Becoming a Special Needs Volunteer

Across the United Kingdom there are thousands of children and adults alike who are in need of assistance because of medical, emotional, or learning difficulties. Many of these difficulties are categorised under the umbrella of Special Needs.

What are Special Needs?

Special Needs are conditions or debilitating illnesses that require round the clock care and attention or at least a degree of assistance from another individual or group.

Here are some of the most common:

• Physical Disabilities
• Children in need of medical care
• Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Physical Disabilities may include any conditions that make it difficult for an individual to move or walk; this can also include sensory impairments. These disabilities often require that the individual has someone with them to help with motion, lifting and handling, personal hygiene and other day to day tasks that they simply cannot perform on their own.

Children in need of medical care often need someone to look after the administering of medication, changing of bandages and dressings, and again perhaps assistance with day to day tasks that their medical condition prevents them from carrying out. It is important to note that there are differences between an individual being physically disabled and being in need of medical care. Whilst a person may be in need of medical care they may have motor function and can perform rudimentary tasks for themselves.

Special Educational Needs often refers to those individuals who – for one reason or another – are not performing to expectation within the school environment. Many of these conditions related to emotional or behavioural difficulties and while these individuals are able to function normally with speech and movement they may find it difficult to interact with those around them or maintain a level of concentration necessary to learn.

Who Qualifies for Special Needs Assistance?

Any of the aforementioned groups – or individuals falling into those groups – qualifies for Special Needs assistance. In the case of children your Local Education Authority in conjunction with Social Services will normally carry out home assessments in order to make the relevant assistance available.

For adults Social Services and other welfare and medical groups may be called upon to give assessments and make suggestions as to what care – and what level of care – is needed.

Special Needs Volunteers

Special Needs volunteers are people who have often themselves been predisposed to family members or close friends who have suffered from a disability or medical condition. Of course this is not always the case but it is likely that if you are a Special Needs volunteer you will have already come into contact with individuals in need of Special Needs assistance or will have had some prior training.

Special Needs volunteers are required to give assistance to those needing it either at home, in a school environment or in an environment where supervision is needed such as day centres, physiotherapy sessions etc.

Can I Become a Special Needs Volunteer?

Anyone can become a Special Needs volunteer but it should be noted that being such a volunteer requires a lot of determination and the ability to remain composed at all times.

You do not need to have any formal training as you will be given the relevant training before you are assigned to provide assistance but as always when it comes to dealing with children, the elderly or others categorised as vulnerable you will need to provide a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure.

If you are interested in becoming a Special Needs Volunteer you can contact your local Social Services department or Local Education Authority (LEA) who will have lists of organisations and centres where Special Needs are catered for.

You will be expected to complete a set number of hours training before you are allowed to tend to an individual’s needs alone but you will have at all times a supervisory figure to call upon should you need help or support.