Branch Group Leader, Family Youth Club and Lego Club Volunteer (South Hampshire Branch)

The Family Youth Club is for children accompanied by their families (including siblings). There is no fixed age-range but most children that attend are between 5 and 13. Activities available include table tennis, air hockey, a craft table, books, board games, Lego and other toys plus a structured craft activity. A quiet room is also available. This is also an opportunity for parents to meet and offer each other peer support.

The LEGO club follows the Lego Therapy framework. LEGO Therapy involves building LEGO models in small groups or pairs where the children take on different roles and work together. The children are encouraged to practice turn taking, sharing, joint problem solving and general social communication skills. A maximum of 12 children take part in Lego Club at any one time.

What you will be doing:

• Planning sessions, including games and craft ideas for Youth Club, managing the waiting list for Lego Club and coordinating the other volunteers attending both groups.
• Liaising with the Lego Club activity volunteer speech and language therapist.
• Welcoming autistic children and young people, parents and siblings to each of the sessions.
• Interacting with the parents and autistic young people, making sure that everyone can engage in the activities in a safe manner.
• Organising the setting up and clearing away before and after the club activity.
• Keeping the Branch Chair informed of both group’s activities in the upcoming sessions and attending branch committee meetings.
• Ensuring your branch complies with NAS policies including risk assessment, data protection and safeguarding.
• Any agreed expenses incurred will be reimbursed by the branch.
• You will be supported in your role by the Branch Chair.

Skills

• Reliability and willing acceptance of responsibility
• Knowledge and experience of the autism spectrum is an advantage but not essential as we can provide training
• As group leader, ability to organise and coordinate the other volunteers
• Patience, empathy and warmth
• Confidence in volunteering with and communicating with the autistic children, their parents and the branch committee members
• You will have access to a dedicated NAS email address for this role