Volunteer Buddy

About us:

Volunteer with Sense to support children and young people in Manchester!

Volunteer today and you can support children and young people with complex communication needs to get involved with activities in the local community and make the most of their free time. Each volunteer in the Sense Manchester Buddying Service is matched with just one buddy, so you can concentrate on building a friendship that is truly special. You could be swimming, bowling, sensory storytelling, or visiting museums and parks.

Many of our buddies have few opportunities to make friends and access activities outside of home and school, so their buddying sessions give them the chance to develop their independence, boost their confidence, discover new passions, and most importantly, have fun!

Why volunteer?

• Get involved in loads of exciting activities across Manchester – and support someone else to do the same
• Give just three hours a week to make a huge difference to a young person’s life
• Use your existing skills or learn new ones; we work with young people with a range of needs, including sensory impairments, complex medical conditions, autism, and learning disabilities – you could learn anything from signing skills to sensory play to support your buddy.
• Meet like-minded people and make new friends
• Full training and support provided

Studies show that over half of young people who have additional needs in the UK 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 young people with disabilities as we will provide you with training and ongoing support, to equip you for your role.

• We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds.

We are looking for:

• Volunteers who understand the value of giving a person choice, independence and dignity
• Willingness to develop or learn new skills in order to best support one particular young person
• Reliability and good communication skills
• A sense of fun and adventure!

What you can expect from us:

• Full Training and ongoing support, as well as ‘upskill’ opportunities
• Reimbursed expenses
• Joining a family of wonderful volunteers
• A reference at the end of your commitment
• Lots of fun!

To apply:

For more information click here, or to apply for this job email your details to volunteer@sense.org.uk