Reino Unido

3664

Data de início: 01-01-2014

Data de fim: 31-10-2014

Vagas: 3

Duração: 10 mes(es)

Data limite de candidatura: 15-08-2013

Financiamento: Candidatura

Subsídio mensal (Dinheiro de bolso): 150 €

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Resumo: Elgood House and the association day centre were the first of their kind in the city. They have been assisting women in crisis since 1932, and have developed a professional and well-respected reputation in the care in crisis environment. The hostel has been renovated recently, and the day centre in the basement operates specifically for women with social and emotional needs. There is also an outreach programme, which focuses especially on refugees, homeless and abused women. It is a safe place where women can be informed about food and health issues, as well as receive medical attention and showers, training, literacy lessons, do their laundry etc. The courtyard of the centre has been decorated with bright mural paintings in order to give a brighter atmosphere within the city centre. Many of the clients who use the centre gave a helping hand in the décor of the building and the rooms. There is also a pet rabbit that often is let out to hop around the centre providing an opportunity for petting and care and relaxation.

The project set up and coordination activities are well established. The women's day centre is situated on Cosway Rd close to Marylebone Station, and is bustling with people and activity, right in the heart of the city life. It is very multi cultural with a combination of residents, business people and tourists. Transport facilities are extremely good, providing access to the whole of the city. There are many facilities for shopping, relaxation and entertainment within walking distance of the centre.

Volunteers will share a four bedroom flat near Paddington station. It is about a 10 minute walk away from the project. Each volunteer will have their own bedroom, sharing a kitchen, bathroom and a large living room. Money for meals will be provided. Volunteers will need to be aware that they may be limited in having male overnight guests staying in their flat due to the community living environment and the rules and guidelines outlined by the project.
Volunteers will work a maximum of 35 hours, Monday to Friday, having the weekend as their time off. Generally they work 9am-5pm, except for Wednesdays where one volunteer will help with the supper club and thus starts later (as there are two volunteers in the day centre this will only happen every other week). There may be other occasions when a volunteer will help with an evening session, but will get time off either the day before or after.
Holidays are 2 days off per 1 months volunteering, with a total minimum of 20 days

Perfil: We are looking for 2 x female volunteers (ideally aged over 21 years old) to work with vulnerable/homeless women in the city, and 1 x male volunteer (ideally aged over 21 years) to work in a rehab home for men recovering from drug addictions.

Tarefas: Responsibilities are shaped partly by the volunteer's individual skills, interests and abilities, and also may be dependent upon their maturity and English ability. These responsibilities may be negotiated with the project staff, and opportunities for development are reviewed with the volunteers. During the week, volunteers duties will include the following: Helping to man the reception area i.e. answering the telephone, welcoming clients, keeping the area tidy and pleasant, talking to the clients, being the first point of contact for clients coming to the centre/ Elgood House ; assisting in workshop activities such as computer literacy, art work, sowing, and language lessons etc; preparing for workshops and lessons. There will also be some work involved around special seasonal celebrations and festivals, such as Black History Month, Bonfire Night, etc. The volunteers will be given a full induction on their arrival at the association, which include issues such as safety at work, understanding the issues faced by the clients, how to operate the reception area etc. The volunteer will become part of a very close-knit, international staff team. The staff team, including the volunteers, meet in the morning and at the end of the working day to plan and debrief. This has been a great source of previous volunteers and has enabled them to feel at home easily. There will also be regular supervision through the Project Leader or Project Worker.

As the volunteers grow in confidence and abilities they will be encouraged to take on new areas of work and use exisiting skills to develop new workshops etc. Past experiences include a volunteer with writing / journalistic skills, who started a workshop which encouraged the clients to produce their own newsletter for the centre, with their personal reflections, poems and interviews. There is a great deal of contact with residents, and the opportunity to get alongside, befriend them and work with them in a variety of practical ways, which is very rewarding and life enriching. There is no doubt that this proves to be a very valuable learning experience for the young people that join the team.

The Day Centre usually has two volunteers from September to July/ August and a third one staring in January, finishing in December. The January volunteer will take on a particular role in helping with the summer programme. The centre usually shuts for a few days and takes clients on day trips. The volunteer will work with the clients in choosing activities and locations for day trips and outings and organise some of them, with the support of the rest of the staff team. The volunteers overlapping works very well and helps the new volunteer with settling in and having someone who knows the area and what it’s like to settle. For the volunteer who has been in the placement already it is a great way to see how much they have learnt in the short time and how far they have come since arriving. Elgood House will also host one volunteer from September to June/ July. This is the reason why there are more volunteers in the association project, since there are many different parts to it and the volunteers’ work often does not overlap.

Competencies a volunteer will gain or increase through their experience at the association placement are:
1. communication in the mother tongue – many volunteers get the opportunity to run language courses in their mother tongue for clients at the Day Centre. Volunteers have also been able to speak to clients in their mother tongue, if they speak the same language. His has hugely helped build trust between the clients and the team at the association
2. communication in foreign languages – volunteers regularly speak in English with other staff members as well as clients. Many have the opportunity to attend English lessons locally. Volunteers learn to follow instructions, as well as give instructions that are clearly understandable by others. Volunteers will hear people with many different accents which will also sharpen their understanding and communication skills.
3. mathematical competence and basic competence in science and technology – Volunteers may be given small responsibilities over small budgets, for example budgeting for a meal for the supper club. Through this they will learn to budget and increase mathematical competencies.
4. digital competence – Often volunteers are involved in designing posters digitally, as well as other IT based resources.
5. learning to learn – through daily team meetings and debriefs volunteers encounter a culture of constant reflection and learning. This enables them to become reflective practitioners, which is crucial for most professions in the social sector.
6. social and civic competence –by working with clients from may different backgrounds, volunteers will stretch their social and civic competencies, learn how to engage with challenging clients (always with support from trained staff) and get a great insight into the field of “People Work”.
7. sense of initiative and entrepreneurship – volunteers are given the opportunity to develop summer programmes for the users of the Women’s Refuge Centre, and develop other group sessions and classes which spark clients’ interests. Often volunteers are given a “blank sheet” in how to go about developing these initiatives (with the support and backing of trained staff at hand).

Documentação: CV + Carta de Motivação em Inglês