Volunteer Role Description
ONE TO ONE UNIT HELPER
Would you like to work with girls and young women to make a difference in your community while
developing your skills and making new friends? Volunteering with Girlguiding could be for you!
Role title: One to one unit helper
Supported by: Unit leader
Suggested time commitment: ..............................................................................................
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Length of time in role: ..........................................................................................................
Location of your unit: ............................................................................................................
If you are interested in this role: .......................................................................................
Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK. Thanks to the dedication and
support of 100,000 amazing volunteers, we are active in every part of the UK, giving girls and young
women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life
skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities.
This is a new opportunity for a volunteer to work one-to-one with a young member with additional needs,
supporting them during regular unit meetings, and possibly at events and residential trips. This role will
enable the young member to access Girlguiding safely and actively, with individually tailored support.
‘As well as giving the girls amazing opportunities, I feel I’ve also
personally beneted from volunteering. It’s really rewarding for me
and I feel I’ve achieved something great.’
Lisa, Girlguiding volunteer
Caring
Challenging
Inspiring Inclusive
Fun
Empowering
© Girlguiding 2019 girlguiding.org.uk Volunteer Role Description
One to one unit helper
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ONE TO ONE UNIT HELPER
Role description
Who can do this role?
You do not need to be a current member of Girlguiding to do this role. We are looking for adults aged
over 18, ideally with existing experience of working with or caring for children or young people with
additional needs. We would also consider someone without this experience but who is friendly, patient,
attentive, and willing to learn from the young member, or their parents/carers, about the support
they need.
Do I need a professional qualication?
No professional qualication is required. You will need to complete Girlguiding’s safeguarding
(Safe Space Levels 1 and 2) training before undertaking this role.
What is the purpose of this role?
What will I do in the role?
Key responsibilities
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General responsibilities
zz Provide a safe girl-only space where girls and young women can discover their full potential.
zz Take an active role in creating and delivering an accessible and inclusive programme, based on the
Girlguiding programme for your section.
zz Encourage and support members of the unit in making decisions within the unit and the wider
Girlguiding community.
zz Develop and maintain clear communication with the unit leader and other members of the
leadership team.
zz Keep up to date with new resources and programme initiatives and use them as appropriate.
zz Maintain clear communication with parents and carers.
zz Be willing to participate in any relevant ‘on-the-job’ training for the role.
zz Comply with current Girlguiding policies and regulations.
This role is not a unit leader role, and there will be no requirement to plan activities or take overall
responsibility for the unit, although you may be asked to help adapt activities to make these accessible
for the young member. The focus is solely on meeting the needs of the girl you are supporting.
Being part of your local guiding area
zz Be part of a local Girlguiding community, maintaining a good relationship with other volunteers.
Being part of Girlguiding
zz Be committed to undertaking relevant training.
zz Learn about the structure of Girlguiding and how your responsibilities and position t within it.
zz Be willing to learn about Girlguiding’s national and local strategic aims and how both are
delivered locally.
zz Learn about Girlguiding’s policies and Code of Conduct.
zz Be an ambassador for the values of Girlguiding.
Promoting Girlguiding
Promote a positive image of Girlguiding at public events and while taking part in activities outside
the meeting place.
What will Girlguiding do for me?
zz An initial meeting will be organised with the parents/carers and the girl you are supporting,
to discuss how best to support her.
zz Provide a thorough and appropriate induction to the role and organisation, including attending a unit
meeting prior to beginning the role, and meeting with the unit leaders and team.
zz Help to develop skills and abilities to perform the role by providing ‘on-the-job’ training opportunities.
zz Provide support and development from fellow volunteers, including a local commissioner and
Girlguiding advisers.
zz Host meetings and events to share information at a local level.
zz Reimburse agreed expenses (agreed locally and may differ around the UK).
zz Provide references.
zz Provide a clear complaints procedure and support to resolve problems or disagreements.
Am I right for the role?
Personal qualities
While we can offer you support in your role, we would expect you to possess the personal qualities
outlined below.
zz Friendly, kind and approachable.
zz Reliable and trustworthy.
zz Creative and enthusiastic.
© Girlguiding 2019 girlguiding.org.uk Volunteer Role Description
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zz Enjoy working with children and young people.
zz Patience.
zz Able to anticipate potential issues and nd quick, effective solutions.
Skills and abilities
To meet the needs of this role, we would also expect you to possess the specic skills
outlined below.
zz You should be able to communicate well with children and adults (volunteers and parents/carers),
working effectively as part of a unit team.
zz You should be able to tailor your behaviour to the needs of the girl with whom you are working.
zz You should be capable of forward planning, thinking about possible adaptations to activities as far
in advance as possible.
zz You should be able to deal with behaviour that challenges and stay calm under pressure.
Additional skills
Girlguiding welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds, ages, cultures, faiths and abilities.
You will be required to complete a criminal record disclosure check, carried out by a local verier,
and will need to provide two references before beginning this role.
Please note this is a volunteer role; this role description does not form part of any contract
of employment.
© Girlguiding 2019 girlguiding.org.uk Volunteer Role Description
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