On 19th August, Sandwell Advocacy held a Peer Support Session for its volunteers. It was delivered by Volunteer Coordinator, Katie and supported by Business Support Officer, Sharon who made sure that everything ran smoothly.
The preparations started way before the session, when Katie joined us, she spoke with as many volunteers as possible and she learned from their responses that the most popular day for the session was a Wednesday, so a Wednesday it was held. She also consulted with the volunteers as to what topics they would like to discuss as part of their peer support sessions and something that came up a number of times, was safeguarding.
Once Sharon had served refreshments and everyone had enjoyed a slice of cake, the group began discussing safeguarding. The session covered a range of important topics, including the different types of abuse that people may experience. Volunteers then split into two groups to work through case studies highlighting financial abuse, cuckooing and psychological abuse. During the discussions, volunteers reflected on how important it is to listen carefully during calls and to recognise signs that may indicate a cause for concern.
After that the group had an activity of volunteer bingo – which consisted of the volunteers trying to find out who liked activities such as swimming or cycling, who likes pineapple on a pizza and even those who have lived in another country. It was an icebreaker exercise to get everyone talking and it certainly worked.
The session concluded with an opportunity for volunteers to share good practice, hints and tips with one another. This was particularly valuable for a volunteer who was preparing to make their first call later that week. More experienced volunteers shared stories from their own first calls and offered practical advice, encouragement and reassurance based on their experiences.
The event provided a valuable opportunity for volunteers to learn from one another, strengthen their knowledge of safeguarding, and build supportive relationships with fellow volunteers.
Would you like to join our team? We are always looking for keen volunteers to help us. Please visit our Volunteering page for further information.