Safety policies and procedures as outlined in MACS training
• Adhere to Child Protection, Vulnerable Adult and Lone Worker policies to safeguard young people, staff and volunteers.
• To accept support and direction from Wellbeing staff.
• To assist in transporting children and young people to and from sessions / activities when necessary

Time & Commitment:

• Complete MACS Volunteer training (2 days) and MACS ‘top up’ training (1day)
• Co-facilitate one programme weekly, usually lasting 2-3 hours for 4 weeks.
• We ask that upon agreeing to support the group that your attendance is consistent for the time frame of the group.
• Availability on a variety of times throughout the week, mostly evenings.
• Meet Wellbeing worker for prep before and de-brief following sessions
• Attend group support meetings quarterly
• To complete annual Child Protection training (1day)

ROLE DESCRIPTION: VOLUNTEER DRIVER 

Responsible to:   

Wellbeing Volunteer Co-ordinator

Day to day support provided by Volunteer Coordinator and Wellbeing Workers

Location:             

Across all MACS locations

Role Overview:     

MACS Wellbeing Support Service provides mental health support and mentoring to children and young people aged 11-25. Wellbeing Service supports children and young people who experience low mood, suicidal ideation and self-harm to build resilience, increasing coping strategies and develop support networks. This is achieved through one to one mentoring support from volunteers and group work.

Key tasks:

• To support children and young people aged 11-25 years who haven’t had a fair deal
• To provide transport to children and young people to help them attend MACS groups and events
• To adhere to Health and Safety policies and procedures as outlined in MACS training
• Adhere to Child Protection, Vulnerable Adult and Lone Worker policies to safeguard young people, staff and volunteers.
• To accept support and direction from Wellbeing staff.
• To complete MACS Drivers Audit and ensure your car in in a roadworthy condition

Time & Commitment:

• Complete MACS Volunteer training (2 days) and MACS ‘top up’ training (1day)
• Transport children and young people to and from MACS groups and events as and when available
• Meet with Wellbeing worker as and when required
• Attend bi-monthly group support meetings

ROLE DESCRIPTION: VOLUNTEER FOOTBALL COACH

Responsible to:  

Wellbeing Volunteer Co-ordinator

Day to day support provided by Volunteer Coordinator and Wellbeing Workers

Location:              

Across all MACS locations

Role Overview:     

MACS Wellbeing Support Service provides mental health support and mentoring to children and young people aged 11-25. Wellbeing Service supports children and young people who experience low mood, suicidal ideation and self-harm to build resilience, increasing coping strategies and develop support networks. This is achieved through one to one mentoring support from volunteers and group work.

Key tasks:

• To support children and young people aged 11-25 years who haven’t had a fair deal
• To co-facilitate MACS ‘Friday football’ to meet the relevant needs of children and young people ensuring this is underpinned by MACS ethos and value base
• To encourage, support and motivate children and young people toward achieving goals
• To ensure the group works together, promoting positive relationships and an ethos of teamwork
• To develop purposeful and nurturing relationships with children and young people
• To focus the on the needs of the children and young people in the group
• To record and evaluate group sessions
• To have fun with children and young people
• To adhere to Health and Safety policies and procedures as outlined in MACS training
• Adhere to Child Protection, Vulnerable Adult and Lone Worker policies to safeguard young people, staff and volunteers.
• To accept support and direction from Wellbeing staff.
• To assist in transporting children and young people to and from sessions / activities when necessary

Time & Commitment:

• Complete MACS Volunteer training (2 days) and MACS ‘top up’ training (1day)
• Support worker to contact and provide transport for children and young people to and from football every Friday (bar some exceptions through the year)
• Lifts to and from and co-facilitating the group equate to roughly 4.5 hours per week each Friday
• Responsible for sharing organisation the MACS football kit each week
• Meet with Wellbeing worker as and when required
• Attend bi-monthly group support meetings

ROLE DESCRIPTION: HOUSING VOLUNTEER

Responsible to:   

Wellbeing Volunteer Co-ordinator

On shift contact and support provided by staff in MACS’ houses and supervised by designated house contact / volunteer Co-ordinator                                    

Location:              

Across all MACS locations

Role Overview:     

In conjunction with Housing Workers to encourage and support young people (aged16-21) who have had experience of the care system to have fun, participate in chosen activity and learn independent living skills.

Key tasks:

• To work with a young people aged 16-21 years who haven’t had a fair deal in life
• To offer support young person with basic living skills
• To support young people to enjoy a relaxed and casual relationships with other young people and volunteers
• To have fun with young people
• To encourage participation in chosen group activity
• To take responsibility in co-facilitating group/activity content
• To adhere to Health and Safety policies and procedures as outlined in MACS training
• To adhere to Lone worker and Child Protection policies

Time & Commitment:

• Complete MACS Volunteer training (2 days) and MACS ‘top up’ training (1day)
• Attend group work sessions at the MACS’ houses - on a rota basis, agreed by you (the volunteer) and MACS staff
• Each activity/group may last up to or above 2-3 hours
• Meet with designated worker as and when required for de-brief/supervision/catch-up
• Attend MACS’ quarterly volunteer group support meetings