Toynbee Hall Residential Volunteer Programme 2010-2011

TOYNBEE HALL RESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME 2010-2011

Dignify RV

What does Toynbee Hall do?

Toynbee Hall produces practical innovative programmes for young people and families, adults, and older people, to meet the needs of local people, improve conditions and enable communities to fulfil their potential. The organisation makes a difference by producing local programmes that have the power to become national solutions, with a constant and ongoing commitment to the development of social policy and networks for positive change.

We place volunteers at the heart of what we do, with an average of 450 volunteers from diverse backgrounds being involved each year.

What is the Residential Volunteer Programme at Toynbee Hall?

The Residential Volunteer Programme at Toynbee Hall provides a unique opportunity for a small community of 8 active volunteers to live on-site. As a Residential Volunteer you will be encouraged to work alongside our experienced staff and volunteers and become involved in our innovative social action programmes working with the poorest communities in the East End of London.

What is the Dignify Residential Volunteer role?

This role is designed to give the successful candidate the opportunity to get involved in working directly with older people delivering and innovating cutting edge methods of group and one-to-one work. Dignify is a dynamic, fast developing project that is working to tackle elder abuse and reduce the risk of older people being abused. The volunteer will live rent-free within the Residential Volunteer community at Toynbee Hall and gain valuable experience in innovative client-facing work on a crucial issue rapidly rising up the policy agenda.

The Dignify Residential Volunteer role is part of the Dignify project team within the Wellbeing Programme at Toynbee Hall. Dignify was set up to raise awareness amongst older people and professionals about elder abuse and what to do about it. The work is rapidly developing and includes:

Interactive workshops with groups of older people (in English and Sylheti)
Information giving and presentations to professionals and older people
Programme of events during the week of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).
Development of new methods of raising awareness with older people, for example in hospitals, 1-2-1 sessions with older people who cannot easily leave their homes, work in residential care homes.
The new Survivors Network will provide 1-2-1 support to survivors of elder abuse as a form of after care
Development of resources and training to enable other providers to deliver Dignify workshops
Preliminary development of a new project to provide Advocacy to people affected by elder abuse.

All the work involves collaboration with other practitioners in a range of other organisations. This role reports to the Dignify Coordinator, and you will be working as part of a supportive team alongside other members of staff and volunteers.

As a volunteer in this role you will play a key role in delivering interactive workshops with groups of older people and in taking up key aspects of other work streams according to your interest and skills, in conjunction with other team members.

You will be able to ‘try out’ different aspects of the work and to put the time in where you are the most interested. It is an opportunity to take a creative approach, resulting in significant learning and skills development. You will receive training on the delivery of our workshops, and be supported in the all the tasks you take on.

Some examples of tasks you could get involved with as part of the Team’s work include:

Delivering interactive workshops with groups of older people about elder abuse
Making referrals for older people affected by abuse issues
Making contact with organisations for the project to set up workshops
Planning and piloting different methods for raising awareness with older people
Planning and running events, talks, fundraising and other activities for WEAAD week.
Involving older volunteers in the project’s work
Supporting the development of new strands of work

What is elder abuse?

Elder abuse is an umbrella term used to describe one or more of the following being perpetrated against an older person -

Physical abuse - the willful infliction of physical pain or injury, such as slapping, bruising, or restraining.
Sexual abuse - the perpetrating of a non-consensual sexual act of any kind.
Emotional or psychological abuse - the infliction of mental or emotional anguish, such as humiliating, intimidating, or threatening.
Financial or material exploitation - the improper act or process of an individual, using the resources of an older person, without his/her consent, for someone else's benefit.
Neglect - the failure of a caretaker to provide goods or services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish or mental illness, such as abandonment, denial of food or health related services.

Anyone, regardless of their age, gender, cultural and ethnic background and social circumstances can be abused; this can often happen in someone’s own home involving someone who has a prior relationship with the older person, or in institutions.

What will I gain?
You will work alongside experienced voluntary sector workers and will have access to a number of training opportunities relevant to the role. You will gain experience of delivering interactive sessions around elder abuse, working with a range of professionals and older people using services, and developing new ways of working.

You will have the opportunity to get involved in project planning, evaluation and review, and to see how voluntary sector organisations develop and change.

Living as a Residential Volunteer in Toynbee Hall you will gain experience of being part of a unique community in an organisation with a rich history of action for social change.

What qualities are Toynbee Hall looking for?
We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds with a wide variety of skills, experiences and ideas. In order to carry out this role successfully, a volunteer will ideally have the following skills and experience. You do not need to have all of these skills but do ensure you highlight those you do have in the personal statement attached to your application.

Skills

Educated to degree level, preferably in Social Work or a related subject
Able to communicate well
Able to facilitate groups
Understanding of adult protection/ elder abuse issues
Computer literate
Excellent spoken and written English

Experience

Working with older people and/or vulnerable people
Facilitating groups
Volunteering or participating in other forms of social action
Communicating with people from a range of different backgrounds
Working as part of a team

Please describe, ideally using examples, how you meet each of the above requirements in the personal statement attached to your application.

When do you need me?

The Residential Volunteer year officially runs from the first or second week in September 2010 to last week of August 2011.

You will need to be available for a number of daytime and evening induction events in the last week of August or first week of September.

We are looking for candidates who are willing to commit to volunteer for a minimum of 24 hours per week in this role. Remote working is possible but in order to facilitate mutual learning and development we would ask that candidates are available for at least part of this time during office hours (Monday- Friday 9-5pm). This means that we are generally seeking to attract those who are not in full time work, although there might be exceptions depending on your working arrangements.

Where does all this take place?

You will live at Toynbee Hall which is based at 28 Commercial Street, E1 (nearest tube station Aldgate East), close to Spitalfields, Brick Lane, Old Street, Hoxton, Shoreditch and the City.

What would Toynbee Hall expect of me?

You would be expected to take an active role in the Residential Volunteer Programme by attending induction and training sessions, attending meetings, taking part in group activities and reporting to the Volunteering and Engagement Manager. As a fully sponsored volunteer you will be expected to complete a minimum of 24 hours per week voluntary work with Toynbee Hall. You will need to attend occasional one-to-one progress meetings with the Volunteering and Engagement Manager, report your hours and activities at the end of each month and to participate in the Residential Volunteer Mentoring programme where you will be attached to a member of staff for additional support.

You would also need to meet the expectations of your tenancy agreement.

What can you expect from Toynbee Hall?

As a fully sponsored volunteer you will be provided with rent free accommodation. You will live in spacious and affordable accommodation with shared kitchen, bathroom and lounge, and internet facilities. Basic living expenses of up to £65 per week with be reimbursed and you will be provided with a travel card for zones 1-2.

You will receive relevant introduction and training sessions as part of your induction. For the duration of your time at Toynbee Hall you will also have access to other training opportunities either as part of the Toynbee Hall Core Curriculum Staff Training Programme, through other local volunteer agencies or arranged in relation to a specific volunteer role.

You will be supported by Toynbee Hall’s Volunteering Team who will guide and supervise you in your role. You will be actively supported and encouraged in your professional development, and exposed to other organisations in the sector through attending external meetings and networking opportunities. You will receive regular support from the Volunteering and Engagement Manager through one-to-one progress meetings, monthly team meetings and a regular e-bulletin.

You will have access to Toynbee Hall extranet and e-mail facilities for sharing information on volunteer-led projects and meetings.

Interested?

More information about the RV Programme and how to apply, including application forms, can be found at

The deadline for receipt of application is the 20th of June. Informal interviews are expected to take place on the weeks starting 28th of June and 6th July 2009.

For an informal chat about the RV Programme please contact Magdalena Nikolova, Volunteering and Engagement Manager on 0207 392 2980 or via e-mail at

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