Volunteer Champion.

The Practical Partners Project aims to improve the outcome for care leavers aged 16 – 25 years with the potential struggles and challenges that may arise as they transition to adulthood and become independent. The Practical Partners Project will build on the skills and knowledge of the Care Leavers carefully selected Volunteer Champion to help them develop a new level of support and assistance as they begin their next chapter in life.

Why become a Volunteer Champion with Practical Partners?

• Make a real difference to a Care Leavers life

• Boost your CV and career

• Help your local community

• Benefit your own development and share your knowledge with others

• Learn additional skills

• Connect with other like-minded people

Practical Partners are looking for a team of Volunteer Champions to improve the outcomes for care leavers aged 16 to 25 years, to help and support them with the challenges that they may face when transitioning to adulthood and becoming independent. The Practical Partners Project will build on the skills and knowledge of the Volunteer Champions with the aim of developing a new and bespoke form of support for Care Leavers.

The Care Leaver will have their own Volunteer Champion who will care, support and champion their cause to help them realise their full potential and strengths.

Volunteer Champions will provide informal practical support for a range of common issues and challenges that care leavers may face, including: - Emotional wellbeing

- Managing money and bills

- DIY and home management

- Coping with the challenges of being a parent

- Accessing education, training, and employment.

This support will be provided via a combination of avenues such as messaging, calling, or meeting up in the community at one of our community hubs.

Volunteer Champions will support Care Leavers in a range of ways which may involve:

• Encouraging and assisting the Care Leaver to become more independent.

• Raising the aspirations and changing the future of the Care Leaver

• Having a cuppa and a chat, so that the Care Leaver can talk through things that maybe worrying them

• Supporting the Care Leaver with understanding and completing forms or applications

• Helping the Care Leaver with planning and doing tasks such as shopping, budgeting, paying bills, tidying, cleaning, and preparing healthy meals

• Providing other practical support, like helping the Care Leaver to move to a new house, or basic DIY

• Helping the Care Leaver if required to think about a plan for giving birth and preparing to be a parent

• Assisting the Care Leaver to plan and carry out fun activities with their children if required

• Enabling the Care Leaver to grow their confidence, so that they can find and build new relationships

• Signposting the Care Leaver to trusted information sources and local / national support organisations

• Supporting Care Leavers to attend meetings, appointments etc.

Volunteer Champions and Care Leavers will be matched based on factors such as interests and likes, skills, needs, geography and availability etc. A tailored support agreement will be drawn up between Volunteer Champions and the Champion so everybody is clear on when and what has been agreed, this will be periodically reviewed to make sure everybody is happy.

What are we looking for?

This is not a professional or paid role, and no specific experience or skills are required to become a Volunteer Champion, just the ability to be there for the Care Leaver.

If you are a good listener, are friendly and want to make a real difference to someone's life, this is the perfect role for you!

Other ideal qualities that you can bring to this role is someone that can: • Offer a regular commitment

• Be flexible and reliable

• Promote inclusion and not judge

• Be supportive and confident

• Be calm and a good listener

• Understand the need for privacy and confidentiality

• Drive or have access to transport

• Know when the Care Leaver may need more help than you can provide

• Understand and abide by the Hertfordshire County Council Policies and Procedures in relation to Safeguarding, Confidentiality, Equal Opportunities.

How much time do I need to give?

How much time you spend volunteering will depend on your availability and the needs of the Care Leaver you are matched with. We ask that you are available to commit to 2 years' volunteering - this is important so you can build a good working relationship with the Care Leaver you are working with.

What we will provide to the Volunteer Champion:

• Excellent training, including an induction program, that covers topics such as safeguarding, mental health and listening skills

• Additional training and support so that you feel confident in your role of helping a Care Leaver

• Regular check ins and support, including 1:1s, group and telephone support, plus guidance so that you feel that there is someone there for you too

• Cover for your travel expenses and reasonable expenses for light refreshments whilst meeting your Care Leaver

• Regular opportunities to be a part of a team where you can develop and share your learning and skills

• Up-to-date references.

• Reward and recognition for the time that you are gifting to this project

Become a Volunteer Champion today and support a Care Leaver to make positive life choices by identifying and helping them navigate the next steps of independence as they begin their next chapter.