Casework Volunteer Volunteer Roles
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role: Youth ‘GRS’ casework volunteer
Team: Casework
Supervised by: Youth caseworker
Location: Tooting Hub on a Wednesday afternoon (between 12:30-18:00pm)
Time commitment: 2.5 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months
About CARAS :
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.
Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation, we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.
We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.
Our values are at the centre of all our work:
• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests.
• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society.
• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes.
• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do.
About CARAS Casework:
CARAS works with adults and young people of a refugee and asylum seeker background to find solutions to their problems. There are two separate sub-teams within the Casework team; young people and adults. We support young people to navigate the asylum system, understand their rights and entitlements, access education, connect with services and realise their goals. We are a non-specialist casework and advocacy service, so we work in close partnership with other local organisations to whom we refer people with more complex issues.
Using the empowerment model, our casework service embodies CARAS’ values of ‘with not for’, always striving to ensure people are armed with the information and resources they need to make decisions and take action for themselves.
About CARAS GRS:
CARAS runs a “Get Ready for School” (GRS) programme for newly arrived Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children who are eligible for statutory education but do not yet have a place in school or college. The programme helps young people prepare for mainstream education by offering six hours a week of classroom-based ESOL learning alongside numeracy, digital literacy, and study skills. These sessions take place on a Monday and a Wednesday.
Under statutory guidelines, a looked-after child in year 11 or below must be placed in full-time education within 20 school days.1 If the young person is out of education for longer than four weeks, they can continue attending Get Ready for School for up to 12 weeks, with CARAS additionally offering the young person and their support network help from our Casework team to ensure that they are accessing full-time education as soon as possible.
About the Role:
We are currently recruiting for 3 volunteers to join our Youth Casework team as a GRS needs assessment caseworker.
The purpose of the Youth ‘GRS’ Casework volunteer role is to support young people with a refugee or asylum-seeking background to understand their rights, access information and services, and ultimately, take control of their own lives. You will work with individuals to complete a needs assessment to establish what support they may need alongside GRS. You will work with individuals to address problems they may face relating to, among other issues, asylum information, accessing healthcare and education, accessing support from their local authority, and finding activities and opportunities. There are often supplementary referrals that come out of the GRS needs assessments that will need equal care and attention from volunteers.
On occasion, you will offer support to the GRS team to support young peoples’ learning journey and develop a wider understanding of the GRS programme.
You will start from an understanding that individuals are always best placed to solve their own problems, and often need nothing more than to talk out a problem and find the solution themselves. When helpful, you will provide information to clarify and support to take action.
The GRS volunteer will attend our community space in Tooting Hub on Wednesday afternoons for 2.5 hours between 12:30-18:00pm. Volunteer caseworkers have 1:1 appointments, either in person or by phone, with CARAS members. Volunteers also support administrative tasks such as updating our databases, collating resources, and creating information guides.
Youth Casework Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:
Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting.
Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements.
Assisting with filling out forms.
Signposting and referring to other services and organisations.
Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner.
Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations, and grants.
Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required.
Keeping accurate case notes.
Supporting to maintain our signposting database.
Researching and collating resources.
Working collaboratively as a team and assisting in shaping the Youth Casework project.
Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality Policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements (all experience can be from paid or voluntary roles):
Essential:
Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.
Confidence in using IT (Microsoft Office, Outlook, Zoom, Google Search, online forms)
To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;
A commitment to confidentiality and data protection
Thorough with good attention to detail
Reliable
A high level of spoken and written English
Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way
A calm, friendly, kind, and patient approach
Enjoyment in speaking to new people
A commitment to working in an empowering way
Able to maintain boundaries
Able to work autonomously
Currently resident in the UK
Desirable:
Experience in doing 1:1 advice work/casework
Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights, and entitlements for people seeking asylum.
Direct experience of the UK immigration system.
Past experience of working with people seeking asylum.
Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu, or Vietnamese.
We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process.
Benefits of Volunteering:
· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum.
· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team.
· Develop your skills and competencies.
· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.
Obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months regular volunteering.
All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.
To Apply:
Applicants will have an informal meeting with the Youth caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP.
Successful applicants will be required to complete 2 hours of online general CARAS induction and 2 hours of online safeguarding training and specialist Casework volunteer training before commencing their placement.
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!
Role: Youth casework volunteer
Team: Casework
Supervised by: Youth caseworker
Location: Tooting Hub on a Wednesday afternoon (13:30-16:00pm or 18:30-21:00pm)
Time commitment: 2.5 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months
About CARAS:
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.
Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation, we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.
We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.
Our values are at the centre of all our work:
• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests.
• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society.
• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes.
• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do.
About CARAS Casework:
CARAS works with adults and young people of a refugee and asylum seeker background to find solutions to their problems. There are two separate sub-teams within the Casework team; young people and adults. We support young people to navigate the asylum system, understand their rights and entitlements, access education, connect with services and realise their goals. We are a non-specialist casework and advocacy service, so we work in close partnership with other local organisations to whom we refer people with more complex issues.
Using the empowerment model, our casework service embodies CARAS’ values of ‘with not for’, always striving to ensure people are armed with the information and resources they need to make decisions and take action for themselves.
About the Role:
We are currently recruiting 3 volunteers to join our Youth Casework team.
The purpose of the Youth Casework volunteer role is to support young people with a refugee or asylum-seeking background to understand their rights, access information and services, and ultimately, take control of their own lives. You will work with individuals to address problems they may face relating to, among other issues, asylum support, accessing healthcare and education, access to legal advice and finding activities and opportunities.
You will start from an understanding that individuals are always best placed to solve their own problems, and often need nothing more than to talk out a problem and find the solution themselves. When helpful, you will provide information to clarify and support to take action.
The Youth Casework team hold a support session at our community space in Tooting Hub on Wednesday afternoons from 13:30-16:00pm and evenings from 18:00-21:00pm. Volunteer caseworkers have 1:1 appointments, either in person or by phone, with CARAS members. These can be related to a range of topics. Currently, our biggest areas of work are around social care, the National Transfer Scheme, access to college, nursery/school places for children, referrals to mental health providers, searches, and signposting to activities, finding solicitors and supporting people to apply for bus passes and ID cards. Volunteers also support administrative tasks such as updating our databases, collating resources, and creating information guides.
Youth Casework Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:
Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting.
Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements.
Assisting with filling out forms.
Signposting and referring to other services and organisations.
Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner.
Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations, and grants.
Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required.
Keeping accurate case notes.
Supporting to maintain our signposting database.
Researching and collating resources.
Working collaboratively as a team and assisting in shaping the Youth Casework project.
Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality Policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements (all experience can be from paid or voluntary roles):
Essential:
Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.
Confidence in using IT (Microsoft Office, Outlook, Zoom, Google Search, online forms)
To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;
A commitment to confidentiality and data protection
Thorough with good attention to detail
Reliable
A high level of spoken and written English
Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way
A calm, friendly, kind, and patient approach
Enjoyment in speaking to new people
A commitment to working in an empowering way
Able to maintain boundaries
Able to work autonomously
Currently resident in the UK
Desirable:
Experience in doing 1:1 advice work/casework
Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights, and entitlements for people seeking asylum.
Direct experience of the UK immigration system.
Past experience of working with people seeking asylum.
Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu, or Vietnamese.
We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process.
Benefits of Volunteering:
· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum.
· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team.
· Develop your skills and competencies.
· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.
Obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months regular volunteering
All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.
To Apply:
Applicants will have an informal meeting with the Youth caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP.
Successful applicants will be required to complete 2 hours of online general CARAS induction and 2 hours of online safeguarding training and specialist Casework volunteer training before commencing their placement.
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!
Adult Casework Volunteer - Role description
Role: Adult Casework Volunteer
Team: Casework
Supervised by: Adult caseworker
Location: Tooting office on a Thursday afternoon (2-5.30pm)
Time commitment: 3.5 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months
About CARAS :
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.
Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.
We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.
Our values are at the centre of all our work
• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests
• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society
• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes
• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do
About CARAS casework:
CARAS works with adults and young people of a refugee and asylum seeker background to find solutions to their problems. There are two separate sub-teams within the Casework team; young people and adults. We support adults to navigate the asylum system, understand their options, access benefits, connect with services and realise their goals. We are a non-specialist casework and advocacy service, so we work in close partnership with other local organisations to whom we refer people with more complex issues.
Using the empowerment model, our casework service embodies CARAS’ values of ‘with not for’, always striving to ensure people are armed with the information and resources they need to make decisions and take action for themselves.
About the Role:
We are currently recruiting for 2 volunteers to join our Adult Casework team.
The purpose of the Adult Casework volunteer role is to support adults with a refugee or asylum seeking background to understand their rights, access information and services, and ultimately, take control of their own lives. You will work with individuals to address problems they may face relating to, among other issues, asylum support, accessing healthcare and education, access to legal advice and finding activities and opportunities.
You will start from an understanding that individuals are always best placed to solve their own problems, and often need nothing more than to talk out a problem and find the solution themselves. When helpful, you will provide information to clarify and support to take action.
The Adult Casework team hold a support session at our office in Tooting on Thursday afternoons from 2-5.30pm. Volunteer caseworkers have 1:1 appointments, either in person or by phone, with CARAS members. These can be related to a range of topics. Currently our biggest areas of work are around housing for people seeking asylum, access to college, nursery/school places for children, referrals to mental health providers, searches and signposting to activities, finding solicitors and supporting people to apply for bus passes and ID cards. Volunteers also support with administrative tasks such as updating our databases, collating resources and creating information guides.
Adult Casework Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:
-
Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting.
-
Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements.
-
Assisting with filling out forms
-
Signposting and referring onto other services and organisations.
-
Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner.
-
Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations and grants.
-
Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required.
-
Keeping accurate casenotes
-
Supporting to maintain our signposting database
-
Researching and collating resources
-
Working collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the Adult Casework project.
-
Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements:
Essential
-
Experience of doing 1:1 advice work/casework.
-
Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.
-
Confidence in using IT (Microsft office, outlook, zoom, Google search, online forms)
-
To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;
-
A commitment to confidentiality and data protection
-
Thorough with good attention to detail
-
Reliable
-
A high level of spoken and written English
-
Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way
-
A calm, friendly, kind and patient approach
-
Enjoyment in speaking to new people
-
A commitment to working in an empowering way
-
Able to maintain boundaries
-
Able to work autonomously
-
Currently resident in the UK
Desirable
-
Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights and entitlements for people seeking asylum
-
Experience of working with interpreters
-
Direct experience of the UK immigration system.
-
Past experience of working with people seeking asylum
-
Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu or Vietnamese.
We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process
Benefits to Volunteering:
-
Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;
-
Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;
-
Develop your skills and competencies;
-
Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.
-
Obtain a reference from us relating to your volunteering
All volunteers must complete a basic DBS check for volunteers working with adults and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.
To Apply:
To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form, using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.
Applicants will have an informal meeting with the Adult caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP.
Successful applicants will undergo training and induction with our team.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role: Referral volunteer (laptops)
Team: Casework
Supervised by: Adult caseworker
Location: Tooting office on a Thursday afternoon (2-5pm) for period of training/induction. Remote or in person once induction is complete.
Time commitment: 3 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months
About CARAS :
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.
Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.
We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.
Our values are at the centre of all our work:
• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests
• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society
• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes
• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do
About the Role:
CARAS offers advocacy casework integrated into all of its projects, ensuring that people who attend our groups can access support to address issues in a friendly and timely manner. A key part of the casework service is to help connect people to resources and activities that they need.
A key areas of need is digital access, either by smart phone or laptop.
People living in asylum accommodation receive £9/week making saving for items impossible.
Whilst many activities have returned to face-to-face delivery many have stayed online, not having a laptop impedes people’s ability to join English classes and social activities. People attending college face difficulties in completing college work without access to computers in the evenings, access to a laptop means people are able to take greater control over their independent learning. Smart phones make a huge difference in people’s ability to have contact with family and community across the world.
To meet this need we have built a partnership with a grant giving organisation, Acts435, to support people to get personal laptops.
We are able to refer 5 people at a time for grants to buy new laptops/phones. Once the grant money is received we purchase the devices for community members to collect.
We are looking for a volunteer to do these referrals each month and support people to purchase and receive their laptops and phones. This is an extremely rewarding role, interacting with lots of the CARAS community members and making a very tangible positive impact on people’s lives.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- contacting community members who are on our waiting lists by phone to explain the scheme to them
- complete grant applications with community members
- monitoring the grant platform to see when grants have been made
- purchasing laptops online and liaising with community members to arrange collection
- completing monitoring forms with community members once grants are recieved and uploading to grant platform
- recording all referrals and work done on our case management system (lamplight)
Person specification:
Essential
· Confidence in using IT (online forms, online shopping, google maps, email, DocuSign)
· To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;
· A commitment to confidentiality and data protection
· Thorough with good attention to detail
· Reliable
· A high level of spoken and written English
· Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English;
· Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way
· A calm, friendly, kind and patient approach
· Enjoyment in speaking to new people
· A commitment to working in an empowering way
· Able to maintain boundaries
· Able to work autonomously
· Currently resident in the UK
Desirable
· Experience working with refugees and asylum seekers
· Fluent in one or more of: Pashtu, Farsi, Tigrinya, Somali, Arabic or Dari, Russian, Ukrainian, Albanian, Amharic, Kurdish Sorani, Spanish, French
· Experience of working with interpreters
Benefits to Volunteering:
Through volunteering with us you will:
· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;
· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;
· Develop your skills and competencies;
· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.
All volunteers must complete a DBS check and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.
To Apply:
To Apply To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form, using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.
Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with the Adult caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP.
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!
Volunteer with Rahab and be part of transforming women’s lives
Do you have a desire to help vulnerable women grow into a life in which they feel safe, free, whole and capable?
At Rahab we work towards seeing the lives of at risk and vulnerable women affected by prostitution and trafficking transformed, supporting those who are sexually exploited with unconditional acceptance, compassion and dignity to rebuild their lives and achieve their own identity and freedom. We provide learning and development opportunities for women to engage in and offer a supportive environment as they explore ways to self-determine their onward journey.
We are a dedicated team of professionals, facilitating casework support, counselling, wellbeing and learning. As a Rahab volunteer, you will gain valuable and unique insight into not only our work but also some of the wider factors that contribute to the exploitation and abuse of women in and across London. But most importantly you will play a part in the transformation we work towards in the lives of individual women. Find out more about us and our work on our website
Your contribution
We are looking for Volunteers for a range of activities including befriending, pastoral care, outreach, teaching ESL, casework, admin and counselling. It’s an exciting time to join our team as we are implementing steps to expand our work to support more women.
We need volunteers who are willing to help, with a caring approach and sensitivity to the challenges involved in this work. All volunteers will receive training. Volunteer Counsellors must be qualified to a minimum of Level 5 Diploma or Degree level and be a member of the ACC, BACP or UKCP, and will receive supervision.
Please note that commencement of volunteer activities is dependent on placement and necessary onboarding for specific roles.
Time committment will vary for each placement, dependent on requirements, but generally this would be between 5 to 10 hours per month.
How to apply
We are also happy to have an informal chat if you are interested and would like to know more about the range of our activities and how best you can be involved as a volunteer. Please be in touch with us and we can answer your questions or arrange to speak.
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!
One of the barriers for female refugee clients to access learning is finding suitable and reliable childcare, whilst they attend sessions. To help them overcome this barrier, we have set up an on creche on site for clients attending the course, managed by a member of staff who is qualified in Level 3 Childcare. Volunteers in this role will have the opportunity to support our operations and services by carrying out the main task of their role as set out below.
Specifically, the volunteer role includes:
- Assisting and taking direction from Refugee Council members of staff in helping to take care of the children by carrying out activities with them.
- Assisting with the set up and organising creative and play activities with the children.
- Assisting with song and story time
- Assisting with the set up and pack up of the Creche equipment for each session.
- Providing emotional support, especially for children new to the Creche
- Ensure children are playing in a safe environment.
- Offering a nurturing and supportive environment for the children
- Fetching the child’s parent from the course when they need changing, feeding or if they are unable to be soothed.
Please note that volunteers are not responsible for feeding or changing nappies as part of this volunteer role and remains the responsibility of the client during the course. Volunteers are never to be left alone with any child at any time. Otherwise, you will have to do enhanced DBS checks.
Useful skills and experience
- Reliability and commitment.
- Confidence and comfortable meeting new people.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries.
- Ability to build relationships and rapport with children and their parents.
- Ability to communicate with people of all abilities and culturally diverse backgrounds.
- Adaptability to new ideas and concepts
- An appreciation of the importance of confidentiality and data protection. Full training will be provided.
- An understanding of the need to keep children safe in line with our organisational safeguarding policy and procedures. Full training will be provided.
- Pashtu or Dari language skills are desirable but not essential.
This role is subject to a satisfactory basic level Disclosure and Barring Service check. Repeat checks are initiated every two years.
Skills and experience to be gained from the role.
- Experience in working with children in a welcoming environment.
- Induction into the work of the Refugee Council, as well as the role, data protection and safeguarding.
- Experience of volunteering in an early year setting
- Opportunity to improve future employment prospects.
- Support and guidance from Refugee Council team members, including 121 and group supervisions.
- Regular training and development opportunities
- We would be more than happy to provide references to volunteers.
- We would be more than happy to provide CV support, personal professional development.
How we support our volunteers
Volunteers are valued members of our teams, and we provide them with support and development opportunities. Volunteers will receive regular planned support sessions with their supervisors.
Refugee Council allows volunteers to attend our professional training courses, when possible, free of charge. Training will be discussed with you during support sessions with your supervisor.
Through sponsorship from the Marsh Trust, Refugee Council also provides volunteers with the opportunity to design and set-up a new service for new clients. There will be an opportunity to discuss this with your supervisor.
Volunteer roles are unpaid, but we can reimburse volunteers for lunch and travel costs. (Unfortunately our limited budget only allows for local travelling costs.)
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About CARAS:
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in south-west London. We work primarily with people who are newly arrived in the UK, most of whom are living in temporary Home Office accommodation. Arriving as a refugee in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language barriers, accessing services, financial insecurity and ongoing uncertainty are extremely challenging and disempowering. CARAS is here to work collaboratively with community members to support them to build skills, connect meaningfully with their local community, and to build positive futures in the UK.
CARAS offers a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background. For adults this currently includes: ESOL, digital skills and employability sessions; social and recreational activities and casework. All programs are interlinked and work hand-in-hand with one another. For example, community members can practice their spoken English in Coffee Afternoon, and casework issues might be picked up and referred into the team during an ESOL class. We design and develop our programs through consultation and ongoing conversations with our community members. We aim to have a strong volunteer presence across all our programs, fostering connections between asylum seekers and other Londoners!
About CARAS’s Adult Programming and Coffee Afternoon:
CARAS has been providing support to adult refugee women since 2005, promoting skills and confidence development that helps women gain more power in their lives. In the aftermath of COVID, we have been able to expand our adult programmes, responding to the shifting demographics of those seeking asylum in the UK. We now run a range of mixed programmes for all genders, as well as some women-only spaces. Our coffee afternoon is a mixed group.
Our coffee afternoon has been running since May 2022 and is one of our most popular groups. It takes place at TARA Theatre in Earlsfield from 1-2.30PM every Friday. Its primary aim is to reduce isolation amongst those we work with by providing a safe, friendly and welcoming space for people to have fun, learn about themselves and each other, and build connections.
In 2023, we have been running creative sessions during Coffee Afternoon, facilitated by freelance creative practitioners in partnership with TARA Theatre. These range from dance to drama, poetry to puppetry. For sessions without a creative practitioner, we sometimes host workshops on important topics such as healthcare rights or have an open and informal space for games and a chat. There is always coffee and a selection of baked goods!
For more information on TARA Theatre, our partner and host, please visit their website.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- To attend CARAS coffee afternoon’s, every Friday between 1-2.30PM in Earlsfield, South-west London. They take place at TARA Theatre, right opposite Earlsfield Station. Location here- https://maps.app.goo.gl/rXwJiKHRj93YFtLG9 (356 Garratt Ln, London SW18 4ES).
- If there is a week this is not possible, to tell CARAS staff as far in advance as you are able.
- To welcome and connect with community members attending, working to ensure everyone at the group feels included.
- To take part if there is a creative activity happening in that session, and help liaise with CARAS staff and the creative practitioner to ensure the activity runs smoothly.
- To encourage and inspire community members to feel confident and reach their full potential.
- To share conversation, and chat informally with our community members.
- To assist community members to both recognise and celebrate their achievements.
- To challenge negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manor.
- To adhere to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements:
- To have interest in working with refugees and asylum seekers.
- To be non-judgemental, and able and willing to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, and differing levels of English.
- To be reliable and punctual.
- To be a current resident in the UK.
- To provide five years’ worth of addresses and be willing to undergo a UK DBS check.
- To attend CARAS General and Safeguarding Training, and any further training as necessary.
- To be 18 years or older.
Through volunteering with us you will:
- Meet new members of your local community
- Learn about different cultures and life experiences from across the world
- Learn about issues relating to refugee and asylum seekers
- Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team
- Develop your skills and competencies
- Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding
To Apply:
Please fill in the volunteer application form and email it to us. Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with the Head of Adult Inclusion and Adult Program Coordinator these meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP!
Details for this role are in the description and not mentioned in the application form but please fill in your details in the Volunteer application form attached and send it back to us
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you enjoy teamwork and helping others? Are you empathetic with good organisation, IT and communication skills? If so, we’d love to hear from you. You don’t need an Armed Forces background, just a commitment to providing great support to our beneficiaries.
What is a Branch Support Coordinator?
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas, each delivering support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Every branch has a team of volunteers who make this possible.
The Branch Support Coordinator is a key member of the team, ensuring that beneficiaries access the right support in a timely manner. This role involves liaising with regional and national teams and coordinating casework support provided to beneficiaries by Branch volunteers.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles and fundraisers.
In recognition of our clients’ service to the Nation we aim to provide financial, practical, and emotional support when it’s needed most. To do this we need excellent coordination of local services and between our teams.
What would you be doing?
- Accepting referrals for beneficiary casework support from SSAFA’s Regional Office and allocating beneficiaries’ cases to branch volunteers.
- Overseeing SSAFA casework across a branch, ensuring beneficiaries receive support that meets SSAFA’s casework standards and raising issues where it does not.
- Using SSAFA’s case management system to record, coordinate and track beneficiaries’ cases.
- Ensuring volunteer caseworkers have a manageable caseload and that effective support and supervision is in place.
- Liaising with Central Office and Specialist Services teams to ensure access to specialist support where needed e.g., Mentoring.
- Supporting the Branch Training Coordinator and Volunteering Coordinator to ensure volunteer caseworkers are up to date with training and have the information needed to carry out their role.
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Excellent experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Give back to the Armed Forces community.
- Become part of the SSAFA community and build networks across your local area.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - confidentiality and boundaries, caseworker training, caseworker IT system training, volunteer management - case management and quality. This training would take approx. 1 day
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Local induction and support, from other branch volunteers.
- Access to a wide range of e-learning courses to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
- Support from SSAFA’s regional volunteering and operations teams.
- Regular meetings and local events to learn and share information.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Good IT skills e.g., confident using email and online systems – you will use SSAFA's case management system as part of the role.
- Time management and organisation skills
- Respectful and non-judgemental approach to others
- Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries
- Some experience of coordinating people
- This role would suit someone who would like to volunteer regularly, each week.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA takes the utmost care at every step of volunteer recruitment to ensure that the people we involve are suitable and appropriate. All measures taken are to help make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including a check against the adults barred list)
*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, or other information will not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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!
Could you coordinate local SSAFA services in your area? You don’t need a military background, just basic I.T and admin skills, the ability to get on with people and good written and spoken English. If so, we’d love to hear from you.
What is a Branch Secretary?
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. These are divided into local areas that we call divisions. Each branch has a secretary to organise day-to-day activities. This is a key role involving administration and coordinating people. As the first point of contact for SSAFA in the area you will play a crucial part in promoting SSAFA locally, organising local events and ensuring the smooth running of SSAFA across the divisions in your branch.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
In recognition of our clients’ service to the Nation we aim to provide financial, practical and emotional support when it’s needed most. To do this we need local branches and volunteers who can match clients to volunteers and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
This role is about coordination and administration. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role would suit someone looking to offer a regular time commitment each week. You would also need to organise and attend a number of regular meetings each year.
What would you be doing?
- Managing the branch office (if applicable) and providing support to all volunteers, especially new ones
- Work with the branch Chairperson, treasurer, and others to ensure smooth running of the branch.
- Accepting referrals and coordinating SSAFA caseworkers, visitors, and helpers accordingly
- Oversee all SSAFA casework across the branch ensuring clients get support that is effective and timely.
- Monitor volunteer numbers against the demand for support and recruit new volunteers as needed
- Working with the local training officer to ensure all volunteers are kept up to date with the training and information they need.
- Build relationships with regional and central office staff to ensure an effective flow of information.
- Maintaining accurate records of volunteers and cases, submit accurate data to Central Office
- Providing administration for an annual programme of meetings including an AGM, recording, and implementing decisions
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What could you gain from this volunteering role?
- Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, caseworker IT system training, volunteer management – attracting, recruiting, and inducting volunteers, volunteer management – case management and quality. This training would take approx. 4 days.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Access to a range of e-learning courses as well as local opportunities to keep your training up to date.
- Support from the Chair of the branch
- Access to the Welfare Team and Volunteer Support Team based at our central office.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable people of any age (18+) with some experience of coordinating people and admin
- Good written and spoken English.
- Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues.
- Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
- Ability to coordinate a team of people volunteering.
- Willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the training course)
- Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to reporting any safety concerns etc
- Reliable attitude, contact clients and volunteers promptly, keep appointments etc.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely.
- Access to public transport or a car to travel to meetings, events etc.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? No
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About CARAS:
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in South West London, and helps them to play their full part in the community. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives.
We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background, providing them the tools they need to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults include currently include: ESOL classes; sports; women’s creative writing; women’s coffee morning, and casework.
About the CARAS Adult Team:
In the post-pandemic environment, CARAS is responding to the role of digital literacies in our programme delivery to learners of asylum-seeking and refugee background. In contrast to the UK essential Digital skills framework, we have built in language inclusion to create a participatory learning course for Essential Digital Literacies for learners who are new to reading and writing in English. The individuals joining CARAS are highly diverse, with different countries of origin, linguistic and educational backgrounds. We have observed over the last year that many CARAS community members have limited digital skills, particularly in regard to using computers. Community members have highlighted that computers are important for many individuals to achieve their educational and employment goals, whilst increasing confidence and independence. We have co-designed a digital skills program in partnership with CARAS community members to improve computer literacy and skills, focusing on basic computer literacy.
About the Role:
We are seeking two volunteers based in London to teach our lively computer classes in Tooting every Monday 9:00-11:00. Volunteers will lead the sessions with guidance from the CARAS ESOL Teacher and will work closely with our community members to build their skills and confidence using computers. The Digital Literacies course at CARAS is built around Pre-entry to Entry 2 levels in English. Volunteers will be supporting individuals with tasks such as: getting to know how to use a computer, using the internet, setting up an email address, and using Microsoft office. We intend to fold employability sessions, including CV writing and job searching, into these sessions.
Volunteer Tasks and responsibilities:
· Lead on the delivery of sessions with support from CARAS’s Essential Digital Skills Teacher.
· Assist with the logistical set up of the sessions, supporting CARAS staff where needed.
· Work collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the project.
· Create class registers and records as required.
· To attend and contribute to volunteer pre- and de-briefs at each session.
· To act as a positive role model and set standards of behaviour when volunteering.
· Support people to develop their knowledge and skills and encourage and inspire participants to reach their full potential.
· To assist participants to both, recognise and celebrate their achievements.
· To challenge negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manor.
· Advocate for the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants with not for them.
· Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements:
· To be non-judgemental, and able and willing to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
· To be female identifying.
· Have a good understanding of how to use a computer.
· To be reliable and punctual.
· Excellent presentation and communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.
· Commitment to support people seeking asylum to take control of their asylum journey.
· Ability to volunteer every Friday for a minimum of three months.
· Current resident in the UK.
· Ability to work in Tooting SW17.
· To provide five years’ worth of addresses and be willing to undergo a DBS check.
· To attend CARAS General and Safeguarding Training sessions.
· To be 18 years or older.
Through volunteering with us you will:
· Meet new members of your local community
· Learn about different cultures
· Learn about issues relating to refugee and asylum seekers
· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team
· Develop your skills and competencies
· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding
To Apply:
To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form from the CARAS website using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.
Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with a member of the CARAS staff team. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you enjoy teamwork and helping others? Are you empathetic with good organisation, IT and communication skills? If so, we’d love to hear from you. You don’t need an Armed Forces background, just a commitment to providing great support to our beneficiaries.
What is a Branch Support Coordinator?
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas, each delivering support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Every branch has a team of volunteers who make this possible.
The Branch Support Coordinator is a key member of the team, ensuring that beneficiaries access the right support in a timely manner. This role involves liaising with regional and national teams and coordinating casework support provided to beneficiaries by Branch volunteers.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles and fundraisers.
In recognition of our clients’ service to the Nation we aim to provide financial, practical, and emotional support when it’s needed most. To do this we need excellent coordination of local services and between our teams.
What would you be doing?
- Accepting referrals for beneficiary casework support from SSAFA’s Regional Office and allocating beneficiaries’ cases to branch volunteers.
- Overseeing SSAFA casework across a branch, ensuring beneficiaries receive support that meets SSAFA’s casework standards and raising issues where it does not.
- Using SSAFA’s case management system to record, coordinate and track beneficiaries’ cases.
- Ensuring volunteer caseworkers have a manageable caseload and that effective support and supervision is in place.
- Liaising with Central Office and Specialist Services teams to ensure access to specialist support where needed e.g., Mentoring.
- Supporting the Branch Training Coordinator and Volunteering Coordinator to ensure volunteer caseworkers are up to date with training and have the information needed to carry out their role.
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Excellent experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Give back to the Armed Forces community.
- Become part of the SSAFA community and build networks across your local area.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - confidentiality and boundaries, caseworker training, caseworker IT system training, volunteer management - case management and quality. This training would take approx. 1 day
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Local induction and support, from other branch volunteers.
- Access to a wide range of e-learning courses to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
- Support from SSAFA’s regional volunteering and operations teams.
- Regular meetings and local events to learn and share information.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Good IT skills e.g., confident using email and online systems – you will use SSAFA's case management system as part of the role.
- Time management and organisation skills
- Respectful and non-judgemental approach to others
- Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries
- Some experience of coordinating people
- This role would suit someone who would like to volunteer regularly, each week.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA takes the utmost care at every step of volunteer recruitment to ensure that the people we involve are suitable and appropriate. All measures taken are to help make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including a check against the adults barred list)
*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, or other information will not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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!
Could you coordinate local SSAFA services in your area? You don’t need a military background, just basic I.T and admin skills, the ability to get on with people and good written and spoken English. If so, we’d love to hear from you.
What is a Branch Secretary?
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. These are divided into local areas that we call divisions. Each branch has a secretary to organise day-to-day activities. This is a key role involving administration and coordinating people. As the first point of contact for SSAFA in the area you will play a crucial part in promoting SSAFA locally, organising local events and ensuring the smooth running of SSAFA across the divisions in your branch.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
In recognition of our clients’ service to the Nation we aim to provide financial, practical and emotional support when it’s needed most. To do this we need local branches and volunteers who can match clients to volunteers and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
This role is about coordination and administration. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role would suit someone looking to offer a regular time commitment each week. You would also need to organise and attend a number of regular meetings each year.
What would you be doing?
- Managing the branch office (if applicable) and providing support to all volunteers, especially new ones
- Work with the branch Chairperson, treasurer, and others to ensure smooth running of the branch.
- Accepting referrals and coordinating SSAFA caseworkers, visitors, and helpers accordingly
- Oversee all SSAFA casework across the branch ensuring clients get support that is effective and timely.
- Monitor volunteer numbers against the demand for support and recruit new volunteers as needed
- Working with the local training officer to ensure all volunteers are kept up to date with the training and information they need.
- Build relationships with regional and central office staff to ensure an effective flow of information.
- Maintaining accurate records of volunteers and cases, submit accurate data to Central Office
- Providing administration for an annual programme of meetings including an AGM, recording, and implementing decisions
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What could you gain from this volunteering role?
- Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, caseworker IT system training, volunteer management – attracting, recruiting, and inducting volunteers, volunteer management – case management and quality. This training would take approx. 4 days.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Access to a range of e-learning courses as well as local opportunities to keep your training up to date.
- Support from the Chair of the branch
- Access to the Welfare Team and Volunteer Support Team based at our central office.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable people of any age (18+) with some experience of coordinating people and admin
- Good written and spoken English.
- Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues.
- Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
- Ability to coordinate a team of people volunteering.
- Willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the training course)
- Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to reporting any safety concerns etc
- Reliable attitude, contact clients and volunteers promptly, keep appointments etc.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely.
- Access to public transport or a car to travel to meetings, events etc.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? No
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
ABOUT THE ROLE
As part of our Community Support team, you will play a key role in ensuring the fulfilment of our users' needs by sharing information about our services, projects, and activities; this takes place in person, through our digital channels and helpline. Additionally, you will be responsible for keeping up to date information about other services and partner organisations. The primary challenge faced by the Latin American community is the language barrier, which hinders their comprehension of the UK system and their entitlements. Taking part in the Community Interpreting service, you will support service users in navigating these obstacles, enabling them to establish a more integrated life in the UK. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to better understand the challenges faced by the Latin American community in London; use their language skills in a positive and impactful way; and develop valuable administrative and customer service skills in a multicultural, fast-paced organisation.
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
● Connecting service users to our services, projects and activities in person or by answering phone calls and emails
● Supporting users with general enquiries, referring them to relevant services within our organisation as well as signposting and referring to external services
● Registering users on our database and keeping accurate records of services offered
● Monitoring internal calendars and appointments
● Sharing useful, up-to-date information with users as instructed by other team members
● Ensuring internal communications, flyers and handouts are up to date
● Interpreting calls for service users and supporting with non-official translations
● Supporting community members with basic application forms
● Liaising with staff in other departments and with external contacts
PERSON SPECIFICATION
● Good verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish and/or Portuguese
● Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and with a diverse population of service users, staff and partners
● A caring, sensitive and non-judgemental approach
● Ability to cope with stressful and emotionally challenging issues
● Professionalism to handle sensitive and confidential information
● Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to multitask
● Ability to set their own work priorities, take initiatives and work with minimal supervision
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Sport and Advice Hub Volunteer
Young Roots aims to improve the wellbeing and life chances of young refugees and asylum seekers. We work directly with young refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and operate through trusted community-based partners in Lebanon.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
We are looking for volunteers to join our weekly Sport and Advice Hub in Brent. The Sport and Advice Hub is a space where 11-25 year old refugees and asylum seekers come to play football, cricket and other sports and also seek support with issues in their lives. It runs in Willesden every Wednesday from 4.45pm to 8pm.
The role would be a floating role between sports, board games and English class or on reception. So it is a chance to get involved in different activities!
You will be available to start w/c 20th May 2024.
In this role you will:
1. Provide a safe and welcoming environment for young asylum seekers and refugees
2. Help at the reception table with registration and finding out what kind of support the young people need (casework, mental health, immigration, social activities).
3. Help the Youth Development Worker and Coordinator to set up and run games and other activities at the youth club such as table tennis, cooking, board games, group discussions, feedback sessions.
4. Run a table where young people can practice English informally, contribute to sports activity, or support young people applying for jobs/volunteering
5. Assist the project staff to effectively deliver, monitor and evaluate the project.
6. Respect confidentiality and contribute to debriefs after the session.
7. If interested, to help on occasional trips locally and in central London (weekdays and/ or Saturdays).
PERSON SPECIFICATION
You will need to be able to demonstrate the following:
Essential • Enthusiasm and commitment to supporting young refugees and asylum seekers and to take part in activities
• Willingness to take part in safeguarding training (online)
• Experience of working or volunteering with young people
• Understanding and commitment to youth participation principles, as outlined in the attached document • Good communication skills
• Good team working and interpersonal skills
• A flexible approach
• Some understanding of the challenges faced by refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the UK
• Be able to commit for at least 8 weeks.
• Be interested in youthwork and young people’s participation in decision making.
• Be interested in either doing sports, English or job applications with young people Desirable
• Ability to speak the following language(s): Pashto, Dari, Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Vietnamese
• Experience of working or volunteering with refugees and asylum seekers or direct experience of the asylum system in the UK.
TO APPLY If you would like to apply for this position, please email your CV and a cover letter to us.
Interviews will take place online. Young Roots is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Successful applicants will be required to undertake a criminal record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service. A criminal record will not automatically prevent you from being considered for this role. Young Roots recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equity and challenges discrimination.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. As an organisation that supports refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, we particularly welcome applications from those within these communities
If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Advice on how to contact can be found on our website.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
If you're interested in a career in fundraising with a focus on trust fundraising, this role would provide the perfect foundation, giving you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop key skills.
Citizens Advice Barnet is a local, independently registered charity and member of the Citizens Advice network. We help people find a way forward with their problems by providing expert advice, enabling people to uphold their rights and access the help they need and are entitled to. While our services are available to everyone in our community who needs us, we prioritise those who need us the most, such as people with disabilities, a language barrier or those experiencing poverty.
A significant amount of our funding comes from trusts and foundations. It is only through the grants we receive that we're able to provide free specialist casework that helps the most vulnerable people with the most complex problems.
Duties include:
- Identifying funders we could approach, such as by searching funder databases
- Researching funders to clarify whether or not we are eligible to apply, how much funding we could apply for and which project they’d be most likely to fund
- Recording the above information in a spreadsheet and keeping this record up-to-date
- Updating a master document which collates key information for applications
- Writing applications for small grants with support from the Head of Business Development
About You
No previous experience or knowledge of trust fundraising is required; this role would suit you if you have the following skills and attributes:
- strong research skills
- analytical thinking skills
- high attention to detail
- IT skills, especially MS Word and Excel at a basic level (sort, filter, basic formulas) or willingness and ability to learn
- ability to present complex information in a clear and easily navigable format
- clear and persuasive writing skills
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.