155 Community development team members volunteer volunteer roles

Europia is looking for a friendly, approachable and reliable Volunteer Community Support Worker to help us deliver community activities, drop-in sessions, workshops, festivals, public events and other activities across Greater Manchester.

The volunteer will work alongside Europia staff and volunteers to welcome and engage community members, support the delivery of activities and provide practical assistance during sessions. The role will include opportunities to support a range of health and wellbeing activities, including health awareness, cancer and screening awareness, health navigation, access to NHS and local services, women’s health, healthy living and general wellbeing.

The role may also involve helping at community festivals, cultural events, outreach activities and public engagement events, including welcoming attendees, helping with stalls and activities, distributing information, speaking with members of the public and helping Europia promote its services and projects.

The role may also involve supporting social and community activities, helping with outreach, gathering participant feedback and assisting with the practical organisation of events.

This is a non-clinical volunteer role. You will not be expected to provide medical advice, diagnose health conditions or provide specialist welfare or health advice. Training, guidance and supervision will be provided.

What the Role Will Involve

• Help set up and support community drop-ins, workshops, health sessions and other community events.

• Assist Europia staff at community festivals, cultural events, careers or information events and other public activities. 

• Welcome participants and help create a friendly, inclusive and relaxed environment.

• Speak with community members and encourage them to take part in activities and discussions.

• Support health and wellbeing activities covering topics such as cancer awareness and screening, accessing NHS services, health navigation, women’s health, healthy living and community wellbeing.

• Help community members understand general health and wellbeing information using clear and accessible language.

• Support Europia staff, visiting healthcare professionals and partner organisations during community sessions.

• Help prepare materials and resources for workshops, drop-ins and community events.

• Support simple event administration, including attendance records and preparing or organising information.

• Help gather participant feedback and evaluation information so that Europia can understand the impact of its projects.

• Where you have appropriate language skills, help community members understand information and communicate during activities.

• Communicate with community members in a patient, respectful and culturally sensitive way.

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and recognise when an issue should be referred to a member of Europia staff.

• Respect participants’ confidentiality and follow Europia’s safeguarding, data protection and professional boundaries procedures.

• Comply with Europia’s Data Protection Policy and keep personal and sensitive information private.

When

• Due to the requirements of Europia’s current projects and community activities, volunteers will need to have availability during weekdays.

• We are looking for someone who can commit to a minimum of approximately 6 hours per week.

• The exact days and times may vary depending on the projects and activities taking place and will be agreed with the volunteer in advance.

• We are particularly interested in someone who would like to volunteer regularly and become involved across a range of Europia projects and community activities.

Where

Activities will take place at different community venues across Greater Manchester, including venues used by Europia for community drop-ins, workshops, health and wellbeing activities and events.

The volunteer should therefore be confident travelling independently to different locations across Greater Manchester.

The location of each activity will be confirmed in advance.

Some preparation, administration or training activities may also be completed remotely or from Europia’s office where appropriate.

Skills and Experience

We are looking for someone who:

• Is friendly, patient, respectful and approachable.

• Enjoys speaking with and helping people.

• Has good listening and communication skills.

• Is comfortable working with people from different backgrounds and communities.

• Has an interest in health and wellbeing, community work, public health, health inequalities or helping people access services.

• Is confident supporting community activities and engaging with groups of people.

• Understands the importance of confidentiality and professional boundaries.

• Is comfortable working as part of a team and following guidance from Europia staff.

• Is willing to participate in relevant induction and training.

Speaking Romanian, Polish, Ukrainian, Romani, Bulgarian or another Central or Eastern European language would be particularly helpful because of the communities Europia works with, but additional language skills are not essential.

Previous volunteering, community work, health and wellbeing, social care, public health, advice, outreach or event experience would be helpful, but it is not essential. Guidance and support will be provided.

Students and people looking to gain practical experience in health, social care, public health, community development or the voluntary sector are welcome to apply.

Training and Support

Volunteers will receive:

• An induction before starting.

• Safeguarding training.

• Training on professional boundaries.

• Clear guidance about their role and responsibilities.

• Guidance on local health and community services.

• Guidance on signposting and when to refer issues to Europia staff.

• Structured supervision and support from Europia staff.

• A Disclosure and Barring Service check.

This keeps the training section closely aligned with the structure of your existing advert.

Benefits

• Develop communication, listening and community engagement skills.

• Learn more about health inequalities and some of the barriers experienced by Central and Eastern European and Roma communities.

• Develop experience in health promotion, signposting and helping people navigate services.

• Gain practical experience supporting workshops, drop-ins, outreach activities and community events.

• Work alongside Europia staff, volunteers, community organisations, healthcare professionals and partner organisations.

• Build confidence working with people from a range of backgrounds.

• Develop organisational, teamwork and event-support skills.

• Gain experience collecting feedback and contributing to project monitoring and evaluation.

• Use your language skills to support communities, where relevant.

• Access relevant training and opportunities for personal and professional development.

• Build useful experience for future employment, education or volunteering in health, social care, public health, community work or the charity sector.

• Gain practical experience that can be discussed in future applications and interviews.

• Receive regular support and supervision.

• Receive agreed volunteer expenses.

• Make a practical contribution to improving the health, wellbeing and inclusion of local communities.