Ozanam House News

Adult Education – Drama Volunteer

A safe place where people learn and grow,

that serves our needs and enriches our lives

in a supportive, fun and caring environment’

Our organisation

Adult Education – Drama Programme

One of the programmes referred to above is our Drama class. The class runs for 10 weeks and each class is 1.5 hours in duration. The Drama class offers members of the community a chance to get out and learn new skills or practice old ones, a chance to develop their sense of self-worth and self-belief, to build self-confidence, a chance to gain some respite from daily life, a chance to relax and meet new friends, a chance to put themselves first in a world where they may give over so much of themselves to others.

Overview of the volunteer role

To reach our full potential and to achieve our goals in the centre we are constantly seeking new volunteers to come on board to share their skills and knowledge with people undertaking Drama classes.

Tasks

To prepare the class in advance
To consult the service users when planning activities
Deliver safe, fun and creative Drama classes, sensitive to the needs and abilities of participants
Take class attendance on a daily basis
Supervise the group with first priority in their safety
Participate in the class and come to the aid of the participants
Introduce new members to the group and ensure all members are included and engaged in the activity
To attend meetings and training days if/when possible
To follow the policies and procedures of Ozanam House which can be found in the induction pack or in the office
Other general responsibilities in the context of the role as agreed with the co-ordinator

Time commitment

The Drama class runs each Monday from 11:00am to 12:30pm.
The Drama volunteer should commit to one class per week plus extra time for the preparation of the class (the exact times and dates of working will be agreed between the volunteer and the programme co-ordinator). The volunteer should commit to a minimum period of nine months. This covers 3 terms with each term lasting 10 weeks. This offers consistency to a class level and offers the volunteer the opportunity to develop that class well over time.

Skills, Experience & Qualities Required

Experience and skills in Drama
Experience in Group Instruction or teaching preferred but not essential
Patience, resilience, tolerance and flexibility
Ability to relate well to people and enjoy dealing with them
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Self-confidence and general ease with other people
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – vital in a supportive role
Good organizational skills and basic administration skills
Excellent level of English
Experience with adult learners of mixed learning capacities is an advantage but not essential
High motivation and engagement to be a volunteer over a longer period of time
Commitment to the ethos of volunteering and community-based initiative

Training & Induction

The volunteer will receive an induction/information night in the centre prior to his/her first inset and will get a general information pack to become familiar with the centre and our procedures
The volunteer will have an initial meeting with the co-ordinator to receive a role-specific induction and to agree a timetable and schedule of duties in line with the volunteer role description
Ongoing individual training programmes will be provided if necessary

Support & Supervision

Benefits

Personal and professional development
Sharing knowledge that can help others enrich their lives
To be part of a progressive team supporting others to improve their lives
Opportunity to work in and learn about a community resource centre
Opportunity to build up valuable work experience
Tea and coffee will be provided for all volunteers

Contact

Adult Education – Computer Class Volunteer

A safe place where people learn and grow,

that serves our needs and enriches our lives

in a supportive, fun and caring environment’

Our organisation

Ozanam House is a community resource centre run by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. It is located on the site of the original clothing and furniture warehouse in a building that has also been used by the Society for a variety of purposes for over 100 years. Since our opening in September 2002 we have continued to develop various programmes and projects aimed at addressing the issue of social exclusion as well as the many needs of the local community in Dublin’s north inner city. The centre now offers over 600 programme places to more than 500 people per week where our youngest member is 2 and our eldest is 96. We also engage 75 active volunteers who share their time and skills each week for the benefit of others.

Adult Education – Computer Training Programme

One of tour biggest programmes is our computer classes. Each individual course runs for 10 weeks and each class is 1.5 hours in duration. With a maximum of 8 people per class and offering 12 different classes per week, this popular programme is offered to the entire community. It provides an opportunity for people to develop more confidence in themselves and in their skills and an improved sense of self-worth through a better understanding of computers and general IT. It also enhances peoples understanding of computers as an effective communication tool in today’s society leading to improved social Interaction and engagement through mobile technology, internet and email. Overall we aim to provide learners with new skills and with an improved and enhanced ability and confidence to engage positively in these communities.

A lot of our members can have had a negative experience of education in the past and it can be a big step for them to come back into any educational training. We therefore ensure we provide a very relaxed educational environment where their needs are at the centre of everything we do.

Overview of the Volunteer Role
One of the main aims of this programme is to assist local families and individuals in the basic and practical understanding of information technology and its value and use in today’s modern society. We offer courses to those who want to learn the basic skills and to those who have these skills but want to take them to the next level. Programmes offered range from complete introduction and beginner’s classes, improver’s levels, computer maintenance and management, mobile technology (phones, tablets), as well as internet and email focused classes.

To reach our full potential and to achieve our goals in the classes, we are constantly seeking new volunteers to share their IT skills and to teach these classes in an informal setting. Our classes are focused on the needs of the individuals who take them. We operate course content outlines for each class offering participants a guideline to what they will learn. Within these guidelines we run the classes according to the participant’s skill levels and learning abilities. Volunteers are not required to be fully qualified IT teachers as the focus is on sharing their own IT skills with participants to achieve these goals.

Tasks

Preparation of the classes according to a given course outline
To implement and adhere to the ‘Computer Centre Policies and Procedures’
Take class attendance on a daily basis
Teach the computer class
Supervise the group
Act as a mentor and help the people with their learning goals
Motivate and encourage the group to use their computers and mobile technology
To attend team meetings and training days if/when possible
To follow the policies and procedures of Ozanam House which can be found in the induction pack or in the office
Other general responsibilities in the context of the role as agreed with the co-ordinator

Time commitment

The computer centre is open Monday to Friday and the classes run as follows:

morning classes 10:30am – 12:00pm
afternoon classes 2:30pm – 4:00pm
evening classes 7:00pm – 8:30pm

(the exact days and times of classes you will work with will be agreed between the volunteer and the programme co-ordinator). The volunteer should commit to a minimum period of nine months. This covers 3 terms with each term lasting 10 weeks. This offers consistency to a class level and offers the volunteer the opportunity to develop that class well over this time, maximising the benefit of you as a teacher to the learners.

Other Volunteer roles

In addition, we welcome applications from potential volunteers who have specific expertise or skills which they can contribute. For example, volunteers in the past have delivered courses in desktop publishing, digital photography and mobile phone use (smart phones). Based on the skills offered we can tailor a course for a term of 10 weeks. The time commitment for these volunteers will be agreed in advance with the co-ordinator.

Skills, Experience & Qualities Required

Willingness to share your computer and technology knowledge
Good organizational skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – vital in a supportive role
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
High motivation and engagement to be a volunteer over a longer period of time
Ability to relate well to people and enjoy dealing with them
Patience, resilience, tolerance and flexibility
Self-confidence and general ease with other people
Understanding of and commitment to the ethos of volunteering, community initiative and the organisation
Experience with adult learners of mixed learning capacities is an advantage but not essential
Experience in teaching computers would be an advantage but not essential as classes are very learner centric and informal

Training & Induction

The volunteer will attend an induction/information night in the centre prior to his/her first engagement and will get a general information pack to become familiar with the centre and our procedures
The volunteer will have an initial meeting with the co-ordinator to receive a role-specific induction and to agree a timetable and schedule of duties in line with the volunteer role description
Team meetings with our team of computer teachers take place each term, as well as individual training programmes that will be provided if/where necessary

Support & Supervision

The co-ordinator will be responsible for the supervision of the volunteer. Volunteers will meet with their co-ordinator either in one-to-one meetings, or in team meetings meetings to discuss ongoing progress and any issues arising.

General volunteer meetings, for all volunteers, will take place twice a year, in May and November.

Benefits

Personal and professional development
Sharing knowledge that can help others enrich other peoples’ lives
Opportunity to work in and learn about a community resource centre
Opportunity to build up valuable work experience
To be part of a progressive and energetic team supporting others to achieve their goals and to improve their lives.

Contact

Adult Choir – Teacher

Our organisation & the programme

Our Adult Education programmes are extensive and vary from creative courses, like Arts & Crafts and Choir, Health & Wellness, Home & Life Skills, Computers classes and many, many more. It caters to different levels and these courses are an ideal springboard into further education.

Overview of the Volunteer Role
We try to nurture and build on the unique skills our volunteers possess and bring to the centre and we do this through supporting them to facilitate sessions with the adult education programmes. Our Adult Choir class offers an affordable space in a fun and friendly choral group. We cater for all abilities and levels.

It is open on Wednesdays from 12.30pm to 1.30pm, throughout the academic year.

Tasks

To prepare a 10 week course plan in advance of each term
To source materials required to undertake the courses, these will be funded by the centre
To ensure the room and space are prepared and ready for the participants in advance of the class
To lead and teach the class
To review activities with the programme coordinator implementing changes where necessary
To follow the policies and procedures of Ozanam House which can be found in the induction pack or in the office

Time commitment

12.30pm – 1.30-pm for a ten-week term (Next term September 25^th to December 4^th 2019)

The volunteer should consider committing to the time of the classes/workshops plus extra time for the planning and preparation of the classes/workshops.

Skills, Experience & Qualities Required

Expertise and skill in singing
Fun and Energy when teaching your skill to a group of enthusiastic adults
Ability to relate well to people and enjoy dealing with them
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Good organizational skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Patience, resilience, tolerance and flexibility
Previous workshop experience is desirable but not essential

Training & Support

The volunteer will have an initial meeting with the co-ordinator to receive a role-specific induction and to agree a timetable and schedule of duties in line with the volunteer role description
The volunteer will receive support at all times of the programme staff – class leaders and assistants.
Special support will be given by the programme coordinator in advance for planning the workshop.

Benefits

Personal and professional development
Sharing knowledge that can help others enrich their lives
Learn new skills (e.g decision-making and finding alternatives, leadership skills, communication skills, organizational skills, behavioural competencies)
The chance to contribute towards the development of people to enhance their sense of self-worth and belief
To make a difference in people’s lives
Opportunity to use and develop skills and talents
Opportunity to bring ideas on board and develop the centre
Opportunity to work in a relaxed atmosphere and learn about a community resource centre
Opportunity to develop friendships and meaningful relationships with like-minded peers
Opportunity to build up valuable work experience
Tea and coffee will be provided for all volunteers

If you have a skill or qualification in an area that you feel will benefit Ozanam House
please contact us!
A meeting will be arranged.

Contact

Adult Education – Arts & Crafts Volunteer

Our organisation

Adult Education – Arts & Crafts Programme

One of the programmes referred to above is our Arts & Crafts class. The class runs for 10 weeks and each class is 2 hours in duration. The Arts & Crafts class offers members of the community a chance to get out and learn new skills or practice old ones, a chance to develop their sense of self-worth and self-belief, a chance to gain some respite from daily life, a chance to relax and meet new friends, a chance to put themselves first in a world where they may give over so much of themselves to others.

Overview of the volunteer role

To reach our full potential and to achieve our goals in the centre we are constantly seeking new volunteers to come on board to share their skills and knowledge with people undertaking Arts & Crafts classes.

Tasks

Take class attendance
To prepare the class in advance
To consult the service users when planning activities
Deliver safe, fun and creative Arts & Crafts classes, sensitive to the needs and abilities of participants
Responsibility for overall set up and clean up
Supervise the group with first priority on their safety
Participate in the class and come to the aid of the participants
Introduce new members to the group and ensure all members are included and engaged in the activity
To attend team meetings and training days if/when possible
To follow the policies and procedures of Ozanam House which can be found in the induction pack or in the office
Other general responsibilities in the context of the role as agreed with the co-ordinator

Time commitment

The Arts & Crafts classes run each Monday and Wednesday from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
The Arts & Crafts volunteer should commit to one class per week plus extra time for the preparation of the class (the exact times and days of working will be agreed between the volunteer and the programme co-ordinator). The volunteer should commit to a minimum period of nine months. This covers 3 terms with each term lasting 10 weeks. This offers consistency to a class level and offers the volunteer the opportunity to develop that class well over time.

Skills, Experience & Qualities Required

Experience and skills in Arts & Crafts
A keen interest in Arts & Crafts activities
Experience in Group Instruction or teaching is an advantage but not essential
Creativity and Imagination
Patience, resilience, tolerance and flexibility
Ability to relate well to people and enjoy dealing with them
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Self-confidence and general ease with other people
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – vital in a supportive role
Good organizational skills and basic administration skills
Good level of English
High motivation and engagement to be a volunteer over a longer period of time
Commitment to the ethos of volunteering and community based initiative

Training & Induction

The volunteer will receive an induction/information night in the centre prior to his/her first inset and will get a general information pack to become familiar with the centre and our procedures
The volunteer will have an initial meeting with the co-ordinator to receive a role-specific induction and to agree a timetable and schedule of duties in line with the volunteer role description
Team meetings take place each term, as well as individual training programmes that will be provided if/where necessary

Support & Supervision

Benefits

Personal and professional development
Sharing knowledge that can help others enrich their lives
To be part of a progressive and energetic team supporting others to improve their lives
Opportunity to work in and learn about a community resource centre
Opportunity to build up valuable work experience
Tea and coffee will be provided for all class participants and volunteers

Contact

Youth Programmes – Audio & Visual Club Leader

Our organisation & the programme

Ozanam House is a community resource centre run by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. It is located on the site of the original clothing and furniture warehouse in a building that has also been used by the Society for a variety of purposes for over 100 years. Since our opening in September 2002, we have continued to develop various programmes and projects aimed at addressing the issue of social exclusion as well as the many needs of the local community in Dublin’s north inner city. The centre now offers over 600 programme places to more than 500 people per week where our youngest member is 3 and our eldest is 94. We also engage 75 active volunteers who share their time and skills each week for the benefit of others.

One of the programmes referred to above is our Youth Programmes. These programmes are broken into age-specific groups:

The Ozanam Youth Groups are open for all children from the age of 6 to 12 years with a maximum number of 60 registered in the groups.
The Senior Youth Service is open for young people from the age of 13 to 18 years with a maximum of 40 young people registered in the groups

Audio & Visual Club Leader for Senior Youth Service

Overview of the Volunteer Role

We try to nurture and build on the unique skills our volunteers possess and bring to the centre and we do this through supporting them to facilitate sessions with the youth groups.

Our Audio and Visual Club will be one of the workshops undertaken as part of our Senior Youth Service. The club aims to promote the young peoples’ technical skills when it comes to using equipment relating to podcasts and video production. This involves recording using microphones and cameras and editing the material using software like Abobé Premiere Pro and Audition.

Tasks

With guidance and support of the Youth Work coordinator, to prepare these courses in advance gearing the content of the classes/workshops appropriate to the needs and skills of the young people
To act as a leader and facilitate this series of workshops in our Youth Service
To source materials to undertake the courses, these will be funded by the centre
To ensure the room and space are prepared and ready for the participants in advance of the class starting
To lead the class with the support at all times of the programme team – volunteer leaders and assistants
To review activities with the Youth Work programme coordinator implementing changes where necessary
To follow the policies and procedures of Ozanam House which can be found in the induction pack or in the office
To review the workshops & programme when developing the next stage and further workshops.

Time commitment

Wednesdays 7.15 – 8.45pm

This club is planned to take place in the next term year; September 2019 to June 2020.

It is hoped that the volunteer will stay with the programme for that period. The exact times and dates of the workshop will be agreed between the volunteer and the Youth Work coordinator.

The volunteer should consider committing to the time of the group above plus extra time for the planning and preparation of the classes/workshops.

Skills, Experience & Qualities Required

Expertise and specific skill in audio/visual recording and production
Fun and Energy when teaching your skill to a group of young people
Ability to relate well to young people and enjoy dealing with them
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Good organizational skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Self-confidence towards other people
Patience, resilience, tolerance and flexibility
Previous workshop experience is desirable but not essential
Knowledge of mentioned software

Training & Support

The volunteer will have an initial meeting with the Youth Work coordinator to receive a role-specific induction and to agree on a timetable and schedule of duties in line with the volunteer role description
The volunteer will receive support at all times from the programme team – coordinator, volunteers, leaders and assistants.
Special support will be given by the programme coordinator in advance for planning the workshop.

Benefits

Personal and professional development
Sharing knowledge that can help others enrich their lives
Learn new skills (e.g decision-making and finding alternatives, leadership skills, communication skills, organizational skills, behavioural competencies)
The chance to contribute towards the development of children and young people to enhance their sense of self-worth and belief
To make a difference in young people’s lives
Opportunity to use and develop skills and talents
Opportunity to bring ideas on board and develop the centre
Opportunity to work in a relaxed atmosphere and learn about a community resource centre
Opportunity to develop friendships and meaningful relationships with like-minded peers
Opportunity to build up valuable work experience

If you have a skill or qualification in an area that you feel will benefit Ozanam House
please contact us!
A meeting will be arranged.

Contact

YOUTH PROGRAMMES MUSICAL DRAMA TEACHER

Our organisation & the programme

Ozanam House is a community resource centre run by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. It is located on the site of the original clothing and furniture warehouse in a building that has also been used by the Society for a variety of purposes for over 100 years. Since our opening in September 2002, we have continued to develop various programmes and projects aimed at addressing the issue of social exclusion as well as the many needs of the local community in Dublin’s north inner city. The centre now offers over 600 programme places to more than 500 people per week where our youngest member is 3 and our eldest is 94. We also engage 75 active volunteers who share their time and skills each week for the benefit of others.

One of the programmes referred to above is our Youth Programmes. These programmes are broken into 3 categories:

Youth Clubs: social activity and youth work-based clubs for age-specific groups (6-12 and 13-18 years).
Music Club: lessons in guitar, violin, piano, singing and dance.
Academic Support Groups: providing tuition, guidance and support to junior and leaving cert students

Musical Drama Teacher

Overview of the Role

We try to nurture and build on the unique skills our volunteers possess and bring to the centre and we do this through supporting them to facilitate sessions with the youth groups.

Our Music Club offers affordable music lessons to children and young people from ages 6 to 14 years old. We offer a range of classes throughout the day with Guitar, Violin, Piano, Singing and Dance classes.

We cater for absolute beginners and intermediate level students, and we provide all musical instruments needed.

It is open on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm, throughout the academic year.

We now need a teacher of ‘musical drama’ to teach this class to the children.

This class includes singing and drama, theatrical skills and music. The class will run for one hour during the club times above.

Tasks

To prepare these classes in advance
To source any materials required to undertake the classes, these will be funded by the centre
To ensure the room and space are prepared and ready for the participants in advance of the class starting
To lead and teach the class with the support at all times of the programme team – class leaders and assistants
To review activities with the Youth Groups coordinator implementing changes where necessary
To follow the policies and procedures of Ozanam House which can be found in the induction pack or in the office

Time commitment

Saturday 11.30am-1.30pm

September 2019 to June 2020

The volunteer should consider committing to the time of the classes/workshops plus extra time for the planning and preparation of the classes/workshops.

Skills, Experience & Qualities Required

Expertise and specific skill in a musical theatre, singing, drama and/or dance
Fun and Energy when teaching your skill to a group of young people
Ability to relate well to young people and enjoy dealing with them
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Good organizational skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Self-confidence towards other people
Patience, resilience, tolerance and flexibility
Previous teaching experience is desirable but not essential

Training & Support

The volunteer will have an initial meeting with the co-ordinator to receive a role-specific induction and to agree on a timetable and schedule of duties in line with the volunteer role description
The volunteer will receive support at all times of the programme team – class leaders and assistants.
Special support will be given by the programme coordinator in advance for planning the classes.

Benefits

Personal and professional development
Sharing knowledge that can help others enrich their lives
Learn new skills (e.g decision-making and finding alternatives, leadership skills, communication skills, organizational skills, behavioural competencies)
The chance to contribute towards the development of children and young people to enhance their sense of self-worth and belief
To make a difference in young people’s lives
Opportunity to use and develop skills and talents
Opportunity to bring ideas on board and develop the centre
Opportunity to work in a relaxed atmosphere and learn about a community resource centre
Opportunity to develop friendships and meaningful relationships with like-minded peers
Opportunity to build up valuable work experience

If you have a skill or qualification in an area that you feel will benefit Ozanam House
please contact us!
A meeting will be arranged

Contact

Volunteer Roles Youth Programmes

Volunteers – Youth Programmes

About the Youth Programmes:
Our Youth Programmes are broken into age specific groups:

The Ozanam Youth Groups are open for all children from the age of 6 to 13 years with a maximum number of 45 registered in the groups.
The Senior Youth Service is open for young people from the age of 13 to 18 years with a maximum of 20 young people registered in the groups.

These groups are multi activity social and skill based programmes that give children and young people a chance to find their hidden sometimes buried talents in a safe, fun, learning and social environment. The young people not only develop skills, but also develop new lifelong friendships and a respect for themselves and those around them as well as an enhanced sense of self-worth and belief that is immeasurable in today’s society. They achieve this with the support of our volunteers who work with us to create this safe environment.

Overview of the Volunteer Role:
Each week, we organize activities such as cookery, computers, arts & crafts, sports and music to name but a few. The volunteer leaders support the young people in the activities, engaging with the young people, acting as mentors and role models throughout.

Perhaps the most important function of the groups is the educational and community support that is offered by our volunteer leaders. This support aids and assists the personal development of the children and young people in the centre.

Our Volunteers not only support the children and young people but also each other. This support means volunteers are able to share their learning in the role and to benefit from each others experience, sharing knowledge and skills.

To reach our full potential and to achieve our goals in the group, we are constantly seeking new volunteers to support the youth co-ordinator deliver a quality and professional programme to the children and young people ensuring a standard level of safety and fun environment within each group.

Tasks for Volunteers:

Attend the Child Protection Training session.
Attend team planning meetings each term.
Help prepare for the groups.
Take part in activities and spend time with the children and young people.
Be a role model for the children and young people and help them with their activities.
Supervise the group together with other volunteers.
Attend outings and trips to provide support to co-ordinator, if requested and if available.
Attend and contribute to debriefings after the classes with other volunteers.
Work as part of a volunteer team within a really supportive environment where everybody helps each other, giving and taking ongoing feedback and support between all volunteers.
Attend team meetings every term to assist the co-ordinator with planning, organising, developing and running the programme.
Support the implementation of restorative practice as a procedure for conflict resolution in the group.
Volunteers with talents, skills and qualifications in specific activities are encouraged to teach classes if comfortable doing so, with the support and guidance of the coordinator.
To attend meetings and training days if/when applicable.
To follow the policies and procedures of Ozanam House which can be found in the induction pack or in the office.
Other general responsibilities in the context of the role as agreed with the co-ordinator.

Time Commitment:
The group takes place on the following days:

Ozanam Youth Groups
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00pm to 6:30 pm.

Senior Youth Service
Wednesday and Thursday from 7:15pm to 8:30pm.

Our expectation is that volunteers commit to one group on one day – 2 hours each week (the exact times and days of working will be agreed between the volunteer and the programme co-ordinator).

The volunteer should commit to a minimum period of nine months. If the volunteer knows in advance that he or she can only commit to a shorter period of time, the volunteer should let the coordinator know.

Skills Experience and Qualities:

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish good relationships with children and young people.
Strong commitment and enthusiasm to children and young people and an understanding of the factors affecting their lives.
Interest and commitment to developing the capacity to provide reliable support to children and young people in times of stress and act with integrity, respect and support.
Good organizational skills.
Good level of energy and good commitment to having fun.
An accepting and non-authoritarian approach.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Reliability, patience, resilience and flexibility.
Ability to treat children and young people’s concerns with respect, tact and sensitivity.
Ability to be aware of own limits, to admit it and to ask for support.
An openness to learning and developing further good practices when working and supporting young people.
Previous experience is desirable but not essential.

Recruiting Senior Youth Services Volunteers

Ozanam House is now recruiting volunteers for its Senior Youth Service programme, to help out on Tuesdays.

Our organisation

Ozanam House is a community resource centre run by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. It is located on the site of the original clothing and furniture warehouse in a building that has also been used by the Society for a variety of purposes for over 100 years. Since our opening in September 2002 we have continued to develop various programmes and projects aimed at addressing the issue of social exclusion as well as the many needs of the local community in Dublin’s north inner city. The centre now offers over 600 programme places to more than 500 people per week where our youngest member is 2 and our eldest is 96. We also engage 75 active volunteers who share their time and skills each week for the benefit of others.

One of the programmes referred to above is our Youth Programmes. These programmes are broken into age specific groups:

The Ozanam Youth Groups are open for all children from the age of 6 to 13 years with a maximum number of 45 registered in the groups.
The Senior Youth Service is open for young people from the age of 13 to 18 years with a maximum of 20 young people registered in the groups

Overview of the Volunteer Role
Each week, we organize activities such as cookery, computers, arts & crafts, sports and music to name but a few. We try to nurture and build on the unique skills our volunteers possess and bring to the centre and we do this through supporting them to facilitate sessions with the youth groups.

This support can help identify an area of expertise and specific skills that can be used to facilitate a series of workshops that would benefit one of the centre’s programmes.

The volunteer leaders support the young people in the activities, engaging with the young people, acting as mentors and role models throughout.

To reach our full potential and to achieve our goals in the group, we are constantly seeking new volunteers to facilitate group sessions and support the youth co-ordinator deliver a quality and professional programme to the children and young people ensuring a standard level of safety and fun environment within each group.

Tasks

Attend the Child Protection Training session
Attend team planning meetings each term
Help prepare for the groups
Take part in activities and spend time with the children and young people
Be a role model for the children and young people and help them with their activities
Supervise the group together with other volunteers
Attend outings and trips to provide support to co-ordinator, if requested and if available
Attend and contribute to debriefings after the classes with other volunteers
Work as part of a volunteer team within a really supportive environment where everybody helps each other, giving and taking ongoing feedback and support between all volunteers
Attend team meetings every term to assist the co-ordinator with planning, organising, developing and running the programme
Support the implementation of restorative practice as a procedure for conflict resolution in the group
Volunteers with talents, skills and qualifications in specific activities are encouraged to teach classes if comfortable doing so, with the support and guidance of the coordinator
To attend meetings and training days if/when applicable
To follow the policies and procedures of Ozanam House which can be found in the induction pack or in the office
Other general responsibilities in the context of the role as agreed with the co-ordinator

Time commitment

The group takes place on the following days:

Ozanam Youth Groups: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 5:00pm to 6:30pm

Senior Youth Service: Wednesday and Thursday 7:15pm to 8:30pm.

Our expectation is that volunteers commit to one group on one day – 2 hours each week (the exact times and days of working will be agreed between the volunteer and the programme co-ordinator). The volunteer should commit to a minimum period of nine months. If the volunteer knows in advance that he or she can only commit to a shorter period of time, the volunteer should let the coordinator know.

Other volunteers
In addition, we welcome applications from potential volunteers who have specific expertise or skills which they can contribute. For example, volunteers in the past have delivered training in specific areas such as arts and crafts, cooking, film making, graffiti art or in sports. The time commitment for these volunteers will vary and be agreed in advance with the co-ordinator.

Skills, Experience & Qualities

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish good relationships with children and young people.
Strong commitment and enthusiasm to children and young people and an understanding of the factors affecting their lives.
Interest and commitment to developing the capacity to provide reliable support to children and young people. in times of stress and act with integrity, respect and support.
Good organizational skills.
Good level of energy and good commitment to having fun.
An accepting and non-authoritarian approach.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Reliability, patience, resilience and flexibility.
Ability to treat children and young people’s concerns with respect, tact and sensitivity.
Ability to be aware of own limits, to admit it and to ask for support.
An openness to learning and developing further good practices when working and supporting young people.
Previous experience is desirable but not essential.

Training & Induction

The volunteer will receive an induction/information night in the centre prior to his/her first inset and will get a general information pack to become familiar with the centre and our procedures.
The volunteer will have an initial meeting with the co-ordinator to receive a role-specific induction and to agree a timetable and schedule of duties in line with the volunteer role description.
At this meeting the volunteer will have a support volunteer appointed to them. This person will have been working with the group for some time and will provide initial guidance, advice and support to the new volunteer.
Child Protection Training will be provided within the first few weeks. This training is compulsory and will inform the volunteer of the protection and welfare of children under the Children’s Act 1997 and best practices when working with children and young people.
Team meetings take place each term, as well as individual training programmes that will be provided if/where necessary.

Support & Supervision

The co-ordinator will be responsible for the supervision of the volunteer. Volunteers will meet with their co-ordinator either in one-to-one meetings, or in larger group meetings to discuss ongoing progress and any issues arising.
General volunteer meetings, for all volunteers, will take place twice a year, in May and November.
Furthermore there will be a specific volunteer information session for the youth groups in January and September. Aim of this session is to get together, set an outline for the following period and explain the expectations for the volunteers in detail.

Benefits

General happiness and satisfaction.
Personal and professional development in terms of confidence, patience, adaptability.
Learn new skills (e.g decision-making and finding alternatives, leadership skills, communication skills, organizational skills, behavioural competencies).
The chance to contribute towards the development of children and young people to enhance their sense of self-worth and belief.
To make a difference in young people’s lives.
Opportunity to use and develop skills and talents.
Opportunity to bring ideas on board and develop the centre.
Opportunity to work in a relaxed atmosphere.
Opportunity to develop friendships and meaningful relationships with like-minded peers.
Opportunity to build up valuable work experience.
Tea and coffee will be provided for all volunteers.

If you are interested in this role, please contact us now!

Phone: 01-8742804
Email: [email protected]