Linking people with learning       

        disabilities and volunteers for

      activities both enjoy

 














                        
Scottish   Charity No. SC030132

Company Ltd by Guarantee, No. SC297772

Volunteers

Brighten someone else's life while doing something you enjoy                Download Application Form

Interest Link has over 100 volunteers linked one-to-one with adults with learning disabilities across the Borders.  There are still 150 service users who would like to be matched with a volunteer. It's very likely that one lives near you and likes the same things you do.  If you think you might be interested in volunteering with us, read on....

What Interest Link does and why:
Like most of us, adults with learning disabilities often have things they would like to do independently of their family or professional carers.  This can be very difficult for them to organise because they have few opportunities to meet people to do things with.  To overcome this problem, Interest Link recruits volunteers and links them one-to-one with adults with learning disabilities so they can do activities both enjoy. Interest Link is an independent Borders-based organisation operating through five Branches (see below for contact details).

Click here to see a flowchart of How the Linking Process Works

The link activities are entirely up to you and the person you are linked with. They could include, for example,  evening classes, golf, bowling, swimming, shopping, crafts, music, going for a walk or drive, going to the cinema, a concert or the pub or just being visited at home.

Being a Volunteer
Your role as a volunteer: As a volunteer your role in Interest Link could be demanding and require a good deal of patience and persistence. Communication with the service user could be difficult and it might take a while to establish a relationship. However:

¨      The satisfaction to be had from the role, and the difference it makes to a service user’s life can be immense: By being linked with a volunteer, service users can do the things they want to and know that the person helping them is doing so because they want to, not because they are paid to or feel obliged to.  As well as improving their quality of life (and giving respite to their carers), being linked to a volunteer can help them with their social skills and self-confidence and give them a sense of independence.

¨      You would be given as much preparation and support as you needed. The co-ordinator would always be available to give advice and you should not hesitate to phone them if you have a question or a problem.  They would keep in touch by phone, meet with you every three months and send you a regular newsletter.  Each branch also runs social events and offers ongoing training.

¨      Being a volunteer also provides very good work experience and a source of references if you are thinking about applying for courses or paid jobs in Care.  Interest Link also offers optional training on topics such as First Aid & Epilepsy and can help you to access accredited training run by other organisations.

Confidentiality: All personal information about service users must be kept confidential unless it is something that you feel their carer or somebody else should know for the good of the service user.

Expenses: Interest Link will pay all your expenses, including car costs at 30p per mile and activity costs such as cinema tickets and basic refreshments. Costs are claimed monthly and paid promptly.

Insurance: If you use your car for your volunteering you should tell your insurer and can claim back any premium increase from the project.  The project also has public liability insurance to cover you during your link.

 If you are interested in volunteering, please contact your local branch or download an application form and send it into your local branch.