Befriending volunteer coordinator jobs in Battersea, greater london
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Goal-Focused Befriending Coordinator
Organisation: Age UK Westminster
Location: Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, London W10 4JL, with community and home visits across the City of Westminster
Hours: 21 hours per week (3 days, flexible)
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £27,500 FTE per annum (pro rata)
Benefits: 7% contributory pension, basic health plan and Blue Light Discount Card
About the Role
Age UK Westminster is looking for a compassionate, organised and motivated Goal-Focused Befriending Coordinator to lead our structured befriending service for older residents experiencing loneliness, social isolation and reduced wellbeing.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference by supporting older people to identify personal goals, build confidence, strengthen social connections and improve their overall wellbeing. Using a strengths-based and person-centred approach, you will work alongside residents, volunteers and partner organisations to help people achieve greater independence and community engagement.
The role is based across our office, residents' homes and community settings throughout Westminster and combines direct client support, volunteer coordination, partnership working, safeguarding and service development.
What You'll Be Doing
As the Goal-Focused Befriending Coordinator, you will:
- Manage a caseload of older residents receiving structured, goal-focused befriending support.
- Complete assessments, support plans, reviews and outcome-focused interventions.
- Deliver support through home visits, telephone contact, guided conversations and community-based activities.
- Empower residents to identify goals, overcome barriers and build confidence and independence.
- Support approximately 100 residents each year to reduce loneliness and improve wellbeing.
- Develop and coordinate a monthly Befriending Café to encourage peer support, social connection and community participation.
- Build strong partnerships with Westminster City Council, health services, voluntary organisations and community groups.
- Develop referral pathways that enable residents to access wider support services.
- Recruit, match, support and supervise befriending volunteers.
- Provide volunteers with guidance, regular supervision and ongoing support.
- Maintain accurate case records and monitor outcomes using recognised wellbeing measures, including:
- Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)
- Life Satisfaction Measures
- Loneliness Scales
- Monitor project outcomes, contribute to funding reports and support continuous service improvement.
- Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and promote safe working practices at all times.
- Contribute to maintaining high-quality standards in line with Befriending Quality Mark principles.
About the People You'll Support
Many of the residents accessing our service:
- Experience loneliness and social isolation.
- Live with long-term health conditions or reduced mobility.
- May have memory difficulties or cognitive decline.
- Have experienced bereavement or significant life changes.
- Live with long-term mental health challenges.
- May face poverty, housing issues or limited support networks.
- Can present with complex emotional or safeguarding concerns.
You will provide compassionate, professional and empowering support while helping individuals achieve sustainable improvements in wellbeing and independence.
About You
We're looking for someone who has:
- Experience supporting older people, vulnerable adults or individuals with complex needs.
- Experience delivering wellbeing, community or outcome-focused support services.
- Excellent communication, listening and relationship-building skills.
- Experience using strengths-based, person-centred or motivational approaches.
- Knowledge of safeguarding adults and risk management.
- Experience working in partnership with statutory and voluntary organisations.
- Experience coordinating or supporting volunteers (desirable).
- Good organisational skills with the ability to manage a varied caseload.
- Strong IT, record-keeping and reporting skills.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- An understanding of community resources that promote independence and social connectedness.
Knowledge of Befriending Quality Mark standards or similar quality frameworks would be an advantage but is not essential.
What We Offer
At Age UK Westminster you'll receive:
- Comprehensive induction and ongoing training.
- Safeguarding and wellbeing training.
- Training in goal-focused and strengths-based practice.
- Regular supervision and management support.
- Opportunities for professional development and partnership networking.
- 7% contributory pension.
- Basic health plan.
- Blue Light Discount Card.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to help transform the lives of older people in Westminster by reducing loneliness, improving wellbeing and supporting people to build lasting social connections and greater independence.
If you're passionate about person-centred support and want to be part of a friendly and dedicated team, we'd love to hear from you.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy, please email your CV with a supporting letter (showing how you meet the personal specification).
Closing date: 31st July 2026 at noon. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be conducted before the closing date. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a suitable candidate be appointed.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Title: Head of Operations
Responsible to: CEO
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £45,000 - £48,000 FT (depending on experience and qualifications)
Based: Willesden, NW10 2JR; Haringey borough (including Hornsey, N8 9LP and Tottenham Hale, N17 9FU) + other locations if required
Contract: Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)
Please Note: Enhanced DBS check will be required
JOB OVERVIEW
Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? Do you want to use your operational management experience to have a tangible impact in the community? This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced team leader looking to take on a meaningful new career challenge to join the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as Head of Operations.
The Head of Operations oversees all of BIAS’s projects, managing a small, high-performing team of project coordinators and frontline advice and community-support staff to ensure that we provide the highest-quality service to our clients. You will need to have demonstrable team-management experience, strong people and communication skills, and a willingness to take a hands-on approach to project delivery, along with excellent organisational and strategic abilities to ensure that projects are delivered sustainably, effectively and efficiently.
In 2025, BIAS expanded its successful Brent-based advice service and active ageing clubs into Haringey borough. The Head of Operations will take the lead on further building and developing the new services in Haringey, ensuring that we replicate our excellent quality of service, strong record of positive outcomes and loyal service-user base.
This is a key role within the BIAS senior leadership team, which will give you the opportunity to have a direct impact on shaping the organisation’s future strategy and direction.
KEY WORK AREAS AND MAIN DUTIES
Staff management
- Manage a team of five project coordinators and five front-line staff to ensure effective delivery and monitoring of BIAS’s core welfare and housing advice, active ageing, volunteering and befriending projects, which support over 900 people per year.
- Manage HR procedures, including employment contracts, probation assessment, leave administration, staff supervision, performance management and exit procedures.
- Conduct recruitment procedures where needed, and supervise the onboarding process for new joiners.
- Oversee training and development needs and budgets.
- Ensure good teamwork and lines of communication between staff, including by chairing regular staff meetings.
- Create a positive working environment in which equity and diversity are promoted and staff can do their best.
Project management
- Project-manage the further development of new advice and active ageing services in Haringey borough.
- Take the lead on promotion and marketing of BIAS’s services, including by representing the charity to partner organisations and at external events.
- Contribute to the organisation and running of regular community and fundraising events.
- Deputise for the Advice Services Manager where needed, supporting the welfare and housing advisers with complex casework, forward planning and client management.
- Support the Active Ageing Coordinators and volunteer teams wherever needed with the day-to-day running of the active ageing clubs.
Quality and service delivery
- Oversee quality-assurance procedures in line with the Advice Quality Standard (AQS), and spearhead biannual renewal of BIAS’s AQS accreditation.
- Oversee running of BIAS’s volunteer project in line with the Investing in Volunteers quality accreditation standards.
- Serve as internal data protection officer, monitoring GDPR compliance, managing risk and responding to any potential data breaches.
- Serve as BIAS safeguarding lead, ensuring that safeguarding policies and training are kept up to date, and that all safeguarding concerns are appropriately addressed.
- Work with the Fundraising and Communications Manager to administer the BIAS website and implement BIAS’s social media strategy.
- Administer BIAS’s IT and client management systems (Microsoft 365, SharePoint, BrightHR, Lamplight CRM), coordinating training, updates and troubleshooting.
Operational leadership
- Advise the CEO on all staffing and service-delivery issues.
- Monitor and report on service delivery, including through monthly advice and volunteer-project reports, quarterly Board reports and regular funder reports.
- Carry out regular reviews of BIAS’s annual business plan, risk register, five-year strategy and internal policies and procedures, providing recommendations to the CEO and Board of Trustees on strategic direction.
- Research and secure funding from grant-making organisations, ensuring BIAS’s future financial sustainability.
- Work closely with the Finance Manager and CEO on budgeting, grant monitoring, cashflow and financial authorisation.
These are the basic duties required of the Head of Operations. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.
Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based in our advice offices and club venues in Willesden and Haringey but there may be some options for flexible working (e.g. one day per week from home). Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.
ABOUT BIAS
BIAS is a local charity which has supported England’s largest Irish community in Brent for almost fifty years. We deliver our support through our welfare and housing advice service, our active ageing clubs, our volunteer project and our befriending scheme. We raise over £2 million in extra income for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged every year and have over 7000 attendances at our club services. BIAS has recently expanded into Haringey borough and has exciting plans to further develop its project scope and geographical reach, supported by sustainable and diversified grant funding, including from Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter. The deadline for applications is 29th August 2026 but we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible as interviews may be carried out on a rolling basis.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for an administrator to support Age UK Wandsworth's Home Together Coordinator to facilitate our Home Together Service.
The Home Together Service sits within our Age Well Together Service, which offers a range of assistance to support clients at home and in their local community to prevent decline; maintain independence; reduce social isolation; and promote health and wellbeing with care, friendship and understanding. This includes our befriending services, an online shopping service and a Handyperson service.
Who should apply?
This role would be suitable for someone:
- wishing to begin a career in Wandsworth or in the Charity sector
- wishing to make a difference to the lives of older people
- who would like meaningful contact with clients
- who wants to become part of a hard-working, caring, compassionate and supportive staff team
Previous administrative experience may be beneficial but the role will include a comprehensive induction and full training for the role will be provided.
What we can offer you:
You'll be joining a vibrant workplace where no two days are the same, working as part of a small, supportive team that is committed to making a positive difference in the community. You'll benefit from an experienced leadership team, collaborate with kind and caring colleagues who genuinely work together, and even have the company of a friendly hypo-allergenic office dog.
Due to the nature of the work that we carry out, our staff work from our office, day centre and in the community. Therefore, please note that unless it is otherwise stated, all roles advertised will require the successful candidate to work on-site.
Employee benefits:
- 5% employer’s pension contribution
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee shopping benefits scheme
- Employee assistance programme (EAP)
- Employee recognition and reward programme
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our mission is to help older people to age well in Wandsworth.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.