WELCOME TO EQUAL LIVES VOLUNTEERING!
We're really pleased that you've found your way here and are thinking about volunteering with us! We've got several different opportunities available, so take a look around and once you know what you'd like to do, click the link on the right to set up an account and fill in the application form. We'll be in touch soon.
We can't wait to meet you!
Shopmobility Assistant
Shopmobility is a scheme that supports people to rent mobility scooters or other mobility aids during their visit to the city. Shopmobility is based in Chantry Place (previously Chapelfield Shopping Centre) and we are looking for volunteers to help with the day-to-day running of the shop.
There will be several opportunities to volunteer, build your skills and meet new people!
There will be opportunities to choose your days and hours. Training will be provided during induction.
The site will follow the COVID19 safety guidelines and volunteers will be reimbursed reasonable expenses incurred whilst supporting us.
If you're empathetic and enthusiastic then we need you for this role, fill in the application form and let us know you're interested.
ROLE OVERVIEW
Open the site ready for business, and close at the end of the day
Greet customers and support them to rent the equipment
Keep the site clean and tidy
Clean vehicles when they’re returned
Handle cash and take card payments
Support people to sign up as Shopmobility members
Support people to join Equal Lives as members
Answer some queries on social media
Take future bookings
Some other occasional ad hoc tasks as required
We are looking for volunteers that are:
Dedicated to the empowerment of disabled people
Conscientious and honest
Someone who enjoys a challenge
Looking for a new opportunity
Dedicated to making disabled people’s voices heard
Able to do the tasks listed above
We’ll give you:
Comprehensive training, including GDPR, Safeguarding and Data Protection
The opportunity to choose your days and hours
An accessible city centre location
A variety of activities to challenge you and develop your skills
The opportunity to take on additional responsibilities as you gain experience
Specific tasks focusing on the skills you want to gain
A friendly and supportive team of staff and volunteers
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Organisation we welcome anyone to apply for a voluntary role with us and would like to encourage you to do so, whatever your situation. We are able to look into reasonable adjustments to support you in your voluntary role with us and we are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation.
FURTHER INFO
There will be opportunities to choose your days, hours and the length of time which you volunteer with us for.
The site will follow the COVID19 safety guidelines and volunteers will be reimbursed reasonable expenses incurred whilst supporting us.
All volunteers are required to undertake our core training programme. This covers basic safeguarding and other key features, such as data protection.
New volunteers will have an opportunity to ‘shadow’ experienced volunteers and members of staff
Potentially, depending on the candidate, there may be additional opportunities to participate in a variety of accredited training courses. Please ask a manager for further details.
Volunteers are required to adhere to the organisation’s policies and practice guidelines.
Reasonable expenses, including travel whilst undertaking this role will be reimbursed. This includes mileage (currently £0.45 p/mile) and parking costs.
Applications must include 2 satisfactory references who have known them in a professional or educational capacity for at least 12 months. Applicants must also complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check before commencing volunteering.
Trustee
Equal Lives is a Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO), which means we are user led. 100% of our trustees identify as disabled.
Trustees play a crucial role in governing our organisation and helping to steer the direction of our services.
As a pan-disability organisation our trustees have a wealth of personal experience and expertise to bring to the organisation.
We are looking for a trustee who is:
Passionate about the rights of disabled people.
Keen to disable barriers to independence.
Has personal experience of disability.
Flexible and able to attend monthly meetings via Teams.
We would particularly like to attract trustees with financial or legal experience.
What we can offer you:
Skilful managers, staff and volunteers.
An experienced Board of Trustees.
An organisation whose services are designed to empower disabled people.
An organisation who is keen to actively listen and learn.
To remove disabling barriers so that people have equality, dignity and independence – in Norfolk and beyond.
Our Shared Values and Principles
The key shared values and principles that underpin our work are:
Equality, dignity, and human rights.
Independence and inclusion.
Fairness and natural justice.
Openness and honesty.
The social model of disability.
Impairments are a normal part of life, discrimination is not.
People are experts in their own lives.
Professionals should be on tap, not on top.
Nothing about us, without us.
Rights not charity.
Welcome!
Firstly, the most important thing that I must do right away, is to say a very big Thank You for becoming our volunteer, we all collectively, from the bottom of our hearts, welcome you aboard Equal Lives.
We thought the world we live on was slowly improving in removing disabling barriers for us but considering the austerity Measures following the financial crash in 2008, and now the Covid-19 Pandemic, has caused our world to be simply turned upside down and every single person with a disability continues to face many many difficult situations ahead.
It is you, bringing with you your time, energy, and enthusiasm to Equal Lives that we value very greatly, and we will really benefit from, and enjoy working with you on our many different projects. Your contribution will aid us to fulfil our goals, allow us to expand our services, and broaden the outlook and scope of Equal Lives.
You are a valuable member of Equal Lives and do please let us know any of your ideas, concerns, impressions, and solutions you may have tucked away. We are a team, and we all work together, sharing our time and energy so do not hesitate to get into contact with your team leader or indeed myself or any of the trustees.
Shaun McGarry
Acting Chair
March 2021
