About Diabetes UK
As the UK’s leading diabetes charity, it’s our job to tackle the diabetes crisis. We’re here to prevent Type 2 diabetes, campaign for and support everyone affected by diabetes, and fund research that will one day lead us to a cure.
About our Bristol Network Support Groups
At Diabetes UK our groups help connect and bring people living with and affected by diabetes together; supporting them to learn more about their condition and to know they are not on their own with their diabetes. We currently have two types of groups which form the Bristol Support Network headed up by lead volunteer Sandra Tweddell.
- Local Support Groups: these are led by a formal committee of volunteer officers (chair, treasurer and secretary) who co-ordinate meetings, events and activities. We have two local support groups in the Bristol area; our Bristol East group is based in Fishponds and our Bristol West are based in Henleaze. They both support people with type 1 and 2 diabetes in their local communities.
- Community Group: The Bristol Support Network also co-ordinates an informal Bristol Central Type 1 diabetes community group. They have a Facebook group connecting members online and occasionally meet in person at a central location.
Our friendly and welcoming Bristol Support Network are looking for volunteers who can help with running the groups, co-ordinating get-togethers and fun social events that bring people together.
Please note that currently all face to face volunteering, meetings and activities are suspended until further notice due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the network is looking specifically to expand their online offer at this time.
The Support Network currently hold a range of activities helping people in their local area learn more about diabetes and feel supported:
- Public information meetings – the East and West groups usually hold face to face information meetings often with a Healthcare Professional guest speaker, giving members the vital opportunity to learn more about diabetes and ask questions. The Central group hold relaxed drop ins.
- Online information meetings – the Central Group recently held its first online meeting supported by Bristol University and is looking to hold more over the coming months.
- Website and Facebook – the network has a Diabetes UK website: https://bristol-diabetes-support-network.diabetesukgroup.org/ and the central group had a Facebook page which are updated by volunteers
- Keeping in touch – the network regularly keeps in touch with members by email or phone
- Campaigning and promotion – the network helps raise awareness of current campaigns and services, and work to advertise and promote the group in their local community.
- Know Your Risk and public events – some members of the group are trained to deliver Know Your Risk assessments helping people to find out their risk of developing diabetes and to teach them ways to lower their risk. They are keen to resume this when it is safe to do so.
By joining our network of Bristol Support groups, you will be able to bring your energy, creativity and new ideas to make a real difference for people living with or at risk of diabetes. You will be part of a friendly group of people and will also be supported by the Diabetes UK regional staff team based in Taunton who will be on hand to help you settle into your role and can provide ongoing support and training.
Main tasks and other activities
- To get to know and work with existing volunteers who hold a range of responsibilities in the group
- Work with the network and your local Diabetes UK team to support the network to achieve its aims
- Promote the community group to potential new members and volunteers
- Help organise and facilitate activities in response to the preferences and needs of your community group.
- Stay connected with the network’s main point of contact
- To support the network group within the framework of the Local and Community Groups Agreement
About you
We are looking for someone who is:
- A friendly, approachable and proactive person who is interested in building new networks.
- Able to communicate and build strong relationships with people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- Able to facilitate and contribute to discussions and to help the network reach a consensus when planning activities.
- Self-motivated and engages with others without close supervision.
- Good with social media, with an ability to build an online presence and use new media to build online communities (optional).
What Diabetes UK can offer you
- The opportunity to be part of reaching and supporting more people living with diabetes.
- Learn more about diabetes and Diabetes UK with our Induction and ongoing training to enable you to volunteer with the group.
- Regular communication with our friendly Diabetes UK South West team.
- Opportunity to meet and connect with other volunteers, join our regional online volunteer Get Togethers and annual conference or networking events.
- Opportunity to sign up to receive our free South West Round Robin volunteer newsletter and bi-annual Connect Magazine.
- The opportunity to learn new skills and share your experience, knowledge and expertise.
- Experience of volunteering within the charity sector.
- Reimbursement of out of office expenses incurred while carrying out activities for Diabetes UK, e.g. travel, lunch.
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to ensuring that our volunteer recruitment is fair, safe and consistent. The recruitment and selection process must therefore be appropriate to the nature of the role. Some roles may require a more in depth selection process, for example those working with children or vulnerable adults. We will be able to give you more information about this if applicable to your role.
This role will you to complete a Volunteer Application Form and to provide two references. If you wish to be a community group lead coordinator or committee officer you will also be required to complete a basic criminal records check. This is paid for by Diabetes UK.
How to apply and next steps
For more information about the role and how to apply, please contact the volunteering team at Diabetes UK, Victoria House, Victoria Street, Taunton, TA1 3FA. Telephone: Gemma Jackson 07881 266 370 or email: south.west@diabetes.org.uk
Once you have completed the Volunteer Application Form, we will look to invite you to an informal interview. This will be an opportunity for us to explore your suitability and experience for the role but it will also be a good time for you to ask questions and decide if the role and group are right for you.