Shopping Friend

• Food Train Connects

• VO97472

We have older people waiting to be matched in the following areas:
Aberdeen - AB10 6EW, AB24 1TG
Angus - DD11 4DY
East Lothian - EH42 1WL
Edinburgh - EH3 7PY, EH11 3DE, EH12 8XX, EH12 7TE, EH14 2RD
Fife - KY2 6QA
North Lanarkshire - G67 1ES, G67 4LS, G67 3EQ, G68 9JF

Food Train is an award winning charity providing services to older people who are no longer able to manage independently, through age, ill health, frailty or disability. The Connects service offers a volunteer matching service for grocery shopping, telephone befriending and meal delivery.

Becoming a Food Train Connects Shopping Friend is rewarding and it makes a huge difference to people’s lives. It’s amazing the impact that regular support with grocery shopping can have on someone who is isolated or lonely. If you want to make sure that an older person is able to live well in their own home, this is a great opportunity to do so.

The Role:
· Paired with an older person to collect their shopping list and do their grocery shopping once a week and delivering it to them their home.
· Support them to create their shopping list, agree times and dates for delivery and help put shopping away as required.
· To make payment for the shopping and then claim reimbursement from the Connects team.
· To report back to Food Train Connects team and complete all required documentation after each shop.
· To report any matters of concern to Food Train staff
· To inform Food Train Staff of any accidents, incidents or complaints
· To maintain confidentiality
· To represent Food Train in a professional manner to customers and the wider community

Experience required

There are no formal educational requirements for this role however knowledge of the needs of older people acquired through life and family experiences, training received or practice based experience is desirable. Friendly, sociable and patient with a caring manner. Good telephone manner and willingness to use own phone and online device to record and submit receipts and complete online forms. Responsive, flexible and efficient. Good verbal communication skills are also required.

Travel details

Private transport or access to suitable public transport required for doing grocery shopping and delivering to members home.

Travel expenses

If shopping trip has to be made outside own regular shopping, travel expenses can be paid up to a maximum of 10 miles at 45p per mile.

• About
• Notes

Support

Training details

Excellent support and training is provided to all volunteers. Induction training, role specific training and ongoing training plus support from a named member of staff.

Restrictions

Minimum age: 16

Availability

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Frequency & commitment

This is a once weekly role however, we are also seeking volunteers who are available less frequently, willing to act as stand-in for regular volunteers. You would be called upon to cover holidays, illness or unexpected change in circumstances.

Volunteers (aged 16-25) taking part in this opportunity are eligible to claim Saltire Awards hours for their activity.
Find out more

This volunteering opportunity is also advertised across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, Fife, Glasgow, Highland, Moray, North Lanarkshire, Perth & Kinross, and South Ayrshire.

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