• Volunteer Assistant Learning Facilitator
• Volunteer Learning Facilitator
• Lunch Club Volunteer
• Volunteer Drama Workshop Assistants
• Volunteer Young Peoples Project Assistants

Supervisors:
Jo Watts, Aroose Uppal, Saffiena Khan

Purpose:
To support Volunteer Facilitators in planning and facilitating groups which help women new to the country learn, speak and practice English– encouraging people new to the country to become confident and able to speak English. Assistant Facilitators work with groups and individuals here at St. Mary’s or within a satellite setting. St. Mary’s staff have excellent knowledge and contacts within the community coupled with insight into the learning process, Volunteer Assistant Facilitators to offer input into the planning, materials and learning needs of the group they are allocated to support. Assistants are also required to run classes in the absence of the Volunteer Facilitator.

As a volunteer you will be supported to fulfil the tasks below and you will be given full induction training. Paid members of staff carry responsibility for the overall effective running of English Language Provision.

Tasks will include:
• Input into the preparation and delivery of learning plans which help learners speak English
• Attend volunteer training, feedback and review sessions which support the development of the volunteers and learners
• Engage and enthuse learners promoting an environment which supports learning
• Share skills, experience and learning resources and best practice with other volunteers / staff
• Engage with the development of social and learning networks within the group
• Support and befriend new volunteers who join the project
• Carry out all of the above in relation to equal opportunities and health and safety policies of St. Mary’s

Skills and qualities needed:
• An interest in reciprocal learning
• Excellent communication skills
• An interest in people, cultures and beliefs
• Good planning and organization skills
• Commitment to support and encourage learning
• Flexibility and ability to use initiative

Time Commitment:
A minimum of one 3 hour class per work for a six month period plus training and review meetings (usually 1 each half term lasting approximately 3 hours).

> Back to top

Supervisors:
Jo Watts, Aroose Uppal, Saffiena Khan

Purpose:
To plan and deliver learning activities which equipping people new to the country with the confidence to speak English in a range of day to day situations. Volunteer facilitators help groups develop a curriculum to achieve set learning targets. St. Mary’s staff have excellent knowledge and contacts within the community, a sound knowledge into the process of learning and excellent links with The University of Sheffield’s English Language Teaching Centre. Volunteer Facilitators contribute to the planning, materials and learning needs of the group they are allocated to run.

As a volunteer you will be supported to fulfil the tasks below and you will be given full induction training. Paid members of staff carry responsibility for the overall effective running of English Language Provision.

Tasks will include:
• Use creative learning methods to plan and prepare interactive sessions which equip people new to the country with the confidence and ability to speak English in a range of day to day situations.
• Us formative assessment to identify learners abilities and group / plan lessons accordingly
• Facilitate sessions with groups of learners
• Attend training, feedback and review sessions which identify the progress of the classes
• Engage and enthuse learners promoting an interactive learning environment
• Share skills and experience and best practice with other volunteers / staff
• Participate in the social aspect of learning with other volunteers and staff
• Carry out all of the above in relation to equal opportunities and health and safety policies of St. Mary’s

Skills and qualities needed:
• Experience of ESOL / TEFL
• Excellent communication skills
• An interest in people, cultures and beliefs
• Good planning and organization skills
• Commitment to support and encourage learning
• Good planning and organization skills
• Flexibility and ability to use initiative

Time Commitment:
A minimum of one 3 hour class per work for a six month period plus appropriate supervision contact and six training sessions per years (each lasting approximately 3 hours).

> Back to top

Lunch Club Volunteer


At St Mary’s we have a thriving lunch club which meets each week. Our various entertainments range from massage, music, talks and exercise to bingo and raffle. We have two big outings a year, a seaside trip and a pantomime trip. Once a month we also have a very popular tea dance.

From September we will have Monday morning music sessions, and on other afternoons we have exercise classes and computer sessions. “Mary’s Marvellous”, our in-house café will be serving simple, fresh and tasty food on weekdays.

Volunteers are made to feel very welcome here, we value the time, energy, thoughts and dedication that you bring to St Mary’s.

What will you gain as a volunteer?
You will be able to build on any social or practical skills that you bring to this environment. Training in health and safety will be given, as will support at all times, and, we will provide references for you to take on with you to any work in the future. To work with this group of people is an incredible opportunity to learn about other people’s lives and how things used to be… we have an age range from 60 to almost 100 years old. You will learn a lot about yourself purely through the communication you will have with these individuals. It can be challenging but always interesting and rewarding.

As a volunteer you will be supported to fulfil the tasks below and you will be given full induction training. Paid members of staff carry responsibility for the overall, effective running of the drama workshops/projects.

Tasks at Lunch Club:
• Welcoming and chatting to older people
• Setting tables
• Clearing tables
• Waiting on (serving plated food)
• Serving teas and coffees
• Collecting money for bingo/raffle/dinners
• Calling bingo/raffle
• Counting money and form filling

Other jobs with older people
• Accompanying on short trips, with some physical help, conversation, attention
• Attending music and activity sessions
• Making people comfortable
• Serving teas and coffees
• Collecting money
• Driver - To pick older people up to bring in to St Mary’s to our sessions or to the café

> Back to top

Purpose:
To assist in delivering drama workshops which enable the individuals within each project to learn acting skills and techniques which will become transferrable skills within their everyday life. Promoting confidence, self-esteem, social skills and the understanding of themselves and others. As well as giving each group the unique opportunity to experience performance and the arts, by exploring various styles of performance , the history of theatre and the influential practitioners that have contributed to shaping performance today.

As a volunteer you will be supported to fulfil the tasks below and you will be given full induction training. Paid members of staff carry responsibility for the overall, effective running of the drama workshops/projects.

Tasks will include:
• To assist the staff team in the successful operation and development of performance and creative opportunities for the each group.
• To work fully and creatively within the team.
• Enthuse the group and promote an environment which supports learning, social development and fun.
• To assist and help facilitate the drama workshops ensuring that they are safe, creative and stimulating.
• To be willing to introduce new ideas for the drama workshops as well as developing existing work.
• To share skills, experience and best practice with other volunteers and staff.
• Listen to individuals within the group.
• Assess individuals and the groups abilities and progress.
• To attend training, review sessions and participate in regular appraisals.
• Help with setting up and packing away any equipment.
• To ensure the workshops space is free of hazards.
• To accompany the group on any off-site activities as required.
• To report any suspected cases of child abuse or abuse towards a vulnerable adult to your supervisor.
• Carry out all of the above in relation to equal opportunities and health and safety policies of Saint Mary’s.

Skills and Qualities needed:
• Excellent communication skills
• An interest in people and cultures
• A strong desire to support and encourage learning
• Commitment
• Flexibility and ability to use initiative
• Practical experience of performance/ the arts
• A genuine passion for performance and/or the arts
• The ability to inspire

Time Commitment:
Around two hours per week. Plus additional training and/or supervision.

> Back to top

Purpose:
To assist in the implementation of a varied youth club programme to encourage the development of children through play and relationship, ensuring they enjoy a wide range of activities and experiences.

As a volunteer you will be supported to fulfil the tasks below and you will be given a full induction and training. Paid members of staff carry responsibility for the overall, effective running of the youth club.

Tasks will include:
1. To assist the full time and other staff in the successful operation and development of play opportunities for children.
2. To assist in record keeping and participate in regular appraisals of the work.
3. To work fully and creatively within the team.
4. To assist in ensuring that the areas of play are kept clean and tidy and free of hazardous materials.
5. To supervise and help lead play activities, ensuring that they are fun, safe, creative and stimulating.
6. To introduce new ideas for games and activities for children to play.
7. Listen to the children.
8. Help with the setting up and packing away of any equipment.
9. To accompany children on off-site activities as required.
10. To follow safety procedures and instructions and report any unsafe conditions to the playscheme leader.
11. To report any suspected cases of child abuse to your supervisor.
12. To participate actively in supporting the principles and practices of equality of opportunity as laid down in the organisations Equal Opportunities Policy.

Skills and qualities needed:
• Excellent communication skills
• An interest in people and cultures
• Strong desire to support and encourage learning
• Commitment
• Flexibility and ability to use initiative

Supervision:
From Michelle Foulkes (senior youth worker)

> Back to top