OutPost Volunteer

Role description.

Do have an excellent understanding of LGB&T issues? Can you think on your feet and deal with unpredictable enquiries in a sensitive, calm and reassuring way? Do you have good people skills? Have you ever been told that you put people at ease? Can you welcome someone in a friendly, inclusive and non-judgemental environment? If so, OutPost could be the volunteering opportunity for you.

Background

The Isaac Hitchen project provides OutPost sessions to LGB&T Men and Women throughout Lancashire. This service is an LGB&T safe space where LGB&T people can speak with us directly, face to face about the things that are affecting them. OutPost is a drop in where Men and Women can come to have a chat in a friendly, welcoming, informal environment and find out about what’s going on in their area. Anyone can access LGB&T help and support at OutPost; we offer -

·  Information about getting involved with volunteering

·  Information about LGB&T support and activities on offer in Lancashire

·  Signposting and pathways into support

·  An opportunity for people to get to know about The Isaac Hitchen Project/Lancashire LGBT

Volunteering at OutPost

OutPost could be the first place that people come if they are looking to explore their LGB&T community opportunities and for this we need a very specific sort of volunteer. We need volunteers who are able to provide information, advice and support while remaining sensitive, friendly and welcoming. Our volunteers are the face of the Isaac Hitchen Project; we need people who can represent the values and the ethos of our project and who can volunteer in accordance with our standards of behaviour and practise.

What will we offer to you in return?

Volunteering can enhance people’s lives. Offering your time and energy to the community can result in new skills, new experiences and potentially new friends. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to explore different perspectives and to expand your own understanding.

The Isaac Hitchen project does not take volunteers for granted. We value your skills, your commitment and your time. We will offer you free training, support and opportunities for personal and professional development. We provide a fun, friendly environment for volunteers to get involved in their communities.

Volunteer role description

OutPost volunteer duties are detailed in the following table. Our role descriptions are regularly reviewed; any changes to the description are discussed with volunteers.

1.  Welcome OutPost clients to the session in a non-judgemental, warm and friendly way
2.  Complete Isaac Hitchen Project paperwork with clients (where required)
3.  Be present and visible at OutPost sessions
4.  Offer information, support, guidance and help to clients in an LGB&T safe space.
5.  Contribute to a healthy, welcoming atmosphere at the drop in by chatting, including and encouraging new or returning clients at OutPost.
6.  Assist with the setup of the session and with the clear up of the session.
7.  Be a part of a team of volunteers providing support to clients
8.  Attend 1-2-1 support meetings with Project coordinator
9.  Attend training and development opportunities as discussed during 1-2-1 meetings and agreed in volunteer plan
10.  Volunteer in line with the standards outlined in the volunteer handbook
11.  Adhere to strict standards of confidentiality

In practise, this is a basic plan of what your volunteer duties will look like at OutPost sessions.

Set up.
Actions. Volunteers to set out tables, set out tea and coffee, set out leaflets and information, prepare sign in sheet and discuss any concerns ahead of the session / 30 Minutes
OutPost drop in.
Actions. Volunteers to welcome clients. Provide support and assistance to clients ‘dropping in’. Paperwork to be completed with clients (if applicable). Signposting and information. / 2 Hours
Close down.
Actions. Volunteers are to ensure that the room is put back to as it was before the session. This means the removal of all rubbish and/or mess. The safe storage of information and leaflets ahead of next week’s session. The safe and confidential storage of ANY personal information taken at the group. / 30 Minutes

Commitment

OutPost volunteers are required for the OutPost sessions held around Lancashire. There should be an OutPost in your local area, but it may be that you are required to use your car or use a bus or train. Should this be the case, your travel expenses will be refunded in full.

Outpost sessions take place once a month and run for approximately 2 hours. Volunteers are there to support the set up and the close down of these sessions adding 30 minutes to the start of the session and 30 minutes to the end. This makes the time commitment for OutPost volunteers 3 hours, once per month. We encourage volunteers to have a healthy Work/Life/Volunteering balance and we will regularly review with you how you are managing this commitment.

Volunteer Specification

What follows below is a volunteer specification outlining the kind of behaviours and skills that Outpost Volunteers should have. The specification should at NO time act as a barrier to anyone becoming a volunteer. If you feel that you don’t necessarily meet the qualities detailed in this description but you would like to volunteer at OutPost, please do get in touch and we can discuss how we can support you to become an OutPost volunteer or try to find an alternative role that may more appropriately suit your skillset.

(E=Essential D=Desirable)

Friendly and approachable / E
Able to provide people with Lancashire LGBT information (this will be detailed in training) / E
Understanding of LGB&T issues / E
Ability to empathise and to support others / E
Good listening skills / E
Ability to speak a second language or to communicate via sign language / D
Basic levels of reading and writing / D
Good knowledge of support in your local area / D

Lancashire LGBT is a Registered Charity circa September 2010. Registration Number 1137578