Volunteering

2005 'Year of the Volunteer

Why Volunteer?

People volunteer for many different reasons, there is no right or wrong reason for deciding to volunteer. Hopefully you will enjoy the experience and in return you will gain: Job satisfaction,the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and make new friends. All of our volunteers receive appropriate training plus, expenses and continuous support from all SRSB staff.

Without the invaluable assistance provided by our volunteers we could not operate the range and level of services we currently provide. We are always in need of more volunteers to complement and expand our services Dyane Midgley is our Volunteer Co-ordinator, she recruits and co-ordinates the work of all our volunteers. If you are able to spare some time, no matter how much or how little, please contact her at our Mappin Street Centre for more information.

All volunteers are subject to a recruitment process which includes 2 suitable references and a disclosure.

We can usually find work to suit the talents and aspirations of most people and we carefully match what our volunteers want to do with the needs of visually impaired people. Some examples of work currently undertaken by volunteers are given below.

Community Volunteers

Befriending

Befriending would suit someone who would like to build up a one to one relationship with someone and is best suited to volunteers who can make more of a long term commitment. This takes place within the home of the visually impaired person. Volunteers will visit the client on a regular weekly or fortnightly basis, for a minimum of 2-3 hours. Generally volunteers offer support, companionship and practical assistance.
Personal Readers

Many visually impaired people live alone and need somebody they can trust to read their personal correspondence. This is sometimes linked with the befriending service as the reader and the visually impaired person usually become friends.

Hand in Hand Scheme

This service is aimed at offering flexible support for people who spend a substantial amount of time with a sight impaired person. This could be husband, wife, son, daughter or friend. Volunteers will offer a minimum of two hours or more, every fortnight. This scheme enables the carer to have some time for themselves.

Home Visiting

Computer Assistance

This role is suited to volunteers that are familier with the set up of computers and are familier with software and hardware. Volunteers go to the home of the client and help them to set their computers up, install software and hopefully rectify any problems that they have.

Personal Shopping

Volunteers escort clients to the shops to do their ‘personal’ shopping. For example clothes, gifts etc as this is an area where many clients have difficulty with. Volunteers usually need to give 2 – 4 hours per shopping trip.

Sports and Leisure

A number of sports and leisure activities rely on the help and supervision of sighted and partially sighted volunteers. Ask Diane for the latest information on these opportunities.

Gardening and Property Maintenance

Many sight impaired members, particularly older ones, who may be frail as well as sight impaired need help with their gardens and carrying out simple home maintenance. It is important that these members receive reliable and trustworthy help and this is where we can help. Something as simple as help in fitting a gate padlock can take just a few minutes and will give the member peace of mind if they live in fear of petty crime.

Driving/Escort/Taxi Service

We are always grateful to anyone who has a driving licence and can spare a regular bit of time driving one of our mini-busses.

Fundraising Activities (See fundraising page for full details)

Volunteering opportunities are available for a number of roles from; volunteer box collecters, store collecter, P R and media to; event co-ordinator and participants. For updated further information contact Sue Coggin 0114 241 9517 or click here.

Work based at Mappin Street Centre

Tele - Contact

This also involves working as part of Community Advice Service contacting visually impaired people by telephone from our Mappin Street Centre, to identify any requirements and where appropriate make referrals to our Community Advice Officers.

Tele-friends

This service is similar to befriending except it opperates from our Mappin Street Centre. Volunteers come into the Centre on the same day each week and telephone their clients. This role is well suited to people who enjoy talking.

Social & Activity Centre Assistance

This operates Monday to Friday – 10.30 am to 2.30 pm. Here you will meet groups of up to 60 visually impaired people and assist with a range of tasks which include assisting with craft activities, entertainment, bingo, serving refreshments or just having a chat with people. We particularly need people who could lead groups in activities such as painting, pottery and any other activity which you may be able to suggest - we are always trying to identify new activities.

Office assistance

This includes everything from general office duties such as preparing newsletters ready for posting, to computer work using industry standard software on a modern computer network. Anyone seeking paid office work can gain valuable experience here at the society and besides helping us, it will look great on your CV.

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