All volunteering opportunities involve supporting people with disabilities.
The opportunities we currently have available are:
Youth work in a group setting. This is within our premises at The Zone youth club.
The Zone is for young people within two age groups who attend alternating weeks. The age group is 11 to 15 years. We are looking for volunteers with enthusiasm, sense of fun and interests they can share with the groups to develop the groups.
Kaleidoscope
This group aims to encourage adults with disabilities to meet up and try out new activities in a supportive accessible environment. Activities include pampering, exercise, relaxation and making music. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers with ideas and skills to take this forward by welcoming and developing the activities to reflect the interests those attending. Musicians and those with interests in playing music are required. People who can offer specific skills to lead a group or activity, for example an exercise class or art and craft technique would also be welcome in addition to those who are happy to chat.
The SMILE Disco a monthly disco which is both physically and socially accessible to adults with disabilities.
The disco is held monthly at a mainstream venue. It is run solely by volunteers who are responsible for all aspects of the disco; publicity, taking money at the door, hosting and socialising with those attending. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to take on the publicity and marketing of the event in addition to those attending on the night.
Art Beat our arts and crafts group meets on a Friday afternoon. Volunteers are needed to support participants in activities as well as working on new ideas for projects!
Energy Group Tuesday afternoons at Kirkton Community Centre. Interested in keeping fit, playing sports or simply being active? Volunteers needed to join in, give ideas and lead activities which are fun for all.
Want to volunteer?
All of our volunteering opportunities can involve working with children or vulnerable people as defined by Protection of Children Act 2003 and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act 2007. This means that anyone volunteering with The Inclusion Group must complete our application form and will have to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.
Our application form let’s us get to know a bit about you and asks you to provide references. References are from people who know you and can say that you are suitable for working with our group. The PVG is a national scheme which carries out a criminal record check to ensure all those working with vulnerable people are suitable to do so. It requires you to fill out a form and provide two forms of identification, one with a photo such as a Passport or Driving Licence which proves you are who you say you are and one bill or statement from something like a Council Tax or energy provider which proves you stay at that address.
This can seem pretty complicated and time consuming but is very important to all our staff and those attending that we keep everyone involved in our groups safe.
Volunteering with The Inclusion Group can be hard work but is also a lot of fun. You have a lot of support from staff and volunteers as well as lots training opportunities that can help build your knowledge and skills in working with people with disabilities and their families. The knowledge and experience gained is invaluable.