Introduction: Active, Connected, Engaged (ACE) is a Befriending/Peer Support project with a difference. Over a period of 6 months, volunteers of 55 years and over will support older clients of 65 years plus to improve their mobility and become more active in their communities. An older person who remains fit and active is more likely to retain physical and cognitive function, prevent disease and disability, and enjoy independence, mental well-being and a higher quality of life. This programme creates the opportunity for older volunteers to support and encourage older clients to build up and maintain physical activity in a way that suits them. This is part of a study run by the University of Birmingham to investigate how Peer Support can provide considerable benefit in terms of human welfare and savings in social and health care cost.

About Age UK Bristol: At Age UK Bristol (AUKB) we help make sure that everyone in Bristol can love later life. We do this by supporting and empowering older people, helping other organisations to work together, and championing the interests of older people in the city.

Our organisational objectives are to:

• Provide top-quality services and support to all older people in Bristol.
• Lead and enable collaboration between other organisations working with older people in Bristol
• Influence public spending and policies in a way that benefits older people in the city
• Promote positive attitudes to ageing in Bristol

We do this by:

• Providing quality information
• Delivering quality services
• Involving older people
• Giving older people a voice
• Working in partnership
• Maintaining an effective organisation

Volunteers are important and valued members of the team at AUKB.  Bristol is an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We are based in central Bristol. We will do our best to make your volunteer experience enjoyable and rewarding.

The ACE Programme

The ACE (Active, Connected, Engaged) programme creates the opportunity for older volunteers (aged 55+) to support and encourage older clients (aged 65+) over a period of 6 months to build new connections in their community and maintain physical activity in a way that suits them.

ACE is part of a study run by the University of Birmingham to investigate how Peer Support can provide considerable benefit in terms of human welfare, and savings in social and health care costs.

Purpose of the ACE Peer Support Volunteer Role

An older person who remains fit and active is more likely to retain physical and cognitive function, prevent disease and disability, and enjoy independence, mental well-being and a higher quality of life.

As an ACE Peer Support Volunteer, the purpose of your role will be to support a person of 65 years+ to:

• Increase self-esteem
• Improve social connection
• Become more active
• Improve both physical and mental wellbeing
• Feel less alone
• Feel safer, accepted and understood
• Qualities and skills required for this role
• Genuine passion, empathy, and desire to support older people
• Mutuality
• Flexible approach to the role
• Understanding the impact of social isolation on older people
• Good understanding of health and wellbeing
• Understanding of safeguarding
• Experience of volunteering with people with health and social needs, or community-based work
• Ability to use lived experience in a positive way
• Open, honest and friendly
• Good communication and empowerment skills.
• To enjoy taking part in groups and activities
• Ability to use a person-centred approach

The role involves

• Supporting an older person to become more active in their community.
• To enjoy supporting an older person to make new connections and to try new groups and activities. This may include using public transport.
• Helping an older person stay mobile and active for longer
• Empowering and helping an older person to feel more confident in getting out and about
• Adhering to all Age UK Bristol policies and procedures, such as Confidentiality, Health and Safety, and Equal Opportunities.
• Attending training sessions and volunteer meetings as appropriate.

Training

We offer induction training and other relevant training opportunities to enable you to fulfil this volunteer role. To support you in your role, it will be necessary to participate in one full training day with the ACE Peer Support Project Coordinator.

Hours to be available

A six-month minimum commitment, a degree of flexibility needed for this role.

The role will be carried out either 2-3 hours per week, or one day per month, to be agreed with the service manager.

Please note that all AUKB roles are carried out in regular office hours, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.

Location

Bristol - must be willing to travel

Expenses

Age UK Bristol will pay all out out-of-pocket travel expenses

Further Information

For further information please contact:

Jay Wilkinson | Volunteer Coordinator

jaywilkinson@ageukbristol.org.uk

Phone: 0117 440 4305

Miranda Lovelock | Peer Support Project Coordinator Mirandalovelock@ageukbristol.org.uk