Befriending Support Worker

About Us:

Hamelin exists to reimagine life for individuals with learning disabilities and autism, enabling

limitless possibilities. Our mission is to build inclusive, caring, and compassionate communities for autistic adults and people with learning disabilities. By empowering and supporting these individuals, we strive to enable them to live the lives they choose.

Purpose of Role:

Links follows on from the successful pilot Bfriends project. Volunteers will support autistic adults and people with learning disabilities, attending local social activities and community groups and groups established by Links for participants of the project.

Individuals will have been assessed as suitable for the project and can access the community independently. Volunteers will not be responsible for any personal care needs or administration of medication.

Volunteers provide extra support to participants to build confidence, friendships and connections in the community, in order to combat loneliness and isolation.

Role Description:

A Links befriending volunteer is required to support and assist a small group of participants each Wednesday at a drop-in group to be held at Basildon library. The volunteer will be required to encourage conversation and engagement and assist the group with activities in the library e.g. games.

Skills

Attributes/skills needed

Reliability, empathy, patience, friendly, approachable, open minded, willing to learn. Experience of autism and/or learning disabilities is desirable but not essential, training will be provided.

Other related activities may include:

Volunteers are expected to attend face-to-face induction training and online learning and any other training that is considered to be relevant to the role

Requirements

•           Completed Volunteer Application Form

•           Enhanced DBS (completed and paid for by Hamelin)