Purpose of role

Our Autism Peer Support Volunteers are an integral part of our Leeds Autism AIM service’s National Lottery Community Fund project for 2025. The time, expertise, knowledge, and lived experience that you provide, will help people to understand their autism diagnosis and explore strategies for managing their day-to-day lives.

We require reliable people who have a patient and empowering approach. We welcome applications from autistic people who want to share their life experience in a one-to-one setting with another autistic person.

You will support someone who has recently received an autism diagnosis, using AIM’s autism specific resources and guides, along with your personal experiences.

Through volunteering, you will have the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, gain valuable experience and explore new interests.

You need to have the ability to accept people as they are; while also bringing creativity, motivation, and determination to help them overcome challenges and achieve the goals they choose for the support sessions. You must also be able to plan effectively and have the confidence to work independently in the community.

Duties/activities

  • You will be matched with an autistic person who requires Peer Support.
  • To meet the autistic person regularly for up to 6 months.
  • Commit to meet your match for 1 hour a week, fortnight or month during weekdays 9am–7pm.
  • You can meet your match in-person at either The Advonet Group Office or The Autism Hub (Community Wellbeing Hub).
  • Or you can meet remotely using Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Text or Phone call.
  • Get to know your match using listening skills to make them feel heard.
  • Work in a well-structured way to make best use of the 1-hour session time.
  • Work with your match to understand what their goals and interests are.
  • Build a plan based on what your match would like to achieve in the sessions.
  • Use AIM’s self-advocacy resources and autism specific guides to help them understand their autistic needs, experiences and skills.
  • Provide support to develop strategies to manage independently day to day.
  • Help to overcome barriers to achieving their goals and implement adjustments.
  • Provide information to help the client make informed choices and help to build confidence.

Volunteering with Leeds Autism AIM

What to expect

As part of your role as a Peer Support Volunteer, you will receive an initial induction as well as two days training in autism awareness and peer support.

We highly value our volunteers, and we will enable you to use your individual skills and the opportunity to gain experience to work towards a career in peer support.

After full training and induction, we will support you in initial introductions with your match and then you will be able to arrange times, days, locations and the format of communication that suit you both.

Then you can start your peer support journey together. We will provide ongoing support as you require it and schedule regular supervisions with you.

As well as access to additional training, some expenses are covered by the organisation for costs such as travel, as well as a £5 food allowance, if you work more than 4 hours in one day volunteering with us.

Who do we want to hear from?

We believe our strength comes from the diversity of our volunteers. We welcome applications from people of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and cultural backgrounds.

Whether you’re new to volunteering or bring years of experience, we value your interest in contributing to our work.

We have an inclusive volunteering policy; however, this role does require you to be autistic to be able to fulfil the ‘peer’ element of the support.

We have successfully worked alongside autistic volunteers across all aspects of The Advonet Group and Autism AIM, who have positively contributed to our service and greatly enhanced the support we provide.

How to apply:

Interested people are invited to complete the Volunteering Enquiry Form, found by clicking on the button below. One of our friendly team will then be in contact with more information.

What happens next?

You will then be invited to an informal meeting where you will meet our Volunteer Coordinator and be issued with a Volunteering Application Pack. The informal meeting can be via phone call, Zoom/Teams or in-person.

Once we receive your completed Volunteer Application form, we will contact your specified Referees for a reference and conduct a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please Note – A DBS check is required for anyone working with vulnerable people – either paid or on a voluntary basis. We ask that you are open and honest with us from the very beginning and talk to us about any concerns you might have. Once these documents are completed, your induction training will begin.

Training sessions:

Our training sessions for volunteers cover the following training courses:

  • Autism Awareness & Working with Autistic Adults (5 hrs)
  • Autistic Peer Support Training Part 1 (5 hrs)
  • Advonet Volunteer Induction Training (4 hrs)

Not what you’re looking for?

If you have lived experience and want to volunteer your time to make a positive difference, but this role isn’t quite for you then we are always happy to talk to you about other opportunities within the organisation.

We have a variety of other volunteering roles within Leeds Autism AIM that may be of interest or fit your skill set better. They include:

  • Volunteer Autism Employment Mentor
  • Support Group Volunteer
  • Autism Hub Supporter

There are also opportunities to be involved in other areas of The Advonet Group, including our Learning Disability projects.

Contact us:

Danielle Furness, Autism AIM Volunteer Coordinator