About Sligo Lend a Hand
Sligo Lend a Hand (SLAH) provides a free minor repair service and a befriending service in the homes of older and vulnerable adults.
SLAH carry out minor repair jobs inside and outside the homes, these include light gardening, small DIY jobs, installing and replacing batteries in smoke alarms. Calls will take no longer than 1 hour including time to get to and from the location Our service also includes befriending and visiting the elderly.
SLAH provides up to date contact information on community services, supports, groups and events in the Sligo area.
Older and vulnerable adults who wish to avail of the service can call 087 1776386 and the jobs are carried out by a pool of trained and Garda vetted volunteers.
SLAH is registered with Pobal to access funding support for the provision of personal panic alarms for eligible persons in Sligo town and county.
The group has a list of tried and trusted tradespersons who can be contacted to quote for jobs which are beyond the scope of the volunteer service.
The group is run by a local steering committee consisting of representatives from Muintir na Tire, Sligo Social Services, Sligo Leader, Calry Active Retirement Association.
What's Involved
Sligo Lend a Hand Volunteers visit vulnerable/older people's homes and carry out small repairs and minor tasks in the person's home or garden. A big aspect of each visit is staying for a chat and for this reason we are looking for chatty sociable people as well as people with DIY skill. Most visits take place during the day so we really need volunteers who are free during daytime hours.
Task include: Changing lightbulbs, installing simple locks or smoke alarms, moving furniture, ironing, dusting, hanging curtains or curtain rails, minor repairs to window frames or doors, light gardening such as weeding or mowing the lawn/ trimming hedges.
All volunteers work in pairs and ideally one volunteer carries out the DIY job while the other sits and chats to the service user.
Volunteer applications will be processed once a volunteer expresses interest and interviews will be held on the first Tuesday of the month. Volunteers will be notified of the time and date in advance of their interview.
How the service works: Volunteers tell the organisers when they are available and if a call comes in from an older person near you, you are asked if you can help. If you're not available, that's fine, the organiser will find someone else. There is no set time commitment involved and you may do one call a week or only one a month - it depends on demand in your area.
What's required for this position
Due to the nature of this volunteer role, we are looking for:
•Excellent social skills
•Good interpersonal skills
•To be courteous and respectful
•To be reliable
•Time flexibility
•Empathy and observation skills
•Fluent English is required
•Keen gardeners or home enthusiasts and people who love chatting to older people are all very welcome!
- Personable Skills
- Trades/ Operative/ Manual
Level of English required for this role:
Fluent English
Times and commitment required for this role
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
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| Morning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
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| Afternoon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
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| Evening | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
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Minimum time commitment: 6 months
Other Details
Location of volunteering opportunity:
Tubbercurry, Ballymote, Dromard/Skreen, Grange, North Sligo, South Sligo, West Sligo, Sligo town......VOLUNTEERS ARE URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR ALL AREAS COUNTY-WIDE!
Other location details:
Sligo Town,
Grange, Drumcliffe , Carney, Ballinfull, Cliffoney,
North Sligo, Tubbercurry, Ballymote, Dromard/Skreen, Enniscrone/Easkey......VOLUNTEERS ARE URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR ALL AREAS COUNTY-WIDE!
Screening details for this role:
- Garda Vetting
- Informal Interviews
- References
- Application Form
Volunteers will be provided with the following supports:
- Support/ advice/ recognition
- Initial induction and training
- Insurance cover
Age restrictions:
Over 18
Benefits you will receive as a volunteer
• You will be making a big difference to lonely/isolated /vulnerable people.
• Recognition/advice
• Supervision and on going support
• Opportunity to give back to the community
• ID card
