Volunteer Home Befriender (Enjoy the Great Outdoors with David - Bangor, Northern Ireland)

Our member David lives in Bangor, County Down. He is looking for a friendly volunteer who is available to pay him a visit either on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoon for a chat and a much needed walk. David is a fan of wildlife and nature and has a keen interest in science and technology. He would love the chance to get out and about with someone who shares the same interests, to enjoy the outdoors and perhaps stop for coffee along the way!

Ideally, you will be a driver with your own transport, with a genuine interest in other people. A good listener available to make a regular weekly visit.

Do you need experience or specialist skills?

No - simply a genuine desire to help and some spare time on a regular weekly basis. David uses clear speech so additional communication skills are not required. We will ensure you are supported throughout your journey with us, offering training and support at all times. We will also reimburse out of pocket expenses to you and pay for your Access NI check.

Volunteer role

Home Befriender

Volunteer manager

Sensory Support Befriending Officer

Where you will be based

Community

Why we want you

A Volunteer Home Befriender will regularly visit a deafblind person in their own home or at another mutually convenient location to engage in or support them in social and leisure activities as appropriate, to build and maintain social interaction and independence.

The activities may include:

• Engaging in conversation or other activities as appropriate to build and maintain friendship e.g. chat and a cup of tea or going for local walks.
• Providing information about local leisure opportunities and transport options
• Accompanying the person to the first few meetings of one or more social or leisure groups or activities in the local community, e.g. the W.I., swimming pool, University of the 3rd Age, community walking groups, a local deafblind group or activity

What you will be doing

• Establishing and building a befriending relationship and enabling our member to socialise and link to social events within the community
• Visiting an identified person at a mutually convenient time and place to engage in activities as described above (Deafblind UK will work to match you with an individual with similar interests who would benefit from your life experiences)
• Providing advice and guidance to the member at a level appropriate within a mutual companionship
• Taking charge of communication and guiding support as needed with the member to enable local walks, or enable them to access activities at their chosen meeting location
• Providing monthly updates of your volunteering activity to your Deafblind UK named contact

The skills you need

• Willing to share your own personal interests with our member who have the same or similar interests
• Willing to engage in conversations with our members to share interests
• Willing to learn communication and guiding techniques to meet the needs of our members with combined sight and hearing loss (full training will be provided)

What's in it for you

• Opportunities to meet like-minded people in your community
• Be part of a friendly, supportive and dedicated team
• The satisfaction of knowing you will be making a difference to real people’s lives
• Opportunities to develop social and communications skills
• Gain positive employability skills to help you in your career path