Background

This is an essential and rewarding volunteer role that supports people in our city who experience tough realities. We help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness or are worried about their accommodation and offer personal support that matches their needs.
We’ve been doing this for over 30 years.
As part of a wider team – made up of a dedicated Street Team and StreetCycles Team that cover Edinburgh City and outskirts, a Housing First team that works intensively with people and the Holyrood Hub, our centre for support and advice – you could make a huge difference to someone’s life, pick up valuable skills and experience and contribute to societal change within your own community.

Role Purpose

Our vision is that everyone should have a safe place to live and access to the support they need. As a Street Team volunteer, you could help us achieve this quite simple but simply challenging vision.
For people going through difficult times, face-to-face support can really help. Our aim is to help people off the street as quickly as possible and into accommodation where they are safe, warm and supported. This can mean building relationships with people, listening to their situation and linking them with necessary services to meet their immediate needs.
We stick by people and support them to work out the solutions that work best for them. 

Specific Tasks

• Street shifts are on foot and carried out with members of our trained staff team
• Provide positive, practical support to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Edinburgh
• Provide people with support and encouragement to seek and achieve positive solutions
• Offer practical help such as distribution of water, underwear, socks, Period Friendly Packs and other basic necessities
• Maintain a record of the people you have been in contact with throughout your shift (using our online database)
• Participate in group team meetings to aid continuous improvement of our volunteer experience and how we provide support to people in our services

Skills and Qualities Required

Successful Street Team Volunteers will:

• Have a reasonable level of fitness to be able to walk for hours on a shift in changeable weather
• Have the ability to work with people in a way that takes into consideration their individual and cultural beliefs without expressing personal opinion
• Be able to approach your volunteering role and tasks with a flexible and non judgemental attitude
• Be empathetic towards people who receive our support
• Have good communication and people skills
• Enjoy meeting and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds

Commitment

We welcome volunteers to stay with us and continue to help us make a difference in people’s lives. 12 months would be the ideal minimum but we respect your time and commitments elsewhere.
For this role, we ask for a minimum of 4 hours per week/fortnight
Our recruitment follows the Safer Recruitment process, which means giving consideration to safeguarding arrangements at every step. We will ask you to attend an informal interview, provide us with two references and attend our Mini IMPACT training – a shortened version of our dynamic 5-day staff programme. 

Support and Training

• A full and comprehensive induction is provided for this role
• In-role training is available – we value our volunteers and want to ensure you are equipped with the skills you need to fulfil your role
• Out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with our Policy
• Signposting to further online training from other third sector organisations
• Shadow shifts will help you prepare for the role – you will complete at least three before becoming a fully-fledged member of the team
• Simon Community Scotland together with Volunteer Scotland and Disclosure Scotland will support you with the required PVG process

What’s in it for me?

For as little as 4 hours per week/fortnight, you have the chance to meet new people and be part of an amazing team who are passionate about what they do. Everything we do is about and for people: the people we support, our staff, our partners and everyone affected by homelessness. Each person involved brings their individual skills and creativity to the work we do. This is a chance for you to make a real difference to the most vulnerable people within your community and pick up essential skills that are valuable to employers. 

Our expectations

We would like people who care about people who receive our support and who are enthusiastic and able to respond flexibly to a role that can sometimes be challenging but brings great rewards and satisfaction.
We need you to be fully committed to Simon Community Scotland’s Mission and Core Values and adhere to our policies/procedures and Code of Practice.

If you need any help completing this form please contact us: volunteering@simonscotland.