Advice / Awareness Raising

Make A Wish

Wish Visitor

Make-A-Wish UK grants life changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. A wish gives a desperately ill child and their family time away from the daily struggles of living with a serious condition. Since 1986, Make-A-Wish has turned the wishes of more than 12,000 seriously ill children into realities- creating memories to treasure forever, whatever the future may hold.

Role Description:

• We are looking for friendly and reliable volunteers who have great listening skills and experience of working with families and children. You’ll be visiting children who have been referred to us, at a time that suits them-and helping them to unlock their wildest imagination to discover their One True Wish.
• You’ll be calling the family to arrange your visit, and then liaising with another Wish Visitor volunteer to set a date.
• You’ll prepare for the visit and do everything you can to ensure that it’s the best possible experience for the child.
• During the visit you’ll use a variety of tools and techniques, which will inspire the imagination of the child and help you discover their One True Wish.
• After the visit you’ll write a summary report of the child’s wish and any other relevant details.
•  From time to time, you may be encouraged to support the granting of a wish in your area.This may include providing your local knowledge for venues, services etc. It may be helping coordinate activities or you may actually get a chance to be there on the day itself.
• You will be expected to complete relevant training and ensure that you keep up to date with Make-A-Wish updates and any changes within our Wishgranting process.
• You’ll keep your Volunteer Manager up to date with any significant issues, changes or successes and will be encouraged to keep in contact with your fellow Wish Visitors in your area also.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Ability and confidence in talking to children
• Committed and a desire to put the needs of the family first
• Intuitive ability to react to a family’s situation
• Empathetic, tactful and respectful
• Excellent listening and communication skills
• Written communication skills with the ability to accurately reflect the words and wishes of children
• Recognise the importance of confidentiality
• Be able to maintain professional boundaries
• Be reliable with a degree with flexibility
• Being abreast of popular trends with children and young people
• Have access to a car or local good transport links and be willing to attend wish visits within a 30 mile radius of your home address
• Access to the internet and confidence in using it as well as being a proficient user of Microsoft Word
• Competencies: Passion, Communication, Flexible

Additional:

• Days/Times required: As a wish visitor you’ll carry out at least 3 wish visits a year- you may have the opportunity and choose to do considerably more! Wish visits can last anything between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Outside of the visit itself you’ll also need to make time to contact the family to arrange the visit and to write the report afterwards. You will also need to factor in travel time. You’ll need to be flexible as visits are arranged at times convenient to the family- this could be a weekday, evening or weekend- so the more flexible around timings you are the better.
• Location: You will be home based but visiting children, young people and their families within a 30 mile radius of your home.
• Must be over 18 years old.
• Training will be provided.
• Should you be successful in your application, you’ll be required to attend training in Belfast on Saturday 19th January 2019