Autism Help Volunteer
National Autistic Society
As a volunteer, you will be joining a team who give invaluable and often life-changing free advice to autistic people, families and other enquirers helping to ensure that autistic people have a greater opportunity to live a fulfilled life
Are you passionate about helping people? Become an Autism Help Volunteer to provide vital information and advice to autistic people, their families and supporters when they need it most. Our brand-new enquiry and signposting service will work alongside our new digital support tool to give people the information they need, when they need it. As a volunteer, you’ll: contact autistic people and their supporters by phone and email use your knowledge and skills to support others provide information, advice and helpful strategies join a compassionate, supportive team gain valuable skills with expert training volunteer from home with flexible hours access 24/7 support through our Employee Assistance Programme We welcome applications from anyone with lived experience, including autistic people, their families, and those who support them, although this is not essential for the role. All volunteers must have access to their own computer or device that can run Microsoft applications. What is Autism Help? Autism Help is an umbrella term for the charity’s advice and guidance provision. The enquiry and signposting service is a key part of this provision and is delivered by trained volunteers and staff who help autistic people live a fulfilled life on their terms by having access to the information they need, when they need it. “Thanks ever so much for sending this information. It's really helpful and very reassuring. I feel like I've been listened to and understood - this means a lot to me.” Location Home Based - you must live in the United Kingdom to do this role Time Commitment: At least four hours per week. You can choose which days suit you around your other commitments. You will need to arrange mutually suitable times for volunteering with your volunteer manager in advance (the days and times you will be dealing with enquiries).
Advice, Information & Support
Basic IT skills - internet & email, Managing People, Reading & Writing, People Skills
have a strong desire to help and the motivation to make a difference ensure good communication with autistic people, their parents/ carers, other enquirers and with the National Autistic Society team be reliable, consistent and dependable be able to clarify what the enquirer is trying to achieve: effective listening skills are essential be able to self-motivate and work on their own initiative organise, prioritise and manage their own time have a positive and flexible approach be able to deal with people, using tact and diplomacy be able to show empathy while maintaining professionalism and clear boundaries be able to remain calm, even in stressful situations have use of own computer or telephone compatible with National Autistic Society systems be confident using IT (eg Microsoft Word and Outlook)
As a volunteer, you will be joining a team who give invaluable and often life-changing free advice to autistic people, families and other enquirers, helping to ensure that autistic people have a greater opportunity to live a fulfilled life on their terms. Other benefits include: excellent initial and ongoing training reimbursement of all out-of-pocket expenses (agreed by volunteer manager) references provided after 1 year of active volunteering, access to free e-learning National Autistic Society email account for use while volunteering free access to our Employee Assistance Programme opportunities to contribute to consultations on the service and wider National Autistic Society matters regular feedback and recognition
4 hours per week
N/A
Home based
N/A
5
