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Share Community
About UsShare works with disabled people who need extra help and support to realise their dreams and aspirations. We are a centre for learning and wellbeing for adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, and mental health needs. Our aim is to help people live independent, happy, and healthy lives, and make their own choices.Share was founded in 1972. We are…
Description

About Share

Share is a registered charity and a centre for training and wellbeing. We provide a range of programmes helping adults with learning disabilities, autism and other support needs become more happy, healthy and independent. Our vision is a world where disabled people are fully included in society, living the life they choose, and we need talented people like you to help us make that happen.

 

Why choose Share Community?

We previously received a Best Practice in Volunteering Award from Lifetimes, an organisation that supports voluntary and community activity in Wandsworth. They were particularly impressed by the support, training, recognition and reward that we give to our volunteers and that we recruited people with additional support needs and those from marginalised backgrounds. 

In return for you giving up your time for us, you can expect:

  • A warm welcome into our organisation from our dedicated volunteering team.
  • An opportunity to develop new skills and add to your CV.
  • A reference for your time with us.
  • Reimbursement of travel expenses within TFL zone 1 – 6.
  • £5 towards lunch, or a free lunch in our onsite canteen at our Clapham Junction site (if volunteering for more than four hours a day).
  • Invitations to all our events such as: our garden parties, away days, Christmas parties and our student awards ceremony.
  • The opportunity to have your say in our annual volunteer survey.
  • A genuine opportunity to make a difference and become part of a community.
Duties

Are you interested in supporting disabled people to express themselves and have their views heard?

As an advocacy volunteer you will support adults with learning disabilities and autism to express their views, self-advocate and make informed decisions. You will support our students to take an active role in Student Voice, our student-led group that meet regularly to voice opinions and concerns, and have their views heard across Share and our local community.

Who will the volunteers be working with?
As part of the role you will:

- Support our Student Voice facilitator to co-facilitate some of our weekly Student Voice sessions at Share Clapham Junction, Share Brixton and Share Tooting
- Support our Wellbeing Team Leader to co-facilitate our monthly Spectrum group (an empowering session where our students talk about challenges and celebrate uniqueness)
- Support ad-hoc advocacy outreach events and raise awareness in the community
- Support individuals to play an active role in advocacy across Share
- Raise awareness of students’ rights to statutory advocacy services
- Support students to access external forums and share their views
- Advise staff and students with issues and complaints regarding their access to services
- Signpost students to services and support
- Share your knowledge with staff and other volunteers
Training
A full-day training for all new volunteers to give you confidence in your role.
Ongoing support, and ‘top-up’ training from staff including topics like: Mental Health First Aid, Safeguarding, and Makaton.

Time commitment

Depending on your availability, we would welcome people who are available to support us in person 10am-4pm, one day a week (Monday – Friday).

UCL Departments

This organisation is one of our community partner organisations.

Like all volunteer recruiters we work with, they have signed up to our service standards, agreeing to abide by our policy on partnership working to keep you safe and supported whilst you volunteer.

You’ll never be out of pocket for volunteering through us – with in-London travel expenses to and from your volunteering guaranteed.

In addition, the team here at Students’ Union UCL Volunteering Service is here to support you throughout your volunteering journey – you can get in touch with us at any time.