Volunteer

Volunteer

Volunteers are the “Magic” key to our success

Volunteering at Cheshire Young Carers is a great way to develop skills, gain experience, whilst helping to improve the lives of young carers who need support. Alongside personalised training and overall experience, volunteers are always supported to explore what role suits them best and how their volunteer role can be enjoyed with the right balance between fun, challenge and reward.

What magic do you want to perform?

• Changing a young carers life for ever
• Give a young carer an opportunity they would never access without you
• Feel really good that you have given a little something back

Volunteering Opportunities

If you want to support children who are young carers there are lots of ways to use your skills and time to help.  Below are some ideas but if nothing appears to fit you, give us a call and we will try to match you to a volunteering role that suits you. Feel free to offer a unique suggestion to how you can support children who are young carers.

School Holiday Respite Programmes: Each school holiday period we organise activities and excursions to give young carers a bit of their childhood back. There is a need to have volunteers support our trained staff to deliver these events. This can be as regular or as occasional as you wish – it all helps and gives you an extremely rewarding and fun day out.

Time Commitment 1-3 days/week during each school holiday

Fortnightly Respite Sessions: In towns around Cheshire we organise regular meetings for young carers with activities. They last around 2 hours and our trained staff always look forward to additional support from volunteers. Get in touch if this suits your needs and we will welcome your support in this role. Sessions are held in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford, Crewe, Macclesfield, Knutsford.

Time Commitment 3 hours per session for those sessions you want to support

In- school Respite Sessions: These are respite sessions delivered on a regular basis in a school setting, usually at the end of the school day and designed to provide some additional respite. They also help young carers form friendship groups within the school of like-minded children. We are aiming to widen our offer to support young carers in various areas so please get in touch if you feel you can support children in your local area a couple of hours a fortnight. You need to be available between 4pm and 6pm.

Time Commitment 3 hours per session for those sessions you want to support

Residentials: Have you been a guide/scout/youth leader where you understand the whole residential experience? If so, we would love to hear from you to discuss how you can support residential experiences for young carers. Surveys always show that these are the most valued of the events we organise.

Time Commitment 2 days + overnight (usually weekends) for events you want to support

Education Support Officer: If you have experience as a teacher or support role in a school, are a good listener and want to positively impact the educational outcomes of young carers then this volunteer role might be right for you. You need to be available during the day so that you can work with schools in your area helping to identify and then support children who are young carers with out unique tools.

Time Commitment 3-9 hours a month during term time

Change a life with a skill: If you have an interest and/or skill that you are prepared to share with young carers we would love to hear from you. Below are a couple of examples, however, if you have a skill – please get in touch.

Beauty treatments: Maybe you are good with hair, make up and nails and would be prepared to show young carers how it’s done. You just need to share your tips, tricks and experience with our children.

Time Commitment 2-3 sessions each year (each session is 2 hours)

Video gaming: Are you a ‘gamer’? We have many retro consoles and all the equipment and games that you can remember as classics! Could you lead a group of young carers through the video games of old, right up to the most modern games?

Time Commitment 2-3 sessions each year (each session is 2 hours)

Sports Coaching: Do you enjoy sports? Could you lead an activity for young people, perhaps helping them learn a new sport or just simply get them more active? You don’t need to be a qualified coach, just a passion to deliver fun activities to a group of young carers!

Time Commitment 2-3 sessions each year (each session is 2-3 hours)

Arts and Crafts: Are you great with your hands? Do you build things, knit, love painting or anything practical like that? Then why don’t you help young carers make more than memories and create something they can be proud to take home!

Time Commitment 5-6 sessions each year (each session is 2 hours)

Cooking: A lot of young carers don’t learn key life skills. Perhaps you’re a keen baker, or can help children learn the basics of cooking and meals?

Time Commitment 2-3 sessions each year (each session is 2 hours)

Domestic Skills: Young carers often have busy lives, and like a lot of young people, don’t get the chance to learn important skills ready for adulthood. Perhaps you are someone can help them learn this key domestic skill such as ironing.  If you can turn it into a fun activity, all the better.

Time Commitment 2-3 sessions each year (each session is 2 hours)

Apple Computer Advocate: If you are really good with Apple technology, we would like you to work with some of our older young carers to follow up visits to Apple Shops where they have taken part in training events using iPads

Time Commitment 3-4 sessions each year (each session is 2 hours)

Adult Support Area: If you want to help but want a more ‘behind the scenes’ role and don’t want to work directly with children, then there are some great opportunities to help Cheshire Young Carers.

Time Commitment 3-4 sessions each year (each session is 2 hours)

Marketing : Help with ideas to raise our profile and support for our programmes

Time Commitment 10 hours each year

Social media champions: Help us build our social media profile to shout about what we do.

Time Commitment 10 hours each year