Compass Support, the charitable subsidiary of The Pioneer Group, has enlisted a team of friendly, local volunteers that offer a free befriending service for isolated seniors, and is looking for more people to join their group of Community Organisers.
Community Organisers provide company to seniors, conversation and assist them to activities in their local area. A popular choice sits with the current community cafe and lunch club, with lots more activities in the pipeline, including intergenerational projects such as gardening and also arts with a local school in Birches Green.
The charity’s people-friendly service has shown to provide a substantial impact on the local neighbourhood. Through the friendship and support offered by volunteer befrienders, many people have experienced an improved quality of life, renewed inclusion within their local community and reduced feelings of isolation and loneliness.
In turn, the volunteers have also found that helping the community has had a huge positive influence on their own well-being, creating new networks and strengthening their own friendship groups. When discussing with some of the local volunteers, there was a shared consensus that it had boosted the majority of people’s confidence and even opened them up to sociable surroundings that some may have avoided previously.
One of the organisers commented:
I love working within such a friendly team, they lift my energy and positivity when I’m having a bad day. Being a Community Organiser really helps me feels valued and knowing I’m able to make a difference within the community to help someone else is rewarding.
Whether you are a parent wanting to get back to work, or a retired person wanting to give back to your community; the experience and skills gained from volunteering in a charitable sector can be invaluable. One of our parent volunteers remarked:
I thrive on being a Community Organiser as I love to give people a boost, I love making people smile and feel good. Even though I’m a busy mum of two, it helps my own wellbeing and to grow in my own personal development. It has amazing opportunities and I’ve been able to learn so much and gain certificates I never thought I could get.
Upon asking some of the other Community Organisers what they enjoy most about volunteering, they expressed:
I love the community café as you never know who will walk in and what conversation you will be having. I love learning about the history of the area, and in every café I learn something new.
Some of the people we’ve had an impact on are now living, rather than simply existing. They were lonely and isolated, as was I. Now, because of the volunteers and the support we offer, they have become friends and built enough confidence to be out in the community attending activities.
Community Organisers receive an abundance of support from Compass Support employees, along with mentoring sessions and a two-day training course. Volunteer duties can include:
- Working with groups of people in local areas to set up new activities
- Assisting with pop-up ‘Community Café
- Working in the befriending service, responding to referrals regarding older people that are isolated or lonely
- Assisting with the marketing aspects of the community projects
Current vacancies are situated in both Falcon Lodge and the Tyburn areas of Birmingham.
So if you have a passion to give back to people in your local community, love learning new skills, and creating new connections to enable sense of belonging for everyone within our community – why not find out more about our volunteering opportunities.
For more information, please contact Community Organiser Co-ordinator, Leonie Hammond, on 07943 079496 | 0121 748 8111 | or leonie.hammond@compass-support.org.uk