Customer service volunteer receptionist volunteer roles

We’re looking for friendly and compassionate volunteers to join our hospice reception team. As the first point of contact, you’ll provide a warm welcome to patients, families, and visitors, offer directions, notify staff of arrivals, and assist with answering and directing phone calls. This is a meaningful opportunity to support people at a vulnerable time and play a key role in creating a calm, caring environment from the moment they walk through our doors.

Please note this role is in the evening or at the weekend. If you would like to have a chat about the role, please call Mandy Tarratt at St Barnabas Hospice reception.

Our small friendly Charity Shop in South Westminster

As well as being an important source of revenue for the Centre, the shop on Horseferry Road is the public face of the Cardinal Hume Centre to the residents and workers of Westminster. It can be a very busy environment with lots of regular customers. You will be part of a friendly, international team!  You will receive excellent support and opportunities to learn team skills and customer service.  You can obtain a reference for future employers.

How does this role make a difference?

You will be part of the fundraising team, raising funds to support the work of the Cardinal Hume Centre and promoting the work of the Centre to the public. Typically, the Charity Shop raises in the region of £50,000 per year.

What will you be doing?

Flexibility will be given where possible, but in general, volunteers will undertake the following tasks as part of this role:

· Customer service on the till

· Cashing up at the end of the day and walking the takings round to the reception and handing in to Finance Team

· Greeting and helping customers

· Replenishing the stock on the shop floor

· Sorting donations

· Helping present top items in window display and around the shop

· Promoting the work of the Centre to the public

Want to increase your skills in retail?

If you want to develop in this role, we are keen to support you.  There are more responsibilities you can take on in the shop, for example; opening and closing the shop, cashing up at the end of the day and helping with the induction of new volunteers.  Let us know if this interests you.  We also have employment advisors who can provide employment support.  Furthermore, if you want to expand your experience in the voluntary sector, you can combine your role in the shop with a volunteer role elsewhere in the organisation.

What are we looking for?

No special qualifications are needed to work in our shop, as relevant training will be given, however, we will be asking for the following qualities:

· Over 16+

· Good spoken English needed – at least Entry Level 3

· The ability to contribute to a positive team culture and atmosphere

· Be able to provide a friendly, high-quality service to customers

· A commitment to equal opportunities and to treating all individuals who visit or work in the shop with dignity and respect

· Physically fit - able to lift light bags and boxes and to comfortably use the stairs between the shop floor and the stock room.  Manual handling training will be given.

What is the time commitment?

The shop opening hours are 10am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday.  A full or half day (10 – 1pm or 1 – 4.30pm) is ideal, but we are flexible and are grateful for even a couple of hours help each week. Ideally, volunteers will commit to a period of at least 4 months.

How will you be supported?

· You will be supported and trained in all areas of retail and customer service by the Charity Shop Manager and the Assistant Shop Manager.

· You will receive a Centre induction from a Volunteer Coordinator

· You will be reimbursed for reasonable and agreed ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses such as travel and also lunch if working a full day.

· For volunteers who stay for more than three months, we are happy to provide a reference.

Information and Advice Service: The Information and Advice service for older people provides a free, confidential, and independent service for anyone aged 65+ living in Bromley and 50 + in Greenwich. Our advisors provide general advice on a range of subjects: employment rights, welfare benefits, housing, consumer rights and adult social care.

Role Summary: Provide information and signposting to older people living in Bromley and Greenwich and provide admin support to the Information and Advice Team, helping to keep the information resources up to date.

What will I be involved in?

• Answering calls and basic enquiries coming into our Information and Advice Service, full training is provided. Present and discuss information with the client in an accessible manner.
• Committed to researching and providing up to date information to vulnerable older people using the internet and other resources.
• Identify and research information relevant to the user’s situation, drawing on resources available.
• Being online and knowledgeable of Microsoft packages and the use of emails
• Liase closely with the Advice Case Supervisor, other advisors, and wider staff team. Seeking guidance and support where required.
• Successfully complete online training courses for Age UK Bromley and Greenwich volunteers.
• Participate in volunteer support meetings with the Advice Case Supervisor and any training on safeguarding adults and appropriate boundaries.
• At all times work in accordance with the organisation’s policies regarding Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Confidentiality & Data Protection. Lone working.
• Represent the professional standards of Age UK Bromley and Greenwich and ensure that you wear your volunteer id badge whilst volunteering.   

What skills and qualities will I need to have?

• Enjoys talking and helping our clients, 65+ living in Bromley and 50 + in Greenwich from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Good communication skills and confident at speaking to clients on the telephone
• Able to prioritise tasks with good time management skills.
• A commitment to ensuring that customers are provided with accurate relevant information and support. Interested in finding out more about social welfare law advice e.g. housing and welfare benefits.
• Be a good listener and have empathy with older people, being approachable and welcoming.
• Interested in learning and developing new skills required of the role. Demonstrate that you are interested in what the client has to say by communicating respect and warmth.
• Demonstrate a non-judgmental approach. The listener may personally disagree with the client’s opinions or actions but attempts to understand the client’s point of view and shows that they still value the client.
• Being able to maintain client confidentiality, understand the importance of keeping within the parameters of the role and have a good understanding of GDPR and Data Protection.

Benefits of getting involved:

• Being part of a team who are passionate about helping clients 65+ living in Bromley and 50+ in Greenwich
• Committed to supporting the Information and Advice service deliver a difference to all their clients.
• Ongoing support and role training with feedback given.
• Opportunities for networking with other volunteers and being part of a wider volunteer team.
• Awareness of Age UK Bromley and Greenwich social events, services, and projects

Other information: Prospective volunteers will complete a recruitment process and be required to provide details of two references and agree to submit details for and undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check. All our volunteer roles are 18+, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Age UK Bromley & Greenwich will reimburse all expenditure reasonably incurred. Receipts to be provided with expenditure claims.

Based in the Reception of the Main Gallery, you will be the first point of contact for visitors to the Gallery, giving a warm welcome, assisting with enquiries and ensuring a high-quality visitor experience. You will also support the day to day running of the Gallery, dealing with administrative duties and supporting the Gallery Shop, sharing product information with visitors and taking sales.  

Tasks and Responsibilities  

• Welcoming and engaging visitors, providing information about the gallery and programmes  

• Responding to telephone, email and face to face enquiries  

• Being a visible presence in the Gallery space, ensuring everyone’s safety and the security of artwork and our retail space 

• Guiding visitors around the gallery and wider site 

• Assisting with sales and shop displays, including cash handling 

• Maintaining a neat and tidy reception and retail area  

• Supporting our retail work, with stocktaking, pricing and other tasks 

• Monitoring visitor numbers and contributing to evaluation initiatives  

• Representing the Gallery and Richmond Arts Service  

What we hope you will get from the role 

• The opportunity to meet new people and engage with the local community 

• Improved and demonstrable administration and communication skills 

• Valuable insight and experience of a contemporary art gallery, crossing the arts, cultural and heritage sectors 

• An understanding of the breadth of arts activity offered by Richmond Arts Service 

Training and Support  

We will provide training and an induction which covers all aspects of the role. On-going support and supervision will be provided by staff throughout your time with us. Additionally, there are regular training sessions to supplement and further your initial training, as well as a varied programme of volunteer events and activities to join in, meet people and learn something new! 

Desirable qualities and experience  

• Enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with people and sharing information 

• Interest for contemporary art, local history and/or heritage  

• Able to answer enquiries in a friendly and helpful manner  

• Willingness to learn, particularly administrative skills 

• Enjoys being part of a team  

• Ability to complete tasks independently 

• Good time keeping  

Availability  

The gallery is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm, with two volunteer shifts a day, 10am – 1pm and 1pm – 5pm.   

We ask for a minimum commitment of one shift every fortnight, although there is flexibility over scheduling.   

Location  

This role is based at Orleans House Gallery in the Main Gallery building.

Expenses  

We will cover travel expenses up to £14 per day.   

How to Apply  

Please complete our application form through our website.

Our Volunteers Co-ordinator will then contact you for an introductory chat, to learn more about your interest in volunteering and discuss the role further.   

Background  

Richmond Arts Service is based at Orleans House Gallery on the Riverside in Twickenham, promoting arts and culture through a programme of contemporary art exhibitions, festivals, events and activities for everyone in the community.   

We foster creativity and enjoyment of the arts, enable people to reflect on their lives and develop new ways of seeing the world. We bring thought-provoking art to the Borough and cultivate a network of individuals, organisations and programmes that nourishes the arts, local organisations and communities.

Home to the Richmond Borough Art Collection, comprising of over 4,400 artworks, at a site with a rich 300+ year history, Orleans House Gallery works with local, national and international artists and community partners to engage with the community, as we have done since 1972.   

Are you looking for a way to give back to your community? We are seeking organised, compassionate individuals to be the welcoming heart of our Hub. If you have a friendly smile, are well orgabnised and are looking for a reception based role, this could be for you.

BACKGROUND:

• The Cardinal Hume Centre works to prevent and tackle youth and family homelessness, we: 
• Provide a home to 39 young people
• Offer support to local children and families at risk
• Help families keep or find a stable home and manage their money
• Mentor people to find work or training
• Help people secure their legal right to remain in the UK and access homes, work and benefits.

Last year we helped over 1200 people including nearly 600 families and 230 children and young people.  Our aim is to tackle homelessness, poor housing and poverty at a young age and break its cycle into later life.  We want to see the value in each individual and nurture potential, helping young people and families to thrive.

The Centre prides itself on its welcome and person-centred approach. It recognises each individual is different, often with complex needs and so our response must be multi-layered. We therefore have six principal services: residential services for homeless young people; family support; housing and welfare rights advice; employment support; learning; and immigration advice and advocacy. 

OUR PEOPLE - We believe each person matters: 

Our clients guide everything we do. We’re here to help children, families and young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or clients who have urgent needs that can be met at the Centre and not elsewhere. 

We seek to develop trusting relationships with our clients. We rely on them to help us improve and develop our services, so we include them wherever possible in our work. 

Our staff and volunteers: 
Our staff and volunteers are diverse in their backgrounds, and their skills and experience. Many have lived experience of the challenges our clients face. We are proud of our warm welcome and our team’s commitment to support people facing disadvantage to escape the cycle of poverty and homelessness. 

The HUB on Medway Street is the main entrance for clients who wish to access the services on offer.  Staff in the Hub can provide level 1 advice on housing and welfare rights and for more complex cases, can refer clients to one of our other services, such as housing, welfare rights, immigration, employment and learning, and family services. 

Summary of Role.

You will be supporting a team that is helping people from the local community, who are vulnerable and facing disadvantage, including; homeless young people, people living in insecure accommodation or at risk of losing their housing, low-income families with young children, unemployed people, refugees and migrants. (further details below)

Your presence supports the smooth running of the Centre and increases the team’s capacity to see and help more people.

This role is in the heart of the organisation where you will meet people of all backgrounds and learn how a community organisation responds to local need.

What will you be doing?

• Answering the intercom and buzzing clients in when they arrive
• Welcoming clients to the Centre, signing them in and out of the building calling the staff member to tell them that their client has arrived
• Registering new clients and booking an appointment with the Assessment team
• Assisting with the collection and distribution of client mail
• Administrative support to services, such as, photocopying or scanning documents for service teams and emailing them to relevant staff member
• Printing off and posting out letters to clients
• Possibility of assisting with benefit claims/forms

Other tasks that can be undertaken during quieter periods:

• Assisting clients and staff with phone calls if volunteer speaks a needed language

What are we looking for?

• You will be a confident and patient person with a professional and friendly manner and able to remain calm under pressure
• Some experience of customer service or dealing with a diverse range of people desirable
• Good listening skills
• An ability to communicate well and with confidence when handling enquiries
• Some IT skills useful
• A non-judgemental attitude towards people’s problems in their lives

What is the time commitment?

We are seeking someone for one day a week on a Thursday or Friday from 9.30am to 3pm, with an hour lunch break at 1pm. We are looking for a commitment of 6 months, which sounds like a long time, but there’s lots to learn and volunteers find this goes very quickly! 

How will you be supported?

You will be supported by the Advice and Assessment team  

You will be offered regular supervision and a staff member will be present in the Hub whilst you are on duty

You will be reimbursed for reasonable and agreed ‘out of pocket’ expenses such as travel and contribution to lunch up to £6.

Recruitment Procedure

Apply> Informal interview> Reference and DBS checks> Trial period