Volunteer Sighted Guide Training Assistant

As a Sighted Guide Training Assistant volunteer, you’ll be helping people with sight loss to live the life they choose by increasing the number of people in the UK who know how to guide someone with sight loss. You’ll support the delivery of training courses both in person and online, to ensure participants have the confidence, skills and empathy to offer sighted guiding assistance to someone with sight loss.

Volunteer Feedback:

“I get to use my skills and experience, keep my brain active and feel that I am making a contribution to the fantastic work of this organisation.”
Heather, Sighted Guide Training Assistant.

You will be performing this volunteer role virtually from home, or in-person if you are able to attend a Guide Dogs sites from:

• Guide Dogs Reading Community Team, Hillfields, Reading Road, Burghfield Common, Berkshire, RG7 3YG
• Guide Dogs Southampton Community Team, 45 Bournemouth Road, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 3DJ

You will be performing this volunteer role in-person at community venues, Guide Dogs sites or virtually from home. You will be expected to independently travel to training venues or Guide Dogs sites across the region. (Guide Dogs will reimburse any reasonable pre-agreed expenses incurred in line with our policy). Whatever your background or lived experience we’ll support you to volunteer with us and can discuss adjustments to support your engagement. Guide Dogs is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation that is safe and welcoming for everyone.

We’ll provide initial training before you get started. This consists of attending a minimum of three training courses delivered through a combination of in-person and/or virtually. The training will cover the specific skills and knowledge required to perform the role, such as sighted guiding skills and how to train others. The training typically requires around 12 hours to complete and is followed by shadowing opportunities and observations. We’ll provide you with certificates on completion of mandatory courses.

What skills do I need?

To succeed in this role, you will:

• Need to be 18 years old or over.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Confidence in presenting to a group.
• Ability to give positive and constructive feedback.
• Be able to identify and escalate issues or concerns, including safeguarding concerns.

You will have the option to deliver the training virtually. If you opt in for this, additional requirements are: 

• Access to a device (e.g. laptop, PC, tablet, etc.) which can be used to fully participate in the delivery of the training
• Comfortable and able to be on screen on MS Teams.
• Competence using virtual platforms, e.g. Microsoft Teams.

Location

This opportunity can be carried out whilst working from home.