Community Wellbeing Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer Roles

Wellbeing Volunteer

Herriot Hospice@The Lambert & Local Community, North Yorkshire

Wellbeing volunteers are vital within the Wellbeing Network, in supporting people living with terminal illness, their families, and carers.

As we will soon be opening the doors of our new Herriot Hospice@the Lambert in Thirsk, we are looking to expand the number of Wellbeing volunteers to reach more people. The roles are varied and bespoke, to support the needs of individuals providing reliable social and emotional support to people wherever they need it. 

Volunteer roles are designed to support both the patient or client, and their carer to live as well as they can with a terminal diagnosis.

To apply, please click on 'How to apply' .

Role Description   

Through volunteering your time at Saint Michael’s and Herriot Hospice Homecare you are supporting those in our community at a time when they need it most.  Volunteers are integral to our work; and we would love to welcome you to our team.

Wellbeing volunteer roles are delivered as below, however if you have a particular skill that you feel would support us, please get in touch.

• The Community Hub at The Lambert – our newest addition to our volunteer roles, providing support to patients, their families and anyone else that comes in, signposting to our services and offering a listening ear. This role will also work closely with the Food and Nutrition team in the hub.
• Sitting - simply staying with the patient, providing respite and empowering their carer to get out for a walk, appointments, or meeting friends.
• Befriending - simply being there, listening, supporting with isolation, accompanying the individual with their support networks in the community, going for a walk.
• Driving – to offer a short drive to medical appointments and to social groups , to pick up prescriptions for the inpatient unit .
• Groups – The Wellbeing Network has a range of social groups to offer the opportunity for people to come together to provide each other with social and emotional support.  Volunteers are to welcome individuals, offer refreshments and a listening ear and support the wider team with collecting feedback about the support received.
• IPU – Volunteers to visit patients on the inpatient unit and offer some companionship, reading to patients, sitting with them to provide reassurance, or helping with activities.
• Armed Forces - The service also provides befriending support to veterans who have served in the Armed Forces.

Volunteering should be a mutually beneficial role, and we believe that consistency is important, so we hope volunteers will be able to support for 2-4 hours per week in whichever role you want to support in – we welcome applicants who want to combine different roles!

1. Key Tasks

• Offering companionship and social support either in person or on the telephone.
• Accompanying the person on a walk or other social activity, for example visit a café.
• Support the person with an activity like shopping, carry out some gardening or a light household task.
• Driving someone to an appointment, for example a medical appointment.
• Sitting with a person with a terminal diagnosis to allow their family member or carer to leave the house for a short period or time, for example to allow them to go shopping, attend a medical appointment, have a break or another essential appointment.
• We will ask for feedback about the service and this will be in the form of questionnaires for the client, carer and volunteer this will enable us to plan any further developments to the service.

NB:  volunteers may use their own vehicles where appropriate – after notifying their insurance provider and providing a copy of their driving licence

Tasks are not to include (more detail will be given during the training programme):

• Assisting the person whilst they are using the toilet, dressing, showering (this is considered personal care)
• Giving the person their medication or assisting with their oxygen
• Nursing tasks

It is essential that volunteers adhere to the role description, undertake appropriate tasks only and are clear about the boundaries of this role. If volunteers are unsure about any task they have been asked to carry out, they should contact their line manager for advice. This is to ensure the safety and well-being of both clients and volunteers.

Overarching responsibilities

• To embed the values of the organisation into your working practices, evidencing this regularly and ensuring this remains a priority.
• To live out our values, which drive all that we do, in the context of your everyday work following our behaviour framework.
• To work in accordance and fully comply with our organisational policies and procedures.
• To carry out all duties in accordance with the law, regulations, organisational frameworks, recognised professional guidelines and the have a commitment to FREDIE, integration and collective decision making.

Throughout your time with us we will conduct ongoing employment checks and performance reviews relevant to your role, for example professional registration checks, DBS, appraisals and regular contact meetings.

1. Person Specification

Is this the right role for you?

You will be:

• Sensitive and empathetic
• Friendly and approachable
• Confident in your ability to undertake a role that may be emotionally challenging at times.
• Happy working as part of a team, but also happy to work independently
• Confident in following the boundaries of the role
• Strict adherence to confidentiality.
• Confident in escalating any concerns.

We will:

• Provide a key contact who will be contactable at any time during the working hours of (Mon-Fri 9:00-16.00). The key contact will offer responsive supervision if an issue arises during a visit or telephone call.
• Facilitate a monthly group supervision session with a member of the team; this provides an opportunity to for more structured supervision and to reflect with other volunteer visitors, and share your experiences.
• Provide regular one to one review/supervision– giving you the opportunity to reflect on the volunteering experience and receive feedback.
• Ensure you have all the training you need to feel confident in your role. 
• Ensure any patient or client you interact with has an up to date risk assessment
• Communicate regularly and effectively with you to ensure you are empowered in your role.
• Provide an up to date suite of policies to support you in delivering your role.

Getting started and training:

• Interested candidates will be invited to a short interview, which is an opportunity for you and us to get to know each other and understand more about the role, and what an impact volunteering can have.
• We offer a thorough and comprehensive training programme, with elements of face-to face and online training, providing you with the skills and knowledge needed to undertake these roles, with yearly updates.
• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken before commencing volunteering.
• Attendance at group supervision on a monthly basis.

Age UK Notts are seeking individuals who would like to be considered as a volunteer for the NEW Companion Service which launches on 1st April 2024.

Volunteers will be supporting people remotely, in their own homes and in the community within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and ideally, we ask all applicants to provide a minimum of 1 hour volunteering a week.

The companion service volunteer can choose to be:

• A companion telephone/video caller                                                               

• A companion within the person’s home

• A companion outside the person’s home

• Or a combination of all three.

Examples of the type of support the service offers include:

• Telephone / video calls for an older person/s on a regular basis at a mutually agreed time for a friendly chat. 

• Supporting an older person/s hobbies and interests or simply chatting with them in their own home on a regular basis.

• Supporting with digital access & building confidence skills & motivation to access the opportunities of the internet.

• Supporting the person outside of their home e.g., by accompanying them on a walk, to the shops, to a café, garden centre, theatre or cinema or other social activities / community groups. 

• Where appropriate, supporting the older person to access other services through information and signposting or referring to the Companion Service Coordinator for support.

We are looking for the following skills/interests:

• Individuals with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of older people who are committed to volunteering on a regular basis.

• Commitment to complete our Volunteer Report Form accurately and regularly. 

• Ability to travel for visits in the local community either by car or public transport for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.

• Digital literacy for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.

Please do note, however, that at the moment we are not looking for Volunteer Telephone Companions.

We are looking for volunteers with good daytime availability in specific areas of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

***Please note that we don’t offer sponsorship or accept overseas applicants***

Please contact the volunteering team for further information

About CARAS:

CARAS is a leading refugee charity in Southwest London, providing firm foundations for new-arrival asylum seekers to build happy and successful lives. 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 provide person-centred educational, social and casework support to over 600 young people and adults across South London each year, recognising the moment of arrival as one of opportunity. Our work provides individuals with essential support to build language and employability skills, develop social networks and friendships, and access essential services such as legal and mental health services. Our work has multi-generational impact, providing forced migrants with early interventions to support language and skill acquisition, tackling the root causes of socio-economic marginalisation by supporting social inclusion and future labour market access.

Volunteering with CARAS – our Community of Welcome:

CARAS has a proud history of volunteers helping us deliver our charitable aims. Volunteers are an essential part of the CARAS community, bringing skills, insights, experience, different languages, and enthusiasm to the roles. Community members tell us the welcome by volunteers is so important in an often hostile world. It helps them feel safe and wanted. Community is at the heart of all we do, and we could not deliver the projects we do without the enormous contribution that volunteers bring.

About CARAS Adult Programme:

Alongside educational and casework support, CARAS has a thriving social program of weekly activities, from women’s yoga, to creative coffee afternoons, sports sessions and workshops, designed and built in collaboration with our community, volunteers and local partners. Most people we work with in the adult team are waiting for a decision on their asylum claim, are accommodated in cramped and inadequate hotels contracted by the Home Office for up to – and sometimes more than – 2 years whilst they wait for a decision on their asylum claim. During this time, they are eligible for only £8.86 per week and are prohibited from working. This is an incredibly stressful and disempowering period for those seeking asylum. Against this backdrop, our social activities exist as spaces of welcome, for people to come and make meaningful connections, build confidence and importantly – have fun!

About the Trips and Holiday Activities Project:

Alongside our weekly timetable of term time activities, we run trips across London during the school holidays. These are always chosen and planned together with our community members, and so far have included trips to famous parks, museums, galleries, and the theatre. We know from our community members how important these trips are; they are a chance to explore parts of the city that would otherwise be inaccessible, and to feel more at home in the city. As one community member told us, ‘to discover new places…this makes us feel included’. They are an opportunity to learn something new with others, to meet new people, relax and have fun.

About the Role:

To support us with these trips and holiday activities, we are looking for friendly, welcoming, enthusiastic and proactive volunteers. You will support us practically to ensure the trips run smoothly and on time, but also will be an essential part of our community of welcome – to chat and get to know our community members, and make sure everyone feels included and is having a good time.

We intend to hold 2 trips in the Easter holidays, and up to 5 trips in the summer holidays. These will all be in locations across London, most likely during daytime hours. We will also run a combination of adult-only and child-friendly trips across the year – this is what our community have told us they want! We usually have a group of 10-20 community members and will always have at least one CARAS staff member present too.

Ideally, we are looking for volunteers who are flexible during school holidays and can attend at least 3 trips throughout the year, though we may consider those who might only be able to volunteer on a one-off basis.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

To attend CARAS trips as and when you are available to do so.

To support with the logistics of travelling to and from the trip location.

To keep an eye on the general health and wellbeing of our Community Members and report any concerns to the CARAS staff member present.

To encourage positive connections between people and the places we are visiting, opening up conversations to learn about each other.

On family-friendly trips, to assist where needed with the supervision of children present (alongside parents)

Requirements – Essential:

To be 18 years or older;

To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds;

To be reliable and punctual;

To be welcoming, friendly part of the group, and to make sure our community members have the best and most fruitful time possible at the locations we visit.

Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English;

Current resident of the UK;

Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check;

Able to complete compulsory volunteer induction training (online) general and safeguarding via 2 self-paced induction training webinars prior to the start of role;

Requirements – Desirable:

Knowledge of community languages, such as Farsi, Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Somali and Spanish.

Through volunteering with us you will gain:

An opportunity to connect with and learn from a vibrant and diverse community of people who are new to the city;

A chance to share your knowledge of the city and places of interest with our community;

A deeper understanding of the experiences, challenges, and strengths of those seeking asylum here;

A deeper understanding of language-inclusive practices in multi-lingual groups;

Develop your skills and competencies;

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 

Project Overview:

The Z House is an overnight accommodation for young people (18-25) at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The project aims to provide stable overnight accommodation for young people as they work towards a move-on goal. The project will work with the young people staying there to help them build skills necessary for maintaining independence beyond the project.

Specifics of the role

Hours: 20.00 - 08.00

Responsible to: Z House Project Coordinators

Location: 3 Pritchard St, St Paul's, Bristol BS2 8RH

Conditions: Happy interacting with guests Please note: This is a voluntary role

Role description:

This role is key in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment overnight at the Z House. Overnight duties involve interacting with the young people in the communal space if they want to, doing any necessary house duties, and responding to any emergencies should they occur (guidance will be given and you will never be left alone to deal with incidents!). It also includes providing a hand-over to the staff at the end of the shift. You will form part of a pair of volunteers, and there will always be a Caring it Bristol staff member on-call. A typical shift runs: · Arrive at the house at 20.00

· Letting in any guests who arrive late (before the 22.00 curfew)

· Checking in with the guests

· Conducting any house duties

· The shift is a sleep-in shift - You are allowed to sleep in the volunteer area during this shift, though remaining available to respond to incidents and emergencies should they occur

· Record any incidents or safeguarding concerns and include this in your handover – you will be trained in the procedure of what to do if this occurs

· Create a comprehensive handover for next the set of volunteers on shift and for the Z House project coordinators.

Person Specification:

· Be a good communicator.

· Be friendly and have an open demeanour

· Be Reliable and good at timekeeping

· Be expected to undertake one volunteer shift every month

· Have a willingness to learn about safeguarding, record keeping etc.

· Have a willingness to uphold CiB values and work towards its overall mission · Be committed to ongoing/in house training which will be organised by CiB

Best Foot Forward provides a series of free, accessible, guided health walks around open spaces in Nottingham. Walks are designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle through exercise and social interaction. The walks offer the opportunity to improve health, make new friends, have fun and get to know your local environment. This volunteer role offers you the chance to make a difference to an older person's life, and ensure your volunteering experience is a fulfilling and positive one.

Tasks you may be involved with include the following:

• Giving a brief talk before the walk to make sure everyone is prepared, and welcoming new walkers
• Leading and managing walks, usually jointly with other walk leaders (including ‘back marking or middle marking’ as well as leading at the front.
• Making sure walks are welcoming, friendly, enjoyable and safe
• Trouble shooting and dealing with problems on walks, with the support of your scheme coordinator
• Providing information about other Age UK Notts services and other walks offered by the scheme, and basic information about how to keep active
• Making sure paperwork such as registration forms and registers are completed

Skills and interests required are:

• Friendly, welcoming and empowering with good communication skills
• Knowlegdeable about the basics of the benefits of walking and physical activity
• Reliable, punctual and well-organised
• Ability to volunteer independently but with guidance and support
• Confident at speaking in front of small groups and able to take control and be assertive when needed
• Able to provide basic paperwork punctually and accuate

We are looking for volunteers who have availability to support our walks across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire which are held every day except for a Thursday 

We are looking for volunteers who can support a minimum of one walk per week, every week (time and days tbc)

***Please note that we don’t offer sponsorship or accept overseas applicants***

About Sense Touchbase Pears 

Sense TouchBase Pears is a welcoming, accessible environment where everyone can feel connected, included and part of the community. We combine health and social care services with arts, sports and wellbeing activities. And support disabled people to access employment, education, volunteering, and training opportunities.

 As an activity volunteer, you will be helping to set up, supervise and interact in some fun activities at the centre from ‘Messy Play’ and ‘Stay and Play’ to craft sessions and supporting with events. This exciting and fast-paced role is a rewarding way to give back to your local community, by helping us to provide affordable and inclusive activities in the area. Please note that at this time we are looking for volunteers aged 18+ due to the busy nature of the role.

Key Duties

As an activity volunteer, you will be an ambassador for TouchBase Pears, and for Sense, as well as being a vital part of the Facilities Team. You will help provide a warm welcome to everyone who comes into the building and help us with our fun and engaging activities.  

• Supporting the TouchBase Pears team, working work together to deliver an outstanding experience for every person’s visit. 
• Setting up and clearing away activities, including ‘messy play’ and ‘stay and play’
• Supporting with the supervision of activities 
• Encouraging participation by interacting with the public
• Helping keep our visitors safe when taking part in the activities 
• Adhering to our Health & Safety procedures
• You will be always supported on site during volunteering and a facilities coordinator will be available if you need any support or have any questions. For the weekly role which will be for our Stay and Play, you will eventually be leading the activity without supervision within the room, but a facilities coordinator will always be on site if you need them.

A standard / enhanced Disclosure & Barring check will be required for this volunteer role, which we will support you with.

Skills & Qualities

Will the role suit me? Yes, if you are:

• Enthusiastic about Sense and passionate about the work we do
• A cheerful and  positive attitude
• Flexible and willing to get involved with a wide variety of tasks 
• Reliable & trustworthy
• Able to work well as part of a team. 
• Good with people and enjoy interacting with the public.
• Able to communicate well with a wide range of people with different skills, abilities, and backgrounds. 
• Are interested in developing your skills to to best support people who are deafblind, have sensory impairments or complex needs effectively.  This could include people who use TouchBase Pears regularly, visitors or co-volunteers.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Respectful of others and their diversity.
• Interested in supporting your local community.

What Sense offers

• A full induction with ongoing support and guidance from the Sense TouchBase Pears Team. 
• The ’feel-good’ factor – knowing that you are making a difference to supporting your local community. 
• We’ll provide you with training on Hearing Impairment Awareness and Visual Impairment Awareness training. We also have additional optional training to further develop your skills relating to supporting people with disabilities. 
• An opportunity to develop new skills and experiences along with adding to your career and/or personal development. 
• The chance to meet new people from a wide range of backgrounds and join a passionate team passionate about making a difference in the lives of the people we support. 

Our values

Everything we do is underpinned by five core values. These values shape the way we work as we pursue our vision of a world where no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, is isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential.

• We include
• We collaborate
• We find a way
• We challenge
• We celebrate

Our Enfield team is looking for reliable and enthusiastic volunteers to help support children in our refuges.

About the role

Solace’s refuges provide safe accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Volunteer CYP Playworkers will lead and assist a variety of activities such as arts and crafts, games, etc. to engage and support the children’s emotional wellbeing and enhance their confidence and resilience. Activity sessions will be carried out in the refuges, supported by the Sessional Play worker.

Who are we looking for?

The ideal volunteer will:

• Have direct experience of working with children and young people is desirable.
• Be reliable and committed to promoting the enjoyment and wellbeing of children and young people.
• Be understanding of domestic violence issues and a discretion in handling confidential and/or sensitive information.
• Be approachable and empathetic
• Be non-judgemental.
• Have the ability to maintain confidentiality.

What can you gain from this opportunity?

As part of this role you will have the opportunity to:

• Gain experience and understanding of working with children using a trauma-informed approach.
• Contribute and support a busy and diverse team.
• Gain hands on experience in a dynamic charity working in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Sector.
• Work as part of a feminist organisation.

We offer great volunteer induction training, where you will be fully supported to understand, and carry put every aspect of the role. Training includes CPD accredited courses, and the opportunity to apply to complete the level 3 Understanding Domestic Abuse Award (DAPA), which is recognized by the Home Office.

Solace Women’s Aid values diversity promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applicants from black minority and ethnic communities.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment, we require all successful candidates will be required to complete a satisfactory DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) disclosure.

Service: Perinatal Support for Partners Service

This is a service that offers fathers and non-birthing parents, who’s partner is being supported by the West London perinatal mental health service, an evidence-based 1:1 assessment to support their mental health and wellbeing. The service signpost partners to relevant services (including a PSFP peer support group).

Role Description:

To support our PSFP Service with a variety of tasks such as conducting a 1:1 assessment, (which includes onboarding to the service), co-facilitating monthly peer support groups, signposting and helping partners to access other organisations, taking care of our inbox emails and other administrative duties.

You can download a PDF of the full role description below. 

Main responsibilities: 

To work closely with our PSFP caseworker supporting referral enquires & service-users in accessing this service. Co-facilitating a monthly peer support group.

Tasks:

• To answer emails and enquiries for the service within our service level agreements
• Triage clients for the service through an onboarding process.
• Co-facilitate a monthly peer support group
• Provide support to our PSFP caseworkers, as and when needed

The type of person we are looking for is:

We welcome applications from those completing studies in Psychology, Counselling/Psychotherapy, or any Allied Health Profession with a focus on supporting those with mental health needs.  However, your attitude, motivation, and commitment are just as important as your training/qualifications, or any previous experience. We will review all applications individually and assess them on their unique merits, so do not be discouraged from applying if you do not meet all the criteria listed below. We encourage applications from those with lived experience of mental health problems, as well as those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Essential:

• An interest in supporting those with mental health needs to access PSFP
• An appreciation of the complex factors that can precipitate, maintain, and exacerbate mental health problems
• Good oral and written communication skills (including listening skills); the ability to communicate in a patient, considered, and empathetic manner
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to follow administrative procedures
• A team player who is willing to chip in and work reflexively, responding to the challenges that arise from working in a dynamic environment
• IT skills – able to update spreadsheets, use web-based applications, video-conferencing software, and Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable:

• Customer Service experience, including with friends and family
• Experience of supporting people with mental health needs, in a voluntary, paid, or personal capacity, (i.e., friends and family)
• Previous involvement with local community groups/networks
• Awareness of the cultural barriers that may exist to seeking mental health support

Time commitment and expenses:

• 6 hours per week, during our core hours of 10am - 4pm.
  • Please indicate your preferred volunteering day(s)/time(s) on your application
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months of volunteering after the completion of your induction
• We will provide volunteers with an induction, training, and ongoing mentoring to support them in the role 
• Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed

Why Volunteer at Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing, and Hounslow (HFEH) Mind?

Volunteering at HFEH Mind is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the work of a leading national mental health charity. We provide initial and ongoing training, as well as plenty of opportunities for progression within the organisation. You will be treated as a core member of the team from day one and be surrounded by supportive and knowledgeable colleagues fighting for mental health.

What’s in it for the volunteer?

Volunteering opportunities have been a route into paid employment within our organisation for many of our previous volunteers. However, the skills and experiences you will gain are likely to support applications for paid employment within the sector more broadly, as well as further training and education opportunities (e.g., Business courses, social work, mental health qualifications).

We are keen to foster the individual strengths and interests of volunteers. With the support of the PSFP Team, we will work with you to ensure that your volunteering experience is meaningful and valuable, whilst balancing the requirements of delivering the service.  

To support around 100 Afghan and Muslim girls, aged 8-16, from refugee communities to develop their participation in football. The project will enable them to develop football skills and knowledge, participate in games, and socialise in a female-only culturally appropriate ambience but within the wider open-access setting of public sports facilities and local parks. The project will give the girls confidence to participate, reassure their parents that their cultural practices are being respected, and increase the visibility of girls’ participation in sport among the wider community.

This project will enable these girls, who are often excluded from mainstream sport, to play football for their physical and psychological health. It challenges public stereotypes and under-representation of Afghan and Muslim girls in community sport. ACAA will create opportunities for them to play football in public spaces in West London. This volunteer will work alongside the Football Project Coordinator and Head Coach to run sessions.

Responsibilities

Assist with Training Sessions: Work alongside coaches to organize and run training sessions for young children, focusing on fundamental skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and basic game tactics.

Provide Support during Matches: Attend matches and provide support to both players and coaches, offering encouragement, guidance, and assistance as needed.

Promote Sportsmanship: Emphasize the importance of teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship among players, helping to create a positive and inclusive atmosphere within the club.

Ensure Safety: Prioritize the safety and well-being of children at all times, following club protocols and guidelines to minimize risks of injury during training sessions and matches.

Assist with Equipment Setup: Help set up and organize equipment, including cones, balls, and goalposts, before training sessions and matches, ensuring a smooth and efficient operation.

Encourage Participation: Encourage active participation and engagement from all players, fostering a love for the game and helping each child reach their full potential.

Communicate with Parents: Maintain open and transparent communication with parents, providing updates on their child's progress, upcoming events, and any relevant club information.

Job title: Grief in Pieces – (Lived Experience) Volunteer  

Responsible to: Grief in Pieces Volunteer and Peer Coordinator 

Hours: Available Monday – Friday  

Location: Remote  

We are seeking a Lived Experience Volunteer to become part of our Grief in Pieces service. By joining Grief in Pieces, you’ll be helping to support others bereaved by suicide. You will play a role in creating positive change by sharing your experience and will make new connections with people with shared experiences.   

About Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest:  

We are a multi-disciplinary provider of specialist mental health services and a part of the Mind Federation.   

We promote both recovery from ill health for people with recurrent and enduring mental health difficulties and early intervention for those at risk of developing mental health issues, or who struggle with common mental health conditions.   

We currently support around 5,000 people a year through a variety of services focusing on psychological, social, economic and workplace wellbeing, and support minoritised communities.   

 Our values are:  

Connected: Creating a compassionate and supportive community.     

Fair:  We strive for equity- no-one's needs should go unmet.  

Brave: We walk with people, offering help by doing what works - proven or new  

Working with Mind CHWF means you’ll be part of a dedicated, passionate, and professional workforce who cares about the work they do and make a real difference to the lives of the people in the City of London, Hackney, and Waltham Forest.  

We are committed to actively becoming anti-racist in everything we do. This is a critical priority for Mind CHWF. We embrace diversity and understand that being an inclusive organisation that recognises different perspectives, will enable us to provide excellent services.   

We are committed to ensuring all our employees are treated fairly and equitably at work and promoting equity in physical and mental health for all.   

Those with lived experience of Mental Health are encouraged to apply.  

Value-based Recruitment:   

We know that for various reasons, not everybody who can successfully perform in a role, performs their best under traditional interview/selection procedures. We are therefore seeking ways to breakdown further barriers in our recruitment & selection process.   

Shorted-listed candidates will be provided with some questions to help them prepare for the interview.   

How to apply:   

For more information on the vacancy and how to apply, click the ‘Apply’ button - Please note that we are unable to consider incomplete applications.   

The closing date is by 3rd May 2024, however, please do not delay applying as this advert may close before the stated deadline if we find a suitable applicant for the role.  

We are a disability confident employer. All applicants with a disability, who meet the minimum essential short-listing criteria are guaranteed an interview. If this applies to you, please let us know in your application.  

Your privacy and the security of your data is our top priority. Please take a moment to read through our applicant’s privacy notice.  

• Mentors for Refugees will empower women to overcome challenging circumstances and help them find ways to connect and integrate with their local community.
• Mentors will support women to make social connections with the local community and groups, refer and signpost them to other organisations providing more specialist support if needed.
• Mentors will provide a safe space to discuss the challenges women face. Through encouragement and active listening, mentors will support their mentees’ mental wellbeing.

What impact will this have?

• Mentors will help women break cycles of social isolation, improve family cohesion and wellbeing.
• By being part of the Unfold mentor family you will be helping us to have greater reach in making a positive impact on the lives of many vulnerable women, living in Westminster.
• By becoming a mentor with Unfold you will be supporting one of the most vulnerable groups in our communities. We aim to break the barriers that keep refugee women excluded from mainstream services.

Training

Through our comprehensive training and ongoing support, you will develop skills in positive psychology and coaching style techniques, cover topics including safeguarding, confidentiality, the person-centred approach and the growth mindset, all of which will help you to effectively support someone to making steps towards positive change.

Commitment

• We ask volunteers to commit to delivering mentoring for  1–2-hours a week, over a period of 24 in person sessions. Although occasionally session are held online, through mentee and mentor testimonies we have seen the positive impact holding sessions in person vs online has, and so we would ask any perspective volunteers to be prepared to be available for all in person session should this be the required need of your mentee. 
• Attending monthly group online meetings, which is a great opportunity for all the mentors to come together discuss challenges, successes and further develop mentoring skills. 

What else do I need to know?

• A DBS check is required
•  Due to the nature of our users of this programme, we are only accepting female volunteers for this role.
• In person session will take place near to where your mentee lives, within Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea boroughs.
• We especially welcome mentors over the age of 50, for our Women2Women: Sharing Wisdom, Sharing Lives sub programme. This is a great opportunity if you are looking to bridge a gap in your CV and get back into work. We provide references and development opportunities through training.

Role Description:

Nova Roots is a new out of hours community space for women 18+ leaving forensic mental health services, open 3 days a week; every Weds, Sat & Sun. We offer a safe, warm, non-judgemental social environment for women to build meaningful connections and have access to free activities and resources.

As a peer volunteer, your role will be to support individuals using a peer approach by co-facilitating peer-led workshops, offering emotional and social support. By doing this, it provides an opportunity for service users to develop and manage meaningful and purposeful choices in an independent and empowered way.

Please be aware that if you are invited to interview you will be asked to complete a self-declaration form covering your criminal record or any information that would make you unsuitable to work with the vulnerable parties associated with this role, i.e. vulnerable adults and/or children and young people.

It is not necessary to disclose anything at this time. Please do not include any such information when applying at this stage.

The amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected' and are not subject to disclosure to employers, and cannot be taken into account.

Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

We are looking for someone who

• Has lived experience of being in prison / mental health wards / rehab and recovery communities
• Are a non-judgemental and friendly individual
• To be able to provide a welcoming, authentic, and positive experience for all, being inclusive and embracing diversity
• To feel comfortable engaging with women with mental health challenges / difficult life experiences, by validating strengths and experiences and using empowering language to overcome negative self-talk
• Are empathic and understands the stigma / social bias's surrounding forensic leavers and their experiences
• Are willing to tap into their lived experiences and use their stories to inspire hope in others when appropriate
• Are comfortable with co-producing and co-facilitating peer led workshops
• To assist the Forensic Project Coordinator in the daily running of the Forensic Women’s hub
• Are able to take on any ad hoc admin/support responsibilities within the Forensic Women’s Hub

Time commitment and expenses:

• Flexible hours (shifts to be confirmed). Evening and Weekend availability is required. We are looking for someone to commit to a minimum of at least 1 day a week: Wed, Sat or Sun.
• We will provide volunteers with an induction, training, and ongoing mentoring to support them in the role
• Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

What's in it for the volunteer?

Volunteering at Mind is a fantastic opportunity to get involved with a nationally recognised charity, and volunteering in Safe Space is an opportunity to experience and get involved in crisis support. We provide initial and ongoing training, as well as plenty of opportunities for progression within the organisation. You will also be a part of a supportive team with great awareness of wellbeing and the mental health sector.

Help bridge the employment gap by offering crucial CV support and facilitating job interview preparation. As an Employment Support Programme Manager at Barawak, you'll empower our community with the tools needed for sustainable employment success.

Introduction to the Employment Support Programme at Barawak

The Employment Support Programme at Barawak is an instrumental part of our strategic initiative to enhance the economic well-being of the Afro-Hebrew community through increased employability. Our focused strategy is to improve job readiness and access to employment opportunities by providing practical support such as CV clinics, interview coaching, and subsidies for travel to interviews and courses. This programme is designed to create real change, with the aim to see a measurable increase in employment rates within our community. By creating and leveraging partnerships with local businesses and organisations, we not only open doors for immediate job placements but also lay the groundwork for sustained economic growth. Through this service line, we strive to fulfill our mission of economic empowerment, making tangible progress towards our vision of a prosperous and self-sustaining community.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Plan and execute the Employment Support strategy and service line:

• CV Assistance and subsidising travel: Organize and oversee quarterly CV clinics and provide discretionary support for travel costs associated with interviews and courses, enhancing job readiness among community members.

• Discretionary interview support: provide access to high quality discretionary interview practice and advice.

• Job opportunity signposting: Develop and maintain partnerships with businesses and organizations to highlight job opportunities for the community. Act as a liaison for discretionary referrals to these job opportunities, ensuring a fit between community members’ skills and available positions.

2. Measure performance: Keep accurate count of the number of individuals assisted with CVs, job applications and interview preparation; the number vacancies shared with the community and any successful placement rates of those assisted. Provide this data to the Governance Team and Trustees on request.

3. Collaboration with Verticals Teams: 

• Partnership Development & Collaboration Team: Coordinate with this team to identify and establishalliances and partnerships with local, regional and global organisations, businesses, councils, and thegovernment to acquire Employment Supportresources, speakers or information.

• Fundraising & Financial Management Team: Collaborate with this team to conduct fundraising activities and financial planning for the Employment Support service line. Identify diverse revenue streams, such as grants, donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events for the Employment Supportservice.

• Volunteer Engagement Team: Work with this team to recruit, train and manage volunteers to support the Employment Support service delivery.

• Marketing Outreach & Advocacy: work with this team to enhance visibility of the Employment Supportservice across social media, press, and community events. 

4. Governance Team Interaction: Provide regular updates and reports to the Governance, Secretariat & Performance Reporting team. Ensure programmealignment with Barawak policies, procedures, strategyand objectives. Collaborate on monitoring and evaluation efforts to assess Employment Support service impact and effectiveness.

Person Specification:

• Skills: Strong organisational and leadership skills, excellent communication abilities, and adept at working in a collaborative environment. Eagar to learn new skills.

• Attributes: Deep understanding of the challenges faced by the Afro-Hebrew community in the UK. Commitment to Barawak's values of helping out, sticking together, and staying strong. Ability to work flexibly and respond to evolving community needs.

• Commitment: Passionate about making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and families dealing with poverty. Innovative thinker with a focus on creating sustainable, long-term solutions.

Important: This advert is for a voluntary role, which is unpaid and not subject to reimbursement of expenses. Any agreement with the successful candidate is not intended to be a legally binding contract between us and may be cancelled at any time at the discretion of either party. By applying for the role, candidates agree that neither of us intend any employment relationship to be created either now or at any time in the future.

To apply, submit a CV by 1 May 2024, clearly stating the role you are applying for.