Voluntary Youth Wellbeing Trainer

Mindful Connections Volunteer Befriender,

Role Description

Role: Mindful Connections Volunteer Befriender

Type of Role: Voluntary (Travel Expenses paid)

Responsible to: Older Person’s Co-ordinator

Time Commitment: We ask that applicants are able to commit to between a half and a full day a week for ideally one year (hours can be flexible) Location: London Borough of Hackney

Role Summary: Our volunteer befrienders are trained to support and motivate isolated older people (aged 50+) in the Hackney Borough to improve their wellbeing, discover what’s happening in Hackney and to connect with local services. Our aim is to help our clients to become less isolated in the future. There is also the potential within the role to help design and deliver community based activities which may include mindfulness and IT taster sessions, however all ideas are welcome!

Key Responsibilities: 1. Successfully complete the volunteer induction and training. This will include short mindfulness practises, training on the basics of motivational interviewing, dealing with challenging behaviour, co-production and signposting. 2. Prepare for and meet with between one and two older people in the community per week. All volunteers are fully supported whilst lone working. 3. There will be opportunities for volunteers to co-produce community based sessions with our clients and to help out at these events. This may include facilitating an activity, speaking to clients or just helping with the tea!

4. We ask that volunteers maintain regular communication with the Older Person’s Co-ordinator, including checking in and out of meetings, submitting monitoring logs and attending 1-1 touch-base meetings and group reflective supervisions. 5. There may also be some informal meetings about organising events/ focus groups with clients etc. 6. We ask that volunteers report any concerns that may arise from your work to the Older Person’s Co-ordinator and we’ll support you to speak to the designated Safeguarding Officer if needs be. 7. The Older Person’s coordinator will also support you to reach any personal development goals that you might wish to achieve over the course of the role. 8. Volunteers are asked to work in accordance with the organisation’s policies and practices, which they’ll be provided with along with a volunteer handbook.

Person Specification We ask that our Mindful Connections Volunteer Befrienders have:

o The ability to create good relationships with a diverse range of people. o The ability to be non-judgmental, compassionate and patient. o Good verbal and communication skills. o Be honest and act with integrity. o An understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities. o Ability to work well in a team as well as alone with clients. o To have experienced of or be able to empathise with someone experiencing social isolation. o Willingness to engage in some Mindfulness practise. o Willingness to talk from your own experience in an appropriate way. o Ability to maintain appropriate and professional boundaries. o An interest in the Hackney community, local organisations, activities and Hackney’s diverse population. o We encourage applicants aged 50+

Training/Induction The induction and training provided will help prepare you for work in the community with vulnerable older people as well as with helping with the events should you wish to. You will receive training on an extensive range of topics including holistic person centred working, dealing with challenging behaviour, mental health awareness, professional boundaries, the basics of motivational interviewing and an introduction to co-production and digital technology. We will explore the benefits of being mindful in our work with clients and participate in short mindfulness exercises together. Volunteers are encouraged to develop their own mindfulness practice outside of the training. All volunteers get a years’ free subscription to the Headspace mindfulness app to help with this!

Other Information Applicants will be required to attend an informal volunteer interview and if successful provide details of two references and submit details for a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check. Volunteers will be accepted based on their application form, meeting with the coordinator, two satisfactory references and their DBS check.

Should you have any questions or wish to discuss this in more detail please feel free to contact India by emailing [email protected] or calling 0208 525 2309.