Can you help others lift their Wellbeing?

Are you positive, resilient and caring? Then we need you! We’re looking for Volunteers for Healthy Alternatives, a community project which supports people to take control of their own health and wellbeing by looking at alternatives to GPs & drugs. This could be gym classes for fitness, social groups for friendship, advice centres for debt and finance management, or creative classes for wellbeing. Your role would be to personally help to empower each client to access the support they need.

Healthy Alternatives is managed by charity the Southmead Development Trust, and works across North Bristol, and more recently, in Southville. Full training is provided, but all Volunteers must have an interest in the wellbeing of others, and a warm and welcoming attitude. We offer four project roles:

1:1 Mentor: Working 1:1 with clients for six, one hour sessions. You will use active listening, motivational interviewing, and a positive attitude to support your clients. We encourage you to talk to us before applying.

Group Facilitator: Group Facilitators run activities for our clients such as cooking, general activity, and peer support groups. We are always looking for passionate individuals to offer new services to clients at a regular time each week. We are particularly interested in anyone with a flair for baking, cycling, football or walking.

Signposting/Befriending: Based in GP surgeries or in community settings, you will meet with clients and direct them to local services and opportunities, even going with them to offer encouragement and to ease anxiety. If you are flexible with your time and interested in learning about new things this could be for you.

Administrator: More than putting numbers in a spreadsheet, our Administrators help to keep in touch with clients, especially after missed sessions, to offer encouragement and support over the phone. You will be key in supporting the team of volunteers, workers, and GPs to stay in touch with all the clients we see.

Additional: You must be over 18 and you may require a DBS check to work alone with clients. Sometimes clients’ situations are tough and distressing; we offer you full support and training. We require your commitment for a minimum of 3 hours each week, at a regular time, as clients value seeing the same person. You would first meet clients at the Greenway Centre, Southmead, BS10, or at the Southville Community Centre, BS3 1QG. Expenses are covered.

For further information please contact:
Colette Brown, Social Prescribing Coordinator, tel: 07732 954 624, email: colettebrown@southmead.org
Serge Chapman, Volunteer Project Coordinator, tel: 07756 908 525, email: sergechapman@southmead.org
address: Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 5HP. tel: 0117 950 3335

documents attached:

1-to-1 Mentor Role Description (Feb 2017)

Group Facilitators Role Description (Feb 2017)

Healthy Alternatives Application Pack (Feb 2017)