Voluntary Care Centre | Wheelchair Pushing

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Annual Report 2010

Investing In Volunteers

Wheelchair Pushing

Our Wheelchair pushing scheme matches volunteers with service users living in the Forest Hill & Sydenham area.

Volunteers are given initial Wheelchair pushing training and are then matched with a service user in order to take them out in their wheelchairs each week. Service users may want to go to a local park or visit nearby shops.

If you would like to find out more then you can view our task description below or email sarah@voluntarycarecentre.co.uk.

Task Description

What does Wheelchair pushing involve?
Wheelchair pushing involves visiting an isolated, lonely or vulnerable person on a regular basis, usually in their own home and taking them out in their wheelchair, weather permitting. You will need to be able to listen, engage in friendly conversation and respect other’s views.

What else might be included?
In order to take a service user out on a regular basis, you will need to befriend them. Sometimes when the weather is bad you may need to spend the same length of time with them in their own home.

You will need to attend a wheelchair pushing training session with the VCC Organiser before you begin.

You will also be expected to attend VCC support sessions for all volunteers (held 3-4 times each year).

How long will I have to commit to?
Befriending and wheelchair pushing involves a minimum commitment of 6 months. There is no maximum length and many volunteers will befriend a service user for many years.

How frequently will I take someone out?
The first visit should be approximately 1 hour. After the first visit, a 1 hour visit once a week is the recommended length and frequency. As the relationship develops, volunteers may wish to visit a service user less or more frequently or for longer than 1 hour. It is the volunteers’ responsibility to inform the Organiser of any changes, which must be discussed and agreed with the Organiser and the service user.

Who will I befriend/take out?
Service users are usually referred to the centre by Social and Health services. We also take referrals from friends, neighbours and sometimes the service users themselves. Service users whom we befriend come from all different walks of life and are facing a wide range of issues.

For example, they may be a younger person trying to come to terms with disability, a single parent who has been bereaved or someone facing terminal illness. All of our service users live in the Forest Hill & Sydenham area.

How are we introduced?
Volunteers are given a photocopy of a letter we send out to service users detailing the time and date of their first visit. You will be expected to take this letter with you on your first visit as proof of your identity. The Organiser will phone both the volunteer and the service user after the visit to see how the visit went and deal with any potential problems.

It is the volunteers’ responsibility to make the Organiser aware of any doubts or worries they have.

The Organiser is here to support you in your voluntary work and therefore welcomes feedback whether it is about any concerns you may have or just keeping up to date on your progress.

VOLUNTEERS RESPONSIBILITIES

As a wheelchair pushing befriending volunteer for the Voluntary Care Centre, you will be expected to;

Agree to abide by the Equal Opportunities Policy of the Voluntary Care Centre.
Maintain confidentiality at all times.
Be punctual: if you are unable to keep an appointment, you must inform the service user or the centre in good time (48 hours in advance when possible).
Inform the organiser of any concerns that arise.
Attend all relevant training and support sessions, including initial wheelchair pushing training.
Allow the service user to talk whilst you ‘listen actively’.
Develop a trusting relationship to support and, where appropriate, enable the service user to pursue social activities and life skills.
Engage in friendly conversation. It is important not to impose your opinions and beliefs on the service user.
Respect others’ views.
Be able to communicate clearly and effectively.
Inform the Organiser of any unattended appointments.
Inform the Organiser of any change to the length, frequency or nature of visits. (changes need to be agreed by the Voluntary Care Centre for monitoring and insurance purposes)
Take instruction from the service user on the best ways of handling the wheelchair (where appropriate) and attend a VCC Wheelchair pushing training session.
Comply with relevant Health & Safety regulations.

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