Volunteer Activities Coordinator – Children’s Hospice

Are you creative, compassionate and passionate about making a difference to children and young people?

We are looking for a Volunteer Activities Coordinator to support our care team at Butterwick House Children's Hospice in Stockton. This is a new volunteer role for us, and will involve helping to plan and deliver engaging activities and experiences that bring enjoyment, social interaction, creativity and fun to children and young people with life-limiting conditions, while also supporting their families.

As part of our dedicated team, you will help create positive memories and meaningful experiences for the children, young people and families who use our services.

What You'll Be Doing

As a Volunteer Activities Coordinator, you may:

• Plan and help deliver activities, events and experiences for children, young people, siblings and families.
• Adapt activities to suit different ages, abilities and individual needs.
• Support children and young people to participate in activities in a safe and inclusive environment.
• Gather feedback to help us improve future activities and events.
• Build positive relationships with children, young people, families and carers.
• Share ideas and contribute creatively to activity planning.
• Act as a positive ambassador for Butterwick Hospice within the local community.
• Assist with recording activity outcomes and impact information when required.

What We're Looking For

We will provide training and support, but are looking for someone with that, ideally, already has:

• An understanding of the importance of play and activities in children's wellbeing.
• Experience working with children and young people aged 0 to 25 years.
• Experience supporting children and young people with complex needs or life-limiting conditions.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• The ability to organise and lead activities confidently.
• Compassion, patience and empathy.
• The ability to treat all children, young people and families with dignity, respect and understanding.
• Flexibility and the ability to respond to changing needs.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively.

and if you have any of the following, it would be even better!

• A qualification in play work, childcare, youth work or a related area.
• Makaton or British Sign Language skills.
• Basic First Aid knowledge.
• Understanding of safeguarding, data protection and related legislation.
• Knowledge of the challenges faced by children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
• IT skills including Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.

Personal qualities

We're looking for volunteers who are:

• Compassionate, caring and approachable.
• Positive, enthusiastic and creative.
• Passionate about improving the lives of children, young people and families.
• Reliable and committed.
• Able to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Comfortable working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Hours / attendance :

• Volunteers are usually asked to attend one shift per week
• Flexible shifts of 4 to 8 hours
• Available between 7:30am and 8:00pm

Safeguarding and Safety

The wellbeing and safety of the children, young people and families we support is our highest priority.

Volunteers will be asked to:

• Follow all safeguarding, health and safety, infection prevention and hospice policies.
• Support activity risk assessments where appropriate.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times, abide by our Code of Conduct and Volunteer Agreement.
• Work within agreed volunteer boundaries and seek guidance whenever needed.
• Complete mandatory and essential volunteer training before beginning the role.
• Have a Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (unless on the update service for the same role.)

Please below, if you are interested in this role, alternatively email: volunteers@butterwick.org.uk , or call 01642 607742 if you have any questions. Thank you.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.