Activities Volunteer
Activities Volunteer
Role description
The organisation
At Porchlight, we help people who have nowhere to go and no-one to turn to; some people are homeless, others are struggling to cope with the pressures in their lives and need our support to keep on track.
As a charity working across Kent, we help vulnerable and isolated people get support with their mental health, housing, education and employment. We provide young people and adults with the advice, guidance and skills to live independently in the future, to play an active role in their local community and to fulfil their potential.
In 2015/16 we supported nearly 5000 people but we couldn’t do it without the hard work and commitment of supporters, partners, funders and staff, and of course, the people that we support.
The Services
Working across all of services from our accommodation projects to outreach, the (JET) Jobs Education and Training team exists to inspire people to lead a more purposeful and positive life through activities, education, employment and volunteering. JET Staff conduct various activities including sports and arts with homeless, vulnerable or disadvantaged people with the aim of increasing their confidence, helping them learn new skills and finding something meaningful to do. These may be done during the day, or in the evening or even at night and at weekends. All sessions are fully risk assessed before taking place.
The Role
We are looking for Volunteer’s to assist with some or all of the following:
• In delivering a range of positive activities to include football, fitness sessions, swimming, canoeing, sailing, drama, arts, cooking, gardening and badminton.
• Assisting with arranging client assessments and attendance at activities or employment, education or training opportunities
• Contacting clients and letting them know of the day’s activities (by phone or in person)
• Researching opportunities for clients to take part in local community activities
What we need from you:
Some of the following:
• People keen on fitness and exercise (or even qualified in coaching sport or yoga orrunning fitness sessions)
• Have a reasonable level of knowledge about cooking, budgeting and recipe planning
• Have an arts or craft-related skill that you want to share with others
• Have plenty of patience
• Enthusiasm and an interest in getting homeless people active
• An awareness of the problems homeless people face
• To be committed to attend relevant training sessions
• Two references will be required
• A full DBS will be sought
Benefits for you volunteering:
- Develop key skills and valuable experience of the homelessness sector within a dynamic, positive, friendly and supportive environment
- Have access to relevanttraining courses run at Porchlight
- The opportunity to gain a formal certificate in mentoring
- A professional reference for future work / study / volunteering opportunities
- Make a significant contribution to supporting vulnerable people to move forward with their lives
- Invaluable work experience
Induction/Training
A full induction and specific, relevant training will be provided to prepare all volunteers for their role.