We are looking for volunteers to accompany members of our community on walks one-to-one around our local area (West Norwood and Tulse Hill). If you enjoy walking or would like to do more exercise, and would like to make some friends and join a fun community, this is the perfect opportunity for you. No previous experience with people with learning disabilities or in care is required.
Lots of our members love going on walks and being outside. You would meet the person at their house and then go for a walk for about an hour around local area. You might go to the West Norwood Cemetery or Brockwell Park, or walk around the local streets. You could also accompany members at our community walk around West Norwood Cemetery which would be a great way to get to know the wider community.
There is not a particularly high fitness level. You would need to be able to walk for an hour, and some of our members are in wheelchairs so you might need to be able to push a wheelchair. But we walk slowly in L'Arche London!
Walking with people is a lovely, lowkey way to get to know them. It gives you something to connect on and talk about without the pressure of a sit-down conversation. If you're trying to do some more exercise and also make new friends, this is the perfect way to achieve your goals. It would also give you the chance to join a fun intentional community with lots of events like parties and barbeques. At L'Arche, you are welcomed for who are, not what you can do.
This is an experience that will not only boost your CV, but also your confidence, and will grow you as a person.
Being friends with people with learning disabilities changes the way you see the world. You will learn to be more attentive to the world around you and be more open to difference.
You will learn to communicate more accessibly and there will be chances to have training in sign language.
You will receive first aid training and a range of other trainings including health and safety and autism awareness.
There is no one kind of person who comes to L'Arche London. We are very diverse in terms of ethnicity, nationality, educational background, religion, age, and LGBTQ+ identity. What our members share is an openness to difference, a curiosity about other people, and a desire to build strong friendships. We are also looking for people who are willing to commit to regular volunteering.
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