Acting support worker volunteer roles

This is an exciting time in our growth as we look to grow our governance systems, build on our successes and ensure we are a radical, dynamic organisation rooted in our anti-racist and anti-oppressive values.  We are looking for a new Chair for our Trustee board, to join us and help lead and shape the future of the organisation. 

This is an exciting time in our growth as we look to grow our governance systems, build on our successes and ensure we are a radical, dynamic organisation rooted in our anti-racist and anti-oppressive values.  We are looking for a new Treasurer for our Trustee board, to join us and help lead and shape the future of the organisation.

This is an exciting time in our growth as we look to grow our governance systems, build on our successes and ensure we are a radical, dynamic organisation rooted in our anti-racist and anti-oppressive values.  We are looking to recruit 2 new trustees.  We are looking to diversify the experience and expertise of our Board, and we believe that there are people out there who have knowledge, skills and passion in different areas that will help SWWB. Areas for organisational development include:

· Embedding lived experience expertise into the design, delivery and evaluation of our work

· Developing our campaigning and strategic work

· Building up our social media and comms presence

· Stepping up our fundraising game

If you think you can help with any of these things (or something else), and you are interested in being a trustee, please get in touch, we would love to hear from you!

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.

We are looking for committed and compassionate female trustees to join our board and help drive our mission forward, whether you bring professional expertise or or lived experience of abuse.

Who we are

We are an East Sussex based charity and member of Women’s Aid, dedicated to supporting women who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence, or other forms of gender-based harm. We provide trauma-informed services, advocacy, and practical support to help women rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. Our charity upholds the principle that survivors deserve access to single-sex spaces, in line with the Equality Act 2010.

The role

Seeking Female Trustees for Lotus, an East Sussex Abuse Charity

Role: Trustee (Voluntary)

Location: East Sussex (Meetings are held in person in Newhaven, with remote access available, and fully remote meetings as needed.)

Time Commitment: Approx. 4–6 board meetings per year, plus occasional involvement in projects or events. Meetings are currently held on weekday mornings to help accommodate women with childcare responsibilities, ensuring greater inclusivity.

​We welcome applications from women who share our commitment to empowering survivors and protecting women-only spaces.

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from women with a range of backgrounds, particularly those with experience in:

• Safeguarding and domestic abuse/VAWG services
• Fundraising and grant applications
• Finance, HR, or charity governance
• Legal expertise (especially in family law, housing, or safeguarding)
• Communications, PR, or digital marketing
• Survivor advocacy and lived experience

You don’t need prior trustee experience – we provide training and mentoring to support your development in the role. If you have a passion for supporting survivors and want to influence real change, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Gain

• The opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of women and girls
• Experience in charity leadership and governance
• A supportive and empowering team of women working towards a common goal
• Training and development to help you thrive in the role

Commitment & Accessibility

We recognise that many women have caring responsibilities or other commitments, so we ensure our meetings are flexible, with remote participation available. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse board that reflects the communities we serve.

Sustainability Research Volunteer
People & Planet is looking for volunteers to assist with compiling its 2025/26 People & Planet
University League; the only higher education ranking that classifies based on ethics and climate
justice criteria.
Universities impart skills and knowledge, form life-long beliefs and behaviours, act as centres of
communities, employ, house and feed large numbers of people and promote the creation and
sharing of knowledge. We believe this makes them uniquely placed to lead on environmental and
ethical issues. For this reason the People & Planet University League has been running since 2007
and has been published by high-profile media partners such as The Guardian (2021, 2022. 2023,
2024) and whose data is used in the Sunday Time Good University Guide.
Volunteers will research publicly available university documents and assess universities against
our marking criteria, which cover a wide range of climate and social justice issues including
decarbonisation, fossil fuel divestment, ethical banking, workers’ rights and environmental
management among others. This work will help to incentivise the university sector towards taking
immediate and appropriate action on the climate crisis and upholding the rights and wellbeing of all
people internationally.

The role will develop and improve the following areas:
●​ Qualitative research skills
●​ Attention to detail
●​ Use of data collection software
●​ Time management and keeping to deadlines
●​ Working independently and remotely
●​ Communication skills
●​ Knowledge of environmental management processes and sustainability reporting.

Training is provided for the role. We believe the skills and experience gained could be valuable for
a number of career paths, including working in NGOs, corporate sustainability, estates
management, higher education policy making, research and campaigning among many others.
People & Planet would like to support volunteers in their future careers, so will give all volunteers
an official reference letter on successful completion of their placement and will act as a referee for
future positions for which you may apply. From last year’s cohort, 100% said they would
recommend this position to someone who wanted to add experience to their CV.

Feedback from previous volunteers
‘I think as someone looking for relevant experience to bolster a CV, this is a helpful and
not-too-time-consuming position. It had exactly the kind of flexibility that I required at this point in time.’
‘It's a really great opportunity to hone one's research skills, learn more about what our universities can do to
improve their impact on the planet, and make a small but real difference.’

Person Specification -the following are essential:

• Access to a computer or laptop and internet connection.
• Familiarity with desk-based research.
• Ability to work accurately and efficiently to agreed standards.
• Reliability and commitment to completing work to deadlines.Sustainability Research Volunteer
• Able to communicate needs with staff at People & Planet and if needed, ask for appropriate
• support to complete tasks in time.
• Ability to search policy documents for specific information in English.
• Ability to assess information against standardised frameworks.
• Ability to work remotely and independently

The following are desirable:

●​ Awareness of current issues in sustainability and ethics.
●​ Experience of research and data collection.
●​ An interest in higher education policy.
You will need to commit to
●​ Two 25 hour weeks of remote work in July and August.
●​ 5 hours work per day for the two week period. Volunteers can manage their own time
flexibly and will receive support from People & Planet, but must meet task deadlines on a
weekly basis and attend a short daily meeting.
●​ One half day of remote training and induction the week prior to your 2 week engagement.
●​ Attending a brief meeting in the morning or afternoon each day and one individual check-in
meeting in week 1.

Summer timetable
June 30th-July 11th Ethical Investment and Banking, Ethical Careers and Recruitment,
Education for Sustainable Development. Training and induction w/c 23rd June
July 21st-1st August Sustainable Food, Staff & HR, Environmental Policy and Strategy
Training and induction w/c 14th July
August 11th-August 22nd Managing Carbon, Workers’ Rights, Staff and Student
Engagement, Environmental Management and Auditing. Training and induction w/c August
4th

Application

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until positions are filled, so please apply early to
avoid disappointment. The deadline for applications is Friday June the 6th 2025
Candidates will need to attend a non-competitive group recruitment session and complete an
online self-access task before being invited to volunteer with us.
Please let us know if you have specific access needs and what we can do to make the interview,
training and volunteer experience more accessible to you, including organising a one-on-one
interview. We welcome people with hearing loss, deaf and or disabled people to apply for thisSustainability Research Volunteer volunteer opportunity -unfortunately we don't use BSL so would need to make alternative support provisions for the training, unless a BSL interpreter can join you. If you have specific needs where
we might support you by making this volunteering opportunity more accessible, please let us know via email
People & Planet welcome applications from BAME folks and people of colour, from disabled people, from LGBTQI*people, from people who speak English as a second language, from people who identify as non-binary gender, from women, from people of different ages, from people with caring responsibilities and from people with irregular migration status, people seeking asylum in the UK or with a migrant background, folks with a working class background, and everyone else.

Trustees play a vital role in ensuring Wythenshawe Foodbank meets its core purpose by overseeing the management and administration of the charity and ensuring that the foodbank has a clear strategy in line with our vision and goals.

What will you be doing?

Wythenshawe Foodbank are part of the Trussell network. We employ two members of staff and have approximately 30 regular volunteers, in addition to volunteers from local organisations who support us at specific events such as food drives.

We are seeking two new trustees with an interest in helping others, who are willing to uphold the food bank’s values, and who can bring life experience to the board of trustees. Trustees have collective responsibility for the governance of the organisation and for all decisions made by the board. They set the strategic direction for the charity, ensuring alignment to its values, and are responsible for setting organisational policy, defining goals, agreeing the financial plan, evaluating performance, and ensuring that strong relationships are maintained between the trustees, staff, volunteers, and users of the charity’s services.

Key tasks

• approve, support and guide the charity’s purpose, vision, strategy, goals and objectives to manage the charity’s resources responsibly, including ensuring the charity’s assets are used only to carry out its purpose, avoid undue risk and not over-commit the charity
• act with reasonable care and skill, giving your time, thought and energy to your role.
• serve as an additional promoter of the food bank in the community.
• ensure the charity is accountable, actively complying with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and the law.
• help promote the organisation to a broader audience of potential funders and beneficiaries.
• represent, and present on behalf of, the food bank at meetings and conferences as and when required
• ensure the food bank has appropriate procedures to: comply with current legislation and good practice; including employment, health and safety, equal opportunities, safeguarding & GDPR compliance/data protection etc.
• regularly communicate to the rest of the trustee board via trustee meetings or any other communication, any relevant information and/or developments regarding fund raising or grant applications.
• prepare for and regularly attend and participate in trustee meetings.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for people who want to help their local community and work towards the eradication of food poverty whilst supporting the food bank to continue to provide emergency food to people who find themselves in crisis. Our ideal candidates would demonstrate:

• knowledge of and commitment to the work of Wythenshawe Foodbank
• a commitment to equality, social justice and the need to eradicate food poverty
• willingness to actively participate in discussions concerning the needs of the foodbank’s beneficiaries and staff, and act in the best interest of the charity
• sound, independent judgement and the ability to think creatively
• the ability to work effectively as a team member and demonstrate a willingness to learn and develop 

The food bank would particularly welcome applications from those with experience in one (or more) of the following areas: 

• Funding & Grants, for example: experience of fundraising and writing grant bids; experience of promotion/influencing organisations and businesses regarding donations and fundraising
• Social Media, for example: creating digital and social media strategy and plans to increase engagement, internally in the charity and externally to the public; communications and engagement experience using multiple platforms

Whatever your background, we want to make sure you are supported and empowered and enjoy your time volunteering with us. We know that having volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds, with varying experiences, can help to make what we do as effective as possible. As such, we welcome all applicants regardless of age, background or beliefs. We also encourage those with lived experience of poverty to apply.

What difference will you make?

As a trustee you are providing a vital holistic support function in your local community, ensuring a dignified experience to anyone visiting or anyone who comes into contact with Wythenshawe Foodbank.

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.

Overview of the role

Uttlesford Foodbank are seeking someone with financial experience to join the board as a trustee, who will be able to lead on financial matters, ensuring we meet our financial obligations and help us build a sound financial strategy as we move forward. This role involves leading on the financial affairs of the food bank and ensuring that they are conducted within the required legal, accounting, and good practice frameworks.

Responsibilities

As a trustee you will share collective responsibility for the governance of the food bank and all decisions made by the board, ensuring the organisation is well run, fulfils its mission, is compliant with charity law and that the charity is open and accountable. It is also the responsibility of the treasurer to work in partnership with the chairperson and other trustees to ensure the financial viability and development of the organisation.

Key tasks:

• ensure the Board of Trustees fulfils its financial responsibilities
• ensure that the food bank has proper systems for budgeting, financial control, insurance and reporting
• ensure that financial reports: are comprehensible and properly discussed at trustee board meetings; are provided in the proper format and at the proper time, as required by the relevant charity regulator body (Charity Commission of England & Wales); have properly appointed auditors or independent examiners

Other responsibilities, along with the board of trustees, include:

• to approve, support, and guide the charity’s purpose, vision, strategy, goals and objectives
• to manage the charity’s resources responsibly, including ensuring the charity’s assets are used only to carry out its purpose, avoid undue risk, and not over-commit the charity
• to ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity, responding to changes in the local community as appropriate to ensure that key risks are identified, monitored, and controlled appropriately
• to ensure appropriate financial plans are in place, budgets are monitored, and progress is evaluated
• to review and approve financial statements
• to help promote the organisation to key stakeholders and beneficiaries
• to ensure the charity has appropriate procedures to comply with current legislation and good practice, including employment, health and safety, equity, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, and GDPR compliance/data protection
• to prepare for and regularly attend and participate in board and subcommittee meetings and any trustee away days.

About you

• a knowledge of and commitment to the work of the Uttlesford Foodbank
• previous experience or an ability in: financial accounting and reporting procedures; communicating financial information to those who may have little or no financial background; keeping financial records up to date.
• A knowledge and passion for your local community
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Willingness to actively participate in discussions concerning needs of the foodbank’s beneficiaries, staff, and the trustee board
• Willingness to act in the best interest of the charity
• Sound, independent judgement and ability to think creatively
• Working effectively as a team member and demonstrating a willingness to learn and develop

Benefits of volunteering

• feeling you are making a difference whilst volunteering with us
• meeting new people and being part of a motivated team who share a passion to eradicate poverty in our community
• building a movement of change with our volunteers, staff, and the people who use our food bank
• bringing our staff, volunteers, and trustees together to achieve our vision
• gaining a greater insight and understanding of local agencies and partnerships

This role would be ideal for an early- or mid-career financial professional who is looking to broaden their range of skills and experiences within a friendly, welcoming, charity setting.

Impact of your role

By leading on the financial matters of the food bank operation, you are part of providing a vital holistic support function in your local community, ensuring a dignified experience to anyone visiting, or anyone who comes into contact with, Uttlesford Foodbank.

Support

A full trustee induction is in place to support the prospective candidate within their role, as well as access to local voluntary action trustee training.

About the project 

We are the Guild Church for Workers in the City of London, building a multilingual community where those in often low-paid or precarious occupations are at the heart of our life and leadership.  As part of our support of workers, we provide free beginner English classes every Saturday morning in partnership with English for Action. As these classes have grown, we have provided a homecooked meal for everyone, to share conversation and build community. 

We believe in the power of shared meals to foster community and connection. We're looking for Volunteer Community Cooks to help us create a welcoming space on Saturday mornings, where everyone feels at home. 

Are you a passionate cook with a heart for community? 

St Katharine Cree is seeking warm and enthusiastic volunteers to join us on Saturday mornings to cook a delicious and nourishing meal for around 30 people to enjoy after their beginner English language class. 

More than just cooking 

This is more than just a culinary role! We're looking for people who love to create delicious, hearty meals that build community. You'll be responsible for preparing a meal that brings people together. 

Passion for building community

We want people who enjoy connecting with others and fostering a welcoming atmosphere. We welcome those who want to assist in the kitchen, regardless of their experience. Your patience and encouragement will be invaluable. This is a chance to be part of a vibrant community and make a real difference in people's lives. 

What you'll bring

A love for cooking and a desire to share your skills

A friendly and approachable personality.

A willingness to work as part of a team.

A genuine interest in connecting with others.

A food hygiene certificate would be a bonus, but it is not essential, we can help you obtain one.

What you'll do

Prepare delicious, healthy meals using the ingredients available to you in our community kitchen.

Help foster a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.

Work alongside community members who will assist with cooking and take care of the washing up.

What you'll gain

The opportunity to make a positive impact on your community.

The chance to share your passion for cooking.

The joy of building meaningful relationships.

A rewarding and fulfilling volunteer experience.

St Katharine Cree is a church, and our community activity is rooted in our Christian faith, but being a Christian is not required for this volunteer role. We welcome all who share our passion for community and service and ask that volunteers respect our values and ethos and help create a welcoming environment.

Safeguarding

St Katharine Cree is committed to safeguarding the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable adults throughout our work and in our partnerships with other institutions. This role is subject to the completion of a standard DBS check. The role will require undertaking relevant Diocese of London safeguarding training, if a current certificate is not already held, which will be arranged by the Line Manager or CSO. SKC’s full Safeguarding Policy will be provided to all new staff on joining the organisation and they are expected to read it and act in accordance with it at all times.

Do you have a few hours a week/fortnight to spare?

We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers to help facilitate our weekly groups. These include parent and toddler stay and play groups, alongside two new groups – a baby book club and Daisies, our new SEN group.

This is a great opportunity to spend a few hours a week (or every other week) working as part of our friendly team to create a safe space for families to attend and enjoy.

Can you help?

In particular we are looking for volunteers at the following groups:

-MONDAYS: Puddle Jumpers Stay & Play Group 9.15-10.45am (Location: Ceewood Hall, Witney, OX28)

-WEDNESDAYS: Daisies (SEN stay & play group), 1-2.15pm (Location: Witney Methodist Church, Witney, OX28)

-THURSDAYS: Growing Minds Stay & Play Group 10-11.30am (Location: Littlemore Village Hall, OX4)

-FRIDAYS: Baby Book Club 11am-12pm (Location: Littlemore Hub, JHN Academy, OX4) and Rose Buds Stay & Play 10-11.30am (Location: Rose Hill Community Centre, OX4)

Why we need you?

The Halifax Charity Gala is organised by a committee of local volunteers in their spare time. The work required to plan and execute the gala is quite large & growing, with volunteer Committee Members working all year round to support the 40 or so local good causes we represent.

This all requires your friendly face & attitude on Gala Day to provide a warm welcome to our paying customers, accredited volunteers, commercial concessions, arena acts & others.

What will you be doing?

Helping to organise Calderdale’s longest-running annual not-for-profit family event! On a more practical level you’ll be the first Gala representative customers see, so will check their tickets/accreditation or take admission payment and provide them with a programme.

As a Gate Steward, on Gala Day you could be:

• Welcoming everyone with a friendly, positive attitude

• Managing entry queues, ensuring those with tickets/accreditation use the fast-track lanes, and that an exit lane is maintained

• Assisting customers with accessibility needs to navigate the queues

• Scanning eTickets in (and out, if they are likely to want to return)

• Checking hand stamps (of procession participants)

• Checking wristbands (of accredited persons)

• Checking paper tickets

• Accepting card & cash payments for people wishing to purchase admission on-the-day

• ‘Clicking’ people in & out using manual tally counters

• Providing information to customers about the Gala, entertainment timetables & other activities taking place

• Handing out printed programme booklets to customers on entry

• Issuing hand stamps for non-eTicket customers who may want to return

• Assisting in maintaining a safe & enjoyable environment, reporting any issues to your volunteer Gate Supervisor

Not every volunteer Gate Steward will be doing every task – there is flexibility to alternate between tasks on each gate. We can make reasonable adjustments for volunteers who have additional needs, conditions or disabilities which affect the tasks they are able to do.

What skills do you need?

• Basic numeracy skills, to work out total cost of admission for a group, and to provide change

• Ability to use smart mobile device (ie tablet / phone) applications for scanning eTickets (training on the specific app will be provided on the day)

• Ability to use Process Data Quickly (PDQ) ‘card’ machines to accept payments by card (training on the specific terminals will be provided on the day)

• Good interpersonal and communication skills 

• Enthusiasm & a positive can-do attitude

• Willingness to work as part of a team with a flexible approach

• Proactivity & a good initiative

• Assertive when necessary

• Ability to deal with any incidents that may occur in a cool & calm manner

Not every volunteer Gate Steward will need to have every skill – there are several positions on each gate, and your volunteer Gate Supervisor will allocate you based on your existing skills & experience.

How much time do you need to commit?

We require Gate Stewards on Gala Day – the second Saturday of June each year.

Gate Stewards need to be available for one of two shifts:

• Early from 1000 to 1530

• Late from 1130 to 1700

Though any volunteers who want to start earlier / finish later would always be welcomed to do so!

This allows to us to have all Gate Stewards on their allocated gates between 1200-1500, which is our busiest time for customers entering & leaving.

What support will you be given?

Each gate team is led by a volunteer Gate Supervisor, who will be the first point of contact for any issues locally. They will have a radio to contact Radio Control.

Each gate also has an SIA licensed Door Supervisor present from our externally contracted crowd safety service provider, who will support with any prohibited items, invalid accreditation / tickets, refusal to pay, etc.

The volunteer Gate Supervisors are in turn supported by a volunteer Gate Manager, who will visit each gate several times during the day.

A briefing will be provided at your start time, by the volunteer Gate Manager and/or a volunteer Committee Member.

What are the benefits?

• Satisfaction of knowing you are making a valuable contribution to a successful, high-profile event supporting local good causes and providing the people of Halifax, Calderdale & West Yorkshire a great family day out

• Enjoyment of meeting new people from a variety of backgrounds & the opportunity to build your professional network

• Being a part of our friendly, supportive volunteer team

• Opportunity to discover more about our year-round roles which provide valuable experiences across many sectors

• Knowledge that you will have made a positive impact and improved the experience of the public & our member organisations

• The opportunity to develop various skills, for example:

o Card payment processing

o Cash handling

o Communication

o Crowd management

o Customer service

o Event co-ordination

o Problem solving

o Teamwork

• Light refreshments are provided on Gala Day, usually in the form of a buffet of sandwiches, snacks, soft & hot drinks, etc

• Access to a workers-only portable toilet in the Gala Control compound

How to sign up?

If you’re part of a group/organisation that can supply a whole gate team (4-6 stewards & 1 supervisor), please email us and a volunteer Committee Member will be in touch to discuss further.

If you’re an individual who is happy to join other volunteers, please see our website for more information. You can email us to express your interest, and we’ll send you the link to our sign-up form