Children's Activity Support - Group Helper (Supporting messy play sessions, Linden, Gloucester)

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.

Children's Activity Support volunteers work across a range of groups, from Children's Centre's with pre-school children and Short Breaks services for children with disabilities, to Mental Health Support Groups and Young Carers Groups.

Our Community Group volunteers work across a range of groups, including Parenting Programmes, Family Time sessions and Targeted Group sessions. You will be supporting our Community Team, Family Time - Messy Play Group at The Lighthouse Children and Family Centre, Linden Road, Gloucester on Mondays between 9:30 am and 12 midday by: • Setting up group activities in advance and clearing away afterwards. This might include preparing refreshments/snacks, organising the layout of the room, preparing resources, and tidying the room after the group. • Sharing knowledge and experience about parenting and offering positive solutions to difficult circumstances. • Providing a listening ear and emotional support to parents in problematic situations. • Assisting children and young people and families to improve their self-confidence, develop social skills and build positive relationships. • Role modelling positive behaviour and interactions during sessions. • Collating and evaluating feedback from children, young people and parents. • Welcoming new members to groups and helping them to settle into the group environment. • Helping to build socially inclusive groups service users feel safe to attend and able to participate fully. • Creating a welcoming and non-judgemental environment for groups to take place. • Engaging children, young people and families in fun activities during groups, which might include messy play, outdoor activities, positive play. • Encouraging parents to play and engage with their children, to help empower them to achieve better outcomes for their children.

We are looking for volunteers, with a passion for making a difference in children's lives, a fun and approachable attitude and an ability to engage young people in worthwhile and enjoyable activities.