Volunteer

Description

During the cold winter of 1976, Willie and his colleagues found the bodies of a number of older people in tenements throughout the city. They had died in appalling conditions.

Willie was so shocked by this that he, and a small group of friends and colleagues began distributing food, fuel and blankets to those older people who were most in need.

They also started a campaign to raise awareness of these ‘forgotten old’ in the media and to the government. Today ALONE continues its work providing direct services to thousands of older people as well as campaigning for the rights of older people in our society.

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:

What is Telephone Support and Befriending?

ALONE’s Telephone Support and Befriending is a free friendly, support and information telephone service for older people. It provides personal daily or weekly contact to ensure that recipients are safe and well in their home. Volunteers provide companionship and support such as appointment reminders, and information on local activities and relevant initiatives.

All volunteers are trained and receive support from ALONE staff. Where additional needs arise that require a more hands-on approach, a request for support can be made to ALONE’s support coordination services. The service operates Monday - Friday and the calls are made at a pre-arranged time.

Volunteering with an Older Person might present challenges at times, ALONE staff will always be there to support you in dealing with difficult situations.

What will you be doing? 

• Providing support and information to the older person where necessary 
• Being mindful of the general wellbeing of the older people and provide a positive experience during the call
• Supporting the older person to integrate in their community – such as encouraging them to join local groups and initiatives for older people
• Reporting to ALONE if there are concerns for the older person’s health, safety, or welfare.
• Working as a member of a team with staff and other volunteers and participate effectively in team meetings when required and respond to the communication from Telephone Support Coordinators
• Attending training and following the ALONE guidelines throughout your time with ALONE
• Participating in check-in calls with ALONE staff in order to discuss any issues or address any challenges you may be facing in your role

· Participating in ALONE volunteer surveys and potentially assisting with ALONE with delivery/completion of surveys to Older People

Benefits of Volunteering:

• The opportunity to make a real impact to the lives of older people.
• Initial and ongoing training.
• Insights and understanding about social inclusion issues.
• Opportunity to progress into other roles in ALONE
• Opportunity to develop your leadership skills. 
• A chance to be part of the ALONE volunteer community.
• Certificate of volunteering (minimum 3 months of volunteering required for the certificate to be issued).

Details of time commitment needed for role:
It is essential that the volunteer has a mobile phone with a plan which allows free calls and access to a space where calls can be made in a confidential and private manner. It is essential that Telephone Support & Befriending volunteers commit to a minimum of one 1-hour shift per week (Monday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm) for a minimum of 6 months.

Minimum time commitment per week:
1 hour p/week

Additional screening required for this role::
Application Informal Interview Online Training Garda Vetting Reference Checks ID Check

Sustainable Development Goal:

Hei:
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY, TU DUBLIN, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN