Connections for Life Friendship Calls

with Royal Air Force Association

What will volunteers do?:

• Providing regular social interaction and support to members of the RAF community via telephone contact
• Checking on a beneficiaries welfare and alerting them to available support if needed
• Relaying any concerns to their Connections Coordinator
• Regularly submitting an activity log summarising their interactions so we can make sure everyone is receiving the help they need

All training will be provided so volunteers will be well prepared to take on the volunteer role. Connections Volunteers are required to undertake an online training course, which can take around two hours, and can be completed at a time to suit the volunteer. The training course is certified through AIM, and carries the Investing In Your Future excellence kitemark.

Connections Volunteers will have the whole support of the Association behind them and a designated coordinator as their point of contact, to offer support, advice and guidance.

What skills will volunteers develop?
Connections Volunteers will develop a wide variety of skills, including:
• Listening and communications skills
• Building relationships with a wide variety of people
• Research skills (depending on the beneficiary’s requirements, volunteers may research ways to integrate beneficiaries into the community or local groups who may be able to offer support)

What is the duration of the volunteering opportunity?: Long term

This opportunity is suitable for the following groups: All

Is this opportunity suitable for under 18s?: No

Does this opportunity have gender restrictions?: No

Are out of-pocket expenses covered for volunteers?: Yes

Skills or experience required?:

What skills will volunteers need?
• Patience and empathy, with the ability to build a rapport with others and put them at ease, through a friendly and sensitive approach
• Good listener and communicator
• Reliable and dependable, with the ability to maintain appropriate boundaries
• Volunteers should also be able to work confidentially, in a non-judgemental manner and in line with the RAF Association Volunteer Agreement

Connections Volunteers will also need access to a computer and the internet. This is to allow volunteers to access the required training, which is available online, and to access and submit activity reports via the Connections For Life online portal.

Frequency of opportunity: Ongoing

Can this opportunity be home based?: Yes

What are the areas of interest?: Befriending & buddying, Health & wellbeing, Information & advice, Other general & helping

Type(s) of cause supported: Local community, Older people

Where is the opportunity located?: Across North Yorkshire, Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough, Selby, Outside North Yorkshire

Includes out of pocket expenses?: Yes

How many hours per week is this opportunity?: 30 minutes to 2 hours a week

You can volunteer for this opportunity at the following times:

	M	T	W	T	F	S	S
Morning
Afternoon
Evening