Welfare Online Volunteer

W.E.L.Safe CIC is a not-for-profit organisation that provides confidential and non-judgemental information and support around issues such as drugs and alcohol, mental health, wellbeing and sexual health at festivals and events across the UK and Europe.

We also deliver education, training and other learning experiences to schools, colleges, universities for parents/carers and professionals. 
We have changed the way we are delivering our welfare offer and moving online. Now more than ever, we feel that our services are needed to help those who are vulnerable and stuck in isolation. 

Hopefully we will be back delivering our much loved face to face work at some point in the near future, but for now we wanted to offer a service for those vulnerable people in our community, who we have not been able to reach and support since the start of Covid-19.

We are piloting a free online welfare service for Greater Manchester residents with a focus on 16-25 (although not exclusively). Every Friday and Saturday nights, 9pm-4am, when traditional services are unavailable.

We believe there is a real need for this service and hope we will get the funding we need to enable us to continue this service for the rest of the year, and beyond. W.E.L.Safe has experience of providing crisis support and welfare services at large scale national and international events and festivals; as such we have a large team of skilled and experienced volunteers; some with backgrounds in social work, youth work, medical professionals; mental health, substance misuse and sexual health plus students and trained volunteers who just want to help. 

Volunteers will need:

• To be non-judgmental in your approach
• To maintain confidentiality during and after dealing with customers (support can be given from staff where needed)
• To be able to support vulnerable people with issues relating to drugs/alcohol, isolation, mental health, other societal issues (understanding of some of these issues is necessary, but training can be given)
• To ensure that you are on time for your session (we appreciate that things happen, but if you are running late or are unable to do your session please let the team know as soon as possible)
• To have 1-1 video chat through Zoom
• Welfare work can be stressful and busy. Please ensure you have plenty rest prior and take short breaks where needed
• To adhere to W.E.L.Safe code of conduct at all times

Although you do not need any qualifications as full training will be given, an understanding of mental health, drugs/alcohol, are desirable.

We hope that you will get something positive out of your experience!