Top Benefits
About the role
Durham
Part-Time
We currently have several volunteering opportunities in the Durham area for volunteer Befrienders. Our Durham Floating Support Service supports clients who live independently all over Durham, and who have Mental Health conditions such as anxiety, and depression. If you have a few hours to spare either during the week or at weekends and can commit to volunteering with us on a weekly basis, we’d love to hear from you!
We are looking for befrienders who can help our clients on a one-to-one basis to access their local community. This can include trips to the local cinema to watch the latest films, enjoying a coffee and a chat in the local cafes, watching live music at concerts, or festivals, visits to classic car shows and even further afield such as day trips to the surrounding area in Whitby and York.
We welcome applications from people from all walks of life, all we ask is that you’re calm, supportive, friendly and patient to help our clients gain in confidence.
As a volunteer with Creative Support we offer training for your role, access to a volunteer supervisor, an induction, a monthly Volunteer newsletter, and an online volunteer’s peer support group. Together we can make a difference.
Preferred hours per week/time commitment: Flexible times and days, including evenings and weekends.
Volunteer Duties
- To provide a befriending support, listening and talking in a non-judgemental friendly way.
- You will need to be aware of Creative Supports Safeguarding procedures, and be able to implement this if needed.
- Encourage the service user to access local activities and feel part of the local community.
- You will need to be consistent with days and times and liaise with staff for any changes.
Application Instructions 'To apply download our volunteer application form' Application Form 2022 - Volunteer Application Form 2022 - Volunteer
About Creative Support
Creative Support was established as Manchester Housing Consortium in 1990 and was registered in 1991 as an Industrial and Provident Society with charitable status. We subsequently changed our name to Creative Support to show our commitment to developing creative responses to individual needs. In our first five years we successfully enabled people who had been living in long stay hospitals to move into supported housing, greatly improving their quality of life. By the late 1990’s we were providing a wide range of housing, care and support services.
Creative Support now provides person-centred services across England in 65 local authorities, supporting over 5,000 individuals with care and support needs. Our portfolio includes accommodation based services such as residential care, supported housing and extra care as well as a range of floating support and homecare services to service users living in their own homes. We also provide day activities and respite support so that service users, families and carers can enjoy holidays and short breaks.
We currently provide care, support, housing and preventative services for: • People with a learning disability • People with mental health needs • People with dementia • People with autistic spectrum conditions • People with acquired brain injuries • People with sensory and physical disabilities • People with complex needs, including behaviour which can challenge services • Young people with care and support needs • Older people with care and support needs • People who are homeless or in housing need • People who have a history of problematic drug or alcohol use • People who have a history of offending or are at risk of offending
The needs of our service users are diverse and we support people from all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
Over 20% of our service users are from BAME groups and this is reflected in the diversity of our staff and volunteers.
Top Benefits
About the role
Durham
Part-Time
We currently have several volunteering opportunities in the Durham area for volunteer Befrienders. Our Durham Floating Support Service supports clients who live independently all over Durham, and who have Mental Health conditions such as anxiety, and depression. If you have a few hours to spare either during the week or at weekends and can commit to volunteering with us on a weekly basis, we’d love to hear from you!
We are looking for befrienders who can help our clients on a one-to-one basis to access their local community. This can include trips to the local cinema to watch the latest films, enjoying a coffee and a chat in the local cafes, watching live music at concerts, or festivals, visits to classic car shows and even further afield such as day trips to the surrounding area in Whitby and York.
We welcome applications from people from all walks of life, all we ask is that you’re calm, supportive, friendly and patient to help our clients gain in confidence.
As a volunteer with Creative Support we offer training for your role, access to a volunteer supervisor, an induction, a monthly Volunteer newsletter, and an online volunteer’s peer support group. Together we can make a difference.
Preferred hours per week/time commitment: Flexible times and days, including evenings and weekends.
Volunteer Duties
- To provide a befriending support, listening and talking in a non-judgemental friendly way.
- You will need to be aware of Creative Supports Safeguarding procedures, and be able to implement this if needed.
- Encourage the service user to access local activities and feel part of the local community.
- You will need to be consistent with days and times and liaise with staff for any changes.
Application Instructions 'To apply download our volunteer application form' Application Form 2022 - Volunteer Application Form 2022 - Volunteer
About Creative Support
Creative Support was established as Manchester Housing Consortium in 1990 and was registered in 1991 as an Industrial and Provident Society with charitable status. We subsequently changed our name to Creative Support to show our commitment to developing creative responses to individual needs. In our first five years we successfully enabled people who had been living in long stay hospitals to move into supported housing, greatly improving their quality of life. By the late 1990’s we were providing a wide range of housing, care and support services.
Creative Support now provides person-centred services across England in 65 local authorities, supporting over 5,000 individuals with care and support needs. Our portfolio includes accommodation based services such as residential care, supported housing and extra care as well as a range of floating support and homecare services to service users living in their own homes. We also provide day activities and respite support so that service users, families and carers can enjoy holidays and short breaks.
We currently provide care, support, housing and preventative services for: • People with a learning disability • People with mental health needs • People with dementia • People with autistic spectrum conditions • People with acquired brain injuries • People with sensory and physical disabilities • People with complex needs, including behaviour which can challenge services • Young people with care and support needs • Older people with care and support needs • People who are homeless or in housing need • People who have a history of problematic drug or alcohol use • People who have a history of offending or are at risk of offending
The needs of our service users are diverse and we support people from all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
Over 20% of our service users are from BAME groups and this is reflected in the diversity of our staff and volunteers.