Employment mentor volunteers

Why we need you

One of the biggest fears for someone who has been diagnosed with macular disease is whether they are going to be able to continue working. These fears can directly impact an individual's sense of wellbeing, so having contact with an Employment Mentor could help to allay these concerns. Volunteer Employment Mentors are not counsellors, befrienders or problem solvers; just a professional person who has found practical ways to continue working with macular disease and is able to share their lived experience.

Will it suit me?

If you are friendly, reliable and want to share your employment experiences then this role could be perfect for you. We match people based on the type of job role and level of experience, so you don’t need to have a macular condition nor sight loss; just an understanding of its impact. Empathy and an awareness of the boundaries, signposting as appropriate, will help you to provide the best support. Following each call, volunteers provide a short report back to the team to help evaluate and improve the service. We offer options to mentor more than one person if you wish to get more involved.

Time commitment

The telephone calls are flexible. We recommend that you try and keep to a regular day and time, but it’s up to you and your mentee to agree this on your first call. The length of the call will vary depending on both your circumstances, but supporting one mentee will typically take 30 to 60 minutes of your time and two to three calls. The contact could also be via email.

Supporting you

We value our volunteers and we provide the support you need to be confident and successful in your role. You will learn more about the Macular Society, our work and subjects that are important to us, such as confidentiality and looking after yourself and others. Our programme is flexible and you can take part in it from the comfort of your own home. The Working Age and Young People Team is on hand for individual support and you can enjoy the wider help offered as a member of our volunteer network. We will reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Offering your help

If you see yourself in this role, get in touch to have a chat. If this isn’t for you, then we would still love to hear from you. We have other exciting volunteer opportunities that may be a better fit for your time and talents.