Reino Unido

1317

Data de início: 01-09-2012

Data de fim: 01-09-2013

Vagas: 1

Duração: 12 mes(es)

Data limite de candidatura: 05-04-2012

Financiamento: Candidatura

Subsídio mensal (Dinheiro de bolso): 150 €

Candidatura: Para te poderes candidatar tens de fazer o teu login. Se ainda não estás registado faz o teu registo primeiro.

Perfil: The volunteer must be committed to the aims, principles and ethos of TFS. They must show a desire to want to learn new skills, have patience, be flexible and be willing to take on some responsibility. We do not require highly skilled people, the willingness to learn and take part is extremely important.

The matching of the volunteer to the activities will depend on the work needed to be done. A good amount of flexibility will be required by volunteers as the work may change depending on the needs of people overseas. The interests of the volunteers will be a main part of the selection and the type of work he/she will be expected to do. Motivation is extremely important for the selection process.

Tarefas: The volunteers will have 5 main roles:

" To assist in the development and continued support to our Sewing and Training Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania. This will involve learning how to refurbish sewing machines ans sorting out materials and accessories for tailors.
" To work alongside and in time support and supervise local volunteers who have learning difficulties and mental health problems and those with additional support needs. This work will take place in Belfast and Downpatrick,
" To assist in the collection and sorting out of tools and sewing machines throughout Northern Ireland. The volunteer will need to understand what kinds of tools we are looking for and what quality we accept. S/he will also have to organise the storage of these items.
" To assist in the planning and development of our new project - a tools and sewing machine refurbishment centre in Africa. S/he will work on the logistical side, preparing inventories and catalogues of tools. S/he will also be required to learn how to refurbish these tools as he may be required to visit our partner in Africa and share these skills.
" To become active in the operation and management of TFS and participate in decision-making at a level they feel comfortable with.

The tasks that each volunteer will undertake are dependent to some extent on the volunteer. TFS seeks whenever possible to match the interests and wants of the volunteer to the tasks available.

TFS undertakes a wide variety of tasks. The volunteer will be involved in the following:
" Tool Refurbishment: cleaning, sharpening, grinding, oiling, painting, varnishing, reshafting and packing tools.
" Sewing Machine checking and refurbishment: cleaning, filing, oiling, testing etc.
" Sewing Machine Treadles: Dismantling, repainting, sanding, varnishing and linseed oiling.
" Tool Collecting and Sorting: visiting individual homes and various council amenity sites around NI to sort out and collect tools and sewing machines. Sorting out cloth, fabric and other sewing accessories.
" Working with volunteers with extra support needs: a large part of this work is in being a supportive presence for the volunteer - being there to listen and encourage the volunteers in her/his work. With training, the volunteer can take on a more proactive role with the volunteers including designing work schedules.
" Educational/Promotional Work: At present TFS is working with branches of the WI to promote our work and ask them for assistance in collecting tailoring/sewing accessories for our centre in Tanzania. TFS is also in the process of updating our website and establishing a blog. This work is a direct result of the interest and desire of our EVS volunteers to improve our networking/communication channels. TFS also produces an occasional newsletter. This work is overseen by one of our EVS volunteers.
" Other Tasks: Each volunteer takes it in turn to cook lunch for all the volunteers at TFS. The meal must be vegetarian and suitable for people with Celiac Disease. Volunteers who have difficulty with this will receive training from TFS core volunteers.

Each volunteer is encouraged to participate in monthly management meetings to discuss and decide on strategic issues for the organisation. Volunteers are also encouraged to join one of our sub-groups that co-ordinate various aspects of our work.

The volunteer will also be encouraged to be involved in the selection of future EVS volunteers.

This is not a comprehensive list of all the tasks that volunteer will be involved with but indicates the range of tasks available.

Horário: Volunteers work 32.5 hours per week including breaks. Note that the workshop is cold during the winter.

Condições: The volunteers will live in a shared house. This house is also located in north Belfast in an area that has seen its fair share of the troubles over the last 40 years. The area suffers from social and economic deprivation.

One of our key objectives is to provide volunteering opportunities to people with extra support needs and fewer opportunities. We have extensive experience in this area. We have provided supported placements for 10 years and have developed training and support methods to accommodate people with a range of needs, including learning and physical disabilities, mental health problems, young people excluded from mainstream education, ex-offenders, long-term unemployed. We have a well-established referral system and receive regular referrals from local voluntary and social care organizations.

The work that we do is particularly suited to people with learning disabilities or educational difficulties, because it is very practical work, and does not require literacy or numeracy skills. Tasks can be learned by repetition. An individual can take responsibility for one area of work and become very skilled in it.

In different ways we are very well-placed to support young people facing social and economic obstacles. The ethos of our organization is demonstrated in our day-to-day work. We actively encourage the participation of people from all backgrounds. We continue to challenge sectarianism and any form of discrimination, discussing issues as they arise in the local community. We are based in a community that has experienced decades of poverty and social deprivation. Thus we have an understanding of the barriers that face young people from similar backgrounds, and we have used this to inform our work.

We have worked with many volunteers with mental health problems. We provide a working environment where there is no stigma attached to mental illness, and volunteers can increase their level of responsibility when they feel able. Individuals can grow into their role, finding their own "comfort zone" - for example, some people prefer to work on their own, while others prefer a busy environment. Lunch and break times are an important part of the daily routine, providing opportunities for people to socialize in a relaxed way.

A key area of work for the EVS volunteer will be cleaning and repairing sewing machines and tools. This is practical work which involves many different processes. Tasks can be relatively simple or complex and demanding. The work is done by hand and may involve the use of tools or electrical equipment.

Before a new volunteer starts work we aim to identify any potential areas of difficulty (e.g., tasks which might be physically difficult for an individual), through one-to-one discussion with her/him. We then start the volunteer on a very simple task, and allow her/him to progress to more complex and demanding work at their own pace.

The volunteer will be supported and supervised in the workshop by a core volunteer through the initial training period of three months. At that stage it will be agreed in one-to-one supervision that the EVS volunteer can work without direct supervision. When the volunteer has completed the relevant training s/he can begin to take some responsibility for supporting local volunteers with higher support needs. Relevant information on a volunteer's support needs will be passed on to the EVS volunteer in agreement with the individual and their referral agency.

We use some electrical machinery and equipment for cleaning tools. All equipment is checked annually to ensure it is fit for purpose. Volunteers are informed verbally and in writing that they cannot use this equipment before being trained, and only then if they wear appropriate safety gear.

During their induction training volunteers are made aware of fire exits and procedures in event of a fire, location of the first aid box and the named first aid officer within the organisation. We record any accidents or injuries in the incident handbook and review these regularly. If necessary issues arising from this would be discussed at weekly meetings and addressed through training.

We provide a safe working environment, and make volunteers aware of their personal responsibility to contribute to this during training and in discussion at weekly meetings, which involve all volunteers. We use weekly meetings to raise any concerns about working practise in the workshop. For example, an ongoing issue is the need to keep corridors and passageways clear of clutter, to avoid accidents.

If we have any serious concerns about the working practise of an individual volunteer, this will be raised in one-to-one supervision and recorded in their personal file. In the case of an EVS volunteer, if this does not resolve the issue we will then ask the mentor to become involved by providing additional support.

Finally, the EVS volunteer will live in accommodation provided by TFS - a shared house, with individual bedrooms. A core volunteer has responsibility for facilitating monthly house meetings, where any concerns can be addressed. The mentor can also be involved in this process if necessary. The house has been risk-assessed to ensure it meets fire safety regulations. In the event of a serious incident volunteers should inform the core volunteer who lives in the house next door, or named contacts if he is not available.

It is now necessary that all volunteers working with young people/vulnerable adults have an access NI check carried out. This will be arranged as soon as the volunteer arrives.

Formação: EVS volunteers are given the opportunity to become involved at all levels in an organisation committed to promoing ustainable development and to questioning existing models of development.
After an induction and training period each volunteer is encouraged to take on responsibility for the management and development of the organisation. Current EVS volunteers are actively involved in managing our supported volunteer programme, devloping and updating publicity, co-ordinating the filling and shipment of containers for our project in Mwanza, Tanzania and in planning and preparing for our new tools refurbishment centre in East Africa.

All EVS volunteers share a number of common experiences - living in a foreign country, speaking/learning a foreign language and volunteering for a period of time.

The association offers EVS volunteers some experiences that are not commonly shared by all hosting organisations that can have a real impact on the volunteer's development and their learning outcomes.

The association is run entirely by volunteers and seeks whenever possible to be non-hierarchical. Volunteers are treated equally, are encouraged to take on responsibility and to become involved in decision making. Debate and discussions are encouraged at all levels and about all issues. This reflects the importance of questioning development in the ethos.

Volunteers are encouraged to learn new skills - almost essential - and to develop their own projects. One EVS this year has joined a carpentry class and a sewing group outside.

The association is involved and connected to many networks - environmental, developmental, cultural and community/voluntary. TFS gets invited to many events - talks, film, tours, conferences etc. All of this is shared with our EVS volunteers and they are encouraged to participate.

The volunteers are living in an area of Belfast that has seen much violence over the last 40 years as well as suffering socially and economically. The association provides the volunteers with an induction into the history and the political, social and cultural life of NI and North Belfast in particular. They are also invited to join a tour provided by one of the core volunteers.

The volunteers live communally - sharing common living space and cooking and cleaning duties. For many this is their first experience of such living.

The association is aware of the affect that the EVS placement has had on previous volunteers. All volunteers leave with an enhanced ability to question what is going on around them and have gained the awareness why this is important. Obviously, volunteers leave many practical skills from box making, sewing machine maintenance to cooking. They learn to work together as well as developing their own projects and take responsibility. They are encouraged to express themselves and develop their own thinking. The association would like to think that when volunteers leave us they have a greater awareness of the world around them, increased skills in dealing with this and increased confidence in taking action.

Documentação: CV, Carta de Motivação e ficha de inscrição em inglês.