Friday Club Volunteer

Sense has been supporting people who are deafblind and have complex disabilities in Northern Ireland for 30 years. Our accessible centre is located in Mallusk, in Newtownabbey. Here, we offer services for adults with complex disabilities. This includes our Friday Club, for adults aged approximately 45 to 75+. The club takes place every week between 11am and 1:30pm. We are looking for volunteers to help set up and clear up, help out with activities and crafts, such as painting, weaving and dancing. We also like to go out and about, our group are particularly good shoppers, we go out for meals and we also visit places like the Titanic Centre. We aim to develop and maintain social networks, and above all, have fun A lot of people with additional needs feel lonely - that's what we aim to change and by giving a small amount of your time can make a big difference. You do not need to have any previous experience working with people with disabilities as we will provide you with training and ongoing support, to equip you for your role.

**This role will involve a variety of tasks, including**:

- Assist in setting up the day’s session (art, craft etc), sometimes we will go on trips.
- Welcoming the people we support and helping them get settled.
- Helping with refreshments: tea and coffee, making and serving lunch (sandwiches, tea, coffee, cake)
- Assisting and getting stuck in with the day’s task and activities
- Helping with tidying up and clearing away

**We're looking for volunteers who are**:

- Friendly and chatty
- A good listener and communicator
- Able to work well in a team and be flexible about the role you play during the day depending on what’s needed by individuals and activities
- Respectful of others and their diversity
- Interested in supporting the work of Sense and want to make a difference to people who have complex disabilities and are deafblind.

**What can Sense offer me as a volunteer?**
- Induction information and briefings to prepare you for your role and lots of on-site support and guidance from our experienced staff team
- The chance to get to know new people, try new activities in your local community and to have lots of fun taking part together
- A reference at the end of your commitment
- Joining a family of wonderful volunteers

For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to offer personalised support to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our experts offer support that’s tailored to the individual needs of each person, whether that’s at our centres, through our holidays and short breaks, or in people’s own homes. In addition to practical support, we also provide information to families, and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.

Volunteers add real value to Sense, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the work that we do. We believe that volunteers enable us to bring people together and provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world.

We include. We collaborate. We find a way. We challenge. We celebrate.

**Job Type**: Volunteer

Work Location: In person