Volunteers

If you are considering volunteering we hope the following information helps you find the opportunity you are looking for.

Volunteer Befrienders

What is a Volunteer Befriender ??

At Herts Aid we rely on our team of volunteers to enhance and expand the services we offer to
our service users. One very important service they provide is that of the Volunteer Befriender.

Every Volunteer has their own reason for being involved with Herts Aid, perhaps they have a
relative or friend who is living with, or has been affected by, HIV. Perhaps it is because we deal
with a topic that many people don’t know much about but want to understand, and they feel that
they may be able to help by giving their time and understanding to people who may feel socially
isolated and do not have anyone else they can talk to, and be open about their status.

INSIGHT

Since 1991, with the help of our volunteers, Herts aid has been able to offer a wide variety of lunch meetings, outings, quiz nights, Christmas parties, as well as befriending and emotional and practical support to all of our Service Users.

Volunteers are needed to do just about anything from light shopping; driving locally or to London for hospital visits, support at the newly diagnosed groups, to helping at the lunches and meetings. Time commitments can range from a few hours per month to as much time as you have available

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Herts aid asks all volunteers to fill in an application form to match your skills and availability with the type of activity as closely as possible. Once your application form has been received, you will be invited to an informal interview, which is an opportunity to discuss your possible role in the organisation, and for Herts Aid to see if you are suited to this work. Working at Herts Aid can be emotionally demanding, and Volunteers need to be self-aware as well as calm. Very demanding work or home commitments or lack of flexibility are likely to prevent you from becoming a Befriender, but you may still be able to become a volunteer and assist the organisation in other ways.

Herts Aid will offer you the opportunity to try something new, learn new skills and meet new people.

TRAINING

All Volunteers will receive a basic HIV and AIDS Awareness Training. Volunteers who are selected to train as Befrienders will have additional training which will include sessions on: confidentiality, listening skills, handling anger, setting and keeping boundaries and safer sex. This will be followed up by ongoing training, support and personal development.

TIME COMMITMENT

After training, Herts Aid Volunteers are expected to give a minimum of four hour’s per month. Befrienders will need to be somewhat flexible about their time commitment and may, on occasions, be asked to give more than the minimum commitment. Befrienders are also required to attend regular supervision sessions to review and support their work. Volunteers are asked to attend a meeting one evening every second month, and are invited to join occasional Volunteer Outings, which keep us all in touch and provide us with some fun and relaxation.

Want to apply?

You can either email us at volunteer@hertsaid.co.uk or Click here to Open the application form and print off. Then send to our address located on the Contact Us Page