Coffee morning volunteer – Northfield group

Do you like to have a chat and meet new people? Could you spare a few hours every other Tuesday morningin the Northfield area of Birmingham? If so, then being a volunteer for Focus Birmingham’s coffee morning might be for you! A coffee morning volunteer will support our staff and people with visual impairment to get the most out of our coffee mornings.With the support from volunteers, we are able to offer local social opportunities to blind and partially sighted people in their communities.

Purpose of Role

To help staff at Focus Birmingham deliver a programme every other week (Tuesday mornings) atChatham Place in Northfieldfor our adult service users who have a visual impairment and/or physical disabilities.

Location

Chatham Place

100 Chatham Road

Northfield

B31 2JW

Typical role tasks

Below is a list of some of the tasks that volunteers may help with:

  • Makingand serving teas and coffees to service users
  • Assisting service users to get on and off the Ring & Ride buses
  • Providing sighted guide assistance to helpservice users access the lavatories
  • Assistingstaff with occasional off site outings
  • Supporting staff to facilitate the group(if required)
  • To be aware of and put into practice the relevant policies for ensuring the quality of our service which include Health and Safety (including the handling of wheelchairs), Safeguarding and Confidentiality policies
  • To undertake any training relevant to this role

Desirable skills andexperience

  • Reliable
  • Friendly and sociable
  • Physically able to carry hot drinks, push wheelchairs (if applicable) and offer sighted guiding support (training provided)
  • Comfortable interacting with small groups of people

Commitment level

To build effective relationships with service users and to ensure suitable staffing levels, we would ask that you attend every other Tuesday morning.

For days when you are unable to attend, we ask that you get in touch with your Community Worker or a member of the Community Services team as soon as possible prior to the group meeting to let us know.

Training provided

  • Sight Loss Awareness and Focus Induction
  • Any additional relevant training to enable you to undertake the role can be discussed

Benefits to you

  • An opportunity to gain new skills and to support people with sight loss
  • An opportunity to get out and about and meet new people

Focus Birmingham has a reimbursement of expenses policy which covers the reasonable out of pocket cost for your volunteering. However, as we are a charity, our reimbursement cannot cover taxis.

Role support

Community Worker and Focus Birmingham’s Volunteer Coordinator

Further information

For more information about this role, other volunteer opportunities at Focus Birmingham or if you would like to apply, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator on 0121 478 5210, by email: or visit our website:

Supporting people with visual impairments and other disabilities, together with their carers, to live fulfilling and independent lives by providing services that reflect their wants and needs.

Registered Charity No. 1065745. Registered Company No. 3353444.