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What will mentoring for Down to Earth be like?

In short, challenging but rewarding. You will work closely with recently bereaved individuals and families on a low income, providing them with the information and support they need to make the best possible decisions at this difficult time. This may involve working from our base in Bethnal Green, a community venue or a person's home. Types of support may include:

• Telephone signposting to appropriate services
• 1:1 planning sessions with our funeral planning pack
• Support in filling in Social Fund claim forms or in making loan applications
• Support in attending a funeral directors and other official appointments
• Providing a neutral viewpoint and unbiased feedback on decisions
• Gently guiding someone through the whole funeral process

What skills and qualities are we looking for?

We are looking for people with empathy, patience, tolerance and good communication skills. You will have be a good organiser, confident in problem solving and happy working in a challenging and delicate environment. Some experience of death and funerals would be ideal, but not essential. Above all, we are looking for people with the desire, time, skills and compassion to commit to working with people who are recently bereaved.

Due to the sensitive nature of the volunteering we suggest that volunteers be aged 21 or over. Volunteers would be asked to commit to the project for a minimum of six months.

Why mentor for Down to Earth?

Being a volunteer mentor for Down to Earth will be a challenging experience that places a demand on your skills. You will be privileged in being able to support vulnerable people at the most difficult time of their lives.

In addition to the personal rewards, mentoring provides a great opportunity to develop a broad range of transferable skills in communication, support and event planning. We will provide full training and support from a team of end of life care professionals. The four day training course, which will be held on a week day over four consecutive weeks, will cover modules such as:

• Death and bereavement awareness
• The mentoring process
• The funeral process and action planning
• Financial planning and the Social Fund
• Faith and cultural awareness
• Communication and listening skills
• Dealing with difficult questions
• Recognising risk

When?

We are currently recruiting for our next round of training which will will take place inJune and July 2011. Dates and times will be confirmed shortly.