Activities Support Volunteer Roles in Westminster, Greater London
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you have experience in working with children? We are recruiting for a Childrens Support Volunteer to provide supervision for approximately 1-4 children of varying ages during our monthly co-production meetings at Head Office. Parents and staff will be just next door for support if this is needed at any time. As we will have more than 2 volunteers supporting and only 2 are needed to help during these sessions, you will be taking turns with the other volunteers to support each month.
Your support will have a massive impact and enable clients to feed into the service we provide and make sure their voice is heard!
What you will be doing
- Providing supervision for children during 2-hour meetings once a month at head office
- Keeping the children entertained with provided toys and small activities such as colouring and reading etc..
- Ensuring the safety of the children
- Maintaining strict confidentiality
The skills you need
- Calm and patient approach
- Experience in childcare is preferred
- Working knowledge of child safeguarding preferred
- Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
- Good communication skills
What's in it for you
- Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
- Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
- Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the Donated Stock Team
The Donated Stock Team is responsible for driving stock donations across the whole of retail and stimulating partnerships that will lead to stock donations. We also work on for brand awareness through social media to encourage more people to donate stock.
The team is incredibly passionate about the work they do and are proud of their achievements, including increasing stock donations by +50% year-to-date and winning the Sense Team Award for Professional excellence. This role provides our team the support to help raise income through our shops with a focus on helping us coordinate our stock and by providing administrative support.
Key duties
· Answering queries from the Sense shops.
· Supporting with donated stock campaigns.
· Carry out activities to promote stock generation.
· Data administration tasks.
· Promote volunteering and fundraising opportunities within local communities.
Skills & qualities
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
· Passionate about Sense’s mission and the positive impact recycling and reusing pre-loved clothing can have on our world.
· Able to engage with people from all backgrounds.
· Able to create and maintain and accurate records.
· Self-motivated and supportive of other team members.
· Organised and able to prioritise effectively.
· Creative, able to innovate to find new ways to generate stock.
· Good level of IT literacy.
· Experience of working/volunteering in a similar environment is helpful, but not essential.
What Sense offers
· A full induction with ongoing support and guidance from the Donated Stock team.
· The chance to be involved in a wide range of exciting activities and events.
· The opportunity to make an invaluable contribution to Sense and the people we support.
· A reference for other paid or voluntary work (available on request).
· A way to put your skills and experience to practice, helping reduce waste to landfill and helping Sense achieve our mission.
· Our site has free parking available to our volunteers.
Our values
Everything we do is underpinned by five core values. These values shape the way we work as we pursue our vision of a world where no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, is isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential.
· We include
· We collaborate
· We find a way
· We challenge
· We celebrate
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Family Lives was formed over forty years ago by volunteers with the aim of ensuring that all parents had somewhere to turn before they reach crisis point.
Remote Family Support Volunteer – Live Chat
We know that the right support at the right time makes all the difference. Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families who are struggling.
Organisational values:
Mission: We build better family lives together.
Vision: Families should have access to active support and understanding.
Values: Trustworthy, Compassionate and Collaborative
Purpose of the role: To be part of a flexible team providing empathic, caring and informed support to families, carers and others who use our services.
Live chat: is a free confidential service that is accessed via our website. Service users are offered emotional support, information and advice and guidance on a broad range of family issues.
Supervised by: The Shift Supervisor
Activities: The volunteer will be fully supervised, supported and trained to provide the following activities:
·Provide emotional support to family members via our live chat service
·Use the Family Lives support model and tools to provide an empathic responses
·Ensure that all service users receive a high quality experience
·Sign post users to other agencies for information and additional support
·Complete conversation data records
·Alert the shift supervisor to any difficult situations
General: Volunteers should be willing to:
·Attend the relevant volunteer training
·Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the other policies and procedures of the organisation
·Participate in regular support, supervision meetings and learning sessions as agreed
For home based volunteers only:
·Volunteers will need a Laptop/PC, plug in headset with microphone, fast broadband and a private place to work from home
·Volunteers need to be IT/PC literate and confident troubleshooting should they have technical difficulties
Time: We would be looking for volunteers to commit to one four-hour shift per week, plus attending training and supervision.
Location: working remotely from home
You need to be a UK resident
Supervision and Support:
·Supervision during shifts
·Debrief after every shift
·1 to 1 supervision every 6 months
·Staff available outside of shift within office hours
·Annual review
The Benefits of Volunteering:
·Satisfaction in making a real and lasting difference to families who are struggling
·An opportunity to develop experience for CV and references. Family Lives is committed to helping volunteers develop their own learning and development, gaining new skills, knowledge or work experience
·Being part of a team of Family Lives volunteers and staff
·Personal development
·Opportunities to meet and interact with a wide range of people
·Out of pocket expenses reimbursed to a maximum of £10 per session if working from a centre
·Flexible hours
Volunteer Person Specification. We are looking for individuals who:
·Have experience of parenting/being in a parenting role or demonstrable experience of working with parents or children e.g. in their work, previous volunteering or a previous role
·Have an ability to respond empathically to emotional content
·Good written and verbal communication
·Have good keyboard skills and IT skills, with a minimum of 50 wpm
·Can demonstrate a willingness to question their own attitudes e.g. toward different forms of parenting
·Have a fluent, descriptive and expressive use of English
·Can remain open minded and non-judgemental
·Willing to commit to work within Family Lives’ policies, in particular our Confidentiality Policy and Risk of Harm Procedures
·Willing to commit to attending regular supervision and support sessions
·Willing to work as part of a team
·Willing to commit to a mutually agreed period or ideally a 12 months commitment to the organisation.
Typing Task Prior to Application for Live Chat
Prior to you submitting your application for a Live Chat Volunteer, we will require you to do a speed test, we ask for a minimum speed of 50 words per minute.
Please take a screen shot and send it across with your application
You can have up to 3 attempts and decide which result you would like to forward as part of your application
Typing task
Go to the website typingtest
You are required to take the one minute typing test recording all of the results (speed, number of errors and adjusted speed).
We have remote voluntary call taker training groups the dates are below are you would need to be able to attend all 5 Modules from the training group.
Our next training groups are:
June Saturday training dates:
Module 1 – Saturday 8th June
Module 2 - Saturday 15th June
Module 3 – Saturday 22nd June
Module 4 – Saturday 29th June
Module 5 – Saturday 6th July
10am to 2pm
OR
June training dates:
Module 1 – Monday 10th June
Module 2 – Wednesday 12th June
Module 3 – Monday 17th June
Module 4 – Wednesday 19th June
Module 5 – Monday 24th June
10am to 2pm
Please note that all roles offered are subject to a satisfactory DBS being obtained, you will receive details of documentation required prior to your training and this must all be in no later than the second session of your training.
Typing Task Prior to Application for Live Chat
Prior to you submitting your application for a Live Chat Volunteer, we will require you to do a speed test, we ask for a minimum speed of 50 words per minute.
Please take a screen shot and send it across with your application
You can have up to 3 attempts and decide which result you would like to forward as part of your application
Typing task
Go to the website typingtest
You are required to take the one minute typing test recording all of the results (speed, number of errors and adjusted speed).
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!
All our Benefits Advocates play an integral role within our Information and Advice team and last year helped us to identify over £2.5 million in unclaimed welfare benefits entitlement for older people in the county. This money is life changing for our clients; improving quality of life and wellbeing, and supporting local services
We are looking for volunteers who are patient, sensitive and reliable, to assist older people to complete benefit forms such as Attendance Allowance. Appointments are usually in the older person's own home but can sometimes take place over the telephone. Full training and ongoing support are provided by our friendly and knowledgeable team.
Our volunteers will also raise awareness of and promote Age UK Devon services to clients, and record details of any other queries or concerns so that our Advisors can follow up with clients.
Skills required for this role are:
· Ability to empathise with others.
· Good verbal and written communication skills.
· Understanding of confidentiality.
· Patience, sensitivity, and reliability.
· Ability to respond appropriately to different and sometimes difficult situations.
· Working as a team member, referring to other team members when appropriate.
· Ability to work unsupervised and manage appointments.
· Good computer skills.
· Knowledge of the Benefits System (training will be provided).
Age UK Devon’s aim is to improve the lives of older people in Devon through delivering services and activities, promoting wellbeing and health, increase independence and access to local services as well as supporting families and carers - enabling people to get the most out of life.
Our volunteers donate their time to enable us to provide fantastic added value to our services and activities and bring a wealth of skills and knowledge to our organisation.
Our aim is to help you enjoy your role and to gain personal satisfaction on your volunteer journey with us – can you be the person we need to help us in supporting and making a positive difference to people in later life in the county?
If you would like an informal discussion about this role or have any queries, please contact Sarah Gunn – Advice and Wellbeing Manager (see our website for details)
Or if you would like to apply please visit Age UK Devon for more information on the role and how to apply.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Carers Trust Hillingdon is the leading charity in the London Borough of Hillingdon and we are looking for enthusiastic and caring individuals to provide a warm and friendly welcome to all our visitors and support the staff in a variety of administrative tasks.
Our vision is to be recognised as the gateway to a better life for all unpaid carers in Hillingdon.
Main purpose of volunteering role
To provide a warm and friendly welcome to all our visitors and support the staff with a variety of administrative tasks.
Availability
The role is required on Mondays and/or Wednesdays, 10am – 4pm.
Location
Based at Carers Trust Hillingdon offices on Uxbridge High Street, UB8 1JT.
Key responsibilities
· Work on your own in the Advice Centre welcoming visitors
· Be patient and empathetic to any visitors and call for an appropriate staff member to deal with the concern
· Answer incoming calls and transferring to appropriate member of staff
· Make calls on behalf of the staff, inviting carers to activities etc.
· Various administrative tasks such as photocopying and inputting data
· Input data onto charity log
· Help support outreach activity
· Help support fund raising activities
Specialist skills/training/knowledge
· Good communication and interpersonal skills to be able to talk to clients
· Good telephone and computer skills
· Show high standards of professional behaviour and appearance
· Be able to reach the venue via public transport or own transport (expenses will be paid)
Two references will be required
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Kith & Kids
We provide activities, opportunities, information, and support for people with a learning disability or autism, their parents, and siblings.
For all our projects and activities we are dependent on volunteers.
Our Weekend Clubs
10.00am to 1.30pm and/or 1:30pm to 6.00pm, Fortnightly, Sat during term time.
We are currently looking for energetic and enthusiastic volunteers, to join us on our fantastic fun-filled Weekend club activities.
Volunteers and our members who have disabilities get to know each other as they take part in fun and challenging workshops including sports & games, arts & crafts, cooking and enjoying a day out in London once a term.
What you'll do
On the club you and a fellow volunteer will be paired with one of our members with a learning disability or autism. You'll support and encourage them to take part in a wide range of activities led by professional therapists and workshop leaders.
Our aim at a Kith & Kids’ club is that everybody has lots of fun in an environment in which our members feel safe and relaxed and can fully express themselves. We aim that our members receive 2:1 volunteer support. This helps ensure that the sessions have lots of energy and enthusiasm. It also gives new volunteers a chance to learn further support tips from experienced volunteers.
Our Weekend Clubs also allow our members to develop key skills and relationships in a fun, friendly and safe setting that is individually centred on their needs.
Workshops include music, drama, arts & crafts, sports & games and much more. We even enjoy trips out! Recently groups have attended swimming, museums, crazy golf, and bowling.
Not only is it a session full of fun and games for you and our members, but you are also a vital part in supporting them to develop their social skills in a day-to-day environment.
Come along and get involved!
Male volunteers especially welcome (we need more)!!
Requirements
What you need
You do not need experience. Full disability awareness training will be provided before you begin volunteering with us.
The only requirements we ask of you are enthusiasm, energy and to be open-minded.
Minimum age for volunteers is 18.
How much time?
The clubs run Sat fortnightly, 10.00am to 1.30pm and/or 1:30pm to 6.00pm, in term time only.
The more clubs you do, the more you'll build close relationships with the members you'll be supporting and will create the most impact.
What we can offer you
We can reimburse your travel expenses.
We'll also provide excellent training before the project, and lots of helpful support.
By volunteering on our clubs, you'll also:
- Use and develop your skills
- Learn something new, get involved in fun activities with others
- Increase your confidence
- Meet new people and make friends
- Gain experience for (other) work
- Give something back to the community
- Do something fun and satisfying in your spare time
- Challenge yourself
What about training?
Volunteers must attend training and complete a free DBS check before you begin volunteering.
This is a great opportunity to get to know everyone at Kith & Kids: your fellow volunteers, some of our members you will be working with, and gives the opportunity to develop some new skills and expand your knowledge in our workshops.
Topics we cover include:
- Communication
- Autism
- Supporting emotions
- Safeguarding
- Creativity & Participation
- Epilepsy
When do I need to come?
Volunteers must attend at least two training days and complete a free DBS check before taking part.
We'll be running face-to-face training in north London starting in mid-May with lots of other dates to choose from.
In the meantime, we'll be meeting volunteers online from 15th of April.
Training will take place in North London – once we have met you online for a chat, we will send you confirmation of our training venue details.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.
We are looking to recruit a Support Volunteer for the Camden Group. As our local group Support Volunteer you’ll help people affected by MS find information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access local information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application. See a video about one of our Support Volunteers here.
In this role you’ll be able to develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services. Most importantly you’ll help people affected by MS to access the help they need.
Time commitment
We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.
This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.
About you
You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.
You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the local area the group to carry out this role.
Apply
1. Read through the role description carefully
2. Please apply online
The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Join our amazing volunteer team to make a real difference to people living with sight loss. You’ll be supporting people to come together in a group setting, to benefit from each other’s company, knowledge and encouragement, leading to reduced isolation, stronger networks of support, and new friendships. You can support with either local and regional telephone groups or face-to-face groups.
What you’ll be doing:
• Meeting and greeting group members on arrival or joining virtually.
• Creating a warm and welcoming environment.
• Supporting group conversations.
• Assisting with group activities (if appropriate).
What you’ll gain from the role:
• An opportunity to give something back.
• A chance to build a strong community.
• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.
• A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people
• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies.
In return for donating your time we will provide:
• A rewarding experience.
• A great Induction and training.
• A supportive manager.
• Regular updates and catchups.
• Expenses.
• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers.
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.
We are seeking a new Trustee to join the Board, with experience in either marketing, community work and safeguarding or law.
Anti-oppressive statement: Feedback is actively seeking to move through an anti-racist and anti-oppressive journey in every aspect of its work. We acknowledge that the environmental sector is less open to people from under-represented backgrounds, and we are strongly committed to identifying and correcting where we may be perpetuating patriarchal, white supremacist values and other forms of oppression in our organisational culture, partnerships, and community work. We especially want to hear from you if you feel that you have lived experience of power structures preventing you from accessing opportunities like this.
Feedback is a UK- and Netherlands-based campaign group working for food that is good for people and planet. We want a world where:
- All people have secure access to delicious, culturally appropriate food that is nutritious and does not cause environmental harm
- Global supply chains, farming and fishing contribute to food sovereignty, good livelihoods, mitigate climate change and enable nature to thrive
- Communities have agency to create food economies that are inclusive, equitable, resilient and celebratory
To meet these objectives, we carry out the following activities:
- We delegitimize corporations
- We ideate and advocate for policy change and regulation
- We nurture community agency
- We widen our circle of allies
- We change culture and public discourse
More information is set out in Feedback's Strategic Framework here
The Role of the Board
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines. Specifically, the Board is responsible for:
- Ensuring that the charity and its representatives function within the legal and regulatory framework of charities and in line with the organisation’s governing document, continually striving for best practice in governance.
- Upholding the fiduciary duty invested in the position, undertaking such duties in a way that adds to public confidence and trust in the charity.
- Determining the overall direction and development of the charity through good governance and clear strategic planning.
Trustee - Role Description
- Ensuring the charity complies with legislative and regulatory requirements, and acts within the confines of its governing document and in furtherance to organisational activities contained therein.
- Acting in the best interest of the charity, beneficiaries and future beneficiaries at all times.
- Promoting and developing the charity in order for it to grow and maintain its relevance to society.
- Maintaining sound financial management of the charity’s resources, ensuring expenditure is in line with the organisations’ objects, and investment activities meet accepted standards and policies.
- Interviewing, appointing, and monitoring the work and activities of the senior paid staff if necessary.
- Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the charity and its resources, acting as a counter-signatory on charity cheques and any applications for funds if necessary
- Maintaining absolute confidentiality about all sensitive/confidential information received in the course of trustee’s responsibilities to the charity.
Accountable to
- Funders, beneficiaries, the Charity Commission, and Companies House.
Time commitment
- Attendance at quarterly meetings (held in central London on a weekday from 2–5pm)
- Ad hoc advice and support to senior staff and Board members, usually via email.
- Term for all Trustees is 3 years, with the option of re-election by mutual agreement for one further term.
Person Specification
- A commitment to the organisation and fixing our broken food system, including a commitment to Feedback's core values of collaboration, celebration, audacity, solidarity and impact
- Previous governance experience and an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively as a member of a team
- A commitment to Feedback’s anti-oppression work
- Experience in either marketing, community work and safeguarding, or law
How to apply
Please write a statement of no more than 500 words detailing why you’d like to be considered and how you meet the criteria in the person specification. Please submit this with your CV to Charity Jobs.
Deadline to apply: Wednesday 15th May, 9am
Interviews: Week commencing 3rd June 2024
Board meeting dates (successful candidates will be invited to join):
- Thursday 25th July 2024
- Thursday 24th October 2024
Please view more details about the role in the recruitment pack.
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!
Phab Nottingham provides activities and days out for children with disabilities. This is an opportunity to help improve the lives of our members, help them develop skills and friendships, and through your leadership role ensure that the charity continues to support hundreds of young people in the years to come.
The charity organises day trips and weekend residentials, supporting c.100 young people per year, and providing respite for their parents / carers.
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!
Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors.
An enthusiastic, reliable and compassionate volunteer with good interpersonal skills and a desire to help others. The volunteer must be a fully qualified Dietitian or Nutritional Therapist and have training and/or experience working with individuals with eating disorders.
Activities
- Supporting the nutritional needs of young women with health issues on a limited budget.
- Providing support with meal planning, cooking skills, food safety, and day-to-day problem solving around food and eating.
- Providing wisdom and accurate nutrition education around healthy eating for the individual.
Qualifications/ Experience
- Must be a fully qualified Dietitian or Nutritional Therapist.
- As many of the residents have eating disorders it is essential for the volunteer to have training and/or clinical experience working with individuals with eating disorders.
- Must have professional liability insurance and be a member of a professional body ie. HCPC, BANT
- This role requires us to carry out a check through the Disclosure and Barring Service for the Enhanced DBS
Commitment
This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of the residents. We recommend weekly one-to-one sessions for a minimum of 3 months.
Support
- Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training
- Reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed
- The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons.
Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.
We are looking to recruit a Support Volunteer for the Asian MS Group. As our local group Support Volunteer you’ll help people affected by MS find information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access local information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application. See a video about one of our Support Volunteers here.
In this role you’ll be able to develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services. Most importantly you’ll help people affected by MS to access the help they need.
Time commitment
We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.
This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.
About you
You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.
You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the local area the group to carry out this role.
Apply
1. Read through the role description carefully
2. Please apply online
The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Join our amazing volunteer team to raise awareness of sight loss and RNIB services at local events. You’ll be making a real difference to people living with sight loss by helping to create a world without barriers. This face to face opportunity will see you providing information about RNIB services and activities to help people with sight loss live the lives they want, enabling them to hear about the support that is available, and how they can help others.
What you’ll be doing
• Creating a welcoming and interesting display stand.
• Speaking directly to people affected by sight loss.
• Being a friendly face of RNIB locally - engaging with a diverse range of people.
• Providing information and demonstrations of basic independent living aids for the general public and professionals.
What you’ll gain from the role:
• An opportunity to give something back.
• A chance to build a strong community.
• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.
• A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people
• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies.
In return for donating your time we will provide:
• A supportive route to building your confidence in meeting members of the public and serving customers.
• A rewarding experience.
• A great Induction and training.
• A supportive manager.
• Regular updates and catchups.
• Expenses.
• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers.
In applying for / signing up for this role you agree to be contacted when we are seeking volunteers to help with an event in relation to this role description. We will contact you via a communication method for which you have given consent.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Our Enfield team is looking for reliable and enthusiastic volunteers to help support children in our refuges.
About the role
Solace’s refuges provide safe accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Volunteer CYP Playworkers will lead and assist a variety of activities such as arts and crafts, games, etc. to engage and support the children’s emotional wellbeing and enhance their confidence and resilience. Activity sessions will be carried out in the refuges, supported by the Sessional Play worker.
Who are we looking for?
The ideal volunteer will:
- Have direct experience of working with children and young people is desirable.
- Be reliable and committed to promoting the enjoyment and wellbeing of children and young people.
- Be understanding of domestic violence issues and a discretion in handling confidential and/or sensitive information.
- Be approachable and empathetic
- Be non-judgemental.
- Have the ability to maintain confidentiality.
What can you gain from this opportunity?
As part of this role you will have the opportunity to:
- Gain experience and understanding of working with children using a trauma-informed approach.
- Contribute and support a busy and diverse team.
- Gain hands on experience in a dynamic charity working in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Sector.
- Work as part of a feminist organisation.
We offer great volunteer induction training, where you will be fully supported to understand, and carry put every aspect of the role. Training includes CPD accredited courses, and the opportunity to apply to complete the level 3 Understanding Domestic Abuse Award (DAPA), which is recognized by the Home Office.
Solace Women’s Aid values diversity promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applicants from black minority and ethnic communities.
This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
As part of safer recruitment, we require all successful candidates will be required to complete a satisfactory DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) disclosure.
Solace exists to end the harm done through gender-based violence. Our aim is to work to prevent violence and abuse.
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.
We are currently seeking a Chair to join our dynamic charity board as our current chair is coming towards the end of their term.
We are a highly engaged board who is passionate about ensuring our charity makes a big difference to Lewisham residents, especially to the most vulnerable people. We work in a collegiate way, respecting the diverse viewpoints board members bring to the table and hold ourselves to high professional standards.
The Chair will work closely with the CEO, staff, volunteers and other Trustees to support Citizens Advice Lewisham in making a difference in the lives of people who live and work in the Borough.
General Trustee duties and responsibilities
Each individual member of the Trustee Board has a responsibility to contribute to the discharging of the board’s duties. They do this by:
● Governing the charity in the best interest of the clients and in line with the governing documents.
● Actively contributing to setting policy and strategic direction, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance and ensuring effective oversight of the charity’s activities. This includes visiting Citizens Advice Lewisham to get to know the team and being aware of the service in action.
● Taking responsibility for their own learning and development.
● Monitoring whether the service complies with its governing document and how well the advice needs of the local community are being met.
● Supporting the development of Citizens Advice Lewisham through agreed projects and managing risk.
● Maintaining confidentiality about any sensitive or confidential information received.
Chair specific responsibilities
Plan the board meetings including the dates and the agenda, supported by the CEO.
● Facilitate the trustee board meetings by leading the meeting, ensuring that agenda items are discussed, enabling all members to contribute their views and take part and seeking clarification where necessary.
● Ensure that decisions and actions taken at board meetings are carried out.
● Ensure that the board decisions are made within the remit of the Citizens Advice membership agreement, governing documents and policies.
● Monitor attendance and commitment of all trustees.
● Provide or arrange for training or support for trustees if needed.
● With other trustees and the CEO, recruit a trustee board with a diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge with an aim to promote trusteeship to underrepresented groups that represent the local community.
● Ensure that all trustees receive an induction and the training needed for them to fulfil their role.
● Be proactive in recruiting successors to key positions such as Chair, Treasurer etc.
● Arrange or provide support and supervision for the CEO including an annual appraisal.
● Together with the Treasurer, ensure proper management and control of local Citizens Advice finances.
● Together with the CEO, represent the local Citizens Advice in relationships with funders or potential funders, local events and in the community.
● Work together with all trustees and ensure that the board is able to:
● Set policy and strategy direction, set targets and evaluate the performance of the local Citizens Advice.
● Monitor the financial position of the local Citizens Advice ensuring that it operates within its means and objectives, ensuring that there are clear lines of accountability for day to day financial management.
● Monitor whether the Citizens Advice service complies with its governing document and meets the required standards.
● Seek the views of all sections of the community and monitor how well the service meets the needs of the local community.
● Ensure that the service plans for the recruitment and turnover of staff and volunteers.
● Review its own work and how effectively it operates including action for improvement.
● Work on specific projects to further the strategic objectives of the local Citizens Advice.
General Trustee skills and qualities
● Ability to meet time commitment.
● Commitment to clients and ensuring the impact of Citizens Advice Lewisham in the local community.
● Ability to fulfil governance role, specifically to manage risks, ensure oversight and strategic development of the charity.
● Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
● Willingness to gain knowledge of local needs and resources.
● Commitment to the aims, principles and policies of the Lewisham CAB service, including those relating to equal opportunities, independence, and research and campaigns.
● Ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as Trustees and employers.
● Willingness and ability to learn and to develop.
● Ability to think creatively and strategically, and exercise good, independent judgement.
● Ability to build productive respectful relationships with other Trustees, staff and volunteers.
● Willingness to actively participate in discussions concerning needs of the charity’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.
Chair specific skills and qualities
● Preferable experience in trustee board governance.
● Excellent interpersonal skills.
● Good leadership skills.
● Ability to facilitate and lead meetings.
● An understanding of the responsibilities and liabilities as trustees.
● Ability to be non-judgmental and respecting views, values and cultures that are different to your own.
● Good numeracy skills to understand financial accounts with the support of the treasurer.
● An understanding of the type of work undertaken by a local Citizens Advice.
Time Commitment and availability to attend required meetings
a) As Chair
● Quarterly governance committee meetings (each 11⁄2 hours plus prep).
● On average half a day per week working with the organisation on chair matters.
b) As Trustee
● Quarterly evening Trustee Board meetings (each 21⁄2 hours plus prep).
● One annual Trustee Board awayday (weekend – 5 hours plus prep).
● Liaison with CEO and colleague Trustees by phone, e-mail or Skype (occasional).
● Day-time visits to our offices to understand our work and engage with staff/volunteers (occasional).
● Two annual stakeholder events (one evening event, one mid-week all-day event).
● Liaising with other trustees and CEO via email and phone in between meetings.
● Where required, leading independently on key projects.
● Any further day time visits and meetings that may arise during the year.
What’s in it for you?
● You will contribute to making a positive impact for people in Lewisham.
● You will meet people and build relationships with trustees, staff and other volunteers.
● You will build on your governance, leadership and strategy skills.
Remuneration
This is an unpaid voluntary role and reasonable expenses will be covered by advance agreement.
Diversity
We seek candidate Trustees from all backgrounds so that our board represents the diversity of our community. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
As services are delivered in a small geographic area applicants should ideally live, work or study in, or near, Lewisham or have some local knowledge of the area.
How to apply
Application: Please send us a CV highlighting relevant skills and experience you will bring to the role along with a completed Application Form
Closing date: 31 May 2024
Interviews: 17 June 2024
Contact: If you would like to have a conversation with someone about this role, please get in touch with the Head of Business & Development who can set up a chat with the Chair or CEO.
Disclosure: Applicants must complete the Disclosure and EDI Form as part of their application.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.