Volunteer

Description

Service description 

COPE Galway Day Centre works with individuals who are experiencing homelessness in Galway City and County, including the provision of information and referral to accommodation and mainstream services and assistance is securing long-term accommodation. Food and access to washing and laundry facilities are available. One of the target groups of the service are people who are rough sleeping and as part of the response to this need some street outreach takes place a number of mornings each week with the aim of engaging with and sign posting people who are rough sleeping to where and how they can access services and supports.    

What’s involved? 

• Accompany and support Day Centre Project worker staff on street outreach – this will ordinarily be between the hours of 6.30am and 8am on three-weekday morning each week. At no time will the volunteers in this role be volunteering alone. At all times they will be accompanied by a Project worker 
• Engage with people who are rough sleeping and communicate to them information on where and how to access supports in Galway City 
• Provide food and refreshments to those sleeping rough in the city 
• Distribute items such clothing items including gloves and hats etc as required 
• Keep a record of the numbers and locations of rough sleepers and generate records as required under the guidance of the Day Centre Project Workers 
• Keep yourself safe at all times in the course of street outreach activities 
• Respect the wishes of people rough sleeping, in terms of their engagement or otherwise, with the street outreach work you are involved in 

 

Personal Specification 

• Friendly, enthusiastic manner 
• Ability to demonstrate respect and empathy to clients  
• Oral communication skills – ability to communicate effectively and to develop, foster and maintain positive relations with clients, colleagues and other agencies 
• Listening skills 
• Interpersonal and teamwork skills 
• Conflict resolution skills 
• Ability to respond in a professional manner to challenging and stressful situations 
• Planning and organisational skills - ability to be organised in approach to work, to follow through with tasks 
• A commitment to principles of diversity and inclusion 

Experience, Education & Training 

• Some experience in a similar or comparable role preferable but not essential 
• Have worked with socially marginalised and disadvantaged in the past 
• Social care or community work preferable but not essential 
• First Aid trained preferable 

 

Special Requirements (beneficial but not necessary to apply for this role) 

• Qualified driver with own car, full driving licence & insurance. The use of your car will be at your own expense. This contribution is greatly appreciated. 
• There will be lifting in this role (refreshments) 
• Advise your insurance company of your volunteer work. A template letter for your insurance company will be provided 

 

What will you get out of it? 

• Great personal satisfaction since you can make a real difference to our service users. 
• The opportunity to develop knowledge and gain practical experience relative to this role. 
• Gain communication and customer service skills. 
• Join a fun welcoming team. 
• Meet and work with new people. 
• Build confidence. 
• Add valuable experience to your CV. 
• The option to access other training courses as appropriate to the role. 
• The opportunity to contribute to a local Galway charity and help us realise our vision of creating a community where every person is valued, cared for and supported at every stage of life. 

 

What we would like from you 

• Willingness to work within the values and policies of COPE Galway. 
• The volunteer conducts him/herself in a professional manner and maintains a respectful and courteous manner in dealing with clients. 
• The volunteer will maintain confidentiality in respect of all matters which come to their knowledge while volunteering. 
• Volunteers should not undertake duties outside this role description without checking first with their Volunteer Supervisor.  
• Volunteers should adhere to the “Volunteer Agreement” which includes their rights and responsibilities as outlined in our Volunteer Handbook 

 

Will there be induction and training? 

• You will receive a local induction and introduction to the role before you start.  
• You will be offered service specific training required for the role.  
• Other training includes:  
• Trauma Informed Practice (online module) 
• ‘Stop & Think’ Reflective Workshops 
• You will have the opportunity to participate in ‘On-boarding Induction’ with fellow volunteers and staff. 

 

Our Values, Our Work, Our People 

Our Vision is a community where every person is valued, cared for, and supported at every stage of life. We work to achieve this by providing essential support for people at challenging times in their lives, and by advocating for systemic change to remove the root causes of inequity and disadvantage that constrain the wellbeing and development of individuals, families and communities.   

 

Our Mission is to make a difference by empowering people, creating change and strengthening communities. We understand, respect and respond to the needs of our clients who are always at the forefront of our work.   

  

COPE Galway is committed to becoming a Trauma Informed Organisation through an implementation plan that includes training for all staff and volunteers across all roles and departments. Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) aims to support us to recognise trauma and to react and respond to it in ways that minimise triggering and re-traumatising people, so that we continue to provide the best possible services to those who need us most. TIP also encourages us to focus on our organisational culture and how we each interact with one another to create psychologically safe environments for clients, volunteers and staff. It encourages us to reflect on our triggers and responses and considers personal and organisational responses to staff and volunteer wellbeing to ensure that our people are supported to deliver the best services they possibly can to those who need them most.  

Everything we do is guided by the COPE Galway Approach to help us achieve our vision of a community where every person is valued, cared for and supported at every stage of life.   

This assets-based and person-centred approach recognises that each person has attributes and strengths that can make positive differences in their own lives. We achieve results for the people we work with because of our Approach.   

  

The COPE Galway Approach is built on:  

Understanding - Deep listening, storytelling, learning, developing, openness, connections.   

Respect - Valuing the whole person, empowering, trusting, believing in the potential of others, drawing on strengths and abilities.   

Response - Quality, professionalism, making an impact, challenging ourselves, continuous improvement.   

Strong human relationships form the basis for the COPE Galway Approach. These relationships are established on how we understand and respect those we work with and how we respond so that we positively impact people’s lives.   

  

Our People are supported by regular support and guidance, and access to our Employee/Volunteer Assistance Programme. 

Strong human relationships form the basis for the COPE Galway Approach. These relationships are established on how we understand and respect those we work with and how we respond so that we positively impact people’s lives.   

Is training provided?: Yes

Please note that Garda Vetting is required for this position which will be processed with you after you apply.

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

• Accompany and support Day Centre Project worker staff on street outreach – this will ordinarily be between the hours of 6.30am and 8am on three-weekday morning each week. At no time will the volunteers in this role be volunteering alone. At all times they will be accompanied by a Project worker 
• Engage with people who are rough sleeping and communicate to them information on where and how to access supports in Galway City 
• Provide food and refreshments to those sleeping rough in the city 
• Distribute items such clothing items including gloves and hats etc as required 
• Keep a record of the numbers and locations of rough sleepers and generate records as required under the guidance of the Day Centre Project Workers 
• Keep yourself safe at all times in the course of street outreach activities 
• Respect the wishes of people rough sleeping, in terms of their engagement or otherwise, with the street outreach work you are involved in 

Skills required for this role:

Personal Specification 

• Friendly, enthusiastic manner 
• Ability to demonstrate respect and empathy to clients  
• Oral communication skills – ability to communicate effectively and to develop, foster and maintain positive relations with clients, colleagues and other agencies 
• Listening skills 
• Interpersonal and teamwork skills 
• Conflict resolution skills 
• Ability to respond in a professional manner to challenging and stressful situations 
• Planning and organisational skills - ability to be organised in approach to work, to follow through with tasks 
• A commitment to principles of diversity and inclusion 

Experience, Education & Training 

• Some experience in a similar or comparable role preferable but not essential 
• Have worked with socially marginalised and disadvantaged in the past 
• Social care or community work preferable but not essential 
• First Aid trained preferable 

 

Special Requirements (beneficial but not necessary to apply for this role) 

• Qualified driver with own car, full driving licence & insurance. The use of your car will be at your own expense. This contribution is greatly appreciated. 
• There will be lifting in this role (refreshments) 
• Advise your insurance company of your volunteer work. A template letter for your insurance company will be provided 

Details of time commitment needed for role:
Location: Galway City Centre  Times: Monday, Tuesday and Saturday mornings 6.30am-8am and Friday evening 7.30pm-10pm (minimum one shift) as specified  Commitment: Minimum 6 months  Responsible to: Project Worker  Level of English required: Fluent. Other languages would also be of considerable benefit. 

Minimum time commitment per week:
2 hour p/week

Additional screening required for this role:
Application, 2 References, Garda Vetting