
Practical support volunteer
Butterfly Project
Volunteer
Location
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. We will aim to ensure voluntary opportunities are matched appropriately so they are local and accessible wherever possible.
Purpose of Role
To offer emotional support to people affected by cancer enabling them to develop resilience and confidence to maintain control of their own lives. To help people regain confidence after a diagnosis or bereavement and/or offer empathy and a listening ear at the most difficult times.
The aim is not to create dependency but to provide support in very difficult times and help people move away from formal support where appropriate.
Role Description
To listen and talk to people affected by cancer and provide them with a supportive professional friendship. This can help to lesson isolation, increase confidence and provide reassurance at a difficult time. This support may include a listening ear, helping them to engage in community or social activities or connect with family, friends and neighbours, encouragement to improve mental and physical health or seek alternative support or time to talk about whatever they feel like talking about.
This role may take place over a telephone conversation, online for example via Zoom, Facetime and Whatsapp or during a visit and is generally a regular commitment of about once a week for 3-6 months.
If you are able to offer more practical support to the person you are building a relationship with, e.g. accompanying to appointments, helping with occasional household tasks, teaching new skills etc. then this is also beneficial but this element of the role could also be undertaken by a different volunteer on a one off or short term basis.
Time Commitment
We need volunteers who can commit 1 to 2 hours per week, although greater commitments are very welcome if you were able to support more than one client/offer practical support also.
Skills requirements:
There are no formal qualifications required, just an interest in supporting the aims of Macmillan by helping someone during their cancer journey.
Our Volunteer Offer
We will ensure you are supported throughout your volunteering journey and provide:
Reimbursement of expenses
Any out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed for training or volunteering including travel:
Volunteer commitments
To volunteer within this role you will need to:
Participate in a minimum of two Peer Support sessions per year (2 hours per session – sessions are arranged at various times including weekends and evenings)
Contact Information
To register your interest or for an informal chat about the project, please feel free to contact us –
Macmillan Beyond Diagnosis Tel: 0115 9111662
Email: volunteering@selfhelp.org.uk
We will promote your training event via our website training diary, social media, newsletter and database.