Advocacy Volunteer Peer Mentor - Inclusion Gloucestershire

Summary of the Role:

Peer mentors support people to build or regain their confidence and independence. We are looking for volunteers with lived experience of disability to help us delivering advocacy and mentoring to disabled people in Gloucestershire.

We are looking for people to support us with:

· 1:1 peer mentoring: working with people to identify what support they would like and working with them to help improve their quality of life

· Befriending: including supporting people to attend Inclusion hubs and other local activities and events

· Group advocacy (speak up groups): Supporting people to have their say in a group environment on topics that are important to them

· Supporting people with completing forms: to access support to improve their quality of life.

· Attending meetings and events: to help us to share information about our peer mentoring.

Role Purpose

To support people to build their confidence and independence using the benefit of your own lived experience, knowledge and skills to do this.

Reports To

Advocacy Coordinator

Volunteering commitment?

Role Title: Volunteer Peer Mentor

Reports to: Advocacy Coordinator

Time commitment: We ask for a minimum commitment of 2 hours per week, on average.  

Days: The core hours for our advocacy services are Monday and Wednesday 9am – 5pm, and Friday 9am – 12 noon. This is when our staff team will be available to support you.

Locations: 1:1 peer mentoring and group advocacy sessions run from our offices in Gloucester, online using Microsoft teams/ Zoom.

Support for individuals to access community activities will vary with locations across the county.

Main Tasks:

Roles will be tailored to individuals and may include the following:

· Supporting individuals to identify and review achievable personal goals to work to through during the mentoring partnership.

· Provide peer mentoring for individuals which encourages, motivates and builds self-esteem and confidence. This may include support with social and practical skill development.

· Develop self-advocacy and self-help capabilities within the peer-support relationship to support individuals to build and maintain control of their lives.

· Support individuals to understand and complete the required paperwork in their own words. (This may include support to complete our online advocacy referral forms or other paperwork relevant to their needs, external application or referral forms for example PIP forms).

· Research and identify relevant external support agencies and enabling individuals to understand and access these for themselves.

· Provide social support to attend meetings, activities and events where individual needs are identified, including support with journey planning.

· Recognise potential risk, work safely and report any safeguarding concerns immediately to a staff member,

· Keep a log of contact and support provided to individuals.

· Work together with other Volunteer Mentors in the planning and delivery of Speak Up Groups and other advocacy activities.

· Develop professional working relationships with colleagues, volunteers and stakeholders of Inclusion Gloucestershire and the broad range of external organisations we work with.

· Advocate for Inclusion Gloucestershire and its projects at meetings and events and within your own appropriate networks.

What we are looking for:

· Lived experience of disabling barriers – all ranges of experience are welcome.

· Willing and available to undertake mandatory and role specific training (this will be a whole day face to face training event at our offices in Gloucester, we reasonable adjustments can be requested)

· Good listening skills, caring and non-judgemental attitude and empathetic.

· Able to encourage, motivate and empower.

· Able to work with a person-centred and solutions-focussed approach.

· Effective communicator, with the ability to adapt to the needs of an individual

· Able to develop positive working relationships with others

· Honest, reliable, trustworthy and flexible

· Available and willing to provide support at short notice if required

· Resilient and able to approach stressful conversations in a calm manner.

· Committed to working to Inclusion Gloucestershire’s values and mission.

Why become a peer mentor:

· Make a difference and be part of a team achieving positive outcomes for disabled people in Gloucestershire

· Use your own experience to support individuals to make positive changes in other people’s lives.

· Give back and support your local community whilst developing your understanding of advocacy and service provision.

· Valuable experience for anyone wishing to work in the voluntary sector and/ or in disability and inclusion.

What we can offer you:

· All volunteers complete mandatory training including peer mentor training, health and safety, safeguarding, and GDPR.

· We will aim to match you with an individual based on their needs meeting your work experience and preferences.

· Regular group supervision, volunteer meetings and contact with the volunteer and advocacy coordinator.

· Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

· Information about wider development, volunteering and paid work opportunities when these arise.