About Lifelong Family Links

Lifelong Family Links is a member led voluntary organisation and  was establish in 1982 by a group of parents and professionals to offer support  and friendship to children and young people with disabilities/special needs, in a multicultural community.

Lifelong Family Links is mainly funded by the London Borough of Lambeth and other funding trust and foundations.

To find out more about our organisation and our volunteering opportunities please read through the information and complete the form on the back page of this booklet stating your preferred area of volunteering, and return it to Lifelong Family Links  alternatively you can also  visit our website at: www.lfl.org.uk.

Lifelong Family Links are heavily dependent on volunteers to assist in the effective running of the organisation; if you have a few hours to spare we can use and match your time and talents, whether you work for a big cooperation or manage your home your skills can be turned into volunteering opportunities.

As a voluntary organisation we are govern by a Management Committee consisting of: parents, interested professionals and lay members of our community who volunteer their time and skills in supporting our cause.

The specific areas in which one can volunteer on the Management Committee include those of: Chair, Treasurer, secretary and committee members. Meetings are 12 times per year, but Committee members are also invited to attend other related events during the course of their

Volunteer play workers: 

To assist along side play workers in the running of our monthly Saturday clubs (which incorporates children between the ages of 5-25)  and other related social and leisure events in which you will help to implement planned activities with more emphasis on fun (Enjoy and Achieve) than on the educational aspects.

As a volunteer play/youth worker, you also have the opportunity to volunteer at our After School Club which runs Monday-Fridays; 1530-1815 (3:30-6:15pm) or other short term projects which happens from time to time.

Our children and young people have disabilities and some challenging behaviours.

Volunteer youth workers:

Similar to the above but you will be volunteer with teenagers age range 12-25 in this volunteering opportunity you will often accompany the teenagers on outings which are planned to help promote their self esteem (making choices)  and other self help skills, including going to shopping centres, libraries and leisure events.

Volunteer Administrator:

We are face with many administrative duties which involved filing, use of the ICT equipment making up folders of Profiles for the young people, stock taking and many more. So if you skills lie in this area we would like to hear from you.

Volunteer Fundraiser

Many of our income has to been funded through applying for Finance to support our projects. If you have skills or experience in this area and feel you can share the expertise with us, we will be very grateful to hear from you. 

Volunteer Befrienders/Mentors

 If you have a few hours to spare, then this would be a great opportunity to offer a chance to a young person to make new friends and have fun outside their family home, with a hope of building trustful relationship, this will be on a 1-1 basis allowing them to access leisure activities e.g., cycling, bowling cinema or other interest as required by their parent(s)/ carer(s).

Volunteer 

The Benefits of Volunteering

 Volunteering is an activity which profits an organisation but is given:

•  Of one’s own free will without coercion
•  For no financial payment
•  To benefit the community and the volunteer
•  Volunteering is a way of building individual skills social networks and participation in the life of the community.
•  A pathway to paid employment
•  Volunteers are an important part of community organisations as they can make use of their current skills.

 
Skills & Qualifications

• Experience of children and families with a special need/disability is not essential as the related  induction and training will be given as well as on going support and regular reviews. Training will be given as identified or according to individual needs,  volunteers must  also demonstrate a willingness to learn and  be able to work as part of a team.
• A mature, caring, fun loving, and an empathetic approach of the needs of families with a child/young person with special needs is also a criteria.
• To be socially and culturally aware of the diversity of families in the London Borough of Lambeth

Specific Suitability's 

 To become a volunteer for Lifelong Family Links, you are required to fulfil the following criteria:

• Minimum age 16
• No gender restriction
• Volunteers will need to undergo, an enhance CRB/ISA  check
• 2 credible references
• Social services/NSPCC check
• Be medically fit

Lifelong Family Links are part of the London Borough of Lambeth “Safer Recruitment Working practices and our organisation  “code of practice” ensures we do not compromise the safety of our volunteers or the children/young people in our care.

The application process

 As Lifelong Family Links volunteers  will be working closely with vulnerable children, we have a thorough application process.

 The application process involves:

• an application form
• obtaining character references
• CRB check
• Social Services check
• Medical check

 
Once these have been completed, we will arrange a panel meeting with local professionals and Social Services to approve the application.

As soon as the application is approved by the panel, you will be able to start helping out at clubs.

The total duration of the application process will depend on how quickly we get the various references and checks back, but typically can take about a couple of months.

What we will expect from you

 As a volunteer, we will expect you to:

• maintain and uphold the good name and reputation of the charity
• aim for high standards of efficiency, reliability and quality in all aspects of your contribution
• co-operate with paid members of staff, to listen and learn from what they have to say to achieve the aims of the charity
• respect the need for confidentiality whenever you have access to restricted charity information
• take reasonable care of your own health and safety whilst volunteering and that of others who may be affected by your actions or omissions
• encourage two-way communication with other volunteers and paid staff, fostering a pleasant and friendly atmosphere.

 More Information

To get more information on Volunteering for Lifelong Family Links, please fill in the follow information below and send it into us.