1:1 Support FAQ
Registering your child
Who can Me2 Club support?
We can support any child between the ages of 5-19 that lives or attends school in the Wokingham or Reading boroughs.
We provide 1:1 volunteers to help at a weekly mainstream after-school activity of your choice, we have helped children with a range of additional needs and disabilities to take part and feel included.
Does my child need to have a diagnosis to be supported?
No diagnosis is required to apply, if your child needs some extra support we can help.
What activities can you help at?
We can support with weekly mainstream activities that start after 4pm, such as swimming, uniformed groups (such as Rainbows, Beavers, Scouts), drama, football, basketball, dance, Gymfinity and many more. If the activities continues throughout the school holidays, we can support at the activity.
We do not support at:
- Weekend activities
- Holiday clubs
- One-off activities
- SEN activities
- Clubs starting before 4pm
We are only able to support at one activity per child.
Me2 Club do not run their own activities, parents/carers are responsible for organising, funding, and providing transport to the activity. If you need help finding an activity, the Wokingham and Reading council websites have lists of some local clubs.
Do I need to have an activity booked before applying?
You will need to have talked with the activity leader about booking a place for your child (or putting them on the waiting list for a place) before you can apply, as the time, day, and location of the activity is needed to register your child.
Please make sure you have booked your chosen activity in advance before reaching the top of the waiting list as changes to the activity listed on your application form can cause delays in finding a volunteer, and in some cases we will have to take you off the waiting list as we do not have the capacity to keep children on hold for long.
How does the process work?
- You must first apply for the activity you want your child to attend.
- After this you can complete our application form on the Me2 Club website, providing details of the activity (such as the day, location, time, and duration).
- Once your child has reached the top of the waiting list, an Activities and Volunteer Coordinator (AVC) will visit you and your child. During the visit, the AVC will gather information about your child’s needs and create a child profile in collaboration you and your child.
- Your child’s profile will then be shared with potential volunteers during the matching process. Once a suitable volunteer is found, a volunteer profile will be sent to the parent and the child’s family.
- After a match is made, you and your child will be given the option to meet the volunteer first at your home or to go straight to the activity. The AVC will also attend the first session to ensure everything goes smoothly and ensure the volunteer is confident in the support your child needs.
How long is the waiting list?
Our waiting list times are around 12-16 weeks, however we cannot guarantee this timeframe.
Can you provide volunteers for holiday or weekend clubs?
No, we can only provide volunteers for weekly Mon-Fri activities.
What if I don't live in the Wokingham or Reading boroughs?
Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to support children who do not live or attend school in the Wokingham or Reading boroughs, even if the activity is within those areas.
Currently we are unaware of similar services in other areas.
What if I cannot afford to send my child to an activity?
We believe it’s important that all children can take part and join in, but we know that sometimes financial circumstances might make it difficult for a child to attend an activity. If you would like you child to access a particular activity but the costs are a barrier for you please contact us.
Once my child comes off the waiting list, will they be assigned a volunteer straight away?
This depends on the availability and suitability of our current volunteers. If a volunteer isn’t available immediately, we will keep you informed about the next steps and provide updates on the progress.
How do I register my child?
All you need to do to register is complete our online registration form and a member of our team will be in touch within a week to confirm we’ve received it.
Please make sure you have an activity in place and read the information at the start of the form before applying, otherwise your application will be turned down.
Volunteers
What are the benefits of having a volunteer?
Having a volunteer is beneficial if your child has needs that the activity staff may not be able to sufficiently support while running the rest of the group. The same volunteer will meet your child at the activity each week and will provide focused support help them feel more confident, independent, and included at the session.
Volunteers can help with things such as:
- Understanding instructions
- Regulating emotions/behaviour
- Staying focused
- Help transitioning between activities (e.g. getting in and out of the pool, preparing to leave once the club has finished)
- Support doing the activity itself
- And more
You will have the contact details for both the volunteer and your assigned Activities and Volunteers Coordinator (AVC).
What training do Me2 Club volunteers have?
All our volunteers are at least 16 years of age and will have completed an enhanced DBS check prior to being matched with a child.
They have attended 8 hours of training prior to being matched with their young person. This includes training on inclusion, safeguarding, behaviour support and communication. They are interviewed and have references taken.
Can the volunteer take my child to their activity?
No, parent/carers are responsible for organising transport and our volunteers are not permitted to meet the child outside of their agreed activity.
Can the volunteer help my child outside of their activity?
No, our volunteers are only trained to support under the supervision of an activity leader and are not permitted to meet the child outside of the activity time agreed upon.
Can the volunteer help with toileting, changing clothes, etc.?
Volunteers can not be left on their own with a child following Me2 Club safeguarding policy. If the child requires support attending to personal care such as toileting, the activity leader takes the lead and the volunteer supports. The volunteer must always be within eyesight of one of the leaders.
If the volunteer is supporting at swimming, its the parent/carers responsibility to change the child before and after swimming.
The volunteer will not be able to administer medication of any kind to the child they are supporting.
I have an issue with my child's volunteer, who do I speak to?
Each child is assigned an Activities and Volunteers Coordinator who provides ongoing support throughout their time at Me2 Club. If any issues arise with your allocated volunteer, the Coordinator will be your point of contact and will work with you to resolve the matter.
