Safer Ageing Volunteer

communityni.org - Jobboard; Belfast; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Hourglass Northern Ireland as a Safer Ageing Volunteer and help empower older people to experience safer ageing through various support roles, such as advocacy and casework. This volunteering position involves developing strong relationships with older individuals, delivering crucial community-led support, and gaining access to training and networking opportunities.

Benefits

Access to training courses and events

One-to-one support with other volunteers

Building a network of friends and contacts

Using talents and skills for the benefit of others

Qualifications

• Someone with relatable & professional experience from care, finance, education, legal, HR, engineering, or professional services.
• Demonstrate commitment to Hourglass’s ethos of 'Safer Ageing, Stopping Abuse'.
• Understand the experiences and issues affecting older people.

Responsibilities

• Promoting the work of Hourglass Northern Ireland and raising awareness.
• Making regular Safer Ageing phone calls or visits to older people.
• Providing casework support to older people concerned about abuse.

Skills

Reliability

Sensitivity

Resilience

Patience

Listening

Job description

To facilitate the development of strong and supportive relationships with and among older people through Hourglass Northern Ireland’s services.

Hourglass NI is part of the well-established UK-wide charity, Hourglass (formerly Action on Elder Abuse), the only UK-wide charity dedicated to calling time on the harm, abuse, and exploitation of older people. We’re dedicated to promoting safer ageing and a fairer society for all older people; delivering a range of support services from prevention and early intervention, right through to direct support and recovery.

Hourglass is enhancing our community-led services to provide support to those who have experienced abuse or exploitation, as well as any older person who may be at risk. We’re recruiting volunteers to help us deliver frontline support to older people and others—can you help?

Safer Ageing Volunteers may carry out the following roles:

• Promoting the work of Hourglass Northern Ireland & raising awareness of issues around safer ageing and abuse of older people
• Making regular Safer Ageing phone calls or visits to older people
• Acting as an advocate on behalf of an older person
• Providing casework support to older people (or others) concerned about abuse or safer ageing, e.g., making calls or referrals to other agencies, providing information and advice, researching support options, etc.

Skills and qualifications

• Ideally, someone with relatable & professional experience such as from care, finance, education, legal, HR, engineering, or professional services backgrounds
• Demonstrate commitment to Hourglass’s ethos of “Safer Ageing, Stopping Abuse”
• Understand the experiences of and issues affecting older people
• Be reliable and able to commit to the agreed hours and initial training
• Display patience, sensitivity, and resilience
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive issues appropriately
• Listen patiently and constructively, providing advice and guidance in a non-judgemental manner
• Recognise and work within personal and organisational boundaries

Full training and support will be provided, along with opportunities for learning and development. We will cover all out-of-pocket expenses and arrange regular support meetings with other volunteers and staff.

Benefits to the volunteer

Volunteers will join a dynamic organisation, helping shape our work to empower older people to experience safer ageing. Benefits include:

• Access to training courses and events
• One-to-one support and networking with other volunteers
• Building a network of friends and contacts in your local community
• Using your time, talents, and skills for the benefit of vulnerable older people & their families