HCLC News

Clapton Community Drop-in seeks volunteers!

Clapton Community Drop-in is an exciting project to complement existing community work at the Round Chapel Old School Rooms in Lower Clapton.

The Drop In runs on Sundays between 1 and 4 pm, and a new project, Job Club, on Wednesdays between 12.30 and 4pm. Volunteers are asked to commit to at least one session a month, and there are also opportunities to get involved at other times in the week.

We provide a friendly and non-judgmental service for the more marginalised members of our community – they receive the support they need to access more services in the borough, particularly in relation to housing, benefits, Job Centre Plus, developing their CVs and job search help, as well as health and family related issues. The Drop-in’s ethos is to provide a service that empowers people to interact confidently with statutory and other organisations that play a role in their lives, and to have confidence in their ability to manage their own affairs.

Tasks include:

• The volunteers provide largely non-expert help and support i.e. assisting people who use the service to fill in forms and other correspondence and to signpost them to other appropriate services in the borough.
• Volunteers make referrals for people who come in for food vouchers and are homeless.
• Volunteers also help people deal with any housing problems where the person is not confident approaching their landlord or the council.
• Volunteers offer guidance in using the internet and the Universal Job Match in particular, CV writing and job searching.
• Volunteers may also attend appointments with service users during the week.

What you can expect: Volunteers work within a supportive environment, where we are keen to help you develop your skills and gain confidence in the volunteer role over time.  Volunteers receive training from experts in welfare benefits and housing, as well as general training on supporting service users. This is an opportunity to help some of the most marginalised people in our community make meaningful and lasting change in their lives. Qualities needed:

• Volunteers must be over 18 years old;
• Volunteers must be able to commit to at least one session a month;
• Ability to work independently, but with the co-ordinator available, providing support, signposting and advice to vulnerable people;
• Confident in engaging sensitively with a diverse range of people, including those with complex support needs;
• Perseverance and the ability to support people facing a range of obstacles;
• Ability to work within established boundaries;
• Calm, non-judgmental and empathetic;
• Reliability and good time keeping.

For more information, click HERE. To request an application pack, please email: claptondropin@gmail.com