We are looking for volunteers to join Leeds Autism AIM at our Drop-In Autism Hub sessions. Our Drop-Ins are run on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month from 4pm-7pm. Our Hubs are an integral part of our innovative service.

Our Drop-Ins are social sessions for our Autistic clients. At the Drop-Ins, they can access information about our service, be signposted, book future appointments and also socialise with other people in their community and create new friendships.

We require reliable, organised people who would be able to greet our clients at the door, be able to show them around the building and introduce them to other clients who are in the social area. Sometimes, new clients can be anxious when they first come to the Hub, so the Drop-In Hub Assistant will be able to ease their anxiety by being greeted by a friendly face who can help them navigate the space.

Role duties:

  • Commit to two evenings a month, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month between 3:30pm-7:30pm (eight hours a month).
  • Be the first person someone may meet when they first come to the Hub, to greet them and make them feel welcome.
  • Show the client around the building.
  • Introduce clients to other clients.
  • Introduce clients to appropriate staff members.
  • Helping new clients to fill out the referral form on our website.
  • Let the client know about what AIM do and how we can help and who maybe the best person or area to sign post to within AIM.

Volunteering with AIM

As part of your role as a Drop-in Hub Assistant Volunteer, you will receive an initial induction as well as autism awareness training.

We highly value our volunteers and will enable you to build and use your individual skills, as well as further your knowledge on Autism.

After full training and an induction, we will invite you to the Hub on a non-Drop In day to become familiar with the building. We will let you know everything there is to know about AIM and have a run through of what the Drop-In Assistant would do on a session. Once you feel ready you will be invited to a Drop-In day where staff will be available for any support you need.

As well as access to additional training, all expenses are covered by the organisation.

Inclusive volunteering

We have an inclusive volunteering policy and have successfully worked alongside autistic volunteers across all aspects of the AIM service who have co-led on many parts of our work. This has greatly enhanced our service.

We aim to build on this in future and have autistic adults leading our training delivery.  We also welcome applications all adults of any age group or from people with lived experience of physical disability, mental illness, being LGBTQ+ and/or being POC/BAME. This role doesn’t require you to be Autistic.

Interested people are invited to contact us for more information. You will then be invited to a Volunteer Information Event or an informal meeting where you will be issued with an application pack.

Once we receive your application form, we apply for references and a DBS check. A DBS check is required for anyone volunteering, or paid, to work with vulnerable people. We ask that you are open and honest with us from the very beginning and talk to us about any concerns you might have. We make no blanket rules about whether you can undertake a role if you have any information on your DBS.

Each case is taken on an individual basis and we are committed to making sure volunteering is accessible. Once this is completed, your induction can begin.

If you have a skill that you would like to offer us and that you think would benefit our organisation, even though it may not match any of the roles outlined below, then we are always happy to talk to you about it. There are also opportunities to be involved in other areas of this project and access to wider opportunities within The Advonet Group.

Our next training sessions:

  • Working With Autistic Adults Training – TBC (five hours)
  • Induction – TBC (three hours)

Please contact us for dates, using Beth’s details below.

Contact Information:

Beth MacDonald – Autism Volunteer Coordinator

Tel: 0113 244 0606 / 0113 205 6532

Email: [email protected]