Our vision is to ensure that all volunteers enjoy a quality experience and feel supported and valued in their role. We want our volunteers to be inspired by our programmes and become advocates for our service.
The Community Health Champion role is designed to help to transform the health and wellbeing of people in their communities by providing a supported programme of activities and signposting them to appropriate local services.
It provides local people with the opportunity to support their local community and in return develop their own skills, raising self-esteem, confidence and enhancing their employment opportunities (several CHC’s have moved on to be practitioners in paid roles).
Working alongside our professional practitioners they will engage with members of the public in individual and group settings to develop and deliver strategies to improve health and wellbeing.
Full training is provided to help the volunteers develop skills needed to support participants.
Community Health Champions will:
Champion healthy living and provide information in their local community.
Signpost potential clients to health improvement services.
Work alongside Wellbeing Practitioners in supporting individuals and working with groups.
Help Wellbeing Practitioners deliver community based promotion events including events to promote and encourage access to the Wellbeing for Life Service.
Provide support for individuals and groups to make lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating groups or emotional resilience workshops.
Provide support for cooking, weight management, cycling, walking, exercise sessions, admin, crafts, mental wellbeing and reducing social isolation plus working with groups for living well with long term conditions.
The CHC will be fully integrated with the Wellbeing for Life team, within our office bases, team activities and out in the community, and will have the opportunity to work alongside them and to join in all team activities available. The role is varied and every day could be different but you get to choose what activities interest you most and how much time you can commit.
There are no formal qualifications but all CHC volunteers must:
Be able to commit to 2 hours per week volunteering to get the most out of this unique experience.
Have an interest in health and wellbeing and working with others to provide information and guidance.
Be able to maintain confidentiality at all times.
Have a flexible approach and be keen to acquire new skills.
Be able to attend all mandatory training required.
Be able to attend locally organised events to promote and encourage access to the Wellbeing for Life service.
Be able to comply with all polices, systems and procedures of the Wellbeing for Life programme.
Be prepared to undertake a DBS check
Full Address: The volunteer opportunity is coordinated from our Willington base however there are opportunities to work across County Durham and the Dales
For enquiry purposes the contact is:
Capacity Building and Volunteer Team
Willington Health Centre
Willington
Durham
Co.Durham
DL15 0EQ
Support is available for the role and includes:
Personal mentor.
Level 2 Accredited Community Health Champion training.
Personal development plan compiled with volunteer officer.
Other appropriate training as identified in the plan, volunteers can access the same training as our staff.
All appropriate equipment is provided.
Appropriate volunteer expenses incurred during necessary work, including travel expenses.
Because of the diverse area covered a driving licence would be an advantage, mobility issues can be discussed with the volunteer officer during the recruitment process
Volunteers will get the opportunity to work alongside professional staff with a proven track record of delivering innovative and life changing programmes to local communities.
They will gain professional training and receive personal mentorship, gain a positive life experience and acquire skills that will help them develop personally.
The experience will also help those who want to gain skills and experience to enhance their employment opportunities. Support with job applications and interview skills is provided when necessary.
They will help to tackle some of the most prevalent health issues affecting people in the UK today and make a real difference in transforming their local communities.
Minimum age 18 years
