Volunteer

Volunteering

CoHearentVision is continually looking for volunteers to help deliver and improve on existing services and activities that benefit people with a sensory loss. We are committed to giving full training and support. This is an essential element of ensuring that you can carry out your duties professionally and safely as well as, enhancing what should always be a valuable and enjoyable experience for the volunteer.

If you are interested in joining our team contact our Volunteer Coordinator NOW: Sarah Nicholson (mobile: 07775444039) or email sarah.nicholson@cohearentvision.org.uk.

SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

OUTREACH WORKERS/BEFRIENDERS

This activity can make a huge difference to people’s lives! We are looking for volunteers who can spare time to visit people with a sensory loss in their homes or in the community. This could involve a range of activities from befriending, reading of letters, accompanying on trips out etc.

Days and Times to be Agreed (n.b. VERY flexible and can include evenings and weekends)

BRAILLE TEACHER

We are looking for a Braille teacher to replace our existing one whom will be retiring from the post in March. Due to the specialist nature of this role please contact the Volunteer Coordinator direct to discuss further. (Sarah Nicholson (mobile: 07775444039) or email sarah.nicholson@cohearentvision.org.uk)

Days: To be agreed – Times: To be agreed

ACTIVITY GROUP VOLUNTEERS

Users of our DeafBlind groups have varying degrees of both sight and hearing loss. We are looking for committed volunteers to support staff with activities, outings and general running of the group. We are also looking for volunteers who would be interested in planning and delivering a range of existing activities to the group as well as possibly introducing their own ideas for consideration.

Days: Any of the following – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

Times: 10 – 3pm – Various hours can be agreed

NEEDLE/CRAFT SOCIAL GROUP

We are looking for volunteers who would like to do projects with our Needlework/Craft social group as well as a Group Leader. Duties will involve handling contributions for refreshments and materials, setting up the area, planning activities, clearing the area after use, register taking, ensuring that activities are in line with health and safety etc.

Days: Tuesdays – Times: 9.30 – 12.30 (inclusive of preparation)

LOW VISION SERVICE

You can give impartial and practical advice, information and assistance to people with a sight loss regarding what equipment is on offer to help their daily lives become easier or enhance their vision in order to carry out activities that sighted people take for granted; such as reading etc. You will receive full training so that you can confidently demonstrate the equipment, maintain the room, record and discuss any further options with the service user as required.

By Appointment – to be agreed (n.b. quite flexible)

MINI BUS DRIVERS

We require mini bus drivers who will be able to volunteer time for day trips out and possibly accompany groups / individuals throughout the rest of the day. We are also looking to run additional services within the Leeds area if we can recruit sufficient volunteers.

Availability – to be agreed

GARDENING PROJECT

Do you have “green fingers” and, ideally, BSL skills? If so, we have an award-winning garden and great gardening project for you involving people with a variety of sensory impairments and learning difficulties. Please contact Sarah Nicholson for further details (mobile: 07775444039) or email sarah.nicholson@cohearentvision.org.uk

Availability – To be agreed

FUNDRAISERS – VOLUNTEER

In the current economic climate, raising money is (quite literally) a highly rewarding challenge: but a lot of fun! If you think you’re up for it, help our fundraising department: taking part in and administering activities such as charity tin distribution and collections as well as various Fundraising Events.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Do you have a vision of truly involving your business with the community but, not yet found the right opportunity to make that aspiration into a reality? Then CoHearentVision can help you!

Our relationship with the commercial sector in Leeds and the Region has been at the heart of many of our activities and for many years. We are now seeking new, enthusiastic partnerships to take part in volunteering, events and fundraising activities (ranging from specific projects (which you help design), to events and office dress down days). If you think your company or organisation would be interested in collaborating with coHearentVision contact: Sarah Nicholson (mobile: 07775444039) or email sarah.nicholson@cohearentvision.org.uk.

Whether it’s your New Year’s resolution, an urge to “do something different”, beef up your CV with meaningful experience or just a simple desire to put something back into the community: there has never been a better time for YOU to become a well trained, valued Volunteer in our organization!

We are on the verge of an exciting expansion of our existing services into even more areas of much-needed support for people with a sensory loss. That means: we need you! To become a Volunteer with a CAPITAL V – read more:

Appropriate training and support will be offered to all Volunteers to build on existing skills and expertise, to properly equip you to carry out your role professionally and to help ensure that you have a valuable and enjoyable experience. Your help can mean that a person with a sensory loss can determine their future for themselves.

Public bodies and private companies, as well as voluntary and charitable Third Sector organizations, all fail to provide an equal service to people who have a sensory loss when compared to a hearing/sighted person. With the continuing economic downturn, commercial service providers are less inclined to invest in being “sensory aware” and we are already suffering from the Local Authority and other public sector bodies having less money to spend. This means that Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind, people with Sight Loss and the DeafBlind are not getting adequate access to services they need to live as independently as possible.

Nevertheless, YOU can become part of CoHearentVision and help make life-changing differences to those people on an individual level.

Our customers range from young children to Seniors so, we have a wide variety of opportunities that might suit you: no matter what level of skills and experience you currently have. The most important qualities are respect, integrity, patience and energy as well as a sense of commitment to help the smallest audience in the world: the individual.

We are also looking for enthusiastic people to help with Events, Fund Raising, Marketing activities, Internet/Media/Social Networking and general administration.

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Nicholson, on 07775 444039 for a brief chat on what we can offer each other or email, sarah.nicholson@cohearenvision.org.uk for further details.

As the Chief Executive and on behalf of our Board of Trustee’s and hard-working staff: I can promise you a warm welcome, huge challenges and the opportunity to join an exciting team. Well – what are you waiting for?! The first step in what could a life-changing decision (for you or a person with a sensory loss) is to contact Sarah (details above). Go on – DO IT (and encourage a friend or colleague to do the same)!

Thanks in advance

ROB YOUNG MSc

Chief Executive

This page was created on: October 15, 2009 and last modified on February 24th, 2010 at 10:44.