JEWISH CARE

Talks and activities volunteer (using Jewish Care’s activity resource library)
Various Locations – Opportunities available across all of Jewish Care’s Community Centres and Residential Care Homes

Role Summary:  A role using Jewish Care’s incredible resource library to host activities and talks around specific topics. The Jewish Care Resource Library offers a wealth of materials related to all manner of subjects, providing you with all you need to host interesting, interactive, engaging and stimulating activities such as talks (including pre-prepared script), quizzes, word games, and poetry, all with full instructions on how to use them, and much more.  The team will work with you to find the best materials suited to the group and time of day you are available and will offer full training on setting up and using the resources and ongoing support (technology would be set up by staff). Topics are vast in subject but include things such as: Life stories of well-known figures and personalities, Jewish History, British life through the decades, animals and wildlife, fashion, culture, London’s East End and many more.

Time Commitment:     Approximately two hours weekly, or as works for the volunteer.

How this role makes a difference:  
Volunteering for this role, as well as being enjoyable and stimulating for the volunteer, supports staff teams by providing our members and residents with stimulating and interesting talks and related activities, tailored for their interests. Keeping the brain active as we get older is incredibly important and the activities held in our resource library are intended to do just that. Members and residents will not only enjoy listening and participating but the topics and activities are also designed to encourage enjoyable conversation and stimulation.

What you’ll be doing in this role:

• Leading session/s each week, or as arranged with the team
• Getting to know participants to learn the sort of topics from the resource library that would be enjoyed
• Working to support the resource teams by leading these talks and activities for the enjoyment of our residents and members
• Engaging participants in the activity and making it interesting and enjoyable

• Greeting participants, talking to them about the session’s topic, and engaging in discussion about it
• Each session is tailored and can vary dependant on the interests of those attending.

Skills & experience required:  

• Good listening skills and non-verbal communication skills, empathetic and non-judgemental attitude
• Able to confidently engage with a diverse range of people and enjoy helping others
• Confidence in presenting to a small group of people (all presentations and activities are scripted and guided)
• Empathetic and understanding attitude
• An understanding of issues that affect people later in life
• An open-minded, creative approach with patience and a calm and friendly manner
• Ability to share appropriate information and follow processes
• Reliability and dependability
• The ability to work independently (if required) but also stay within the role’s boundaries
• A ‘can do’ attitude and willingness to be flexible with required tasks

Induction, Learning & Development:
Training is available so volunteers can carry out their roles to the highest professional standards, develop new skills, build confidence, make new friends and take on new and increasingly responsible tasks. 

Jewish Care will provide the following training, essential for this role:

• Provide you with access to a Volunteer Handbook and all Policies and Procedures.
• Provide Induction Training:  Getting to know Jewish Care, Communication & Disability Awareness, Boundaries & Confidentiality, Safeguarding, Health & Safety, GDPR.
• Provide on the job induction.

Benefits of Volunteering with Jewish Care:

Without our volunteers, we simply couldn’t function.  We absolutely depend on you.  Whatever your age, disability, whether you are working, unemployed or retired, there are opportunities to help at Jewish Care.

As well as helping others you’ll get the chance to develop skills, build confidence and make new friends.

• Enhance the lives of older people, making a real difference to the Jewish Community we support.
• Be part of a great team and make new friends.
• Build your confidence and develop transferable skills.
• Access to a comprehensive training programme designed for the social care environment.
• Gain valuable experience and enhance your CV

Our aim is to enable people to enjoy a first-class experience as volunteers, making the most of their skills to make an impact on the communities that Jewish Care serve.

Why get involved with Jewish Care?
The work of Jewish Care and the services we provide to our community are vital.  We touch the lives of 10,000 people each week, with everything we do being underpinned by our Jewish values and ethics.  We provide services to:

• Older people
• People with Mental Health needs
• Holocaust Survivors
• People who are living with Dementia
• People with physical and sensory disabilities
• People who care for others

We can only do this thanks to our amazing professional staff of 1,400 and the 2,000 dedicated volunteers who help make our work possible.

Next Steps to becoming a volunteer at Jewish Care:

Step 1: Please complete an expression of interest form for this role, which will automatically create a profile on our volunteer management system.  After you have applied, we will be in touch to discuss this role in more detail.
Step 2:Following a successful conversation, with a member of the Volunteers Team or Hiring Manager you will be invited for an interview (and asked to bring identification with you).
Step 3:Following a successful interview, you will be offered the volunteering role and asked to add further information into your volunteer profile, providing two references and completing a DBS (previously CRB) application form online.  Additional paperwork may need to be completed for some roles e.g. volunteer driver.
Step 4:  You will be invited to attend mandatory Volunteer Induction Training. Training is to enable volunteers to carry out roles to the highest professional standards, develop skills, build confidence and meet other new volunteers
Step 5:  Mazel-tov/Congratulations!
Once we have received and recorded a suitable DBS, satisfactory references and training has been completed, you are officially part of the Jewish Care Volunteer network!

If you have any questions about this role, other roles, or about volunteering with Jewish Care, please contact volunteering@jcare.org or telephone 020 8922 2405.

This is a voluntary position that supports the work or our services and is not replacing the work of a paid member of staff.  This role does not form any part of any contract of employment.