Hand in Hand Volunteers

The benefits of volunteering

Friendship: Volunteering is the perfect way to make new friends and to meet new people in the Winchester community. St John’s Winchester arrange social events for everyone to get together and celebrate. You are more than a volunteer, but an integral part of the St John’s Winchester family.

Connections: You can make lots of new connections for yourself whilst also opening new doors for your scheme member. With the help of the Hand in Hand team and the Volunteer Co-Ordinator, the charity organises networking events and regular meetings to ensure you feel supported and connected.

New Skills and Training: As a volunteer, you will receive a helpful induction and ongoing training and support. This is the chance to enhance existing skills or to learn something new! Volunteering is great for your CV, keeping your skills fresh and your mind active. To maintain our high standards, all of our volunteers and staff are requires to undergo a series of checks. These checks include DBS, which we will support you to complete.

Feel-good Factor: Our volunteers receive regular recognition and appreciation for all that they do. In fact, volunteering is a great mood-booster and can help to improve your own health and wellbeing.

 

What do we ask of you?

The role of a Hand in Hand volunteer is flexible. By supporting the charity and volunteering for us, you will make a genuine, positive impact on the lives of local older people who live in the community.

We always try to match the needs of our scheme member with your individual skill sets, interests, personalities and preferences wherever possible. You can choose to participate in areas of the scheme that suit you and there are many ways to help, such as:

• The longer term befriending of a scheme member, with support from staff and third party services
• Short-term signposting and support to scheme members
• Spending time with Hand in Hand scheme members in ways that that will improve their quality of life and wellbeing
• Supporting our online directory and helping to keep it up-to-date
• Participating in networking and charity events
• Lending a hand to help run our new club… and more!

For more information or to apply to be a volunteer, click here. Read some of our volunteer testimonials to find out what impact the role can have.

I volunteer as part of St John’s Hand in Hand. The lady that I support and visit has helped me so much. I am getting a great deal out of it myself.”

Bob, Hand in Hand volunteer