Volunteering Opportunity: Children and young people's support volunteer with Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care

Children and young people’s support volunteers provide support for children and young people under the age of 18 either in their homes, at one of our hospice buildings in Watford or St Albans, at external venues, including schools, or by participating in events organised by the team. These young clients will either have a parent, sibling or close relative who is seriously ill or who has died.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers, Watford

Start Date: 25/10/2024
End Date: 30/11/2024

Location: From your office

Time of day: Weekday Mornings, Weekday Afternoons

Practical Considerations: This role can take place in clients' homes, schools or other venues, which may not always be completely accessible to wheelchair users - we can discuss this with you when we meet.

Requirements: Will require a criminal record check (DBS), Own vehicle or access to a vehicle, Driving licence

Requirements (additional): We are looking for people who have experience of working with children or young people.

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

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Children, Families & Family Support, End of Life, Bereavement & Hospices, Young People & Adolescents

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: No

Download Full Role Description

Full Description:
The role involves empowering the parents or main carer to support children, and to provide one to one support for the child or young person at home, school or one of our patient buildings in Watford or St Albans. Our volunteers allow us to offer this service to more families who need it.





Main tasks
• building trusting relationships with children and young people
• working one to one with children and young people to provide child centred support
• using a variety of creative activities and play where appropriate, such as making memory boxes and using puppets or art and craft materials as an alternative way to express and share thoughts and feelings
• adapting the support you give to be relevant to the age of the child or young person
• potentially offering education about loss and grief and how to support children and young people to school and staff
• attending mandatory supervision every month for an hour and a half
• following all Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care policies and procedures at all time
• supporting either virtually and/or face to face

What are we looking for?
• experience of working with and supporting children and young people either one to one or in a group
• excellent listening and communication skills
• an understanding that all our work is around death, dying, grief and loss, and you need to feel comfortable to discuss these topics in a sensitive and age appropriate way
• the ability to empathise with others
• someone who is flexible and reliable
• someone who is able to work independently and as part of a team to deliver our service
• someone with basic IT skills who is able to keep concise, accurate records and stick to reporting deadlines
• Age 18+