Young Person's Group Helper (Supporting 17-25 year olds, Swansea and Neath, Bloom Project)

Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference. Young Person’s Group Helpers work across a range of groups supporting young people during their transition from being a young person to an adult. Groups tend to focus on a specific group or need, such as Care Leaver’s, Mental Wellbeing, LGBT+ Identifying Young people, Older Young Carers or Young Offenders. **Young Person’s Group Helpers** are key to the success of our groups, as they help to ensure the smooth running of our groups and are able to provide one-to-one support for young people who may need additional support or encouragement to take part in group activities. The Bloom Project is an exciting service at Barnardo’s Swansea, supporting care leavers aged 17-25 across the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot areas. The aim of the service is to promote, safeguard and enhance the rights of young people, to assist them to make a successful transition to adulthood and empower them to be heard. The project supports young people to reduce loneliness and anxiety, develop skills, confidence and self-esteem and help them to fulfil their potential. As an activity volunteer you will support engagement workers to deliver activity clubs for young people as well as attending trips and events, giving young people an opportunity to experience something new. We would love to hear from anyone who can offer a few hours a week to help with activities including from prospective volunteers who have the confidence and skill set to lead in the planning and delivering of new activity clubs for young people within the service, supported by staff and/or volunteers. We are particularly interested in hearing from prospective volunteers who have a special interest that could lend itself to an activity club e.g. music, art, gardening, languages, sport etc. We are also looking for tech-savy and creative people who can help us promote the project through social media as well as lead young people to create newsletters and promotional material to be shared with groups and organisations in the local community. You will help the engagement officers and volunteers through event support, but your focus will be linked to capturing moments for promotion. The Bloom project can provide a range of benefits to volunteers. Volunteers will be able to earn Tempo time credits which can be redeemed on a wide range of activities and services across the UK. Volunteers can take part in a diverse range of fun activities alongside young people and workers. Volunteers will be able to extend their skill set through training opportunities supporting the role as well as gain experience in working with young people to progress into employment or compliment studies. Volunteers will be able to build meaningful working relationships with new people in a fun and supportive environment. We are looking for volunteers, with a passion for making a difference in young people’s lives, a fun and approachable attitude and an ability to engage young people in worthwhile and enjoyable activities. We are able to accept applications from prospective volunteers with a few hours to spare but we particularly welcome applications from people who are able to commit to supporting our young people during weekday afternoons as that is when the majority of our activities take place. Whilst it is not essential to possess a driving licence or access to your own vehicle for this role, there is an expectation that volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to and from trips and activities. We would be particularly interested in hearing from prospective volunteers who are happy to transport young people to and from activities. Expenses for transportation will be reimbursed. Please note, due to volunteering alongside children and young people, the role will be subject to Enhanced DBS check. We are looking for volunteers with a passion for making a difference in children’s lives, a fun and approachable attitude and an ability to engage young people in worthwhile and enjoyable activities.
Our groups need support with a range of tasks to help them run smoothly. Could you help with tasks such as planning activities, setting up and packing away, making refreshments, collecting feedback, and much more.

• Tasks: Planning and organising group activities, which take into consideration age, abilities and interests of members.
  
  Setting up group activities in advance and clearing away afterwards. This might include preparing refreshments/snacks, organising the layout of the room, preparing resources and tidying the room after the group.
  
  Assisting young people to improve their self-confidence, develop social skills and build positive relationships.
  
  Role modelling positive behaviour and interactions during sessions.
  
  Supporting specific young people to take an active part in groups.
  
  Collating and evaluating feedback from young people.
  
  Adhering to Barnardo's policies and procedures at all times, including Barnardo's: Safeguarding; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Health & Safety; Data Protection; Confidentiality; Recording policies and procedures.
  
  Participating fully in training and supervision.
  
  Volunteering within Barnardo's Values and Behaviours

• Skills: Reliable, punctual and trustworthy.
  
  Approachable and welcoming.
  
  Passion, enthusiasm, compassion, understanding and having an open minded approach.
  
  An understanding of the issues faced by young people.
  
  Being passionate about making a difference in the lives young people.
  
  Preferably have some experience of working with young people

• Benefits: Full induction and training.
  
  Other training opportunities relevant to the volunteer role.
  
  Regular supervision and support.
  
  Out of pocket expenses agreed in advance.
  
  Access to the Barnardo’s internal vacancy listing.
  
  Our volunteers tell us about lots of other benefits of volunteering including; experience of working with children, young people and families; experience for your CV; supporting your local community; meeting new people; increasing self-confidence; feeling like you are making a difference; improving your health and wellbeing; and a chance to contribute to a worthwhile children’s charity

Disclaimer: We look to recruit a diverse range of volunteers. If your skills don't fit the above, please do not let this put you off as we are able to be flexible with most of our roles. If you are unable to apply online through the link on this page, please contact the Barnardo's Volunteering Team on [email protected] or call us on 0208 498 7320