Volunteer Handbook. WK/LJ/14.1/AS/ (Review September 2018)

Transcription

1 1 Volunteer Handbook

2 2 Contents Welcome to Whizz-Kidz! About Whizz-Kidz... 4 It all started with a bloke in a bike shop, back in Volunteering Opportunities... 5 Volunteering at Ambassador Clubs... 6 Volunteering at Wheelchair Skills Training... 7 Volunteering at Camp Whizz-Kidz... 8 Being a Youth Activity Leader: Leadership Opportunities at Whizz-Kidz... 9 Volunteering as a Whizz-Kidz Mentor Volunteering in Fundraising Raising Awareness as a Speaker Internships at Whizz-Kidz Head Office Frequently Asked Questions Feedback on this handbook... 14

3 3 Welcome to Whizz-Kidz! Thank you for choosing to volunteer with Whizz-Kidz. If you ve just joined us, I extend a warm welcome to you and sincerely hope that volunteering with us will be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for you. The veteran volunteers among you know just how invaluable your time, energy and commitment are, and the difference our volunteers make to the lives of disabled children in the UK. You re joining Whizz-Kidz at a crucial time in our history. In 2015 we celebrated our 25 th anniversary. In those 25 years we ve changed the lives of more than 20,000 young disabled people. Now, more than ever, we re committed to giving these young people the best possible start in life through our young people s services. Our volunteers are valued members of the Whizz-Kidz team and by joining us you re not only given the opportunity to gain new skills, you re also having a really positive impact on the lives of disabled young people in your local area. This handbook is designed to make your time with Whizz-Kidz as straightforward as possible and to answer as many questions as you might have, but feel free to contact the Volunteer & Leadership Team (volunteers@whizz-kidz.org.uk) with any questions you might have. We d also really welcome any feedback you have about your voluntary work; we want to ensure our volunteers have a fulfilling and useful time with us, so your experiences and opinions help us in achieving this. I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for volunteering with us. Your time, your enthusiasm and your commitment are truly invaluable. By working together, we can support and change the lives of disabled children and their families across the UK; let s take this opportunity to move young lives forward! Best wishes, Ruth Owen CEO, Whizz-Kidz Ruth Owen CEO, Whizz-Kidz

4 4 About Whizz-Kidz It all started with a bloke in a bike shop, back in Bicycle shop owner Mike Dickson was behind the counter when he noticed that a young female customer in a wheelchair was looking up at a bike light on a high shelf. Mike offered to pass it to her, but the girl politely replied No thanks, I can reach it myself. She then pushed a button on her powered wheelchair, making the seat rise to a level where she could easily reach it. In that lightbulb moment Mike recognised the immense difference a properly equipped wheelchair can make to a child s life. What seemed on the face of it just a small everyday gesture taking an object from a shelf was in reality about something much bigger and more significant: it was about independence. Mike had already promised to run the London Marathon that year and he now pledged to raise money to buy a powered wheelchair for a child who needed it. By the end of the marathon he d raised 9,000 for a girl with cerebral palsy. The following year, in 1990, he founded Whizz-Kidz. What about since then? Since Mike founded Whizz-Kidz, we ve transformed the lives of more than 20,000 disabled children. This has included providing them with life-changing mobility equipment, but that s not all we also run a number of life skills services for young disabled people, including Ambassador Clubs, Wheelchair Skills Training and Residential Camps, which you ll learn more about through this handbook. All of our services are supported, and increasingly are being led, by our fantastic volunteers from across the UK; we wouldn t be able to do what we do without you.

5 5 Volunteering Opportunities By joining Whizz-Kidz as a volunteer, you have a range of volunteering opportunities available for you to get stuck into. Over the next few pages you ll find out more about our youth groups (also known as Ambassador Clubs), our Wheelchair Skills Training sessions, Camp Whizz-Kidz, our mentoring scheme, fundraising & speaking opportunities and internships at our Head Office. All of our roles have different levels of responsibility (e.g. some volunteers will prefer to take a leading role at Ambassador Clubs) and different time commitments (e.g. fundraising could be a one-off opportunity, whilst internships are at least 2 days a week for 3 months). If you would like any further information about anything in this handbook please volunteers@whizz-kidz.org.uk.

6 6 Volunteering at Ambassador Clubs Our Ambassador Clubs or youth groups are a place for young disabled people to meet, make friends and have fun! There is a range of activities, from music to dance, art to sports, beauty therapy and cooking, trips to local attractions like the zoo or a driving lesson and much more! We listen to what the young people want to do and accommodate this wherever we can, as well as raising awareness of disability issues and campaigning for change. Here s what volunteer Ben thinks about volunteering at our Ambassador Clubs: As a volunteer my role is varied and exciting. To begin with, before the young people arrive, there is a briefing session with the club leader, volunteers and the designated health care professionals. The point of this briefing period is to discuss any special requirements and potential matters that may then arise. It is also a good chance to get to know each other. My role has been to liaise with the club s trainer and assist, where applicable of course, with things that happen within the club. From arts and crafts, one to one development with a young person, simply chatting with everyone to help break the ice and create a positive atmosphere Throughout the day we collect feedback from the attendees in regards to how they are feeling about the day thus far and we positively encourage things such as discussion and when the time comes to say goodbye until the next event we get the opportunity to talk with parents and we also have a mini de brief, much like before the day s session, to discuss and feedback how we found the day. Time Commitment: We ask our volunteers at Ambassador Clubs to commit to volunteering at a minimum of 5 Ambassador Clubs per year. Each Ambassador Club is different depending on location. Volunteers are usually expected to volunteer on a Saturday or Sunday for around 6 to 7 hours.

7 7 Volunteering at Wheelchair Skills Training At Whizz-Kidz, we know how important it is for young people to get the most from their wheelchair. Being able to use it safely and confidently can make all the difference. Whizz- Kidz offer three levels of Wheelchair Skills Training: beginners, intermediate and advanced to support wheelchair users aged Here s what volunteer Millie thinks about volunteering at our Wheelchair Skills Training: At Wheelchair Skills Training the main aim as a volunteer is to bring enthusiasm and support to the session. At the last session I volunteered at, the young people practised going up ramps and pushing themselves on different surfaces, as well as completing an obstacle course using different techniques. As a volunteer you need to be on hand to help, for example standing behind the young people as they practise ramps if they are feeling less confident, as well as making sure to adjust the activities for the different abilities in the group, so you can make sure everyone is challenged and gets something from the session. The Wheelchair Skills Training was enjoyable due to the team spirit throughout the obstacle course, as well as the games such as grandma s footsteps, which was a particular favourite in our session. It was an enjoyable experience as a volunteer as even though the day is centred on improving the wheelchair skills of the young people, it is great fun as you can participate in everything along with the young people. Time Commitment: We ask all of our volunteers at Wheelchair Skills Training to commit to volunteering at a minimum of 5 sessions per year. Each Wheelchair Skills Training session is different depending on location, but volunteers are usually expected to volunteer on a weekday for around 6 to 7 hours.

8 8 Volunteering at Camp Whizz-Kidz Whizz-Kidz provides short residential camps for young disabled people. Camp Whizz-Kidz is designed for wheelchair users aged Each camp lasts three days and two nights, and brings together key elements of all Whizz- Kidz training programmes. Young people who go along to camp get the chance to learn a range of skills, e.g. wheelchair skills training, budgeting, shopping and cooking. Participants also take part in other social activities like drama, sports, meeting inspirational role models and other exciting activities. Here volunteer Sue describes her experience: I've volunteered at several Whizz-Kidz camps over the last few years. I'm an Activities Volunteer, which means that I support the activity programme. I'm given a timetable with the programme for each day, with break times when I'm not needed. I really enjoy watching the young people develop over the three days at camp. Many are quite nervous at first, so I help them to get to know other young people and make friends. For some it's the first time away and this really is a big step, for the young person as well as for their parents. Apart from chatting with the young people and trying to work out how best to help them develop their independence, my role as a volunteer is to be an extra pair of hands to get things ready before sessions, and to help activities to run smoothly. I've also enjoyed leading a couple of drama sessions. Most important of all, I've felt I have a chance to contribute to a really valuable experience for the young people. Time Commitment: Camp Whizz-Kidz is a more time intensive volunteering experience, as you will need to spend 4 days at Camp however, we do find that Camp is one of the most rewarding experiences as a volunteer! You will need to have experience at either Ambassador Clubs or Wheelchair Skills Training to be able to volunteer at Camp.

9 9 Being a Youth Activity Leader: Leadership Opportunities at Whizz-Kidz Whizz-Kidz services have traditionally been delivered by a trainer. Over the last year we have started to discuss volunteers taking more of a leading role and have since unleashed the potential of volunteers by training six volunteers to actually lead clubs, wheelchair skills training and many of the activities at camps. Full training and support is given; we re not expecting volunteers to take over overnight, but the wheels are now in motion for volunteers across the UK to start delivering services. Volunteer Emmaline, from the Manchester club, was our very first Youth Activity Leader: In January 2016 I requested to be given the chance to run the club. I say requested, but actually it was more like pestering the Volunteer team to let me do it! I had so many ideas I wanted to implement from listening to feedback from all the young people who attend the club and I couldn t wait to get started. I became a volunteer Youth Activity Leader and ran my first ever Whizz- Kidz club in February Since then I haven't looked back! I must be doing something right because they even trusted me to lead an outing to Chester Zoo in May. We had a group of 50 people in total and even though it was raining, it was my most enjoyable trip and everyone was smiling. In the time I ve been volunteering I ve watched one young person go on the journey from school to college and he now even has his own rock band! Time Commitment: Once trained, we ask our Youth Activity Leaders to commit to working with Whizz-Kidz for a minimum of one year and to lead at a minimum of five Ambassador Clubs or Wheelchair Skills Training sessions. We know that sometimes circumstances change, so don t be put off getting in touch and finding out more!

10 10 Volunteering as a Whizz-Kidz Mentor At Whizz-Kidz we offer work placements to young wheelchair users, as well as the chance to embark upon a leadership programme called Young Leaders. To support young people to make the most of these opportunities we have set up a mentoring scheme. A young person will be matched with one of our fully-trained volunteer mentors and will set a goal to work towards with the support of their mentor. Here s what volunteer Belinda thinks about being a mentor at Whizz-Kidz: I always look forward to my mentoring meetings because my mentee is so alive with ideas about his future that an hour never seems to be enough to discuss all the possibilities. It is great fun to brainstorm together and after each session we part with plans to do individual research that we can share at our next meetup. I find that I too am learning a lot as I investigate new career and training possibilities for my mentee. It is a joy to watch his progress and I'd recommend mentoring to everyone with an interest in young people and a desire to help them reach their potential, even if it is simply by offering support and encouragement. Mentors can be a valuable sounding-board that is outside our mentees' usual circle of teachers, family, friends and employers. It is a great privilege to get involved. Time Commitment: After compulsory mentoring training, the time commitment for being a mentor is to meet with your mentee once a month for six months, with each session lasting around one hour.

11 11 Volunteering in Fundraising Whizz-Kidz provides services and equipment for young disabled people. We rely heavily on donations, and you can help! Whether you re interested in taking part in one of our sponsored events or putting on your own, coordinating collection boxes in your area or collecting money at supermarkets, train stations and sporting events, then we have a role for you! Here s what our volunteer Geoff thinks about volunteering as a fundraiser: I donate a few hours of my time each week, to place collection cans within my local area. This is something that suits my skills and interests because I love meeting new people, making a difference and seeing just how much money I ve helped to raise. I also get involved in local community fairs, supermarket collections and any other activities taking place local to me. Volunteering for Whizz-Kidz is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I would highly recommend it! I would tell anyone thinking of joining the team, to ensure they have enough free time to help, to be enthusiastic and motivated and register today, without delay! Time Commitment: Our fundraising opportunities are incredibly flexible and can be adapted to suit the amount of time you have to volunteer. From a couple of hours on one day to a more regular commitment, we ve got a fundraising role for you!

12 12 Raising Awareness as a Speaker As a speaker you ll have a vital role within the team: to spread awareness of the services we provide for young wheelchair users, to encourage more people to volunteer, to advertise our regional and national campaigns and to gain support for our fundraising initiatives. This is a role taken on by both volunteers and our young people. This could include giving a speech or collecting a cheque on behalf of Whizz-Kidz, and we will give you a pack to give you all the information you ll need. Time Commitment: Being a speaker is a really flexible role; sometimes we have opportunities already available to speak at and others will require you to make contact with local organisations, such as schools. For this reason the commitment could be an hour a week over a long period of time or a more specific period of time, e.g. a half term holiday.

13 13 Internships at Whizz-Kidz Head Office We occasionally have internship opportunities working in different teams at our Head Office in London, from the finance team, to communications, to working in the young people s team. As an intern you will take on specific projects with the team you work with, see behind the scenes and learn valuable skills in the charity sector. Here s what volunteer Alex thinks about interning in the Volunteering and Leadership team at Whizz-Kidz. As part of my internship I monitored the s for the volunteering team, arranged and conducted phone interviews with potential volunteers and created a monthly volunteer newsletter, as well as creating new content for the Whizz-Kidz website. I felt very accepted; everyone is friendly, helpful, and welcoming. My favourite part of this internship was that I got experience in a variety of areas professionally. I was able to perform administrative tasks, be involved with aspects of communications such as the newsletters and website, and communicate with all potential volunteers. Time Commitment: We ask all of our interns to commit to volunteering for a minimum of 10 hours per week (usually 2 days) for a minimum of 3 months.

14 14 Frequently Asked Questions Q: Who do I contact if I want to find out more about volunteer roles? A: We have an address for all thing volunteering! Drop us a line at volunteers@whizz-kidz.org.uk, call us on or you can sign up to be a volunteer on our Volunteer Zone: Q: I m a volunteer, but I m not sure who to contact about what. Can you help? A: Yes! There are a lot of people who work at Whizz-Kidz and so it can sometimes get confusing. You will be assigned a Volunteer Coordinator who will support you with getting started, training and future development, and you ll also have a Regional Services Coordinator who organises all of the regional events and will be in touch to get you involved. If you re unsure, volunteers@whizz-kidz.org.uk. Q: Will I be asked to provide personal care to young people when I volunteer? A: We employ healthcare assistants at all of our services to provide personal care to young people. Volunteers should not assist young people with going to the toilet, taking medication or any other aspect of personal care. If you are unsure, please speak to the session leader, but remember you should never be asked to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Q: Can I be friends with the young people on social media? A: We take safeguarding really seriously for young people and our volunteers. Because of this, we ask you not to exchange contact details with young people, and not to connect with them on social media. We also ask you not to take photos at sessions on your own phone or tablet. The trainer should have one you can use instead. Q: Where can I find out more information about volunteering with Whizz-Kidz? A: At the end of this FAQ section you will find our Volunteer Policy, which can also be found on our website. We hope that this policy will answer any questions you have regarding things like expenses and equal opportunities. If you think we ve missed something please drop us a line to volunteers@whizz-kidz.org.uk, or give us a call on Feedback on this handbook If volunteers feel like information is missing from this handbook, or that something needs to be clarified, then they should contact the team volunteers@whizzkidz.org.uk so that improvements can be made for the benefit of all volunteers.