“Our volunteers make a tremendous difference and enrich the residents’ lives. They come along every week to the coffee morning and will also accompany residents out on their monthly outings and activities. Not only do they make the tea, they often bring along home baking, home-made jam, samosas and other delights. As well as helping out, they enrich the residents’ lives by sharing their own stories and their life experiences. It’s magic!” Louise Muir, manager at St. Mary’s Gardens, Barrhead
Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It offers many benefits for the individuals who volunteer, the organisations to which they contribute and society as a whole.
At Hanover we believe that every person should have the opportunity to make and maintain friends and connections to support their health and enjoyment of life. Social isolation and loneliness can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life, their physical and mental health, and their ability to live independently. That’s why we have a dedicated Volunteer team at Hanover to recruit and coordinate a bank of volunteers across Scotland. Our volunteer bank includes Hanover employees, Hanover customers and or other members of the local community.
Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering not only enriches the lives of others, but our volunteers can also benefit by:
- Helping older people in your community to stay connected and to be less socially isolated
- Helping older adults in your community to remain active and independent
- Personal development
- Making new friends
- Valuable experience for work/college
Volunteer Roles
Below are the various types of volunteer position that you can get involved in.
Volunteer Digital Buddy
The Role:
Hanover Scotland is looking for Volunteer Digital Buddies to help people get the most out of technology. We will support older people to use technology, from setting up a new computer device, to helping to install digital smart TV, to internet shopping, smart phones and many more digital outcomes. The role will take place in our local development or face-to-face in the older person’s home. You don’t have to be a tech guru to help out. If you use a computer at home or work, and perhaps support family and friends with their tech issues, you are likely to have the skills we are looking for. This is a fantastic opportunity to help make a real difference for our older people to maintain or increase their independence and well-being.
Skills & Experience:
You don’t need to be an expert in technology or tutoring, but as long as you have the willingness to help, are patient and have confidence in your own digital skills, you’ll be a great Digital Buddy! Being fond of a chat is also helpful too, as this will help you build a rapport with your learner and find some common ground to start from. Other qualities we look for include:
- Problem – solving approach
- Patience and good people skills
- Reliability and flexibility
- A willingness to learn new skills and concepts
Volunteer Befriender
The Role:
The Volunteer Befriender helps residents who feel isolated or unable to get out very easily on their own by giving time on a one to one basis to help a person maintain social contact, provide companionship and reduce loneliness and social isolation. Volunteer befrienders build a positive relationship with an individual and visit them on a regular basis in their own home. This could mean spending some time with a person for an hour or two every week/fortnight – we also encourage getting out and about for a coffee or short walk. Generally, befrienders are there to chat and get to know someone, and have fun. They support the person to continue with existing interests, whilst encouraging them to embark on new activities.
Skill & Experience:
No qualifications are necessary. We are looking for volunteers who are interested in working with older people, have good communication and listening skills, are reliable and willing to work as part of a team.
Volunteer Gardener
The Role:
Hanover Scotland is looking for Volunteer Gardeners to assist with general light gardening activities in our residents’ areas to provide an attractive and enhanced environment. Garden maintenance includes weeding, pruning, tidying and path maintenance. Volunteers will have access to tools required for the role.
Skills & Experience:
No Horticultural qualifications are necessary, as long as you have the willingness to help, are patient and have confidence in your own gardening skills. Being fond of a chat is helpful too, as this will help you build a rapport with our residents. Other qualities we look for include:
- Patience and good people skills
- Reliability and flexibility
- Working experience of general gardening duties
Volunteer Social Activity Assistant
The Role:
The Social Activity Assistant helps residents make full use of the communal lounge by assisting with a range of social activities. We are looking for Volunteers to support our customers with a revolving programme of social activities, including:
- Organising activities in liaison with customers, employees and potentially other volunteers
- Support residents with this activity
- Preparing communal areas for group activities
- Assist with serving refreshments
- Encourage additional social activities
- Spending time out and about on Social Outings
Volunteer duties:
- Set up residents lounge area for social activities
- Run activities in conjunction with resident
- Assist with food and refreshments
- Clear away after activity
- Socialise with residents
Skills & Experience:
No qualifications are necessary. We are looking for volunteers who are interested in working with older people, have good communication and listening skills, are reliable and willing to work as part of a team.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Hanover, please contact Jim Brown, our Volunteer Co-ordinator:
