The aims of the project are to reduce isolation and deliver a personalised support to Adults with LD&A that enables them to engage with their local community in a meaningful way.                                                    

This is through developing a person’s strengths, skills, knowledge, assets and aspirations alongside them using person-centred planning tools so they can maximise both what the person can do for themselves, and what they can access from others to live a meaningful life.

Volunteers must be 18 years and older.

The roles Volunteers can support in are:

1. Befriender Helper: A companion, a buddy. This could be taking someone to a musical gig, or regular coffee meetings, nature walk, going to a football match, being a gaming buddy, joining an acitivty or group together etc.

2. Befriending Mentor: Sharing skills, coaching and giving guidance such as travel training, or confidence to start and attend a new hobby, help with making a healthier eating choices or cooking meals etc.

3. Befriending Peer Lead: Encouraging individuals or groups to have confidence to socially arrange, create their own friendships, shared interest activities or clubs.

Volunteer Commitment can be flexible; one off, ad-hoc, longer and routine, or for an agreed amount of time as a mentor.

The volunteer is ideally profiled and matched to a candidates needs and interests.

Volunteers will be subject to a robust DBS checks, receive training, regular support and supervision, and other perks which include expenses, celebratory social events, and discount cards.

Volunteers WILL NOT BE responsible for any personal care needs: This includes complex manual handling, dressing, feeding or administrating any medication. All participants will have low level needs, and already have capacity to be out in the community independently, meaning they will not have the need for one to one care support.

For more information and how to apply, click the 'Send me application details' button.