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► Baseline - DEPAUL UK

What: Depaul Uk offers homeless and disadvantaged people the opportunity to fulfill their potential and move towards an independent and positive future. Depaul Uk manages a range of accommodation for homeless young people in the UK and Ireland, as well as providing resettlement, pre-employment training and other support services for homeless and socially disadvantaged young people.

Project description: Baseline is a mentoring service for disadvantaged young people living in the Newcastle and North Tyneside area

Volunteer Roles:

Volunteer Mentors

Baseline recruits Volunteer Mentors from a wide variety of backgrounds and of all ages. Each Mentor must want to help disadvantaged young people to reach their full potential, supporting them as they move into their own home for the first time and be a good listener.

Main Tasks:
• To actively engage in a mentoring relationship with a young person for a period of approximately 6 months.
• To provide both emotional and practical mentoring support in the form of guidance, listening and assistance with any issues faced by the mentee.
• To instigate and meet with the mentee on a weekly basis
• As part of the weekly contact with the mentee, accompany them to appointments and assist them deal with officials or refer them to other agencies if necessary.
• To keep basic records of time spent and activities conducted with the mentee. Submit volunteer expense records
• To attend “One to One” sessions 6 weekly with Project worker
• To attend Support Group sessions

Necessary skills, attitudes and knowledge:
Volunteers should have an understanding of the issues faced by disadvantaged young people. The ability to work in a non-judgemental manner is also essential.
Good communication and listening skills are important to this role.

Support and supervision:
The volunteer will be line managed by the Project Co-ordinator in the first instance and by the relevant Depaul UK Sector Manager, overall.

Induction and training:
An initial induction to Depaul UK and the project will be provided, including an exploration of Depaul Uk’s Code of Conduct and Confidentiality policy. All volunteers must attend six sessions of mentor training which has been approved by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation. Volunteers providing an ongoing commitment will have access to Depaul Uk training courses if appropriate.

Commitment:
A commitment of 2-3 hours a week is desirable, there will also be some evening and weekend events. However, we are flexible and appreciate that people’s circumstances do change and that it may prove impossible to adhere to this. If you are unable to offer this much time, but are still interested, please do contact us and we can try to come to an agreement.

Benefits to the Volunteer:
- Travel expenses to and from the project, all genuine out-of-pocket expenses, are reimbursed.
- While working at the project, voluntary workers have full liability insurance cover.
- There are appreciation events to recognise the important contribution that voluntary workers make.
- Personal & professional development through training, support and ongoing evaluation
- References will be available after a period of three months volunteering.
- Contribute to a project that really does make a difference to the lives of young people.

Equal Opportunities:
Depaul Uk, as an organisation with a Vincentian ethos, believes that it is essential to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity. Depaul Uk as both employers and service provider, is committed to opposing discrimination and will not discriminate against any person because of their ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, responsibility for children or dependants, age, employment status, disability, HIV status, religious or political beliefs or because of unrelated criminal convictions.