Volunteer

Description

UL MedX is a community-based exercise referral programme based in the University of Limerick (UL).  It is a partnership between UL, University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) and a number of local organisations including the General Practitioners and primary care services. It provides individuals living with chronic disease an opportunity to maintain their optimum level of health through its multidisciplinary programme.

The purpose of UL MedX is to help people living with chronic disease to lead and benefit from a physically active and healthy lifestyle, and to develop skills to help them self-manage their disease. Our objectives are to achieve excellence in outreach, training and research; these three pillars are equally weighted and essential to ensuring high and sustainable impact through a UL MedX ‘living lab’ concept. The current group have all had a cardiac event but we hope to expand to those with diabetes over the coming year.

We require help from students to set up our exercise classes and to help to teach the classes. The classes take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. We begin set up at approx 9.30am for a 10:00am start. From 9:45 to 10:00 we montior patients while they complete a walking warm-up. We may take this opportunity to use a buddy system wherby newer clients are placed walking with clients familiar with the programme. Participants then take part in some prescribed warm up activities followed by 2 x 15 min exercise sessions. Training consists of both aerobic gym based machines and strength and endurance building circuit training type exercises. At the end of the class we offer tea and coffee and the all important biscuits to the group! This is a time for the group to bond and also gives us the opportunity to monitor them post exercise. A second group then runs from 11-12am

This volunteer opportunity would suit sport science students, physiotherapy students, nursing and medical students in particular. 

Is training provided?: Yes

Tasks that the volunteer(s) will be expected to undertake:

• Class set up
• Bringing tables and chairs from the classroom in UL Sport to the jogging track
• Set up of the tea and coffee station
• Set up of the circuit
• Occasional data entry
• Chatting to participants during the exercise
• Monitoring technique (This will be explained if not familiar with a particular exercise)
• Ensure participants are working at the correct intensity level by checking RPE (This can be explained)
• Help to tidy up equipment after the classes

Skills required for this role:

Some knowledge of coaching and exercise technique would be beneficial

First aid knowledge would be beneficial

Chatty and outgoing

Details of time commitment needed for role:
Tues or/and Thursday morning Help with Setup and Class One i.e. 9:30-11:00 or Class Two plus breakdown i.e. 11:00-12.30 Set Up 9:30-10:00 Class One: 10:00 to 11:00 Class Two: 11:00-12:00 Class Breakdown 12:00-12:30

Minimum time commitment per week:
1 hour p/week