NE Hants & Farnham Social Prescribing Project

Help support people in your local community to improve their wellbeing and quality of life!

Do you enjoy being sociable and have a positive attitude to life? You may be just who we need to support our clients in their post-lockdown journeys in mental and physical wellbeing. Join our innovative and successful service and be part of a team that are making a real difference to people’s lives.

Social prescribing is about giving someone encouragement and the opportunity to access activities, social groups, services and advice within the community, based on their needs and interests. The aim is to improve their sense of wellbeing, which in turn can have a positive impact on their physical health and greatly improve their overall quality of life.

Once someone is referred to our service a Social Prescriber will work with the client to identify their needs, interests and goals. Volunteers are then a vital part of supporting a client to achieve these goals through a variety of ways. Volunteers give a client the practical and/or emotional support to make and sustain positive changes in their life.

Volunteers will work with a client for around 1 hour per week, for a period of 3-6 months to support them in their pre-defined goals, this could include:

• Accompanying to activities and groups within the community and encouragement to engage
• Meeting in a park or café to have a chat
• Assisting with shopping
• Support with accessing public transport
• Promoting services within the local community and sign posting to local services
• Assistance with planning and preparing meals
• Support with day-to-day tasks such as scheduling appointments, form-filling
• Assistance with practical tasks such as sorting belongings or clearing old paperwork
• Support in learning basic IT skills, e.g. how to use the internet or video call
• A telephone call once a week to chat and provide emotional support

We accept volunteers aged 18+ of all backgrounds. This role is suited to people who:

• Are willing to chat, able to communicate effectively and be a good listener
• Are non-judgmental, willing to communicate with others regardless of their background or circumstance
• Have a warm, caring and compassionate nature
• Understand the need for commitment, reliability and consistency
• Have an awareness of the need for professional boundaries when working with vulnerable people
• Have basic computer skills, e.g. able to use email
• Have a desire to help individuals and a positive approach to life!

Activities take place across the NE Hampshire and Farnham area. You will be matched to a client within your locality.

As a volunteer with Family Action, you will get full induction training and support to enable you to feel comfortable in your role, expenses paid and the opportunity to be part of an amazing team who are making real differences to people’s lives in your community!