Volunteering Opportunity: Young Achievers Volunteer with DS Achieve

DS Achieve is looking for volunteers to join their fantastic team to run their Youth Group.
The Youth Group, for school-aged children with Down Syndrome, is part of DS Achieve's Young Achievers programme, which aims to help children with Down Syndrome to develop their social communication skills and grow their independence, while taking part in a variety of fun activities in a safe environment.
The Youth Group takes place each week during term-time on a Saturday afternoon. There is a session for primary school children (aged 4-11 years) which runs from 2:30-3:30pm and a session for secondary school-aged children (12 -17) which runs from 4-5:30pm.
Volunteers are especially needed from 2.45-3.45pm to support the younger group.
Volunteers should have experience of working with children, be warm and friendly, be happy to get involved with the activities and to help encourage the children to join in. Volunteers will never be on their own with a child and will always be supported by other team members. Travel costs can be paid. Support to learn the role and safeguarding training (and potentially formal training regarding Down Syndrome, if needed) will be given.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: St Albans

Start Date: 01/12/2022
End Date: 31/07/2023

Location: Indoor, Outdoor

Time of day: Weekend Half Days

Practical Considerations: Children with Down Syndrome have a learning disability and so may struggle to communicate verbally, so any knowledge of Makaton sign language would be hugely beneficial.

Requirements: Relevant qualification or training, Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, Older People

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Arts & Crafts, Carers Support, Children, Families & Family Support, Education & Training (young people), Gardening & Horticulture, Health and Safety, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Learning Disabilities , LGBTQ+, Marketing & Communication, Older People, Performance & Entertainment, Physical Disabilities, Rights, Equalities & Justice System, Sensory Impairment, Social Activities, Sport, Activity & Outdoor Pursuits, Voluntary & Community Action, Young People & Adolescents, Other

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Full Description:
DS Achieve is looking for enthusiastic individuals to work closely with and support our staff and children/young people at our weekly Youth Group.

The DS Achieve Youth Group is a weekly, term-time only developmental activity group for school/college age children/young people with Down Syndrome. The aim of the Youth Group is to support children and young people to reach their potential through a programme that builds skills and provides friendship, fun and positivity. The group will give them the opportunity to participate in games and activities designed to help them develop teamwork, social skills and other practical skills for life. The group also offers the chance for participants to be active and to have improved wellbeing.
Children and teenagers with Down Syndrome often find it difficult to access social opportunities that are not tailored to meet their individual needs. The Youth Group provides them with a safe environment to develop the skills they need to thrive in their communities. Bringing children and teenagers with Down Syndrome together on a regular basis also helps them to develop positivity and confidence in who they are by providing them with the opportunity to build strong peer to peer friendships.

Hours are:
2:15 - 3:45pm on a Saturday afternoon, term time only, for 10 weeks per term.

Pay: This is an unpaid Volunteer role, agreed expenses (including training costs if needed) will be covered by DS Achieve
Location: Colney Heath Village Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire
Start date: asap

What’s in it for you?
Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team
Working with children and young people to help them learn, develop and have fun
Building connections with children and young people and their families
Enjoying new experiences and learning something new
Gaining practical experience working with children and young people with Down Syndrome and the local Down Syndrome community







DS Achieve’s Mission
Empowering Families, Fulfilling Potential

DS Achieve’s Vision
We believe that by empowering families, we will enable every child with Down Syndrome to be given the opportunity to achieve their potential in every aspect of their life.

About DS Achieve
DS Achieve is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation formed by parents of children with Down Syndrome. We empower the families of children and young people with Down Syndrome to enable them to fulfil their potential, whatever that may be – and it will be different for every child or young person. Geographically, we are focused on families in and around Hertfordshire. The DS Achieve team currently consists of four Trustees, three part time employees and a number of volunteers. There are currently four main services in place:
Little Achievers – a weekly, term time, early intervention and play group for children aged 5 and under.
Young Achievers – a skills and social development group for school-aged children (this has previously been numerous separate sets of activities and is now developing to become the Youth Group from September).
Training – for parents, carers and professionals.
Empowerment Group - for parents.


Job summary
DS Achieve is looking to recruit volunteers to support the Youth Group Leader and Assistant Leader to run our developmental programme for children and young people with Down Syndrome. You will report to the Youth Group Leader and be responsible for supporting the delivery of the programme, which will include working directly with children and young people with Down Syndrome to provide assistance where needed.

Our ideal candidate has experience of working with children with SEND and working as part of a team to support activities suitable for a range of ages.

Duties will include, but not be limited to, the following:

You will:
work directly with children and young people
look to remove barriers in accessing the activities so every child can take part, taking account of their individual needs
carry out tasks to help the staff run the activities
use your initiative to get tasks done and strive at all times to be a positive role model to each individual
communicate effectively with parents/carers when required and provide them with refreshments
be able to follow policies and procedures around confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding and Health & Safety requirements (Incl. risk assessments)


Requirements:
Experience of working with children
Experience of working within a team
A sense of adventure and a willingness to try new things
Patience, tolerance and flexibility
Good numeracy and literacy skills
Excellent interpersonal skills - friendly and welcoming, good listener, clear communicator, good facilitator, happy to ‘pitch in’ - with the ability to establish good relationships with children and young people
Safeguarding trained at minimum level 1 (or willing to undertake training at level 1 prior to commencement of the role).

Desirable, but not essential:
First Aid trained
Experience of working with children with Down Syndrome and their families

Please note that successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and reference checks prior to appointment.