Community Walk Leader Volunteer

Job Title: Community Walk Leader Volunteer

Reports to: Community Project Officer

Salary: Voluntary Unpaid (expenses covered)

Location: Peterborough and surrounding area

 

About Us:

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Ness M Care Foundation (NMF) is a charity dedicated to supporting activities that improve the quality of life for people cared for at home and their carers here in the UK and abroad. We provide information and advice, run services in and around local communities and campaign so that people at risk and those living with health/social care needs are socially included.

 

What we are looking for:

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Thanks to Living Sport, we are delighted to recruit for a volunteer walk leader, who'll be helping people in the community to get active and healthy, providing vital support that they otherwise might not get and helping them to build their social connections. You will be responsible for ensuring that walks are friendly, safe, and well run. Walk leaders are also our ambassadors for showing people that walking really can make a big difference to their lives.

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Availability: 

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• Able to volunteer regularly once a week for 30 minutes- 1 hour for a period of six months.

 

Summary of duties: 

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• Undergo Volunteer Walk Leader Training

• Carry out risk assessments at walk locations

• Obtain name, contact, age and next of kin contact details from walk participants

• Lead 30-minute walks – warm up, brisk walk, warm down. Build in ‘progression’ to subsequent walks, increasing speed, length or including inclines

• Lead 1:1 walks near service users' homes

• Observe participants, warn of dangers (such as tree roots on path) and give assistance

• Write short reports of each walk such as weather conditions, incidents, etc on the walk attendance register

• Forward walk attendance registers to the Community Project Officer on a monthly basis

• Contact the emergency services (999) in case of emergency

• Ensure the Community Project Officer is informed of any problems

• Adhere to relevant NMF policies and procedures

• Represent the professional standards of the charity

• Wear a personal identity badge whilst volunteering

• Please also note that further to the time commitment of leading walks, you will need to allocate a small amount of additional time to recceing the walk, travelling to and from the walk, and completing any necessary paperwork.

 

What we can offer:

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• Full training with a nationally recognised and well respected scheme

• Ongoing support and guidance

• Access to resources and equipment to help you fulfil your role

• Free first aid training provided

• Opportunity to develop your leadership, people management and other skills

• Opportunity to meet new people including like-minded volunteers

• Opportunity to discover more of your local area and spend time in the outdoors

• Opportunity to be more physically active

• NMF will repay any agreed expenses (bus fares, etc) on production of receipts paid out in the course of journeys, so that you are not out of pocket. Travel expenses will be paid monthly on a mileage basis for all authorised journeys undertaken.

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Person Specification:

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Essential Experience

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Qualities and Skills Required:

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• An empathetic and friendly nature

• The ability to work as part of a team

• Good listening skills and an understanding of safety issues

• An understanding of the need for confidentiality

• Sense of humour

• Good timekeeping

• Reliability and trustworthiness

• Knowledgeable about the basics of the benefits of walking and physical activity

• Willingness to follow current advice to keep yourself and others safe

• Willingness and ability to ensure that any information you share in relation to Covid-19 is accurate and from a reliable source.

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Training and Skills Required:

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• Complete induction and essential training for the role

• To access regular online resources/training

• Regular contact with the Community Project Officer (telephone or other) for support and guidance

• To respond to service changes and requirements

 

How to Apply: 
Please forward by email to admin@nessmfoundation.org your most recent CV alongside a covering letter detailing your interest in the role, your relevant experience, and evidence of how you meet our criteria.

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Application closing date: We will be scheduling interviews as we receive applications.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we find the right individual.

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Any other requirements: 

Due to the vulnerable nature of the people we support, we will require two references and an enhanced DBS check. Further details will be discussed with you as to how these will be obtained.