Guide to the Spiral Skills Volunteer Advocacy Service.

How you can help?
Do you enjoy meeting new people? Are you a good listener?  If you are looking for a chance to volunteer that is challenging and rewarding then look no further.  You can help us make a difference to people's lives, and make sure people with additional support needs get a fair deal. You don't need any previous experience or qualifications. We welcome everyone.



How can you help?
You will be fully trained in the skills you will need to become a volunteer advocate.  After training you will be ready to start, with support from a member of staff.  You and the staff member will meet a client who you will support to deal with the issues they are facing. A volunteer is someone who supports you to say what you need.


You can do this by:

  attending meetings with your client

  finding your client useful information

  helping them to write letters

  explaining anything they don't understand.

 

You will be supported by a member of Spiral Skills Advocacy service.  They will come with you to meet your client at first and will meet with you regularly to provide ongoing support and training. Clients are matched to volunteers according to the time commitment they can make.

Who Volunteers?
We look for volunteers who have time available to work with people on a one-to-one basis, it helps if you are a friendly person with good listening skills. We welcome people who have experienced health and social services themselves, but it is not essential.  We need volunteers to help people have their say and make sure their views are heard.  We will give you full training to work with people to help them explore their options and make their own choices. 

 

Why would someone choose to volunteer? What are the benefits?

  Free training and ongoing support

 

  Out of pocket expenses

 

  Explore a career change

 

  Valuable work experience

 

  Enjoy a challenge

 

  Enthusiasm for a cause or interest

 

  Desire to help others

 

  A sense of achievement

 

  A wider social network

 

  Add to a resume

 

 

 

You need no formal qualifications to become one of our volunteers, just the following qualities:

  Good communication and listening skills

  Understanding of confidentiality

  Patience, tact and sensitivity

  Common sense

  Enthusiasm

  The ability to refrain from imposing solutions

  Reliability and trustworthiness

Spiral Skills staff will be available to offer support whenever it is needed.

 

Getting Involved
Spiral Skills Advocacy Service is looking to meet volunteers to join our team.  We will provide you with the right training and introduce you to a suitable partner. As your relationship develops you will become increasingly aware of their needs and wishes. You will be able to support your partner to express their views and enable them to live the kind of life they would like and value, with their rights respected. If you are looking for voluntary work that is interesting, flexible, challenging, rewarding, that will provide you with a variety of skills and experience that can really make a difference, volunteer advocacy could be for you.

 

How to get in touch.
Please visit the contact us page for ways to get in touch, please call for an informal chat about becoming a volunteer.  We'd love to hear from you.