Volunteer Working Journeys - Star Mentors

What will you be doing?

Volunteer Mentors will provide mentoring sessions for adults with learning disability who would like to progress in to work.  Clients on our Working Journeys programme will already be working with specialist Work Coaches and Learning Disability Support Workers daily to develop their skills, gain experience and confidence. As a Volunteer Mentor you can bring insights and skills from the workplace, helping a small ratio of Clients on programme to take the final steps in to work itself. 3 + years experience is essential.

What are we looking for?

Journey's Clients typically will look for part-time paid work in catering/hospitality, leisure and retail, and in manual occupations such as gardening and woodwork. Volunteers who have worked in these Sectors are particularly welcome, in addition to Volunteer Mentors who can support skills such as communication, team working, following instructions, time keeping, IT and following health & safety protocols.

What difference will you make?

This high profile programme is funded by the Henry Smith Charity and by TNL Community Foundation for three years.  170 adults with complex learning disability will take part, developing work skills for volunteering roles supporting the community, and, for a smaller ratio, to enter paid part-time work or self-employment. Pre Covid 5% of adults with learning disability were in work in our region.  Post Covid this has fallen to 3.4%.  At Journey 63% of adults in our pre Covid employability programme progressed in to volunteering, part-time paid work or self-employment. We believe, like our Clients, that adults with learning disability should be able to lead active, inclusive and fulfilling lives including working lives, if the right opportunity can be found, matching their skills with employers' needs.