Drop-in volunteer

Drop-in Volunteer

One25’s drop-in is a woman-only space where women gain practical and emotional support; from basic needs (a hot shower, launderette, free clothing, and nutritious lunch) to expert advice and crisis care from a caseworker or visiting professional.

Role Description and Person Specification

Aims of the role

The role of the One25 drop-in volunteer is to make sure that the drop-in space is a warm, homely, friendly and safe space for the vulnerable women that access it. Drop-in volunteers enable our staff to provide more in-depth support to the women, knowing that the practicalities of the space are being managed by volunteers.

Drop-in volunteers can flag up safeguarding concerns to staff and be a supportive listening ear to the women accessing the drop-in. Drop-in volunteers do not provide casework; this is always done by staff.

Availability

• Shifts: Monday-Wednesday and Fridays from 12-4pm.
• Available to commit at least one weekday per month for at least one year.
• Willing to attend training, support and feedback sessions and be in regular contact.
• Able to travel to and from St Pauls, Bristol.

Attributes

• Good punctuality.
• Ability to keep personal boundaries when working with vulnerable women.
• Clear communications skills.
• Good listening skills.
• Empathy.
• Non-judgmental.
• Ability to remain calm in a stressful situation or when there is a conflict.
• Ability to take instruction and direction.
• Reliable.
• Good initiative.
• Team working skills.
• Sympathetic to the Christian ethos of One25.

Tasks will involve

• Serving food and drinks to women accessing the drop-in.
• Having client-led conversations with women accessing the drop-in.
• Creating a homely, relaxed atmosphere and organising and cleaning the drop-in space. This involves helping to tidy drop-in at the beginning of a shift and taking on a duty such as cleaning toilets, cleaning the kitchen or hoovering the floors at the end of the shift. These roles are allocated to each volunteer at the beginning of drop-in.
• Take direction and instructions from the volunteer team leader or drop-in staff.
• Writing clear records following interactions with women accessing drop-in.
• Communicating clearly to drop-in staff and the volunteer drop-in team leader around any safeguarding concerns you have about women accessing drop-in.
• Sharing safeguarding and other relevant information at the end of each shift during the debrief.
• Being clear and firm with women around boundaries and drop-in rules.
• Supporting women to access computers and make phone calls.