F. A. L. C. O. N. Project
The F.A.L.C.O.N. Project
Volunteering Highland
1a Millburn Road
Inverness. IV2 3PX
Project Manager: David Thomson
Tel: 01463-711393 (Ext. 25)
Email: falcon@fsmail.net
FALCON enables adults with support needs into volunteering roles with training and support provided by a volunteer buddy.
- It is your right to aim to volunteer in an opportunity of your choice. The project helps you to achieve this.
- If you would like to volunteer but have always thought you could not, contact the project and arrange an appointment.
- You will receive the help you need to make the choice for yourself and then find the right opportunity for you.
- We also have befriending groups where we assist with socialising, fundraising, music, drama and arts & crafts.
Opportunities
What is a buddy?
Training
Links
Volunteering Opportunities
There is a wide range of volunteering opportunities available e.g. working with animals, with people, office work, helping an organisation to fundraise.
In fact the range is almost endless, at your initial interview all the available jobs will be displayed and you can take time to consider which one might be for you. If you can’t find what you are looking for, but have an idea of what you might like, just ask. You never know, we might just be able to make it possible for you.
You may also wish, eventually, to move on from your initial role. This could be for something different or something that’s more challenging - and that’s great and very easy, simply mention this to your buddy or at one of your regular reviews and together we will try to find you an alternative.
FALCON also organises social groups, which all members can access. These run in the evenings and are involved in activities such as music, drama, arts & crafts, or simply socialising, like going to Rollerbowl, the golf driving range, or going to the pub. The social group is always looking for new ideas for things to get involved in so everyone is encouraged to put ideas forward. In fact, the more input we get from members the more interesting the evenings are.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES:
We are now recruiting for a new and exciting volunteer buddy opportunity in partnership with Health & Happiness.
This project is to befriend long term New Craigs Hospital inmates who are now being given the opportunity to live in the community within their own home but having support in the community from a variety of diferent agencies FALCON being one of them. The aim of this project is to :
"Provide support for people being reintroduced to living in the community" the support would:
- Provide volunteer befriending support within the home
- Provide support e.g. in social settings
- Provide an essential link to other support services involved with the client where necessary.
- Maintain contact for an agreed minimum time period.
Full training and support is offered with this opportunity if you are interested please email me on falcon@fsmail.net. for more details.
WHAT IS A BUDDY
Basically, a buddy is a volunteer/member who is willing to assist others enabling them to volunteer in an activity of their choice.
Some volunteers come almost ready to buddy and only require the training elements associated with that role. Others come to the project and are matched with a buddy who will help them to volunteer and perhaps move on to be able to buddy themselves.
Training
FALCON recognises the importance of training and supports it at every opportunity.
All members are encouraged to participate in as much training as they can, to enhance their own personal development. Certain elements however are deemed necessary and therefore it is a condition of becoming a member that these elements are undertaken.
These include:
- communication skills
- listening skills
- setting personal goals
The project also organises team building days, giving members a chance to experience ‘problem solving’ whilst creating the opportunity of getting to know each other better and, of course, having some fun.
What about cost?
At present the project is wholly funded. This comes from a variety of sources with the major contribution being from the Big Lottery Fund. This funding has been in place since January 2006 and is for a three-year period.
During this period there are no membership fees or any costs involved whilst undertaking training and all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred whilst undertaking a volunteering role will also be met by the project.
Links
For other information regarding Volunteering, Special Needs issues and other related items please contact:
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