Mix it Up: Shared Interest and Social Group (Tuesday) project support

Volunteers will support the delivery of services in partnership with our Skills for People Project Workers.

They will help the team by providing support for Mind, Body, Planet which is a 3-year national lottery funded project that aims to engage people with nature and the outdoors.

A weekly shared interest and social group that takes place in various locations in and around Newcastle.

The time of the group alternates between an afternoon session one week (2.30pm-4.30pm) and an evening session the next (4.30pm-6.30pm).

Examples of activities include

• café visits,
• museum visits of the North,
• bowling,
• Hustlers pool hall,
• restaurant visits (Pizza Punks is a popular destination!),
• cinema/music/theatre visits.

We have also held sessions ‘at home’ including games nights and film screenings.

The group hosts regular planning sessions where attendees can suggest ideas for future trips.

Due to increasing numbers, volunteers are required to encourage and support social interactions within the group to ensure that everyone is included.

Tasks include

• To work in partnership and under the guidance and instruction of a Skills for People Project Worker.
• Support individual members to participate in the groups offered by Skills for People.
• Support to plan and organise groups and meetings
• Ensure that groups achieve stated outcomes around the 5 Ways to Wellbeing
• To build good working relationships with group members built on openness and trust
• To enable group members to be as independent as possible
• To keep group members up to date with information about services and opportunities
• To provide group members with information in an accessible way
• Drawing on individual skills and experiences to support Skills for People
• Support Project Workers to capture verbal, written and recorded feedback from members
• Volunteers will be expected to carry some, though not necessarily all, of the above tasks, and tasks will depend on the group

Volunteer roles can be developed around individual interests, skills and personal strengths.

A minimum commitment of 1 group per week is encouraged (approximately 1-2 hours per week).

Skills

We welcome volunteers with a wide range of skills and experience.

Experience of working with people with a learning disability and/or autism is preferred but full training will be provided.

We would like to encourage conversation and inclusion between members so volunteers should be sociable, friendly and happy to engage with others. An interest in nature and/or the outdoors would also be useful due to the nature of the project.

Volunteers must be able to travel to the differing locations of groups which will change each week. All destinations are accessible by public transport and travel costs will be reimbursed.