If you are caring, compassionate and up for a natter, this could be the role for you!

In the UK, our health and social care work offers valuable time-limited support for individuals vulnerable to crisis.   Support at Home volunteers enable people recovering from illness, surgery or an accident, or struggling with a life-changing event, to live as independently as they can at home, building trusting relationships and helping them to regain their confidence and well-being.

Working closely with health and social services colleagues, volunteers can make the difference in preventing an admission to hospital or supporting a timely discharge home.

 Typical tasks include:

• visiting the service user on their arrival home from hospital
• keeping someone company for a few hours at a time
• helping with practical tasks like shopping, collecting prescriptions and light meal preparation
• sitting with the service user and relieving the relative or carer of continuous care
• keeping paper records of contact and activities undertaken with the service user

For this role you will need:

• sensitivity when working with people vulnerable to a crisis
• an ability to provide patient, positive encouragement with the aim of helping people to help themselves
• an understanding of the differing physical needs of service use
• the ability to work both independently and as an effective member of a team

Being a volunteer for the British Red Cross means that you can proudly say you are part of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.