We are recruiting volunteers with a dog to provide befriending/ buddy support to our service users with a learning disability or autism within our supported living projects.
We have piloted this project already and it is going really well so we want to offer this to more of our service users.
This volunteering hugely benefits our service users through the regular social interaction with the dog as well as the volunteer, whilst also getting the positive effects of getting out and about in the community and in nature, and getting some exercise.
The volunteer and their dog can also show the service users how to be a good dog owner by going for walks, petting and playing together, learning how dogs interact with other dogs and how to keep dogs happy and healthy.
- Providing companionship and regular interaction with you and your dog for our service users.
- Going for walks in the local community/parks.
- Playing and petting the dog – the service users love to cuddle and stroke animals (sensory gratification).
- Helping to teach the service user how to keep dogs happy and healthy
• Adult Safeguard Training
• First Aid Training + PBS (Positive Behaviour Support) *subject to availability*
• Service User Specific Induction (provided by the project manager).