Advocate (Supporting 16-25 Year Olds, Lincoln)

Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference. **Barnardo’s Advocates** empower children and young people experiencing the care system, to make sure that their rights are respected and their voices are heard at all times. Advocates represent the views, wishes and needs of young people, helping them to navigate the social care system at a very challenging and often scary time for the young person. We are looking for approachable and confident people, who are able to listen to young people, support them to make their voice heard and guide them through the social care system. You will need to be a great communicator and able to support and encourage young people to engage with professionals. **Lincolnshire Leaving Care Service supports care leavers aged 16-25 years old**. We operate across Lincolnshire with offices in Lincoln, Louth and Sleaford. We are looking for volunteers to support young people once a week. These young people often just need someone to listen to them and talk to them. It could just be going for a coffee or a walk as they are often on their own with no support. Possible tasks also include: Accompanying children and young people to attend meetings or attending on their behalf. Supporting young people to have their voices heard on decisions that affect them. Promoting and encouraging service users to make active choices and informed decisions. Encouraging and enabling service users to better participate with the service and opportunities provided, by ascertaining their views and ensuring their voice is heard. Providing emotional/moral support for children and young people, while maintaining an appropriate volunteer/service user rapport.
Barnardo's protects, supports and nurtures the UK's most vulnerable children. Barnardo's helps bring out the best in children – no matter who they are or what they have been through. Our volunteers help make this happen.

• Tasks: Accompanying children and young people to attend meetings or attending on their behalf.
  Supporting children to have their voices heard on decisions that affect them.
  Promoting and encouraging service users to make active choices and informed decisions.
  Encouraging and enabling service users to better participate with the service and opportunities provided, by ascertaining their views and ensuring their voice is heard.
  Providing emotional/moral support for children and young people, while maintaining an appropriate volunteer/service user rapport.
  Adhering to Barnardo's policies and procedures at all times, including Barnardo's: Safeguarding; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Health & Safety; Data Protection; Confidentiality; Recording policies and procedures.
  Participating fully in training and supervision.
  Volunteering within Barnardo's Basis and Values.

• Skills: Reliable, punctual and trustworthy.
  Approachable and welcoming.
  The ability to empathise with children, who may be facing difficult times in their lives.
  Awareness of factors impacting on and issues facing young people (e.g. Disadvantage, poverty, disabilities, health conditions including mental health).
  Being passionate about making a difference in the lives of children, young people and families.

• Benefits: Full induction and training.
  Other training opportunities relevant to the volunteer role.
  Regular supervision and support.
  Out of pocket expenses agreed in advance.
  Access to the Barnardo’s internal vacancy listing.
  Our volunteers tell us about lots of other benefits of volunteering including; experience of working with children, young people and families; experience for your CV; supporting your local community; meeting new people; increasing self-confidence; feeling like you are making a difference; improving your health and wellbeing; and a chance to contribute to a worthwhile children’s charity.

Disclaimer: We look to recruit a diverse range of volunteers. If your skills don't fit the role exactly, please do not let this put you off as we are able to be flexible with most of our roles. If you are unable to apply online through the link on this page, please contact the Barnardo's Volunteering Team on volunteering@barnardos.org.uk or call us on 0208 498 7320