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Do you have an interest in Pastoral Care; a lovely dog; and a little free time? Please consider volunteering for PEACE. PEACE provides canine therapy along with pastoral care for people requiring support and companionship.
Pastoral Carers and their therapy dogs (PEACE Teams) visit people in need of support and companionship in various locations, including: care homes; university and college campuses; and community hubs. Ideally, PEACE Teams will volunteer for a couple of hours a fortnight in order to build relationships with the people they visit. However, once paired with an establishment, PEACE Teams organise their volunteering hours according to their availability.
The PEACE dog helps to provide a relaxing environment (the basis of canine therapy), while the Pastoral Carer offers both a listening ear and a means of support, happy to talk through any concerns or fears a person may have (pastoral care). PEACE’s Pastoral Carers are not generally trained counsellors, but they do have experience in advising and helping people through difficult times.
The role of a PEACE Pastoral Carer is similar to that of a befriender. All Pastoral Carers are Christians, and are comfortable praying and/or discussing their faith with the people they visit, if requested.
All PEACE Pastoral Carers receive training in Mental Health First Aid, attentive listening and dementia awareness. Volunteers will also become members of the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme.
Experience required
No skills or experience is required; PEACE provides all the necessary training and mentoring needed for the role. The Pastoral Carer offers both a listening ear and a means of support, happy to talk through any concerns or fears a person may have. PEACE’s pastoral carers are not generally trained counsellors, but they do receive training in Mental Health First Aid, attentive listening, and dementia awareness. They also have experience in advising and helping people through difficult times. Where appropriate, the pastoral carer can discuss questions people may have about the Christian faith, explaining the peace that can be found through a relationship with God (these conversations must only be had upon request from the service-user). For people who would like to attend church but are unable to do so, the pastoral carer can read the Bible or pray with them if they wish.
Travel details
Various locations, Scottish Borders.
Support
Training details
Volunteer Pastoral Carers are required to complete a two-day Mental Health First Aid Course and a one-hour (online) Dementia Awareness Course. Both of these qualifications will be funded by PEACE.
Restrictions
Minimum age: 18
Volunteers (aged 18-25) taking part in this opportunity are eligible to claim Saltire Awards hours for their activity.
Find out more
Please fill out this form to register your interest in the opportunity Volunteer Pastoral Carer with Pet and Companion (PEACE) Scottish Borders
Your email address and phone number will only be used by the organisation/TSI you are contacting to discuss in more detail the opportunity you are enquiring about.
Your message will be sent to the organisation that supports volunteering in Scottish Borders:
Contact name: Volunteer Team Borders
Email address: volunteering@borderscommunityaction.org.uk
Phone: 07485 394001
Thank you for registering your interest in Volunteer Pastoral Carer with Pet and Companion (PEACE) Scottish Borders.
Pet and Companion (PEACE) Scottish Borders has been sent your details and message, they will respond to you at the email address you provided.
Something has gone wrong, please let us know about this issue at milosupport@scvo.scot quoting reference #VO101871.