How you can help
Volunteering
Since our project began in April 2000 we have had volunteers supporting our staff who work with children, young people and their families. Volunteers play a huge role in helping us provide the services we do, and we couldn't do it without their support.
We have a Resource Manager (Volunteering) at the project, who is responsible for volunteering. Her name is Nikki Somerville. Her role consists of recruiting, training and supporting volunteers, and the staff who work with volunteers at the project.
What happens when someone wants to volunteer?
When somebody wants to become a volunteer at the project, there are certain things that have to happen:
- They attend two informal meetings with Nikki to find out what role the volunteers wants.
- They have to fill in a registration form which asks for two references, which are then taken up.
- They have to provide information for us to carry out a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. This is to make sure they are suitable for working with children and vulnerable people.
- Sign an agreement, which states what we expect from the volunteers, and what the volunteers should expect from us
- They have to complete their Basic training, which includes an Induction Day, then 3 hour sessions in Confidentiality, Communication and Listening skills, Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety and Child Protection.
- Training is then offered to volunteers dependent on what role they are carrying out. We aim to provide as many accredited training opportunities as we can. Here are some examples of accredited training that volunteers have taken up include:
- Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
- First Aid Certificate
- Certificate in Playwork
- Midas Minibus Certificate
- Trainer in Midas Minibus Training
We can also offer training in the ASDAN accredited Community Volunteering qualfication which is free to Project Volunteers.
Also we provide volunteers with in-house training opportunities such as:
- club training
- self confidence
- working with boys
- working with groups
This is what a volunteer Jayne Thackray had to say about the Induction Day training.
It was brilliant, why because I know so much more about Barnardo's generally and in particular it's role in Blackpool. I also feel part of something special, I personally feel valued, and I'm not just a volunteer I have something valuable to offer. I hope others feel the same way. Thank you for an excellent day.
Supporting Volunteers
Supporting volunteers is a really important part of all the staff at the project, if we do it right then hopefully volunteers like to stay, if not they soon leave.
Here are some of the ways in which we do this:
- Offer supervision to all volunteers.
- Hold monthly volunteer meetings.
- Offer accredited training opportunities.
- Provide them with a Volunteer Newsletter once a month.
- Pay their expenses.
- Hold thank you events.
- Make them feel valued by saying thank-you, making them a cup of tea, ask their opinions, listen to their ideas.
Here are some volunteers to tell you how they got started, and what happened to them.
Steve - Volunteering with Barnardo's
Steve wanted to gain work experience, understand children more and gain self satisfaction. Steve made his difference by playing football, games, and arts and crafts with children and young people. He was a pair of ears that listened to them, a role model to have fun with and supervised a safe place for them to play in. Steve applied to become a Sessional Worker with us and was successful in gaining employment. Steve has now gone on to full time employment with another employer.
Michael - Volunteering with Barnardo's
Michael wanted to gain work experience, improve social skills, help with his self esteem, improve confidence and help others. Michael made his difference by being a learning support to other volunteers who attended an ASDAN Certificate in Community Volunteering accredited course, he helped them understand the work, scribed for them, encouraged and motivated them to finish the course. Comment from end of project evaluation:
"A very well delivered course that appeals to people of all abilities and backgrounds"
(Michael – ASDAN Certificate in Community Volunteering Course)
Jenny - Volunteering with Barnardo's
Jenny wanted to improve confidence, renew admin experience, meet new people and feel useful again. Jenny made her difference by undertaking general admin duties, data collection and also as a learning support to volunteers training on the ASDAN courses. This meant that the project workers had more time to spend face to face with people. Comment from our Administrator
"Jenny is fantastic, she is such a quick learner and will have a go at anything, she is friendly and cheerful a real asset to the team"
Jenny applied for a temporary position to cover maternity leave within the admin team and was successful. Jenny now works part time as Project Secretary for the Blackpool Project.
Matt - Volunteering with Barnardo's
I wanted to work in a positive way with young people, to be able to use my attributes and to improve my skills at the same time. After examining the different programmes at Barnardo's, I decided that the GRIP project was just what I had been looking for. It involves working with young people who are starting to become involved in anti-social behaviour. As a young man myself I have been most comfortable spending time playing sport and undertaking leisure activities with the lads that I have worked with. I have enjoyed both the time spent trying to make a difference in the child's life and the activities that we have undertaken together.
At the start of my volunteering I completed training in lots of different areas which helped develop me not only in my volunteering role but also in general terms as a person in everyday life. Barnardo's have been very supportive, the staff are very welcoming and do all they can to make volunteers a real part of the organisation. It has been a pleasure to have been a small part of all the good work that Barnardo's continues to undertake. For anybody interested in volunteering I can certainly recommend the Blackpool Barnardo's Project.
If you would like to become a volunteer for the project or find out more about volunteering then please contact Nikki on 01253 626480. We would love to hear from you.
