Advocacy Volunteer: 1:1 Peer Mentor – Befriending – Speak Up Groups

Summary of the Role

To support the Advocacy project in delivering advocacy and mentoring to people with a range of disabilities across Gloucestershire.

There are a number of different ways you could get involved with this, through:

·        1:1 mentoring

·        Befriending – including escorting people to attend Inclusion hubs and other local

activities and events

·        Group advocacy (speak up groups) online or in person

·        Supporting people with completing forms and other administrative tasks as needed

which would be tailored to your abilities.

Role Purpose

To support others with the benefit of your life experience. To develop and enhance your new skills.

Roles will be tailored to individuals and may include any of the following:

1:1 Mentoring

Working with individuals as a peer mentor, providing support on a 1:1 basis, using the benefit of your life experience or knowledge.

Using your personal skills and experience to provide advocacy support for individuals to identify and achieve their goals (training provided).

Being able to discuss any issue with a staff member in a confidential manner. To seek help and support from staff at any time.

Supporting individuals to understand and complete the required paperwork.

Researching and identifying relevant external support and enabling individuals to understand and access this for themselves.

Befriending

Befriending and providing social support at meetings, activities and new opportunities.

Supporting with access to transport and route planning.

Escorting people to attend Inclusion Gloucestershire’s Hubs (Gloucester, Cheltenham and the Forest of Dean)

Group Advocacy (Speak up Groups)

Supporting the Advocacy Coordinator with the admin and organisation of Speak Up Groups (online or in person).

Co-facilitation of Speak Up Groups with the Advocacy Coordinator.

Working together with other Volunteer Mentors in the planning and delivery of Speak Up Groups to develop a “team approach” and new ideas.

Actively encourage new members to join Speak Up Groups (either online or in person) and explore reasonable adjustments to enable this to happen.

Completing forms and other general admin tasks

Supporting people to complete the advocacy referral form using Google Forms (done in our office or over the phone).

Supporting people to complete PIP forms or other important paperwork – this would be filling out the forms by listening to what people want to write.

Keep a regular log of activities carried out for each individual. 

Essential Requirements for this Post:

·        The ability to develop positive working relationships with others

·        To be honest, reliable, trustworthy and committed to your volunteering role

·        To adhere to confidentiality

·        To attend meetings regularly and on time

·     To let the Advocacy Coordinator know in good time if I cannot attend a planned

volunteering session

·        To be open and honest, to seek help and support when needed

·        Ability to relate to others.

Desirable:

·        Previous experience of working or volunteering with an advocacy team

General duties that may be required: 

·        Establish and maintain professional working relationships with colleagues,

volunteers and stakeholders of Inclusion Gloucestershire and the broad range of

external organisations we work with.

·        Be aware and act on the need to report safeguarding concerns (this may include

providing some initial support to individuals in the office, before passing on to the

Safeguarding Lead).

·        Advocate for Inclusion Gloucestershire and its projects at meetings and events and

within your own appropriate networks.

·    This role profile is not exhaustive and may be subject to change to meet the

operational needs of the charity.

What benefits can I expect:

Being part of: a caring and professional user-led organisation who work together towards shared goals and are driven by the social model of disability.

Making a positive impact: for the wellbeing of others. To enhance and develop skills, build friendships and open opportunities, by sharing your skills and experience. 

Opportunities to: attend events or meetings with our organisation.

Access to: training and in-house advocacy training.

Expenses will be reimbursed: in line with organisation policy.