Volunteering Opportunity: Young Achievers Volunteer with DS Achieve

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We are looking for enthusiastic individuals (18+) to work closely with and support our Group Leaders and children/young people at our weekly groups for children and young people with Down Syndrome.


DS Achieve is a small Hertfordshire based charity. We work with families and professionals to enable children and young people with Down Syndrome to fulfil their
potential. Our Young Achievers programme is a weekly(term-time only) social and develop mental activity group for school age children/young people with Down Syndrome.

The aim of the programme is to support children and young people with Down Syndrome to reach their potential through a programme that builds social skills and provides friendship, fun and positivity. The group provides the opportunity to participate in games and activities designed to help develop teamwork, social skills
and other practical skills for life. It also offers the chance for participants to be active and to have improved wellbeing.

Children and young people with Down Syndrome often find it difficult to access social
opportunities that are not tailored to meet their individual needs. Young Achievers 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.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: St Albans, Welwyn/Hatfield

Location: Indoor

Time of day: Weekday Afternoons

Practical Considerations: Desirable, but not essential:

● Safeguarding trained at minimum level 1 (or willing to
undertake training at
level 1 prior to commencement of the role if required)
● First Aid trained
● Experience of working with children with Down Syndrome
and their families

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

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, University students, Older People, People with a visual impairment, People with restricted mobility

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Children, Families & Family Support, Education & Training (young people), Health and Wellbeing, Isolation & Loneliness, Learning Disabilities , Physical Disabilities, Young People & Adolescents

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Full Description:
DS Achieve is looking to recruit volunteers for the Young Achievers programme to support the Group Leader and Assistant Leader to run developmental sessions for
children and young people with Down Syndrome. You will report to the 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 support them to take part in the planned activities where needed. Some example activities may be arts and crafts, sports, dance, music,
games, food based tasks, themed activities. You will not be required to support the children/young people with any personal care needs. 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
● be able to adhere to policies and procedures around
confidentiality, data
protection, safeguarding and Health & Safety
requirements (incl. risk
assessments)
Requirements:
● Age 18+
● Experience of working with children with SEND
● 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
● Fantastic 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.