Mencap Volunteer Visitor (Caterham)

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year to create a 1-2-1 connection, offer companionship, encourage people to do the things they enjoy and check-in on their wellbeing.

We support a gentleman in his 80s living in Caterham. He loves music and singing along, and going out in the car for a coffee. He has limited verbal communication but once he gets to know someone he really enjoys the company. He is looking for an older person, ideally with a car, to come and visit him in his home on Caterham.

He is very routine driven, and does not like his routine to be broken, so visits will initially take place on a Wednesday afternoon and include joining in the music session with him. Once he gets to know you and feels more comfortable visits can be more flexible, in summer in particular he would enjoy sitting outside and sharing a drink with you.

In many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them. In this role you will spend quality time with the person you visit and could do a range of different activities like:

• Sitting and having a chat
• Checking in on their well- being
• Going out to a local cafe/pub for a drink
• Enjoying a walk
• Partaking in activities together at the home

What skills do I need?

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

• Friendly and approachable
• Accepting of others who might be different to yourself
• Reliable and patient
• Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability
• Willing and able to provide 2 character references
• Be over the age of 18
• Willing to commit to 6 visits a year

As a Mencap visitor you will:

• Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit
• Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training
• Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed
• Meet new people
• Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued