Location: Bradford, Airedale, Craven, Harrogate

Purpose of Role: Carers’ Resource delivers a wide range of groups  across Craven, Bradford and Harrogate to encourage carers to have time with other carers; in turn giving them time for themselves.

Volunteer group hosts are relied upon to ensure the smooth delivery of these groups. Groups could be anything from arts and crafts to simply having a coffee, cake and a chat

Qualities required:

• Be well organised/good administrator
• Be able to be a point of reference at the event
• Be a good communicator
• Be a good listener
• Be empathetic
• Be non-judgemental
• Be reliable
• Be able to work as part of a team

Support provided:

• Supported and supervised by a named Carers’ Resource staff member
• Induction to Carers’ Resource
• Guidance and ongoing support

Time Commitment: Variable to suit volunteer/groups

Possible tasks:

• Preparing for the group meetings – arriving early and setting up the room
• Welcoming group members
• Supporting the carers to take part in the session
• Completing register of attendees
• Collecting monies
• Communicating with group members
• Referring specific carer queries to appropriate locality worker

• Expenses: Agreed expenses will be reimbursed

Benefits of volunteering:

• Increased knowledge of issues experienced by carers
• Enhance career prospects
• Gain skills and experience
• Work as part of a team
• Further volunteer opportunities with Carers’ Resource
• Developing Friendships

Location: Bradford, Craven, Harrogate, Selby
Purpose of Role: To make regular phone calls to clients who have recently had support from a Carers’ Resource Locality worker.

This will:

• Give the carer confidence to move forward independently.
• Give additional short-term emotional support to the carer.
• Help find answers to any additional questions the carer may have.
• Act as a safety net for carers who may need referring back for further support.

Qualities required:

• Be a good listener
• Be empathetic
• Be non-judgemental
• Be reliable and committed to the role
• Be able to work as part of a team
• Be a good note taker
• Computer literate

Support provided:

• Supported and supervised by a named Carers’ Resource staff member
• Induction to Carers’ Resource
• Guidance and ongoing support
• Time Commitment: minimum of 1 hour / week

Tasks you may be responsible for:

• Communicating with clients on a regular basis
• Referring specific carer queries to appropriate locality worker
• Expenses: Agreed expenses will be reimbursed

Benefits of volunteering:

• Increased confidence/self worth
• Working as part of a team
• Playing an active role in your community
• Updating your skills, training and a route to employment
• Opportunity for a reference

Location: Skipton, Harrogate or Selby

Purpose of Role: To give carers of a partner, a family member or friend, the opportunity to have a break from their caring commitments by providing 2-4 hours of caring cover in or outside of the home on a regular or occasional basis during the day, evening or weekend. To offer a positive experience to the person being supported.

Qualities required:

• Be well organised
• Be a good communicator
• Be reliable and committed to the role
• Be able to work as part of a team

Support provided:

• Supported and supervised by a named Carers’ Time Off Coordinator
• Induction
• Guidance and ongoing support

Tasks you may be responsible for:

• Befriending
• Offering a listening ear to the carer about their health and wellbeing
• Where appropriate and as agreed give drinks and snacks
• As or when agreed taking the person into the local community or for a walk or other activity

Expenses: Agreed expenses will be reimbursed.

Activities DO NOT include:

• Assisting the person whilst they are using the toilet (this is personal care)
• Giving the person their medication
• Any moving or handling of the person

Location: The service is provided in and outside of the person’s home as agreed.

Time Commitment: Each carer requires a personalised service therefore the time of day and day of the week a volunteer will be expected to attend will be negotiated with the carer and agreed by the volunteer before they commence their first visit. The normal time is between 2-4 hours.

Training: Training and Information will be offered on a variety of appropriate topics on an on-going basis and in a variety of ways and will always be free to the volunteer.

• Safeguarding
• Health and Safety including fire awareness/safety
• Lone working
• Equal opportunities
• Boundaries
• Equality and Diversity
• First Aid
• Communication needs of individuals
• Dementia

Benefits of volunteering:

• Increased knowledge of issues experienced by carers
• Enhance career prospects
• Gain skills and experience
• Work as part of a team
• Further volunteer opportunities with Carers’ Resource
• Developing Friendships
• Adding value to the local community

Location: Bradford, Shipley, Skipton, Harrogate, Selby

Purpose of Role: Carers’ Resource delivers a wide range of activities across Craven, Bradford and Harrogate to encourage carers to have time with other carers; in turn giving them time for themselves.

Volunteer Drivers are needed to transport carers to groups if they are not able to journey there themselves.

Qualities required:

• Have a full and clean driving licence
• Be willing to undertake a DBS check
• Use of own car, insured for business use
• Be a good communicator
• Be a good listener, empathetic and non-judgemental
• Be reliable

Support provided:

• Supported and supervised by a named Carers’ Resource staff member
• Induction to Carers’ Resource
• Guidance and ongoing support

Time Commitment: Variable/flexible

Possible tasks:

• Collecting Carers from their homes and transporting them to a group
• Welcoming carers
• Collecting Carers from a group and transporting them back home
• Communicating with carers

Expenses: Agreed expenses will be reimbursed

Benefits of volunteering:

• Increased knowledge of issues experienced by carers
• Enhance career prospects
• Gain skills and experience
• Work as part of a team
• Further volunteer opportunities with Carers’ Resource
• Developing Friendships

Location: Bradford, Shipley, Skipton or Harrogate

Brief Description of Role: To help ensure the smooth delivery of Young Carers’ activities. Activities could be anything from arts and crafts to mentoring, from youth clubs to trips and groups.

Qualities required:

• Well organised
• Able to be a point of reference at the group
• A good communicator and listener
• Empathetic and non-judgemental
• Be reliable
• Able to work in a team
• Preferably a car driver

Time Commitment: Flexible to meet volunteer requirements

Possible tasks:

• Setting up activity room
• Welcoming young carers
• Supporting young carers to take part in the session
• Transporting young carers to sessions

Name of Mentor: Laura Ives

Name of Team: North Yorkshire Young Carer Team

Location: Various – depends on volunteers interests.

Purpose of Role: To support our fantastic fundraising team to deliver a range of campaigns and events to help raise the profile of Carers’ Resource and generate funds to support unpaid carers.

Qualities required:

• Be a good communicator
• Be reliable
• Able to work as part of a team

Support provided:

• Supported and supervised by a named Carers’ Resource staff member
• Official Induction to Carers’ Resource
• Guidance and ongoing support

Time Commitment: As much or as little as you are able to give. We ask volunteers to choose one or two events or campaigns they are interested in supporting in an area that suits them.

Tasks you may support with:

• Attend an event, fair, festival in the Bradford/ Harrogate/ Skipton with a member of the Fundraising Team. Eg Saltaire Festival, Skipton Waterways Festival.
• Help distribute, collect fundraising resources to local businesses and community groups.
• Attend a community event in your local area to raise the profile of Carers Resource and collect funds.
• Act as an ambassadors, spreading the word about the work of Carers’ Resource.
• Encouraging and supporting local businesses and community groups to do fundraising work for us.

Expenses: Agreed expenses will be reimbursed

Benefits of volunteering:

• Increased knowledge of issues experienced by carers
• Enhance career prospects
• Gain skills and experience
• Work as part of a team
• Further volunteer opportunities with Carers’ Resource
• Developing Friendships

Carers’ Resource is looking for new Trustees to join the board.

Suggested time requirement: 6 meetings a year

Location: Offices in Harrogate, Shipley and Skipton

Among other responsibilities, board members:

• Ensure that the organisation complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Support the leadership team in giving strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy and defining goals.
• Work with each other to establish performance targets for the organisation.

If you think this could be you, please get in touch! If you know someone else you think might be ideal for our board – pass this on to them!

Whatever your background or experience, being a trustee is interesting and rewarding. To find out more about what the role involves, please contact Chris Whiley, Chief Executive on 07912 250741.

This is a voluntary (unpaid) position. The minimum commitment is six meetings a year, plus time to read papers and reports.

Find out about our current team of trustees. To enquire about this role, please complete a Volunteer Enquiry Form.