About
Sense College East is a specialist Further Education (FE) college, supporting students between 16-25, who have a wide range of disabilities. We aim to prepare young people to be as independent as ...
Virtual Buddy Volunteer
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Summary
Sense Virtual Buddying volunteers make a real difference to supporting young people and adults who may be lonely or isolated.Detailed description
Sense Virtual Buddying volunteers make a real difference to supporting young people and adults who may be lonely or isolated.
Sense matches volunteers with disabled people to meet for an hour a week on Zoom or over phone. Our volunteers have spent thousands of hours with their buddies — learning new skills, having fun, and forming fantastic friendships. Sense matches each volunteer with someone who has similar interests, to make sure you have a great time. You and your buddy choose a time that suits you, and you can decide what activities you’d like to do together.
The Role of a Virtual Buddy
Sense matches each volunteer with someone who has similar interests to ensure you’ll have lots of fun together. Once matched with a buddy, you will get to know each other remotely via video calls and phone calls.
You’ll arrange weekly sessions and plan fun things to do together – what this looks like will be inspired by your mutual interests. You could be gaming, doing arts and crafts, playing music, seed planting – there are so many possibilities! We will provide you with weekly themed activities to help to support you in planning your interactions with your buddy.
We’ll also keep in touch with you to ensure you have all the support you need.
The programme is open to all volunteers who are 16 and over. You don't need to have previous experience volunteering or caring for disabled people. We welcome people from all backgrounds and with all interests.
Want to find out more? Every month we host an information session on Zoom for our Virtual Buddying volunteers and those who are thinking of getting involved.
What we can Offer You
Before you start your volunteering role, we’ll make sure that you’ve had the training you need to feel confident. This will be delivered online and via video call.
While you’re volunteering with us as a Virtual Buddy, you’ll get:
- A written account of your volunteering and references if required
- Reimbursement of pre-agreed expenses
Volunteering as a Sense Virtual Buddy is a great opportunity to develop new skills and get to know new people whilst making a real difference to a person’s life.
Who we are Looking For
We need positive, empathetic volunteers who are passionate about supporting people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world. We are looking for volunteers who are great communicators and who are friendly, enthusiastic, positive and ready to have fun!
We’re also always looking for volunteers who have knowledge or experience of British Sign Language (BSL) and/or other communication methods like Makaton.
About Sense
For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to offer personalised support to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our experts offer support that’s tailored to the individual needs of each person, whether that’s at our centres, through our holidays and short breaks, or in people’s own homes. In addition to practical support, we also provide information to families, and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.
Volunteers add real value to Sense, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the work that we do. We believe that volunteers enable us to bring people together, and provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world.
We include. We collaborate. We find a way. We challenge. We celebrate.
We’d love for you to consider joining us as a Sense Virtual Buddy!
About Sense Volunteers
Sense College East has 8 locations in the East of England, East Midlands and West Midlands:
Aldeby, Suffolk
Bedford, Bedfordshire
Dereham, Norfolk
Knapwell, Cambridgeshire
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Rothwell, Northamptonshire
Touchbase Pears, Birmingham
Streatley, Luton
Candidates interested in the role of Lay Governor at college must be able to demonstrate commitment to Safeguarding, Strategic leadership and a passion to Further Education particularly Specialist Education. A understanding of issues facing the post 16 specialist education sector would be desirable. If you feel you have the ability to make a positive contribution to meetings and provide constructive challenge to support senior managers at the college we would love to hear from you. We anticipate that the successful candidates will need to commit a minimum of 4 half days per term to the role in relation to meetings and preparation. The ability to attend other ad-hoc college events and visits would also be very welcomed.
This is a primarily virtual role, with all meetings taking place remotely, and an expectation of travelling to college sites once a term.
The role of members of the Governing Body is to provide strategic leadership, support and constructive challenge to the college senior management team to ensure that Sense College provides an excellent education experience for all students. The Governors will work with the college senior management to ensure the college offers a broad based curriculum to maximise the teaching and learning experiences of all its students, with demonstrable outcomes. Sense College East Lay Governors will attend 3 full committee meetings a year, plus 3 extra meetings for their chosen sub-committee. Meetings last from 90 minutes for sub-committees and 2 hours 30 minutes for the full committee, Lay Governors will come prepared and engaged, having done the reading the prior and ready to ask any questions they may have. Governors of Sense College have a varied role encompassing a range of duties. Much of this is undertaken through participation in the full Governing Body meetings and Sense College sub-committees according to a governor`s experience and skillset, and through college visits.
Some examples of governor duties are below, noting that these are not exclusive:
Reviewing, approving and monitoring the implementation of the Sense College 2022-2025 Strategic Plan
Approving the final Sense College Annual Self-Assessment Report (SAR)
Reviewing and monitoring progress and outcomes from the Sense College Quality Improvement Plan (QuIP)
Reviewing students’ progress and achievements through a range of products i.e. case studies, reports and visits to Sense College
Reviewing college data against Key Performance Indicators and dashboards.
Participating in Ofsted inspection meetings on governance to support Sense College and the college senior management team
Monitoring implementation of safeguarding (SfG) procedures, keeping updated with current SfG legislation and governors Prevent responsibilities
Monitoring college budget performance with the emphasis on new students referrals funded through the Education and Skills Funding Agency
Attending and participating in governor training events, student celebrations and college visits
About us
For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to offer personalised support to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our experts offer support that’s tailored to the individual needs of each person, whether that’s at our centres, through our holidays and short breaks, or in people’s own homes. In addition to practical support, we also provide information to families, and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.
Volunteers add real value to Sense, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the work that we do. We believe that volunteers enable us to bring people together, and provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world.
Sense values
We include. We collaborate. We find a way. We challenge. We celebrate.
Apply online at: https://volunteers.sensecareers.org.uk/254403PCVS