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Job description

Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference. **Barnardo’s Befrienders** work with young people a 1:1 basis, offering practical assistance and emotional support, to build their self-confidence, coping mechanisms and positive relationships. The work could be focused on a particular need, such as confidence building, or it could be more focused around supporting the young person to access local community groups. We are looking for volunteers, with a passion for making a difference in young people’s lives, with a friendly and approachable attitude and an ability to engage young people, empowering them to take steps towards improving their situation and achieving their goals. We are particularly keen to recruit volunteer befrienders who can commit to befriending a child on a weekly basis. The normal commitment we would ask for is a minimum period of one year; we would only ask you to do one session per week and this would normally be for an agreed period of time with a particular individual.
Barnardo's protects, supports and nurtures the UK's most vulnerable children. Barnardo's helps bring out the best in children – no matter who they are or what they have been through. Our volunteers help make this happen.

• Tasks: Building positive relationships with children and young people by meeting with them regularly on a one-to-one basis.
  
  Encouraging children and young people to access resources, groups and activities within their local community, such as after school activities, youth groups, and sports clubs.
  
  Promoting and encouraging service users to make active choices and informed decisions.
  
  Accompanying children and young people to attend meetings or attending on their behalf.
  
  Providing emotional/moral support for children and young people, while maintaining an appropriate volunteer/service user rapport.
  
  Adhering to Barnardo's policies and procedures at all times, including Barnardo's: Safeguarding; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Health & Safety; Data Protection; Confidentiality; Recording policies and procedures.
  
  Participating fully in training and supervision.
  
  Volunteering within Barnardo's Basis and Values.

• Skills: Reliable, punctual and trustworthy.
  
  Approachable and welcoming.
  
  Being passionate about making a difference in the lives of children, young people and families.
  
  Being non-judgmental and positive in their attitude to working with individuals from different backgrounds.
  
  Good listening and communication skills.
  
  The ability to manage and respond positively to challenging situations.

• Benefits: Full induction and training.
  
  Other training opportunities relevant to the volunteer role.
  
  Regular supervision and support.
  
  Out of pocket expenses agreed in advance.
  
  Access to the Barnardo’s internal vacancy listing.
  
  Our volunteers tell us about lots of other benefits of volunteering including; experience of working with children, young people and families; experience for your CV; supporting your local community; meeting new people; increasing self-confidence; feeling like you are making a difference; improving your health and wellbeing; and a chance to contribute to a worthwhile children’s charity.