Carers Support Bexley and Greenwich (UKD-6)

Type: Health: Disability - Country: United Kingdom

Brief description and main aims

The projects offer carers the chance to have a break by providing support to people in their own homes. The carers who use the service range from children caring for a disabled parent or sibling, to people in their 90’s caring for a partner with dementia or perhaps a son or daughter with a learning disability. The break can last anything from three hours to 1 week. Breaks can sometimes include overnight caring but the vast majority of the breaks will be just a few hours each day. The people needing care are old people, disabled people or children under 16 with special needs. Occasionally, volunteers will go on holiday WITH the family and support both carer and cared for to enjoy their break together.

Main Activities

The break can last anything from three hours to 1 week. Breaks can sometimes include overnight caring but the vast majority of the breaks will be just a few hours each day. The people needing care are old people, disabled people or children under 16 with special needs. Occasionally, volunteers will go on holiday with the family and support both carer and cared for to enjoy their break together.

Volunteer tasks

Volunteers are there to enable carers to have a well needed break.  The key duties are: being a companion and offering conversation, cooking meals (often microwave meals) and making drinks, assisting with eating and feeding, supporting a person with their leisure needs and interests, personal care – including toileting, shopping and minimal housework, looking after pets, taking children out to holiday clubs, playing with children, answering the telephone, etc.

Volunteers normally work 40 hours per week, although it can be as little as 25 or up to 45. You will usually have two days off per week, not always together and not always on weekends. You should expect to work on some weekends, evenings and overnights. Volunteers can spend up to 4 nights overnight in service user’s homes.

Volunteer requirements / Skills

Important qualities for volunteers are:

• Maturity, sensitivity, open mindedness, flexibility, commitment, common sense and good time keeping.
• Volunteers need to be healthy and fit.
• The projects accept both male and female aged over 18 years.
• Excellent English and communication skills are essential.

All volunteer placements are for 1 year.

Location

The projects are located in Greater London. These are urban areas outside of central London.

Hosting Situation (Board and Lodging)

Volunteers share a flat or house with other international volunteers, Volunteers have their own bedroom or share a bedroom with one other volunteer. The flat or house has a shared kitchen, bathroom and living room. A food allowance is given in addition to pocket money and volunteers cook their own food.

More Information

Good project for a sociable person who likes meeting a wide range of people.
These projects are popular as they offer the volunteer a lot of independence and flexibility. Most of the projects are in urban areas so it is easy to make the most of your free time!

Website: http://www.carerssupport.org/