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Volunteer Walking Football Support

Location: Wallsend Boys Club
Accountable to: Head of Charity Services
Reporting to: Head of Charity Services
Time commitment: 1-2 Hours per week

Walking Football is aimed specifically for people aged over 50 to keep them playing football if a lack of mobility or other issue prevents them from playing the traditional game. It is based on traditional football but is a different sport with different rules.

Purpose

  1. Support our customers by being a volunteer for walking football, (you may also be a participant in the activity).
  2. To provide support to the Charity team with organization, registers, correspondence, to support the ongoing walking football provision in North Tyneside.
  3. To help the Charity team to promote health and wellness activity specifically walking football in North Tyneside.

Responsibilities

  1. Provide professional and confidential support with customer information and registers for the Charity Health & Wellness team.
  2. Act as a point of contact at walking football sessions.
  3. Maintain a strong relationship with other walking football related providers and the venues used.
  4. Liaise with other staff and volunteers where necessary to promote walking football participation.
  5. Support with the preparation case study materials by liaising with colleagues and customers.
  6. Organise kit and equipment for weekly Walking Football sessions.
  7. Raise any wellbeing concerns or other issues firstly with the Health & Wellness team.
  8. Collection of weekly fees from customers and the completion of any registers or health/photo consent paperwork prior to customer participation.
  9. Ensure that good health and safety is promoted and practiced at the weekly activity (training provided).
  10. A basic understanding of, and a willingness to learn about, keeping yourself and others safe while performing the volunteer role.
  11. DBS will be required.

Age UK North Tyneside will provide you with:

  1. A full training and induction programme.
  2. A DBS check to enable you to interact 1:1 with our customers.
  3. On-going support from the Charity Health and Wellness Team, including regular check ins.
  4. Access to a network of other volunteers for advice and guidance.
  5. A volunteer reward and recognition program, to celebrate your achievements!

To apply, please call 0191 287 7011 or email HRTeam1@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk 

How Nathan (a former Volunteer) enjoyed this role:
"I took the job as Walking Football Supporter in a really challenging time of my life, looking for renewed purpose and energy. This role definitely contributed to getting me to where I am today and helped me build my confidence, fitness and workplace practice skills, and I will always be thankful for this part of my journey, whatever I go on to do in the future. I met some great people and some cracking footballers during my time here and it couldn't have been easier to settle in with the group, who embraced me right away. A great social event to be part of which helps enhance your and their wellbeing."

Why Volunteer

Age UK North Tyneside works solely for the benefit of older people and their carers living in the Borough of North Tyneside. Through volunteering, you are helping to make a positive difference to the lives of older people in your local community. Age UK North Tyneside recognises the benefit and value of volunteering and believes volunteering is an activity that should be open to all members of the community.

Volunteers often create a friendly and caring community, they bring skills and qualities adding value and experience, and many of our services could not happen without them.

Volunteers are people who give freely their time, abilities, skills and enthusiasm, without payment, in order to contribute something to their community. 

DWP has published new guidance on volunteering and claiming benefits:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/volunteering-and-claiming-benefits

The guidance aims to help claimants make informed decisions on volunteering and explains:

  • How many hours you can volunteer
  • What happens if you get a health or disability benefit
  • What expense you can claim

Benefits of Volunteering

There are many benefits to being a volunteer:

  • Learning new skills
  • Gaining work experience
  • Building your confidence and self esteem
  • Meeting new people and making new friends
  • Trying something new
  • Developing a skill, hobby or interest
  • Working as part of a team
  • Making a difference to your own life and the lives of others
  • As a way of saying thank-you to our volunteers we arrange regular social events and presentations for them

We will provide you with travel expenses and training opportunities. Your time, skills and enthusiasm make a very big difference to the lives of older people. Without your help, most of our work would not be possible. We will help you get the most out of your voluntary work by giving you support and training.

Volunteers may also qualify for a huge range of money saving deals and vouchers, from mouth watering restaurant vouchers, discount holidays, money off fashion fixes through to deals on gym membership, mobile phones, and utilities. Find out more on the Charity Workers Discount website.

How To Get Involved

It’s easy to become a volunteer and we welcome people of all ages and from all backgrounds, who bring with them their much needed experience and support. Have a look at the roles we have on offer in the Current Volunteering Opportunities section. If you would like to volunteer, please request a registration form from our HR Team by emailing HRTeam1@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk

If you would like a registration form sent to you in the post, please call 0191 287 7011. You can return completed paper forms to the address below:

Volunteering Team
Age UK North Tyneside
Bradbury Centre
13 Saville Street West,
North Shields
NE29 6QP
Telephone: 0191 287 7011

Email: Volunteer@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk

Next Steps

On receiving your completed form we will then invite you in for an interview to discuss your form further, and talk about the current volunteer opportunities we have available which may suit you. Please be aware that the volunteer process can take up to 4-6 weeks due to the reference checks, DBS checks, and processes we have to follow before a volunteer can begin their placement.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the volunteering team on 0191 287 7011 or email HRTeam1@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk 

We hope that you will find your involvement with Age UK North Tyneside rewarding and interesting and look forward to working with you in the near future.