Volunteer Buddy scheme

For people who are faced with barriers to employment, achieving a positive experience of work can be very difficult.

Central to the activity of CheckIn Works is the management of an innovative employment Buddy Scheme. When required, we can provide a new employee with a fully trained volunteer buddy to work with them before and after starting work. This innovative and flexible support mechanism ensures that new employees receive appropriate individual support as they prepare for, and enter, mainstream employment.

Why become a Buddy

Thousands of people in the UK derive immense satisfaction by participating in some type of volunteering activity. By working as a volunteer Buddy you can provide the vital support that is needed initially by vulnerable individuals who are keen to start work and become more independent.

You’ll also be supporting the work of some really worthwhile local voluntary organisations that make a huge difference in the day-to-day lives of local people.

As a trained volunteer Buddy, you’ll be sharing your confidence, skills, life and work experience with individuals who need some extra support and encouragement when getting ready for, and starting, a new job.

Each buddying opportunity will be a unique experience. The length of time the individual needs a buddy will depend on the level of support an individual needs

Buddies have a wide scope for undertaking a range of stimulating activities; these include:

• Developing a positive helping relationship and maintaining appropriate boundaries with the individual.
• Supporting an individual gain the skills, confidence and knowledge required for employment.
• Helping the individual prepare for interview and pre-employment visits and attending with them if necessary.
• Accompanying the individual to/from work initially.
• Liaising, when necessary, between new employees, employers and support organisations.
• Encouraging and facilitating an individual’s attendance at relevant College courses, job skills training and other employability events.

Anyone over 18 years old can apply to become a Buddy. CheckIn Works is keen to recruit volunteers who can demonstrate their commitment to supporting individuals who face significant barriers to sustainable employment.

We’re not looking for miracle workers. We are looking for enthusiastic people who can offer their commitment to support people who want to work in mainstream employment settings. This is challenging and rewarding volunteer work and there are great benefits for everyone.

If you can offer up to six hours per week then we’d like to hear from you. We’ll provide you with an excellent support package, including initial buddy preparation and training, volunteer expenses, ongoing support and feedback.

The volunteer Buddy role may especially suit people who are retired, people currently working part-time and those who are keen to gain meaningful social care/community work experience before changing careers or applying for a relevant training programme (e.g. HNC Social Care or BA Social Work/Community Education etc.).

Buddy preparation

Throughout the year the CheckIn ten-week preparation programmes to new Buddies. Training sessions take place weekly (evening or daytime programmes available) and each session last around 2½ hours.

This enjoyable and stimulating programme values your participation in a supportive and welcoming group environment. The learning activities encourage you to share your own experiences and learn from those of others. We promote the values of respect and confidentiality in all aspects of our programme delivery.

The preparation programme activities focus on

• aims and objectives of the buddying process
• developing effective helping relationships
• effective use of basic counselling skills
• working positively with challenging behaviour
• promoting anti-discriminatory practice
• disability and mental health awareness
• understanding the employment context

A Certificate of Achievement will be presented to those successfully completing the programme.

When working, Buddies will be encouraged to participate in regular support and feedback sessions both on a one-to-one and team basis.

How do I become a volunteer?

To apply

If you would like more information about the employment Buddy Scheme then please contact James Alexander at CheckIn Works for an informal discussion about opportunities available and when the next buddy preparation course starts.

We’ll send you information about what’s in our preparation programme and an application form.