Merryfields Short Breaks


Disability Support Volunteer

Merryfields Residential Short Breaks Service

This is an outline of what the role will involve, you will be given the opportunity to discuss this in more detail when you meet with the team.

Role Title

Disability Support Volunteer

Role Purpose

To support our staff with the children and young people

Location

Merryfields Residential Short Breaks Service, High Wycombe

How Often/How Long

Minimum Age

Flexible to you

21

Disclosure Checks

Is driving essential for the role?

This role is subject to an Enhanced Child and Adult DBS Check

No

 

What we need you to do

Merryfields is a Residential Short-Breaks Service in High Wycombe for children and young people with disabilities.

 

Our Disability Support volunteers work as part of a team to engage the children and young people with the activities we offer. They help us to set up, facilitate and pack up activities, clean and tidy, play and chat with the children, get involved and have fun. They can contribute to the planning of activities, and aid the team to make sure everyone is included and the environment is safe, all with the goal of creating an amazing experience for the children.

 

We need help on weekends and in school holidays when we are busiest. How often or how long you volunteer is completely flexible to you.

 

What Skills and experience do you need?

  • Calm reaction to unpredictable situations
  • Good communication skills
  • Positive attitude
  • Work well in a team

 

 

Why we need your help

Residential Short Breaks/respite care have positive benefits for both children and young people with disabilities and their parents and carers. They give children and young people time away from their family including overnight, so they can develop independence, learn new skills, make friends, and reduce loneliness whilst giving parents and carers a break from their caring responsibilities and providing time to spend with other children in the family.

We have a strong paid staff team who work very hard full-time, but we are always looking to add value to the experiences we provide children in Buckinghamshire. Volunteers are that added value, bringing a new perspective, new skills, and new ideas. Your help would be invaluable.

 

 

What we can offer:


  • Gaining experience of working with children and disabled people
  • All expenses including commute paid
  • Corporate discounts
  • Access to our Employee Assistance Program
  • Getting to know some great people and being part of our friendly team
  • Access to relevant training
  • Full and dedicated support
  • Flexibility around your work and commitments

 

What we ask of you:

  • To provide two references from non-family members and other relevant documents related to the role.
  • To keep to all the charity’s policies and guidelines.
  • To complete an induction and any training relating to the role.

 

If you have any further questions about the role, or need assistance with application form then please contact lucia.murinova@actionforchildren.org.uk or 07974 043346. 

 

Action for Children is passionate about promoting equality, valuing diversity and working inclusively. We welcome applications from all persons particularly those who identify as Male, people with Disabilities, and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants, as these groups are currently under-represented in our organisation.

Mission Statement

Action for Children is a national charity that supports and speaks out on behalf of the most vulnerable and neglected children and young people in the heart of communities throughout the UK.  With more than 650 services we are where you live and work. We help transform the lives of thousands of children and young people each year and we’ve been doing so for over 140 years.

The children and young people we support face the most difficult problems in life. Some don’t have the basics, from the love and care of family to regular routines such as mealtimes or the guidance that all children need to grow to be healthy adults. Others have to overcome physical or emotional challenges that hold them back. We help these children to fulfill their potential by providing services to support their individual needs. We succeed in helping children and young people to overcome difficulties at an early stage to tackle problems before it’s too late.

By supporting Action for Children you inspire hope in the thousands of vulnerable children and young people we help.

 

Through our work and through speaking out, we seek to break the cycle of deprivation. We challenge injustice and empower children to overcome the obstacles in their lives that hold them back. We tailor our work to local circumstances, in partnership with children and young people, families, communities and local organisations.

We work with children and young people:

  • whose families need support
  • who cannot live with their birth families
  • who are disabled
  • who experience severe difficulties in their lives.

Our values

Passion - we are driven by our desire to help children and young people overcome injustice and disadvantage

Equality - we believe all children and young people have equal worth and equal rights

Hope - we believe in a child or young person's potential, no matter what they have experienced or what they have done