Local Socials are a great chance for you to meet other MACS members in your local area. You could go to the cinema, for a walk, coffee or go to a soft play centre. You could do anything big or small, it's totally up to you and your Local Group!

The activities are hosted by MACS volunteers with seed funding provided by MACS. At this stage MACS is looking for volunteers to form local groups and would like to encourage everyone to give it a go!

If you'd like to get involved in forming your local group, please see the information provided below.

Facilitate a MACS Local Social Group in your area.

Are you a MACS member, a ‘Friend of MACS’ or do you have a special interest in the Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia or Coloboma conditions? Are you passionate about helping provide mutual support for MACS members and their friends with opportunities to stay in touch, meet up and to support each other locally? Read more about starting a Local Social Group in your area. All roles are voluntary, please have a read through and see where you could fit in and be involved as a volunteer in your area.

About the roles

Facilitator

This is a voluntary role for MACS as a Local Social group facilitator. You’ll be running Local Social Group Meet Ups and local peer support for MACS members and supporters. You’ll be managing a contact list, planning meet ups and facilitating the process. We want facilitators to receive as well as give peer support. Most meetings will be run online at the moment, due to the coronavirus pandemic but we are hoping to get back to physical meetings shortly.

What’s the commitment?

Attend online training sessions (approx. 10 hrs total)
Weekly commitment – check your Group email address, respond to emails and update your mailing list, advertise the group locally (approx. 1 hr)
Meeting commitment - hold a meet up every 4 - 8 weeks (approx. 2 hr meet up)
Attend check-ins with MACS (approx. 30 mins every 3 months, this can be arranged to suit you and can be more if you’d like more support)
Attend Local Social Group Forum (approx. 2 hrs every 6 months)

As the training and application process is costly for MACS, we ask that Local Social Group volunteers join us for a minimum of a year.

Attitude

The most important qualities to have are:

Respecting and valuing all group members.
Respecting and valuing people with disabilities.
Being inclusive of people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Believing in the positive benefits of peer support and building a Group.

It is preferable that you have connections to MACS through membership, be a ‘Friend of MACS’ or be a MACS supporter.

Skills and experience

The following skills are important for facilitating Local Social Meet Ups and peer support.

Able to manage time.
Able to encourage participation of all members of your Group.
Able to manage conflict and differences of opinion.
Able to acknowledge other members feelings.
Able to set your own needs to one side if required.
Able to delegate tasks to other Group members.
Able to take action on safeguarding issues, we can support you with this.
Able to signpost your Group members to sources of support.

You may already have most of these skills and the training will help you use them to facilitate a Local Social Group in your area.

Main duties

To check your Local Social Group email address and check it twice a week.
Respond to calls and emails from your Group and MACS.
Pass on Group attendance and pertinent information to MACS.
Maintain your own Group contact list.
Advertise your Group locally.
Plan Meet Ups or Group contact every 4-8 weeks.
Facilitate any meetings, and encourage peer support.

If a safeguarding concern is raised at a meeting, you have a duty to encourage the member to report this, or to report this yourself. We can support you with this, you will not be alone.

If your Group chooses to meet face-to-face again in future or would like to have an event you will need to organise these events. There will be seed funding available for your Group to start you off but will need to raise funds to continue with your future activities.

What’s in it for you?

Facilitating a MACS Local Support Group is a great way to use and share your personal experiences to support others in similar situations. Being a Local Social Group facilitator can help you develop new skills as well as tap into skills you already have. It can provide you with opportunities for long-term friendships and mutual support, as well as giving you a chance to reflect on your own journey.

Is this the right time for me to lead a MACS Local Social Group?

Facilitating a MACS Local Social Group can be a hugely rewarding experience and that is how we want it to be for anyone who takes on that role. It should be enjoyable and fun for you to do. It is good to think though any implications for yourself, and those closest to you, of facilitating a group so that you know you can make a positive commitment to it. Some good questions to ask yourself are:

Do I have enough time and energy to do this as well as my other commitments?
Do I feel reasonably adjusted about my own issues so that I can focus on supporting others and planning events?

Training and support

You will attend approx. 10 hrs of online training sessions. These cover the practical elements of running a Local Social Group, information on safeguarding, taking care of yourself, techniques for encouraging the participation of all group members. The training will also provide guidance on how to provide peer support.

As well as the training sessions, you’ll receive regular check-in sessions with MACS. We’re happy to provide support as needed. If you have a disability or ongoing health condition, please let us know and tell us what support you need in the role.

I’d like to help out with a Group in a different way

If you’re not ready to set up your own Group, but still want to help out, you can:

Co-facilitate your Local Social Group alongside another facilitator. The role is exactly as described above, but the workload is shared between two people (in whatever way works for you both).
Be a Group administrator. The role involves managing the Local Social Group email address, welcoming new members and advertising the Group. You don’t plan meetings or manage the Group, the facilitator does this. You will receive training to help you in this role.
Be a Group peer supporter. The role involves being able to offer peer support over the phone or face-to-face if you prefer. This role is about sharing your experience, signposting, and offering support to another member who needs another person to talk to who understands their situation. You will receive training to help you in this role.
Be a Group fundraiser. The role involves raising funds for your Group activities. There are many ways to achieve this and find opportunities locally. Funds may be raised from such things as subs from your members, fundraising activities, approaching supermarkets or local businesses who fund activities in your area. You may already have experience and ideas of your own. You will receive training to help you in this role.