Cancer Coach Volunteer

We are currently seeking volunteers to run in person groups in Bradford and/or Halifax. There may be future opportunity to run additional groups online.

What is Cancer Coach?

Cancer Coach is a support group accessible online, via the telephone or in person. It is available to anyone who has completed their hospital based cancer treatment and needs some help with dealing with the emotional impact of their diagnosis.

Cancer Coach is for anyone over the age of 18 who has completed treatment for cancer, regardless of whether they finished treatment a few months ago or a few years ago. Participants can be based anywhere in the UK and it is suitable for anyone regardless of their cancer type.

The group takes participants through a series of facilitated group discussions and topics, delivered online or the telephone. The group meets every week for 6 weeks, with a maximum of 10 participants per group. Each group is facilitated by a trained volunteer facilitator and is free of charge and confidential, with participants accessing the course in the comfort and privacy of their own home.

The volunteer role:

Cancer Coach Facilitators will be responsible for facilitating the Cancer Coach groups, which offer support and guidance on a range of emotional issues to people who have completed their hospital based treatment. The volunteer will represent Cancer Support UK, ensure each group is facilitated smoothly and work with the Cancer Coach Head of Service to ensure any issues or concerns regarding participants are raised appropriately and in a timely way.

Key Responsibilities: • To lead a regular, structured Cancer Coach sessions for groups of up to ten people in person. • To follow a structured but flexible programme to facilitate discussions and to share and discuss tips and tools with the group each week. • To support the monitoring of the groups through weekly reporting • To deal appropriately with confidential and sensitive material. • To report any concerns to your Cancer Support UK contact in line with our safeguarding procedures. • To be available for regular support and supervision sessions. All volunteers must be over the age of 18, and should be based within easy travelling distance of the locations specified.

Role Duration and Commitment: We ask that volunteers aim to deliver between 2-3 groups per year as a minimum. All volunteers are asked to commit to the full duration of each 6 weeks course they deliver to ensure there is continuity for the participants.

learn more: Become a Cancer Coach Volunteer - Cancer Support UK

Skills

Person Specification – Skills, Abilities and Attitude: • Ideally have experience of facilitating groups, counselling, coaching or leading training sessions • Ideally have experience of supporting and working with people with a long term or life limiting illness • Excellent communication skills, including good listening skills. • Patient, empathetic and non-judgemental. • Warm, approachable and able to put people at ease • Ability to work independently but know when to seek advice or report concerns.

Benefits for You: • Enhancing the lives of people who are living with or have had cancer. • Working alongside new people. • The opportunity to develop new skills and interests. • Full support and training. • Feeling part of a worthwhile charity.

For online groups you will need: • Use of a phone or PC/laptop/tablet in a private area so that the confidentiality of the participants can be maintained • A strong and reliable wifi connection

For in person groups you will need: • Basic IT skills and access to a PC/laptop/tablet is required for online reporting You must be able to travel to Halifax and/or Bradford on a weekly basis for the duration of each course