Access To Health Volunteer Roles in Barnet, Greater London
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role title: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Location: Flexible (travel to London will be required at least once a quarter)
Salary: N/A (Volunteer role)
Time commitment: 1.5-2 days per month
Contract: The Chair is appointed for an initial 3-year term with the option of renewal for up to 3 terms. The maximum term for all trustees (including the Chair) is 9 years.
Purpose of the role:
Are you seeking a board opportunity with a high-impact charity that aligns with your values and vision for society? Passionate about refugee welfare, integration, and unlocking talent for the UK? This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to join a growing, impact-focused and ambitious charity supporting refugees to access meaningful employment and build a new life.
The Chair leads the board, ensuring that it governs Breaking Barriers effectively, in service of our vision and mission. The Chair leads in an inclusive way, supporting the board to work together well, and providing support and challenge to the Chief Executive. The Chair is also an ambassador for the charity.
The Chair of Breaking Barriers provides visionary leadership and strategic direction, ensuring that the organisation effectively achieves its mission while adhering to its core values. This pivotal role involves governance oversight, board leadership, executive support, and serving as an ambassador for the organisation.
What’s in it for you?
Holding the high-profile role at the Chair of Trustees have a number of benefits, including the following:
- Contributing to an important cause: Having appropriate support for refugees in the UK to access meaningful employment does not only benefit the refugee community. It also supports businesses to have access to a wider talent pool and helps foster integration in the society.
- Opportunity to make a difference: As the new Chair for Breaking Barriers, you will have the opportunity to drive the growth of a highly impactful Charity with current funding of circa £4 million per year. Breaking Barriers have ambitious plans to extend its impact and you will play a part in spearheading this.
- Expanding your network: Breaking Barriers partners with some of the most high-profile corporates such as Macquarie, Bank of America, LinkedIn, Ikea, and the Big Yellow Group. Being the Chair of Trustee means that you will have exposure to these organisations. You will also have access to other senior stakeholders within Breaking Barriers’ wider network, amongst the trustees, executive, and founding teams.
To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accessible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.
Other considerations:
- As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.
- Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action.
- We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.
How to apply:
If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. Please apply via Charity Jobs by submitting a cover letter (up to approximately 2 A4 pages), referencing how you believe you best meet the person specification. You are also welcome to include any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process. Please view the attached recruitment pack for further essential information for candidates.
Closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Sunday 2nd June. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We belong to the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supports organisations to employ more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reach out to HR Manager Dani Meier for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert, but you can find contact details on the final page of the attached recruitment pack).
Breaking Barriers exists so that every refugee can access meaningful employment and build a new life.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Adult Casework Volunteer - Role description
Role: Adult Casework Volunteer
Team: Casework
Supervised by: Adult caseworker
Location: Tooting office on a Thursday afternoon (2-5.30pm)
Time commitment: 3.5 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months
About CARAS :
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.
Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.
We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.
Our values are at the centre of all our work
• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests
• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society
• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes
• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do
About CARAS casework:
CARAS works with adults and young people of a refugee and asylum seeker background to find solutions to their problems. There are two separate sub-teams within the Casework team; young people and adults. We support adults to navigate the asylum system, understand their options, access benefits, connect with services and realise their goals. We are a non-specialist casework and advocacy service, so we work in close partnership with other local organisations to whom we refer people with more complex issues.
Using the empowerment model, our casework service embodies CARAS’ values of ‘with not for’, always striving to ensure people are armed with the information and resources they need to make decisions and take action for themselves.
About the Role:
We are currently recruiting for 2 volunteers to join our Adult Casework team.
The purpose of the Adult Casework volunteer role is to support adults with a refugee or asylum seeking background to understand their rights, access information and services, and ultimately, take control of their own lives. You will work with individuals to address problems they may face relating to, among other issues, asylum support, accessing healthcare and education, access to legal advice and finding activities and opportunities.
You will start from an understanding that individuals are always best placed to solve their own problems, and often need nothing more than to talk out a problem and find the solution themselves. When helpful, you will provide information to clarify and support to take action.
The Adult Casework team hold a support session at our office in Tooting on Thursday afternoons from 2-5.30pm. Volunteer caseworkers have 1:1 appointments, either in person or by phone, with CARAS members. These can be related to a range of topics. Currently our biggest areas of work are around housing for people seeking asylum, access to college, nursery/school places for children, referrals to mental health providers, searches and signposting to activities, finding solicitors and supporting people to apply for bus passes and ID cards. Volunteers also support with administrative tasks such as updating our databases, collating resources and creating information guides.
Adult Casework Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:
-
Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting.
-
Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements.
-
Assisting with filling out forms
-
Signposting and referring onto other services and organisations.
-
Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner.
-
Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations and grants.
-
Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required.
-
Keeping accurate casenotes
-
Supporting to maintain our signposting database
-
Researching and collating resources
-
Working collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the Adult Casework project.
-
Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements:
Essential
-
Experience of doing 1:1 advice work/casework.
-
Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.
-
Confidence in using IT (Microsft office, outlook, zoom, Google search, online forms)
-
To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;
-
A commitment to confidentiality and data protection
-
Thorough with good attention to detail
-
Reliable
-
A high level of spoken and written English
-
Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way
-
A calm, friendly, kind and patient approach
-
Enjoyment in speaking to new people
-
A commitment to working in an empowering way
-
Able to maintain boundaries
-
Able to work autonomously
-
Currently resident in the UK
Desirable
-
Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights and entitlements for people seeking asylum
-
Experience of working with interpreters
-
Direct experience of the UK immigration system.
-
Past experience of working with people seeking asylum
-
Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu or Vietnamese.
We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process
Benefits to Volunteering:
-
Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;
-
Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;
-
Develop your skills and competencies;
-
Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.
-
Obtain a reference from us relating to your volunteering
All volunteers must complete a basic DBS check for volunteers working with adults and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.
To Apply:
To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form, using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.
Applicants will have an informal meeting with the Adult caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP.
Successful applicants will undergo training and induction with our team.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Our volunteers champion the rights of young people in care and on the edges of care, support them to access advocacy and make their voices heard. Training is provided. Whether you are currently studying, recently graduated, working part-time, retired or between jobs, volunteering with Coram Voice is a great opportunity to make a difference at the same time as gaining experience of working for a national children’s rights charity.
Our Helpline Supervisors will support you to develop valuable advocacy skills and knowledge of children’s rights and we offer specialist training in safeguarding, equality and diversity and advocacy. This training and other resources will help you to prepare for the role. You will be joining a team that provides quality support to young people in a friendly and supportive environment.
Our volunteer team is integral to our service and we could not provide the service we do without them, particularly in terms of the support we offer to homeless children.
We believe this role will be of particular interest to anyone looking to develop a career involving giving advice, advocacy, children’s and human rights, legal work, social work or youth work; or for professionals in those fields who want to use their experience to support the work of a children’s charity.
Please see our candidate information document for more information about our organisation and the training provided.
We ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us in relation to this position. We have chosen to recruit directly as this helps us to minimise our recruitment costs, ensuring that funds are not diverted from the children and young people we help.
We are a leading children’s rights organisation. We champion the rights of children and get young voices heard in decisions that matter to them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Title – Children’s Advocacy Helpline Volunteer
Contract - Volunteer
Hours - Minimum 1 day a week for minimum of 1 year post training period, Helpline opening hours Monday to Friday 10am-6pm
Salary – Out of pocket expenses for travel (up to £10 per day) and Lunch (up to £5 per day)
Location – Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ
About Coram Voice
Coram Voice exists to enable and equip children and young people to hold the system to account, to challenge and support it to do its job properly and to uphold the rights of children and young people to actively participate in shaping their own lives.
About the role
Our volunteers champion the rights of young people in care and on the edges of care, support them to access advocacy and make their voices heard. Training is provided. Whether you are currently studying, recently graduated, working part-time, retired or between jobs, volunteering with Coram Voice is a great opportunity to make a difference at the same time as gaining experience of working for a national children’s rights charity.
Our Helpline Supervisors will support you to develop valuable advocacy skills and knowledge of children’s rights and we offer specialist training in safeguarding, equality and diversity and advocacy. This training and other resources will help you to prepare for the role. You will be joining a team that provides quality support to young people in a friendly and supportive environment.
Our volunteer team is integral to our service and we could not provide the service we do without them, particularly in terms of the support we offer to homeless children.
We believe this role will be of particular interest to anyone looking to develop a career involving giving advice, advocacy, children’s and human rights, legal work, social work or youth work; or for professionals in those fields who want to use their experience to support the work of a children’s charity.
Please see our candidate information document for more information about our organisation and the training provided.
We ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us in relation to this position. We have chosen to recruit directly as this helps us to minimise our recruitment costs, ensuring that funds are not diverted from the children and young people we help.
To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application, please note we do not accept cvs.
Closing Date: 2nd June 2024 23.59pm
Interview Date: Candidates will be interviewed as they apply
Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.
If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience as part of their application.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity No. 312278.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About CARAS:
CARAS is a leading refugee charity in Southwest London, providing firm foundations for new-arrival asylum seekers to build happy and successful lives. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives.
We provide person-centred educational, social and casework support to over 600 young people and adults across South London each year, recognising the moment of arrival as one of opportunity. Our work provides individuals with essential support to build language and employability skills, develop social networks and friendships, and access essential services such as legal and mental health services. Our work has multi-generational impact, providing forced migrants with early interventions to support language and skill acquisition, tackling the root causes of socio-economic marginalisation by supporting social inclusion and future labour market access.
Volunteering with CARAS – our Community of Welcome:
CARAS has a proud history of volunteers helping us deliver our charitable aims. Volunteers are an essential part of the CARAS community, bringing skills, insights, experience, different languages, and enthusiasm to the roles. Community members tell us the welcome by volunteers is so important in an often hostile world. It helps them feel safe and wanted. Community is at the heart of all we do, and we could not deliver the projects we do without the enormous contribution that volunteers bring.
About CARAS Adult Programme:
Alongside educational and casework support, CARAS has a thriving social program of weekly activities, from women’s yoga, to creative coffee afternoons, sports sessions and workshops, designed and built in collaboration with our community, volunteers and local partners. Most people we work with in the adult team are waiting for a decision on their asylum claim, are accommodated in cramped and inadequate hotels contracted by the Home Office for up to – and sometimes more than – 2 years whilst they wait for a decision on their asylum claim. During this time, they are eligible for only £8.86 per week and are prohibited from working. This is an incredibly stressful and disempowering period for those seeking asylum. Against this backdrop, our social activities exist as spaces of welcome, for people to come and make meaningful connections, build confidence and importantly – have fun!
About the Trips and Holiday Activities Project:
Alongside our weekly timetable of term time activities, we run trips across London during the school holidays. These are always chosen and planned together with our community members, and so far have included trips to famous parks, museums, galleries, and the theatre. We know from our community members how important these trips are; they are a chance to explore parts of the city that would otherwise be inaccessible, and to feel more at home in the city. As one community member told us, ‘to discover new places…this makes us feel included’. They are an opportunity to learn something new with others, to meet new people, relax and have fun.
About the Role:
To support us with these trips and holiday activities, we are looking for friendly, welcoming, enthusiastic and proactive volunteers. You will support us practically to ensure the trips run smoothly and on time, but also will be an essential part of our community of welcome – to chat and get to know our community members, and make sure everyone feels included and is having a good time.
We intend to hold 2 trips in the Easter holidays, and up to 5 trips in the summer holidays. These will all be in locations across London, most likely during daytime hours. We will also run a combination of adult-only and child-friendly trips across the year – this is what our community have told us they want! We usually have a group of 10-20 community members and will always have at least one CARAS staff member present too.
Ideally, we are looking for volunteers who are flexible during school holidays and can attend at least 3 trips throughout the year, though we may consider those who might only be able to volunteer on a one-off basis.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
To attend CARAS trips as and when you are available to do so.
To support with the logistics of travelling to and from the trip location.
To keep an eye on the general health and wellbeing of our Community Members and report any concerns to the CARAS staff member present.
To encourage positive connections between people and the places we are visiting, opening up conversations to learn about each other.
On family-friendly trips, to assist where needed with the supervision of children present (alongside parents)
Requirements – Essential:
To be 18 years or older;
To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds;
To be reliable and punctual;
To be welcoming, friendly part of the group, and to make sure our community members have the best and most fruitful time possible at the locations we visit.
Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English;
Current resident of the UK;
Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check;
Able to complete compulsory volunteer induction training (online) general and safeguarding via 2 self-paced induction training webinars prior to the start of role;
Requirements – Desirable:
Knowledge of community languages, such as Farsi, Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Somali and Spanish.
Through volunteering with us you will gain:
An opportunity to connect with and learn from a vibrant and diverse community of people who are new to the city;
A chance to share your knowledge of the city and places of interest with our community;
A deeper understanding of the experiences, challenges, and strengths of those seeking asylum here;
A deeper understanding of language-inclusive practices in multi-lingual groups;
Develop your skills and competencies;
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you want to help stop needless deaths from sepsis and help improve recovery of those affected by Sepsis. UKST are looking to recruit additional Trustees to its established Board
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that affects 245,000 people in the UK every year. At least 48,000 of those people lose their lives to the condition. We believe that earlier diagnosis and treatment across the UK would save thousands more lives a year.
The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) was founded in 2012. Founder and Executive Director, Dr Ron Daniels BEM, is an NHS Consultant in Intensive Care:
“We seek to save lives from sepsis, and improve outcomes for survivors, by educating healthcare professionals, raising public awareness, providing support for those affected by this devastating condition and political lobbying. We will protect people by enabling the prevention of severe infection and the treatment of sepsis, whist helping to ensure antibiotics are used responsibly.”
The UK Sepsis Trust has ambitious plans to increase awareness, educate wider networks beyond direct care health professionals and provide support to an ever-increasing population of survivors and bereaved. We are seeking to diversify the existing Trustee Board by gaining access to broader and deeper skills, backgrounds, and experiences. Our Trustees work in partnership with our Chairman and Chief Executives to ensure our resources are applied to maximum effect to achieve our purpose – through a clear vision and strategy, whilst exercising stewardship to operate an appropriate framework of governance.
We are particularly interested in candidates from various backgrounds including:
- Clinical/Sepsis
- Finance & Charity governance
- Corporate Fundraising engagement
- Digital, web and apps
Key Tasks and Responsibilities will include:
- Working with the Chairman, fellow Trustees and Management Team to ensure UKST’s cultural values and ethos are fully understood and adhered to throughout the organisation
- Encouraging team-working and collaboration across the charity’s activities including supporters and volunteers
- Along with fellow Trustees, making decisions that will best enable the charity to carry out its purposes. Contributing to balanced and informed decisions about the long term as well as the short-term requirements for UKST
- Ensuring the Charity’s assets and resources are only used to support it carrying out its purpose
- Providing ad hoc advice to the Management Team on specific topics relevant to their skills and knowledge
- Keeping up to date with Charity Commission legislation changes
- Continually monitoring the Trust’s progress to determine if strategic priorities need to be adjusted
Person Specification
- Significant leadership experience and commitment to our purpose
- Ability to drive organisational change and navigate growth
- Willingness and ability to understand responsibilities and liabilities as Trustees of a Charity
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement, and work effectively as a Board member
- Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion, and numeracy to the extent required to understand the financial records and accounts
Time Commitment
The time commitment of the Trustees is variable but as a minimum they are required to attend the following:
- The Trustees have four formal meetings each year with the management team (2 of which are in person in either Birmingham/London).
- In addition there are four informal meetings with the management team along with regular Trustee only meetings which are all held virtually
- The Finance and Governance Trustee would also be required to attend four finance and audit committee meetings per year.
If you are interested in joining the team please apply with a cover letter and CV.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Why we need your help
• To enable us to provide a rehabilitation and enablement service to patients in their own homes.
• To promote independence and support to help someone to achieve their goal
• Increase patients’ self-confidence and ability to self-manage their difficulties or symptoms.
What activities will you be involved in as part of this volunteer role?
You will be providing rehabilitation for patients in their own home. This may include;
· Helping with exercises that may make things easier for them at home (for example standing from a chair)
· Supporting people to manage their breathlessness
· Helping a patient to put some techniques into practice that may help with day to day activities.
· Helping someone to mobilise
Other activities include;
· Attending a joint visit with the therapist to be introduced to the patient and the exercises they will be doing.
· Dealing sensitively and politely with patients that you visit at home.
· Respect that you are in someone’s home and acting appropriately.
· Arranging further visits as agreed with the patient and the therapist within agreed hours.
· Promoting rehabilitation in all of your interactions with both patients and their families.
· Contacting the Living Well at Home team prior to and directly after a visit to ensure your safety at all times.
· Complete the visit report and submit it to the Living Well at Home team on the same day as the visit.
You will not be involved in the following;
· Toileting or personal care.
What you can gain from volunteering in this role
• Know you are helping dying people in your local community have access to care and support, whenever and wherever they need it.
• Experience of rehabilitation and really helping to make a difference to someone’s quality of life
• Opportunity to meet and work with interesting and diverse people
• Join an enthusiastic team, meet new people and get more involved in your local community
• Use and develop your skills, enhancing your CV if that is important to you
• Know you are helping dying people in your local community have access to care and support, whenever and wherever they need it.
Training and support provided
• An Introduction to Supporting People at End of Life training, date to be confirmed.
• Staff and volunteer induction training (covering all mandatory training)
• Living Well at Home Project training. Up to 1 day, at the Sydenham site or by zoom, depending on your availability. (Training is flexible at present and we will try and fit in with your availability)
• Ongoing informal training specific to the patient that you are visiting
• Monthly supervision sessions with the Living Well at Home team.
• Contact with the Living Well at Home team for support or questions regarding the patient/family at any time during working hours.
• Reasonable travel expenses will be paid
• Support from the Volunteering team including a regular e-newsletter
• Volunteer handbook and volunteer workbook
• Regular updates and training through MyImpact
We are looking for someone who is
· Approachable and friendly and able to get on well with people of many different backgrounds
· Caring and committed to help improve the quality of life for our patients
· Able to work in a professional manner with patients who have a terminal illness
· Capable of completing entries in patient files and updating other written documents as instructed
· Enthusiastic about learning and keen to develop new skills
· Reliable and can be flexible in the offer of time
• Able to follow our policies and procedures to keep you, our staff, our patients and our customers safe
• Able to represent St Christopher’s and our values positively.
Anything else you need to know
• There is a short settling in period to see if the role is right for you
• This role will require pre-volunteering checks, which will include a DBS Check. Having a criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from volunteering with us. Every situation is assessed on an individual basis.
• At St Christopher’s we believe that no volunteer should be out of pocket because of their volunteering. The reimbursement of reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred whilst volunteering will help ensure volunteering is accessible.
Commitment to volunteering
Signing up to be a volunteer with St Christopher’s Hospice is a big commitment and requires lots of training and support from the organisation. With this in mind, ideally you would be able to volunteer with us for a minimum of a year. We would also ask that you to inform your manager if you are unable to attend your shift with as much notice as possible.
Equality and diversity
St Christopher’s recognises the qualities and strengths that a diverse group of volunteers bring to the organisation and we therefore particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups within the local communities and from a range of different cultures and backgrounds.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Telea
Telea is a cutting-edge digital health platform designed to revolutionise speech therapy services for people who living with Parkinson's Disease. Telea addresses several challenges faced in speech therapy services, including, Access to Care, Adherence to Intervention, efficient Service Delivery, reduced Waiting Times and assisting with Staffing Shortages
Telea's solution is a comprehensive digital health platform designed to revolutionize speech therapy services. It enables seamless communication and interaction between speech therapists and their clients, facilitating remote delivery of therapy exercises and monitoring of client progress. The platform consists of two main components: a patient app and a therapist web app.
The patient app allows clients to access therapy exercises and activities from the comfort of their own homes using their mobile devices or tablets. These exercises are personalized to each client's specific needs and therapy goals. Clients can receive real-time feedback and guidance as they complete their exercises, fostering engagement and motivation throughout their therapy journey.
On the other hand, the therapist web app provides speech therapists with a centralized platform to manage their caseload and interact with their clients. Therapists can create customized therapy plans, track client progress, and adjust interventions as needed. They can also conduct virtual therapy sessions and remotely monitor client performance, optimizing therapy delivery and maximizing therapist efficiency. This not only empowers the therapist but also the client improving their quality of life overall through speech therapy.
Role Description
-
Telea is looking to highlight and bring to life the stories of people living with Parkinsons. They are looking to create a series of short interviews with people who are living with Parkinson's and share their stories and journeys to raise awareness. Parkinson's is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease, and 1 in 5 people get diagnosed - They want to make sure that awareness is raised around this condition with the general public and make sure their stories are never forgotten. If this sounds like a role you would like to be part of, They are looking for somebody with some editing experience and videography skills. They would like to do a few interviews. You will need to be based in Ireland, ideally in the South (They are based in Cork).
-
Volunteer 4-6 hours per week remotely for 1-2 months
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About CARAS:
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and people seeking asylum who live in south London, helping them to play their full part in the community. We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a background of forced migration, providing them with tools to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults currently include: ESOL classes (English for Speakers of Other Languages), a creative writing workshop, drama group, yoga and gardening project.
About the CARAS ESOL Team:
COVID has posed unprecedented challenges to refugees and people seeking asylum in London. Many of those we meet have arrived alone in the UK and have been living in contingency accommodation for many months. Our ESOL team offer English language classes to adults at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling people to attend college and access other services in the future.
About the Role:
CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our online Zoom classes on Tuesday mornings:
Entry 1 class: 10 to 11.30am
Entry 2 class: 11.30am to 1pm (plus a 15-minute debrief)
You are welcome to apply to volunteer in one or both classes. Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.
As a volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistant your role is flexible and varied. It will involve supporting the Adult ESOL Teacher in the delivery of online Zoom classes, as well as providing learners with one-to-one or small-group support.
Volunteer tasks and responsibilities:
Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes;
Helping learners build confidence in digital literacy;
Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session;
Helping create “learner portraits” to understand their strengths and areas of interest;
Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class;
Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project;
Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential;
Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements;
Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management, online communications and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements:
Essential:
To be 18 years or older;
An interest in education and English language teaching;
To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds;
To be reliable and punctual;
Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English;
The ability to volunteer on Tuesday mornings during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of three months;
Currently resident in the UK;
Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check;
Able to attend compulsory volunteer induction training (online) general and safeguarding prior to start of role
Desirable:
Knowledge of community languages, such as (including Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali and Spanish).
Through volunteering with us you will:
Meet new members of your local community;
Learn about different cultures;
Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;
Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;
Develop your skills and competencies;
Be able to access relevant training, including ESOL safeguarding training;
Gain experience in teaching and interpreting.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About CARAS:
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and people seeking asylum who live in south London. We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a background of forced migration, providing them with tools to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for young people currently include: ESOL classes (English for Speakers of Other Languages), study group, youth club, swimming lessons and football.
About Youth Club:
Youth Club is a place for young people aged 14-19 to come and play games, learn new skills, make and strengthen friendships and build a sense of belonging. Regular activities include classic youth club games such as table tennis, pool, foosball, board and card games.
Youth club takes place at Tooting Hub- Beechcroft Road, Tooting, SW17 7BU.
About Sports Programme:
We work in partnership with Fulham Kicks to run a football session every Monday. We provide 1:1 sports advice to help build confidence and remove barriers by supporting young people to plan their journeys and accompanying them to join their first sessions. We find new sessions for young people at youth clubs, gyms and other sports providers. We arrange frequent trips to offer new sports to our young people including: boxing, yoga, trampolining and hopefully to go-karting.
We will also deliver a research project to sports providers, local authorities, support networks and other young people. The project will detail: (1) the accessibility barriers to sports faced by young people, (2) methods of best practice on including young refugees and asylum seekers, (3) funding and support options available from local authorities, and (4) what participatory 1:1 support looks like for young people.
About the role:
As a sports program volunteer, you would be helping young people to travel safely around London, to feel welcome in the city, to join in with sports activities where possible and to inspire young people to take part in sports. You will need to go on group trips to external sports providers and to attend our youth club occasionally. We welcome volunteers with any level of sporting ability, the only thing necessary is to be willing to give some sports a go when it is possible. Please note, some sessions you attend will be only for under 18’s, and so you will not always be allowed to take part, and then your role will only be to accompany. We are very happy to be flexible regarding which sessions you attend according to your interests.
We ask for a commitment of at least 1-2 sports sessions or youth club evenings every month. Our youth club runs every Wednesday from 6.00-8.00pm, the external sports trips will usually be weekday evenings. We are able to be flexible according to your schedule.
Tasks and responsibilities:
- To attend and contribute to volunteer de-briefs which occur after each session/trip.
- Providing feedback of your experience to contribute to the research project.
- To act as a positive role model and set standards of behaviour when volunteering with young people.
- To encourage and inspire young people to reach their full potential.
- To assist young people to both recognise and celebrate their achievements.
- To challenge young peoples’ negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manner.
- To adhere to CARAS Child Protection procedures, Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
- To occasionally research local sports providers to find sessions for our young people.
Requirements:
Essential:
To be 18 years or older;
- To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds;
- To be reliable and punctual;
- Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English;
- To be passionate about sports and helping young people to access sports.
- Current resident of the UK;
- Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check;
- Able to attend compulsory volunteer induction training (online) general and safeguarding prior to the start of role
Volunteer induction training currently takes place online once a month on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 6pm – 8pm. we offer the same trainings on Tuesday and Wednesday daytimes online between 12noon – 2pm once every 3 months.
Your availability to attend 1 general and 1 safeguarding online training session at these times within 3 months of your application would be a prerequisite of being accepted as a volunteer at CARAS.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali and Spanish.
Through volunteering with us you will:
- Meet new members of your local community;
- Learn about different cultures;
- Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum and their ability to access sports in London;
- Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;
- Develop your skills and competencies;
- Be able to access relevant training;
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
As a trustee, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Talk Lipoedema. Your expertise, passion, and commitment will contribute to our vision: ensuring that everyone with lipoedema receives an accurate diagnosis and access to comprehensive services and support. By joining our team, you’ll make a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by this condition.
Consideration will be given to candidates who have experience within the following skill areas:
· A Medical or Allied Professions background
· Campaigning on health issues
· Grant and Funding sourcing
· Marketing, PR
· Social Media Management
Why We Need You: As a trustee, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Talk Lipoedema. Your expertise, passion, and commitment will contribute to our vision: ensuring that everyone with lipoedema receives an accurate diagnosis and access to comprehensive services and support. By joining our team, you’ll make a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by this condition.
We would particularly welcome candidates from under-represented groups including women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people and young people. Strong empathy with the experiences of people affected by challenging health conditions is an essential requirement. Previous trustee experience is desirable but not essential.
Opportunities for training and development and to work in an organisation which is made up of extraordinary people who are passionate, innovative, flexible, dedicated, professional and fun.
Join us in our mission to transform lives and raise awareness about lipoedema. Together, we can make a lasting impact!
Learn more about Talk Lipoedema and our initiatives on our website: Talk Lipoedema.
We aim to support and empower you by providing trusted information for you, your family, and professionals on how you can live well with lipoedema
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You just need the ability to listen, strong IT skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.
What is a Caseworker?
Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of support they need. You will listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help those serving, who have served and their families to navigate life in and beyond military service. Some examples of support are securing funding for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical, and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can complete the administration part of the role from home as long as you have access to IT equipment and the internet.
What would you be doing?
- Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time.
- Meeting beneficiaries and completing a form to assess their circumstances, using good communication skills, empathy and understanding.
- Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice.
- Applying for funding on the behalf of the beneficiary through a specific process and system
- Arranging for the purchase of goods and services
- Keeping the beneficiary informed of their case progress.
- Liaise with the branch and regional office, regarding your availability.
- Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
- Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, and caseworker IT system training. The caseworker training takes 3 days and a further half a day for the other training.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
- Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
- Regular opportunities to meet and share best practice with other caseworkers.
- Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.
- Good communication skills both written and verbally.
- Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
- Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and to enter cases on the Casework Management System. Willingness and ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
- Ability to make enquires on behalf of beneficiaries by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms.
- Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice
- Reliable, prompt and trustworthy.
- Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including checks against the children and adults barred list)
*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Joining Respond as a Trustee - January 2024
Background Information
Founded in 1991, Respond is a national charity that seeks to transform the lives of people with learning disabilities and autistic people who have experienced trauma. We are committed to bringing about positive change for our clients and their families, enabling them to lead richer and more resilient lives.
Respond's services for children, young people and adults are:
-
Survivors' psychotherapy
-
Family support services
-
Advocacy, including ISVA and domestic abuse services.
-
Training, consultancy and reflective practice
Respond supports charities that campaign for equality and inclusion with the aim to prevent abuse and equip individuals and their families to come to terms with their experiences and live more positive lives.
Our specialist training, supervision, reflective practice and consultancy equips agencies and health / social care providers to deliver trauma-informed services. This includes responding to and providing consultancy and training for significant events such as institutional abuse.
Our income base is diverse with trust funds and grants continuing to be a vital part of maintaining core services Respond offers, alongside donations from trusts and foundations. We also continue to have larger ongoing or spot contracts for our work for NHS commissioners and local authorities.
It is a good opportunity to join Respond's Board at this time, following our restructure and as we move towards the last year of our current strategy for 2022-25. Following a challenging period due to changing funding landscape and closure of some services, we will be focused on consolidation and improving impact measurement to secure long-term financial sustainability.
The role of the Board of Trustees
The Trustees (or 'Board members') are trustees of the charity and directors of the limited company. They are responsible for the governance, setting the strategic direction and monitoring the implementation of the strategy. The Board ensures that the charity acts in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
The Board has responsibility for:
-
ensuring the charity acts in accordance with its charitable purpose and is providing public benefit and meets its legal obligations;
-
making decisions in the best interests of the charity;
-
developing the multi-year strategy;
-
monitoring the management of the finances and resources of the organisation (operations, budget, property, workforce and tenders);
-
monitoring performance, quality and impact;
-
appointing and appraising the CEO.
Who we’re looking for
Following a recent skills audit within the current Board, the Board is seeking trustees with the following skills or experiences;
-
Finance - This person will have a financial qualification and will enable the Board to ensure the sound financial health of the charity. The person will collaborate with the Finance Director to ensure that the organisation has systems that meet sector best practice and ensures financial accountability. This trustee will be the Treasurer and chair the Finance Committee.
-
Human Resources (HR) - This person will have experience in working in HR roles, preferably in the voluntary sector. This person will help review and strengthen Respond’s HR policies, set up and lead the people committee and guide the Leadership team in dealing with complex HR issues including change management.
-
Fundraising, Marketing and Comms – This person will work closely with our Head of Development and Commissioning on our income strategy and communications strategy.
-
Psychotherapy /working in a trauma informed setting – As an organisation providing psychotherapy and arts therapies for autistic people and people with learning disabilities, we are looking for a trustee with experience of working as a therapist with a systems-psychodynamic approach.
The Board wants to ensure that the charity's 'beneficiaries' are represented in its governance. We encourage applications from people who have lived experience of autism, learning disabilities and/or trauma-informed work (either directly or through family members). How the Board carries out meetings will also be reviewed to accommodate adjustments requested by new trustees with learning disabilities or who are autistic. (Please refer to a separate document if you or someone you know with lived experience may be interested)
Person Specification
The following knowledge, experience and skills are essential for the role:
-
a commitment to the mission of Respond;
-
senior experience, ideally including one or more of the following areas – finance, human resources, fundraising/marketing, legal, compliance, hard-to-reach communities, caring/social care, psychotherapy, commissioning.
-
ability to identify creative solutions to problems within limited resources;
-
good analytical skills;
-
ability to think strategically;
-
independence and flexibility in thinking;
-
ability to communicate efficiently and connect with a wide range of people, internally and externally;
-
a willingness to meet the minimum time requirement (see below);
-
an understanding of the legal duties of trusteeship set out in the Charity Commission's 'The Essential Trustee'; and
-
an ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to make decisions for the good of Respond.
Trustees will be expected to demonstrate the following personal attributes:
-
good interpersonal skills including listening;
-
commitment to excellence and high expectations of self and others;
-
values people and the contribution of all stakeholders;
-
sound judgment;
-
team-oriented with a supportive approach.
Respond is dedicated to developing opportunities for Trustees to be appointed reflecting greater and varied diversity among our Board of Trustees, so we welcome applications by suitably qualified candidates irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital or parental status, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We particularly welcome applications from Black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented on the board.
What we offer
New trustees will:
-
Receive induction and training;
-
Develop new skills and competencies;
-
Meet new people and develop professional networks;
-
Contribute to ensuring that the charity offers high quality effective services to autistic people and people with learning disabilities who have experienced trauma, who are in need;
-
An annual appraisal
Time requirement - What is involved?
Trustees attend eight Board meetings per year approximately every six-eight weeks currently on a Tuesday evening 5:30pm to 8pm. Meetings are in London, and remote access is available for trustees who live/work outside London.
Each Trustee is expected to be an active member of the Respond community, committing 5 to 10 hours per month to the charity which may also involve being on a sub-committee such as; Finance Committee, Clinical Governance and Safeguarding Committee each of which meets four times per year, typically during normal office hours online or in London.
Trustees are expected to attend an induction session at Respond prior to their first Board meeting. Trustees are expected to attend all Board meetings. Other meetings are away-days over a weekend.
Trustees are invited to the annual general meeting, which takes place typically in November.
Trustees may claim expenses incurred in effectively carrying out their duties, in accordance with Respond’s Trustee Expenses Policy.
Papers are distributed one week in advance of meetings. In addition, Trustees are expected to review documents and communicate with other board members and senior staff between meetings. Every effort will be made to ensure that trustees with learning disabilities or who are neurodiverse have access to documents in formats that they can understand or have the support available for them to fully participate as trustees.
Occasionally, circumstances may require urgent meetings (either face-to-face or virtual) to examine strategic issues or items requiring Board approval
Duration of the role
Board terms are for a five-year term following which the person can be elected to serve another three years.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Service: Perinatal Support for Partners Service
This is a service that offers fathers and non-birthing parents, who’s partner is being supported by the West London perinatal mental health service, an evidence-based 1:1 assessment to support their mental health and wellbeing. The service signpost partners to relevant services (including a PSFP peer support group).
Role Description:
To support our PSFP Service with a variety of tasks such as conducting a 1:1 assessment, (which includes onboarding to the service), co-facilitating monthly peer support groups, signposting and helping partners to access other organisations, taking care of our inbox emails and other administrative duties.
You can download a PDF of the full role description below.
Main responsibilities:
To work closely with our PSFP caseworker supporting referral enquires & service-users in accessing this service. Co-facilitating a monthly peer support group.
Tasks:
- To answer emails and enquiries for the service within our service level agreements
- Triage clients for the service through an onboarding process.
- Co-facilitate a monthly peer support group
- Provide support to our PSFP caseworkers, as and when needed
The type of person we are looking for is:
We welcome applications from those completing studies in Psychology, Counselling/Psychotherapy, or any Allied Health Profession with a focus on supporting those with mental health needs. However, your attitude, motivation, and commitment are just as important as your training/qualifications, or any previous experience. We will review all applications individually and assess them on their unique merits, so do not be discouraged from applying if you do not meet all the criteria listed below. We encourage applications from those with lived experience of mental health problems, as well as those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
Essential:
- An interest in supporting those with mental health needs to access PSFP
- An appreciation of the complex factors that can precipitate, maintain, and exacerbate mental health problems
- Good oral and written communication skills (including listening skills); the ability to communicate in a patient, considered, and empathetic manner
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to follow administrative procedures
- A team player who is willing to chip in and work reflexively, responding to the challenges that arise from working in a dynamic environment
- IT skills – able to update spreadsheets, use web-based applications, video-conferencing software, and Microsoft Office applications.
Desirable:
- Customer Service experience, including with friends and family
- Experience of supporting people with mental health needs, in a voluntary, paid, or personal capacity, (i.e., friends and family)
- Previous involvement with local community groups/networks
- Awareness of the cultural barriers that may exist to seeking mental health support
Time commitment and expenses:
- 6 hours per week, during our core hours of 10am - 4pm.
- Please indicate your preferred volunteering day(s)/time(s) on your application
- We request a minimum commitment of 3 months of volunteering after the completion of your induction
- We will provide volunteers with an induction, training, and ongoing mentoring to support them in the role
- Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed
Why Volunteer at Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing, and Hounslow (HFEH) Mind?
Volunteering at HFEH Mind is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the work of a leading national mental health charity. We provide initial and ongoing training, as well as plenty of opportunities for progression within the organisation. You will be treated as a core member of the team from day one and be surrounded by supportive and knowledgeable colleagues fighting for mental health.
What’s in it for the volunteer?
Volunteering opportunities have been a route into paid employment within our organisation for many of our previous volunteers. However, the skills and experiences you will gain are likely to support applications for paid employment within the sector more broadly, as well as further training and education opportunities (e.g., Business courses, social work, mental health qualifications).
We are keen to foster the individual strengths and interests of volunteers. With the support of the PSFP Team, we will work with you to ensure that your volunteering experience is meaningful and valuable, whilst balancing the requirements of delivering the service.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About CARAS:
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in South West London, and helps them to play their full part in the community. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives.
We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background, providing them the tools they need to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults include currently include: ESOL classes; sports; women’s creative writing; women’s coffee morning, and casework.
About the CARAS Adult Team:
In the post-pandemic environment, CARAS is responding to the role of digital literacies in our programme delivery to learners of asylum-seeking and refugee background. In contrast to the UK essential Digital skills framework, we have built in language inclusion to create a participatory learning course for Essential Digital Literacies for learners who are new to reading and writing in English. The individuals joining CARAS are highly diverse, with different countries of origin, linguistic and educational backgrounds. We have observed over the last year that many CARAS community members have limited digital skills, particularly in regard to using computers. Community members have highlighted that computers are important for many individuals to achieve their educational and employment goals, whilst increasing confidence and independence. We have co-designed a digital skills program in partnership with CARAS community members to improve computer literacy and skills, focusing on basic computer literacy.
About the Role:
We are seeking two volunteers based in London to teach our lively computer classes in Tooting every Monday 9:00-11:00. Volunteers will lead the sessions with guidance from the CARAS ESOL Teacher and will work closely with our community members to build their skills and confidence using computers. The Digital Literacies course at CARAS is built around Pre-entry to Entry 2 levels in English. Volunteers will be supporting individuals with tasks such as: getting to know how to use a computer, using the internet, setting up an email address, and using Microsoft office. We intend to fold employability sessions, including CV writing and job searching, into these sessions.
Volunteer Tasks and responsibilities:
· Lead on the delivery of sessions with support from CARAS’s Essential Digital Skills Teacher.
· Assist with the logistical set up of the sessions, supporting CARAS staff where needed.
· Work collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the project.
· Create class registers and records as required.
· To attend and contribute to volunteer pre- and de-briefs at each session.
· To act as a positive role model and set standards of behaviour when volunteering.
· Support people to develop their knowledge and skills and encourage and inspire participants to reach their full potential.
· To assist participants to both, recognise and celebrate their achievements.
· To challenge negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manor.
· Advocate for the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants with not for them.
· Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements:
· To be non-judgemental, and able and willing to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
· To be female identifying.
· Have a good understanding of how to use a computer.
· To be reliable and punctual.
· Excellent presentation and communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.
· Commitment to support people seeking asylum to take control of their asylum journey.
· Ability to volunteer every Friday for a minimum of three months.
· Current resident in the UK.
· Ability to work in Tooting SW17.
· To provide five years’ worth of addresses and be willing to undergo a DBS check.
· To attend CARAS General and Safeguarding Training sessions.
· To be 18 years or older.
Through volunteering with us you will:
· Meet new members of your local community
· Learn about different cultures
· Learn about issues relating to refugee and asylum seekers
· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team
· Develop your skills and competencies
· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding
To Apply:
To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form from the CARAS website using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.
Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with a member of the CARAS staff team. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.