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.
Macmillan Joining the Dots County Durham is a free, personal service for people aged 18 and over who have been diagnosed with cancer. We are also there for friends, carers and relatives too. The Joining the Dots facilitators work with clients to identify their needs and can support them with the following issues; family/relationship; physical; lifestyle/information; emotional; spiritual/religious; practical/money.
Volunteers will play an important role in the Joining the Dots Service, working alongside the facilitators to provide ongoing support. Listening to people’s concerns and inner-most feelings can help them feel less isolated and more able to deal with the emotional challenges that come with the illness. Volunteers play a vital role supporting people affected by cancer at any point of their journey, by giving them the opportunity to talk openly and safely about what they are going through - if that is what they want to talk about. Volunteers will offer a listening ear and be there to offer support and comfort and be able to talk to someone who understands their circumstances. Where possible, volunteers will be matched with a service user in the area where they live.
Volunteers should have a lived experience of the issues that people affected by cancer face. Full training is provided to help the volunteers develop skills needed to support participants.
Macmillan Joining the Dots Volunteers will:
To support the person affected by cancer, family, carer or friend identified by the JTD facilitator over the phone or via a video call. Under normal, non COVID circumstances, this support could also be in a venue of the client’s choice, this could be in their own home or in the community. The volunteer will: -
Offer encouragement and support to attend local sources of support if needed.
• Act in the best interest of the service users, enabling self-management, independence and/or improved sense
of wellbeing.
• Tailor the level of support offered, depending on their needs and circumstances.
• Work closely with the facilitator to keep them informed, highlighting any support which the facilitator may
need to provide.
• Keep all relevant systems up to date, in an accurate fashion whilst maintaining confidentiality at all times
• Maintain contact with the service user, providing regular contact on a one to one basis, as directed by the client
and JTD Facilitator.
• Provide personalised and confidential support, mainly by listening actively and creating meaningful conversations
with service users.
There are no formal qualifications but all Macmillan Joining the Dots Volunteers must:
Be able to commit to 2 hours per week volunteering to get the most out of this unique experience.
Be able to maintain confidentiality at all times.
Be able to attend all mandatory training required.
Be able to comply with all polices, systems and procedures of the Macmillan Joining he Dots programme.
Be prepared to undertake a DBS check
Have good listening and communication skills.
Have patience and tact.
Have a caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgemental approach.
Be reliable, dependable and flexible.
Display a commitment to understanding the needs of people living with cancer.
Have a positive outlook and be enthusiastic.
Have a willingness to help raise self-esteem/confidence through a positive befriending relationship.
Have a willingness to work without direct supervision.
Understand and maintain appropriate boundaries and be able to separate your own experience from others.
Be respectful of others’ views and choices.
Be motivated and committed to the service and to supporting people affected by cancer.
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
Postcode: DL15 0EQ
Support is available for the role and includes:
Personal mentor.
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.
They will receive:
• Full support and training
• Work experience
• The opportunity to develop new skills and interests
• A chance to meet new people
• An opportunity to contribute to and be part of our organisation
We encourage volunteers to stay for a minimum period of six months (or for the duration of the service) to make full use of the training and support offered.
Volunteers will benefit from the experience of working with people affected by cancer and this could enhance their own skills providing opportunities in relation to future career development or for their own personal development.
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 issues that arise from one of the most prevalent health issues affecting people in the UK today and make a real difference in transforming their local communities
