About the Position

Purpose
Help young people aged 16-25 achieve their full potential by supporting them to gain skills for life, learning and employment. To engage young people, aged 16-25 years in our Supported Housing units, to participate in group activity sessions and events which have been planned with the Volunteer Coordinator.

Project
More Than a Room is YMCA DLG’s support offer in supported housing services; our approach is based on our values which provide a framework for all the work that we do and the outcomes we achieve, as follows:

Belong: we welcome all
We offer people the space they need to feel secure, respected, heard and valued; and we always protect, trust, hope and persevere

Contribute: we support
We are committed to the wellbeing of the communities we serve and believe in the positive benefit of participation, locally and in the wider world

Thrive: we inspire
We strive to inspire each person we meet to realise their full potential in all they do

The More Than a Room programme includes groupwork and activities focused on life skills, employability skills, support to identify and access work and learning, wellbeing support, and ‘familial’ activities such as shared meals and outings, as well as one to one mentoring and chaplaincy support.

Responsibilities
To plan, prepare and deliver timetabled activity sessions for small groups of young people in our supported housing projects.

To be supported and supervised by the Volunteer Coordinator and Support Staff on duty.

To attend all required training.

To keep in regular communication with the Volunteer Coordinator and inform the Volunteer Coordinator of any issues, absence and lateness.

Attend regular supervision sessions with the Volunteer Coordinator.

Attend Engagement Volunteer team meetings.

To follow the YMCA’s procedures and policies as required

A general commitment to the aims and values of the YMCADLG

To adhere to YMCADLG Covid-19 policies and procedures which are put in place for the safety of yourself and the young people and staff you will be working with.
Volunteer Person Specification
All sorts of people become Engagement Volunteers. You do not need to have specific formal qualifications, but you will need patience, resilience, empathy and tolerance and a good sense of humour!  You will also need to be able to relate well to young people and enjoy spending time in their company.

Aged 18 and above.

An interest or skill you would like to share with young people, as a one-off session, or regular sessions for an agreed length of time.

A willingness to support activities delivered by other volunteers, such as taking young people on trips or to work-shops.

Mature attitude, reliable and at a stable point in life

Able to relate well with young people.

Willingness to volunteer under the supervision of YMCA DLG Support Staff and the Volunteer Coordinator and follow the YMCA DownsLink Group policies and procedures.
Commitment and Expectations
All volunteers are asked to complete some YMCAdlg mandatory training when they commence their role. We also offer a variety of additional training opportunities and encourage our volunteers to utilise the courses available.

We are looking for volunteers who can commit to a minimum of 6 months of regular weekly volunteering of one or two hours a week.

Attend training as required.

Facilitate specific sessions for young people.

Inform the Volunteer Coordinator of any issues, absence, and lateness.

Attend regular supervision sessions with the Volunteer Coordinator.

Attend Engagement Volunteer team meetings.

Please note that we will be reviewing applications regularly and the role will close once we have reached our capacity for volunteers.

For more information please contact Gideon Fifer: Gideon.fifer@ymcadlg.org, 07850 509702 or Tash Morris tash.morris@ymcadlg.org 07881013758

Further Information

YMCA DownsLink Group welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We value diversity and promote inclusion, which we demonstrate through our activities, as well as in our policies and working practices. Reinforced by our culture and values, we seek to create an inspiring and inclusive place to work.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

For questions regarding paid opportunities or to request another application format: please email recruitment@ymcadlg.org

For questions regarding volunteering opportunities: please email volunteering@ymcadlg.org