Activity Buddy

• Positive Help

• VO67857

The role of the Activity Buddy is to provide practical support and reduce isolation. The people we work with can find it hard to attend appointments and leisure activities due to poor physical/mental health, limited mobility, social anxiety, or literacy issues. When illness, mobility, or side-effects of medication make housework or going out difficult, we offer support to make the home environment more comfortable.
Volunteers play a vital part in improving service users' physical health, mental well-being, and quality of life through supportive relationships, community connection, creating pathways for personal growth, and collaborative goal setting. By building trust and connection, Volunteers help individuals to thrive within their homes and communities.
As an Activity Buddy, you will be matched with a person, build a trusting relationship, and accompany them in activities to help build up their confidence. This might include joining a person when trying a new hobby, helping within their home, escorting them when grocery shopping, or having regular conversations over the phone.

Experience required

Many of the Service Users we support have experienced traumatic events in their life and suffer from health conditions. Therefore, as a Home Support volunteer you will need to be kind, patient and personable in order to be able to offer a supportive and non-judgemental listening ear. You need not have any specific DIY or gardening skills, though if you possess any we welcome you to use them. Contact us: 0131 225 4766 or admin@positivehelpedinburgh.co.uk

Travel details

You will travel to a risk-assessed Service User’s home or meet in a community location. Additionally, you can accompany a person to a block of weekly meetings such as a pottery class, yoga class, or even join them on a bus journey to help ease their social anxieties.

Travel expenses

After each session you will complete a feedback and expenses form. You can claim money back for the cost of public transport/fuel. You will then be reimbursed within a week of submitting the form.

• About
• Location
• Notes

Support

Training details

Our training covers a range of topics including information on HIV and Hep C; stigma and discrimination; maintaining boundaries; Adult protection protocols and trauma informed approaches. Training takes place over two full days, one of which is certified First Aid training and four shorter training sessions. Ongoing post-session support. One-to-one support meetings. Guided peer-support.

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18

Availability

Mon

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Evening

Volunteers (aged 18-25) 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 East Lothian, Midlothian, and West Lothian.

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