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Nottinghamshire Deaf Society Volunteer & Befriending Project.
Nottinghamshire Deaf Society (NDS) is a registered Charity based in the Community Centre on Forest Road West, commonly known by Deaf people as “The Deaf Club”. We offer a whole range of activities for Deaf people all ages and most of these are organised and run by Deaf people themselves (see Annual Report for more details).
NDS actively campaigns for equal access to information and opportunities for Deaf people. We have a staff team of twenty-one, including five BSL Interpreters. We currently administer several projects including one for unemployed Deaf people seeking employment, a Health Awareness and Information Project, Deaf Awareness Training, Educational Support with Deaf Role Models, an ICT Project and the Volunteer Support and Befriending Scheme.
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT AND BEFRIENDING SCHEME:
Why do we need the Project?
- To offer support to isolated and needy Deaf people who could benefit from Volunteer visits i.e. elderly Deaf people, one-parent families, Deaf people in hospital and vulnerable/isolated Deaf people.
- To give the opportunity to Volunteers, who have appropriate communication skills, to offer their support to the Deaf Community.
AIMS OF THE PROJECT:
The aim is to select and recruit suitable Volunteers and match them with isolated vulnerable Deaf people to offer support and befriending, to enable them to feel more a part of the Deaf Community.
HOW IT WORKS:
- NDS has already identified a Deaf Client Group.
- Now we need to select and recruit Volunteers.
- Volunteers are interviewed by Susan and complete a Volunteer Registration form, a Criminal Record Disclosure form and sign a confidentiality statement.
- Volunteer and Susan make first visit to Deaf Client for introductions etc.
- Volunteer goes on second visit to see the Deaf Client and offer support.
- Volunteer has meeting with Susan for feedback and support.
- Deaf Client has meeting with Susan for feedback and support.
- Volunteer sends in regular report forms to keep Susan up-to-date with their visits.
ROLE OF VOLUNTEER:
Some examples are:
- Going shopping for Client or with the Client.
- Taking a Client for a walk.
- Doing simply gardening tasks.
- Going to local outings with Clients.
- Hospital visiting.
- Playing cards or board games.
- Making a cup of tea.
- Having a chat in BSL.
AREAS OF CONCERN:
- Sometimes when a Volunteer visits a Deaf Client they may be asked to do something that is not part of their role i.e. Interpreting or Social Work.
- You need to say NO you can’t help in these circumstances but you can refer the problem onto Susan with permission from the Deaf Client.
REFERRAL SYSTEM:
We have a form for referrals and this can be discussed when the Volunteer has the feedback visit with Susan or can be mentioned on the report form.
TRAINING:
Training may be offered to Volunteers:
- Role of Volunteer/Confidentiality
- Role of Social Worker
- Role of Interpreter
Other training may be provided on request if appropriate to this Project. At the moment we are only trying to recruit Volunteers with a minimum of Stage II BSL. In exceptional circumstances volunteers attending Stage II, second year may be accepted.
INDENTIFICATION:
All our Volunteers will be given ID Badge so we will need two passport size photographs of yourself.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
All our Volunteers are required to sign a statement to accept responsibility for confidentiality.
EXPENSES:
We try to keep expenses to a minimum but ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses i.e. petrol/public transport can be claimed.
INTERESTED?:
Please complete and return the Registration Form, Criminal Records Disclosure Form and Confidentiality Statement to:
Susan Stahlberger
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Nottinghamshire Deaf Society
22 Forest Road West
Nottingham
NG7 4EQ
When you are accepted as a Volunteer Befriender Susan will contact you to arrange a meeting.
Our Befriending Co-Ordinator:
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Susan Stahlberger has been working at Nottinghamshire Deaf Society since 1995 after leaving her job as a Senior Care Assistant in an old peoples home.
Susan has many qualifications linked to working with the elderly and disabled people so she is well qualified to undertake her current job within Nottinghamshire Deaf Society.
Susan classes her biggest personal achievement to date as being married to her wonderful husband of 35 years Andrzej and giving birth to her three sons, Carl, Michael and Ryan.
In her spare time, Susan likes walking her two Newfoundland dogs, swimming (not with the dogs), gardening, reading, visiting places of interest, holidays and spending time with her family and friends. |
Susan Stahlberger |
Contact Susan: Susan.Stahlberger@nottsdeaf.org.uk Telephone: 0115 8475202 (minicom) 0115 9700516 (Voice)
Fax: 0115 9423096
Our Volunteer Befriending information:
We have produced a number of information leaflets which are available to download using Adobe Reader 
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