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Befriender - Children

Location Gloucestershire
Job ID 2023-10393
Number of Vacancies Remaining
15
Category
Volunteering with Children and Young People

Overview

Our Gloucestershire Independent Visitor Service is looking for Volunteers  to become befrienders for looked after children in Gloucestershire.

It can be unsettling for many children and young people living in foster care. By volunteering as a befriender, you will be making a difference to a child/young person in foster care.

Responsibilities

Who are we looking for?

  • Are you passionate about wanting to help others?
  • Do you have 4 to 8 hours to spare, once a month?
  • Are you ready to make a long-term, regular, commitment?

If the answer is yes and you would like to support a child or young person currently in the care of their local authority, then we would love to hear from you.

You don’t need previous experience; we will offer you full training and ongoing support to become a positive, encouraging role model in the life of a young person.

Our Gloucestershire Independent Visitor Service is looking for volunteers in or near to Gloucestershire.

Role description

For many children and young people living in foster or residential care, it can be unsettling.  In some cases, they may live a long way from the area they knew.  You can make a difference by supporting one of them, on a one-to-one basis, taking them out on fun activities in their local community, and potentially become the one consistent person in their lives; as the trust builds. You can offer a listening ear, empathy, and guidance.

If you would like to be there for a child or young person, letting them know they have someone on their side, then this could be the volunteering role for you.  Please read through the Recruitment Pack via the link provided and then complete the online application form, noting the following:

Independent Visiting role application

  • Volunteers need to be 18 years or older
  • Volunteering mainly happens at weekends and after school hours as the young people are usually in school during the daytime
  • The role requires commitment of at least 24 months with one visit per month; this ensures stability for the Child or Young Person
  • Complete the Personal Statement section on the application form as fully as possible; tell us all about you; it forms part of the shortlisting process
  • Your 2 referees’ do not need to be previous employers; character references from people who have known you for 2 years or more are acceptable, though we cannot accept any from partners or family members

Our values are to be Compassionate, Open and Bold.  If this sounds like you, please click the apply button.  Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please call or email and we will be happy to help.

Nikki Gingell – nikki.gingell@cgl.org.uk

Mobile - 07515 605573

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us using the below details:

Nikki Ann Gingell | nikki.gingell@cgl.org.uk

 

Please note that we require you to be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this volunteering role.

 

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.

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We believe that having diverse people working as part of our team makes us the organisation that we are.

We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds to help us to provide the best possible experience for the people who use our services and to make Change Grow Live a great place to work. If you have any feedback on our recruitment processes (good or bad) we’d love to hear from you so that we can make sure they are fair and we attract and recruit the best, most diverse workforce possible.

The safety of vulnerable children, young people and adults is our absolute priority. We will support you in your role to make sure that you are equipped to support the safety of people who use our services and those around them, to the highest standard possible.