SOCIAL ACTIVITIES VOLUNTEER
Purpose
The purpose of our JT Social Activities Volunteers is to increase social activity and to decrease social isolation. How? By providing opportunities for people affected by SMA to meet, to talk, to share experiences and to have fun in a range of informal settings.
Role Description
- To organise social activities for people affected by SMA, in consultation with the JT Volunteers’ Co-ordinator and with support and guidance from the JT Support Services Assistant
Personal Skills and Qualities needed
- Enthusiasm and sociability
- Reliability
- Good organisational skills
Application process
- Application form to include names of 2 character referees
- Telephone or face to face discussion with Volunteers’ Co-ordinator
Training and Support provided by The Jennifer Trust
- Opportunity to discuss the role and your situation, without obligation, with JT Volunteers’ Co-ordinator
- Induction session with initial training to cover
- Overview of The Jennifer Trust
- Overview of SMA issues
- Confidentiality
- Equal Opportunities
- Accessibility
- Guidelines for organising Social Activities
- Ongoing telephone and / or Email support from JT Volunteers’ Co-ordinator and Support Services Assistant
- Ongoing access to updates and developments through the Volunteers’ area of the JT website
Commitment Required each year
- Approx 5 hours initial telephone and / or face to face Induction Sessions and follow-up paperwork (flexible) Update sessions in any subsequent years
- 1 or 2 days hosting or supporting an activity(ies) at agreed venue(s)
- Approx 10 hours researching suitable activities and venues (flexible)
- Approx 10 hours liaising with Volunteers’ Co-ordinator, Support Services Assistant and JT members before and after each activity (flexible)
- Understanding of and adherence to The Jennifer Trust Equal Opportunities and Confidentiality policies
- Commitment to uphold The JT Volunteer Agreement
- Commitment to proactively log onto Volunteers’ area of JT website
Questions and Answers about the role of a JT Social Activities Volunteer
Why does The Jennifer Trust need Social Activities Volunteers?
As with any rare medical condition, living with SMA can be an isolating experience and many members tell us that the opportunity to go out for an afternoon or evening, to meet others and to feel part of a group who understands their diagnosis, is really valuable for them. For both adults and children, it is sometimes their only opportunity to meet others with the same condition. Many also say that initial contact with JT at an informal social activity gave them the confidence to get more involved with JT and to access other services when they needed to.
How many activities will I need to arrange?
One activity per year will be a good starting point, but it will really depend on how many Social Activities Volunteers we have, and where they are based. In some areas there may be the opportunity to organise more than one activity per year, or in other areas we may ask you to organise or support an activity jointly with another volunteer. Your Volunteers’ Co-ordinator will talk with you to match what is needed with the time you are able to commit.
What sort of activities can I organise?
There are really very few restrictions, so if you have an idea, please suggest it! Many activities will appeal to families and adults alike (e.g. visit to Longleat Safari Park / Science Museum) and will need to be accessible to wheelchair users. Some activities could be aimed more specifically at groups within the Jennifer Trust membership e.g. adults, bereaved mums, young people, dads and siblings. Your Volunteers’ Co-ordinator will need to make sure that a balance of activities are provided and will help you choose an activity that fits in with other scheduled events and activities.
Who pays for the activities?
Activities are subsidised by fundraised money from the Jennifer Trust. Some of this money is awarded by specific ‘Trusts’ or charitable organisations who appreciate the benefit of social activities for people affected by SMA and their families. Sometimes this funding is awarded for a specific activity or to support people in a specific geographical area. We ask everyone attending an activity to contribute too. This covers the shortfall and has a positive effect on the commitment of members to attend after signing up.
So how much can we spend?
There’s no simple answer to this! Members appreciate that costs vary for different activities and the amount we subsidise versus the amount we ask members to contribute is decided on a case by case basis, with reference to the general funding pot and any specific funding awards as described above.
I’ve never organised an activity like this before and I feel I haven’t got much experience - does this matter?
Not at all, because you won’t be left on your own to organise an activity. If you’ve got the qualities and commitment needed, your JT Volunteers’ Co-ordinator will talk through and provide you with the level of support and guidance you need to organise each activity.
I’ve organised lots of events and am confident that I can do it well. I’ve got a great idea so can I go ahead and organise my activity?
We welcome your enthusiasm and are delighted that you want to use your experience and expertise for the benefit of JT and our members. We respectfully ask, however, that you discuss all ideas with your Volunteers’ Co-ordinator before booking, to ensure that all our social activities fit within our remit and our diary of events, while taking account of geographical spread and budgetary constraints.
Who do I invite to my activity and how do I advertise it?
All our members, their extended families and friends are welcome to attend JT Social Activities (although certain activities will appeal to and be more appropriate for) certain groups). Invitations and booking forms will be publicised on the Jennifer Trust website (and in Inspirations magazine where possible) and Emailed / posted out from the office as per members’ preferences, so you won’t need to worry about that. Your Volunteers’ Co-ordinator and Support Services Assistant will liaise closely with you to give you as much guidance and support as you need in designing your posters/ invitations and booking forms and in collating your responses.
Can I claim expenses for my volunteering work?
We greatly value the time you give and we do not expect you to be ‘out of pocket’ as a result of your volunteering for us. Reasonable expenses (such as your entry to the venue, phone calls you have made for planning and organising) for volunteering can be claimed if these have been previously agreed with the Volunteers’ Co-ordinator in accordance with the JT document ‘Permitted Expenses for Volunteers’.
