Emotional Support Service Volunteer Volunteer Roles

We are looking for self-motivated and compassionate individuals to help deliver our Helpline service and make a difference to the lives of anyone affected by cancer.

The Helpline offers those with cancer a chance to share their feelings and experiences with someone who has empathy for what they are going through. Helpline Volunteers create a safe and welcoming environment, listen, and provide emotional support and signposting individuals onto further information.

No special qualifications are needed for this role, but access to a telephone in a comfortable quiet setting is essential.

Age restrictions - 18+

Coping with bereavement involves painful feelings, coming to terms with loss and making adjustments in life.  We are looking for volunteers to provide short-term support to people experiencing bereavement, helping them to explore their feelings and adapt to their new life.

Your role will include some of, but is not restricted to, the following tasks:

• Provide bereavement support either in the hospice, over the phone or at the person’s home
• Provide short term confidential emotional support to clients 
• Actively listen to clients and explore their feelings around their loss with empathy
• Pass on appropriate information to the Bereavement team 
• Keep to hospice record keeping procedures
• Help with other related tasks when necessary 

In the online application we only need your basic information (name, address, phone number and email address), an emergency contact and 2 references that we can contact. 

About Us

Every day of your life matters – from the first to the last. When you volunteer for Marie Curie, you understand that better than ever. We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of more than 4,400 staff and  6,500 volunteers, here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. We offer expert care, guidance and support, to help them get the most from the time they have left. 

Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work.  We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.

Marie Curie is committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

 

We are looking for a x 10 Volunteer Peer Mentor

 

Salary: Unpaid

Location: Hammersmith/Finsbury Park/Stratford

Hours:   2-3 Hours per week (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

Contract: Voluntary

 

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.  

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

 

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending.  We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community. 

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability. 

About the role:

The Maia Service works with young women and girls living in Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Camden, Islington and Westminster. We enable young women and girls to escape harm and to thrive in their lives and aspirations. We support young women and girls to build confidence, self-esteem and resilience, manage their health and wellbeing, and access and engage with other support services. The support we provide is delivered through a range of activities, including 1-2-1 advocacy and a programme of group-work and workshops delivered by specially trained members of staff.

About You:

 

Advance recognises that women and girls’ journeys to recovery after experiencing trauma are not always linear. Volunteer Mentors must be in a place in their own lives where they are not currently facing risk of harm or have ongoing support needs in relation to experience of violence and abuse, current or alcohol use and/or contact with the criminal justice system, see our Person Specification (within the job description) to understand if you are the best person for this role.

 

 

How to apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered. 

 

· Closing Date for Applications: Sunday 12 May 2024 @23:59

· Interviews are taking place on 22,23, 29 and 30 May 2024

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

 

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits: 

· An initial in-person & online induction training covering key topics, including the dynamics of domestic abuse, safeguarding, trauma-informed approaches to working with women and girls, active listening, boundary setting and maintaining relationships

· Ongoing training updates and ‘refresher’ sessions throughout the time in role

· Invitations to Advance Away Days, events and team meetings where appropriate

· Team awards and acknowledgement days

· Access to individual and group supervision

· Opportunities to shape the development and expansion of Advance’s programme of support for young women and girls, including through feedback, evaluation and participation in research and focus groups

· Opportunities for progression at Advance and within the Volunteer Mentor programme

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

 

 

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

 

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe.  We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks.  We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

Family Lives was formed over forty years ago by volunteers with the aim of ensuring that all parents had somewhere to turn before they reach crisis point.

Remote Family Support Volunteer – Live Chat

We know that the right support at the right time makes all the difference. Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families who are struggling.

Organisational values:

Mission: We build better family lives together.

Vision: Families should have access to active support and understanding. 

Values: Trustworthy, Compassionate and Collaborative

Purpose of the role: To be part of a flexible team providing empathic, caring and informed support to families, carers and others who use our services.

Live chat: is a free confidential service that is accessed via our website. Service users are offered emotional support, information and advice and guidance on a broad range of family issues.

Supervised by: The Shift Supervisor

 Activities: The volunteer will be fully supervised, supported and trained to provide the following activities:

·Provide emotional support to family members via our live chat service

·Use the Family Lives support model and tools to provide an empathic responses

·Ensure that all service users receive a high quality experience

·Sign post users to other agencies for information and additional support

·Complete conversation data records

·Alert the shift supervisor to any difficult situations

 

General: Volunteers should be willing to:

·Attend the relevant volunteer training

·Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the other policies and procedures of the organisation

·Participate in regular support, supervision meetings and learning sessions as agreed

For home based volunteers only:

·Volunteers will need a Laptop/PC, plug in headset with microphone, fast broadband and a private place to work from home

·Volunteers need to be IT/PC literate and confident troubleshooting should they have technical difficulties

 Time: We would be looking for volunteers to commit to one four-hour shift per week, plus attending training and supervision.

Location: working remotely from home

 You need to be a UK resident

Supervision and Support:

·Supervision during shifts

·Debrief after every shift

·1 to 1 supervision every 6 months

·Staff available outside of shift within office hours

·Annual review

 

The Benefits of Volunteering:

·Satisfaction in making a real and lasting difference to families who are struggling

·An opportunity to develop experience for CV and references. Family Lives is committed to helping volunteers develop their own learning and development, gaining new skills, knowledge or work experience

·Being part of a team of Family Lives volunteers and staff

·Personal development

·Opportunities to meet and interact with a wide range of people

·Out of pocket expenses reimbursed to a maximum of £10 per session if working from a centre

·Flexible hours

 

Volunteer Person Specification. We are looking for individuals who:

·Have experience of parenting/being in a parenting role or demonstrable experience of working with parents or children e.g. in their work, previous volunteering or a previous role

·Have an ability to respond empathically to emotional content

·Good written and verbal communication

·Have good keyboard skills and IT skills, with a minimum of 50 wpm

·Can demonstrate a willingness to question their own attitudes e.g. toward different forms of parenting

·Have a fluent, descriptive and expressive use of English

·Can remain open minded and non-judgemental

·Willing to commit to work within Family Lives’ policies, in particular our Confidentiality Policy and Risk of Harm Procedures

·Willing to commit to attending regular supervision and support sessions

·Willing to work as part of a team

·Willing to commit to a mutually agreed period or ideally a 12 months commitment to the organisation.

Typing Task Prior to Application for Live Chat

Prior to you submitting your application for a Live Chat Volunteer, we will require you to do a speed test, we ask for a minimum speed of 50 words per minute. 

Please take a screen shot and send it across with your application

You can have up to 3 attempts and decide which result you would like to forward as part of your application

Typing task

Go to the website typingtest

You are required to take the one minute typing test recording all of the results (speed, number of errors and adjusted speed).

We have remote voluntary call taker training groups the dates are below are you would need to be able to attend all 5 Modules from the training group.

Our next training groups are:

June Saturday training dates:

Module 1 – Saturday 8th June

Module 2 - Saturday 15th June

Module 3 – Saturday 22nd June

Module 4 – Saturday 29th June

Module 5 – Saturday 6th July

10am to 2pm

OR

June training dates:

Module 1 – Monday 10th June

Module 2 – Wednesday 12th June

Module 3 – Monday 17th June

Module 4 – Wednesday 19th June

Module 5 – Monday 24th June

10am to 2pm

Please note that all roles offered are subject to a satisfactory DBS being obtained, you will receive details of documentation required prior to your training and this must all be in no later than the second session of your training.

Beacon Counselling are looking for enthusiastic volunteer counsellors to deliver across children and young people’s services within the organisation.

The role will require you to deliver across our community counselling children and young people services.

Appointments for services are delivered onsite however on occasion remote sessions may be offered

We are working to bring greater diversity in all areas of our workforce and are taking action to encourage applications from people of colour and other racially minoritised communities, people with a disability, and people who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or older people (aged 50+), to improve the representation of colleagues from these communities, and are a Disability Confident employer.

We particularly want to encourage people from minority backgrounds to apply. If you are unsure about applying or have any questions then please contact us directly and we will be happy to have a conversation with you.

If you have any questions or would like further information regarding the role before applying, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Come and work in a vibrant and fun environment and support Caudwell Children to do whatever it takes to change the future of disabled and autistic children and support to help them lead a full and active life.

As a reception volunteer, roles and responsibilities may include:

• Communication with families and other organisations via telephone and email
• Meeting and greeting visitors (including visitor sign in)
• Providing practical and emotional support to children and their families across the country

• Processing and completing applications for specialist equipment, therapies and treatment
• Data inputting onto our metro system
• Providing an information and signposting service
• Answering telephone/email enquiries
• Monitoring our online chat service ensuring families receive the support that they need

Faith to Faithless are launching a brand new helpline for apostates in the summer of 2023, for people leaving high-control religions, and we’re looking for committed, compassionate volunteers to join us. 

You will be a motivated, dedicated, and organised person with great communication skills, who is enthusiastic about volunteering your time and skills to support individuals leaving high-control religions (also known as apostates). You will have lived experience or understanding of the issues apostates face, and a kind and empathic approach to working with others.

We’ll train you to handle calls with confidence, and you’ll be getting valuable experience in supporting service users with multifaceted needs. This is a volunteering role where you can develop your interpersonal skills, help members of our community that need it most, and make a real difference in their lives by helping them to get back on track to living happy, purposeful lives without religion.

Key Tasks and Activities

• To respond quickly and efficiently to calls requesting help, providing a listening service, signposting and information to people who have experienced victimisation due to leaving their religion.
• To deliver work which adheres to high service standards, ensuring compliance with all policies and procedures.
• To keep and maintain accurate and confidential records of all work undertaken.
• To identify and maintain appropriate boundaries for all callers and recognise when and where to signpost callers for further help/information as appropriate with appropriate support from the apostate services manager
• To proactively continue to develop appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills through regular reading of information and attending training courses.
• To support the training of helpline volunteers as required.
• To attend supervision, meetings and appraisals.
• To undertake any other appropriate duties as requested by the ASM
• To work at all times within the policies and procedures of Humanists UK.

Download and read the full application pack for more information. To apply, please complete the application form telling us why you’re interested in the role and detailing how you match the person specification on page 4 of the application pack. Then return the completed form with the subject ‘Helpline Volunteer’ to volunteer[at]humanists[dot]UK.

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors.

With training in alternative therapies such as Reiki and Sound Healing, you will support young women to improve their physical and emotional well-being in a group setting or on an individual basis.

Activities

•  Delivering Sound Healing sessions in a 1-2-1 or group basis.
•  Providing a safe, relaxing, therapeutic environment for the activity to take place.

Experience and requirements:

•  Suitable candidates need to be qualified or nearing the end of a substantial training.
•  Volunteers may be asked to have professional liability insurance.
• This role will require us to carry out an enhanced check through the disclosure and barring service.

Commitment 

Commitment can be flexible to suit your availability, from about 1-2 hours per week. Ideally this volunteer will commit to a minimum of 3 months

Support 

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training
•  Reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed
• The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons

Marie Curie Companion is a professional service provided by trained volunteers who offer one-to-one companionship and support to people with a terminal illness and their families. The service would not be able to reach those most in need if it was not for the commitment and hard work of the volunteers delivering the service.

Companion Volunteers provide companionship and emotional support, practical support, short breaks for carers and help with signposting for information and support.

Your role will include some of, but is not restricted to, the following tasks:

• Carry out weekly visits with the person(s) you’re supporting, as agreed with the Volunteer Co-ordinator. This could be in a variety of settings, eg family home, a care home or in the community.
• Provide one-to-one companionship and support. 

For example: offering a listening ear and spending time engaging in every-day conversation, activities or hobbies with the person you are supporting. Helping with small, daily tasks, e.g. making tea or accessing the internet. Allowing carers to have a short break. This may involve offering emotional support, signposting to relevant local support services or finding out information as requested 

(This is only an outline as support will vary according to individual needs. Companion volunteers do not provide nursing or personal care, or offer counselling or advice)

• Keep your manager informed of any changes to the situation, or any significant happenings in connection to the person you’re supporting and/or their family, either in person or by phone 
• Submit regular visit reports to your manager and update relevant computer systems as required 
• Be reliable and committed to regularly spending time with someone and offering support
• Attend individual sessions with your Volunteer Co-ordinator, training and group events as required 
• Represent the Marie Curie Companion service positively to those using the service

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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This advert is listed in Welsh first followed by English.

Pam mae angen eich help arnom 

Mae ymdopi â phrofedigaeth yn cynnwys emosiynau poenus, derbyn colled a gwneud addasiadau mewn bywyd. Mae llawer o bobl yn ei chael hi'n gysur mawr cael rhywun i siarad â nhw am sut maen nhw'n teimlo yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn. 

Rydym yn edrych am wirfoddolwyr i ddarparu cymorth emosiynol dros y ffôn i oedolion sydd mewn profedigaeth oherwydd salwch terfynol. Bydd y rôl hon yn cefnogi unigolion sydd wedi cysylltu â ni drwy’n Llinell Gymorth ffôn genedlaethol. Byddwch yn eu helpu i archwilio’u teimladau ac addasu i fywyd ar ôl profedigaeth. Darperir hyfforddiant, cymorth a goruchwyliaeth.  

Beth rydym angen i chi ei wneud 

Bydd eich rôl yn cynnwys rhai o’r tasgau canlynol:  

• Darparu cymorth emosiynol byrdymor dros y ffôn i gleientiaid rydych wedi paru â nhw am hyd at 12 sesiwn o 45 munud (fel arfer 1 neu 2 ar unrhyw adeg benodol) 

• Gwrando’n astud ar gleientiaid ac archwilio’u teimladau am golled ag empathi a sensitifrwydd  
• Cyfeirio’r cleient at ffynonellau gwybodaeth a chymorth priodol yn ôl yr angen  
• Cwblhau dogfennau angenrheidiol fel sy’n ofynnol gan y gwasanaeth (e.e. Cytundeb Gweithio Cyfrinachol) a throsglwyddo gwybodaeth briodol am y gwasanaeth i’ch rheolwr goruchwylio. 
• Cymryd rhan mewn goruchwyliaeth un-i-un a/neu grŵp gyda chyswllt penodedig yn rheolaidd (a ragwelir unwaith y mis, dros y ffôn neu Skype) 
• Ymgymryd â hyfforddiant cychwynnol a pharhaus yn unol â’r rôl; peth wyneb yn wyneb, peth ar-lein   

Pa sgiliau neu brofiad sydd eu hangen arnoch? 

• Y gallu i ddarparu cymorth emosiynol heb feirniadaeth ac o fewn ffiniau 
• Y gallu i ddelio â phobl mewn profedigaeth yn sensitif a chael ymwybyddiaeth o’u hanghenion unigol 
• Amynedd, empathi a sefydlogrwydd emosiynol 
• Ymroddiad a dibynadwyedd – y gallu i gadw apwyntiadau a gwirfoddoli am hyd paru â chleient 
• Dealltwriaeth o bwysigrwydd diogelu a chaw cyfrinachedd cleientiaid  
• Parodrwydd i ddysgu ac ymgymryd â hyfforddiant gofynnol a chymryd rhan mewn goruchwyliaeth cymorth 
• Sgiliau TG sylfaenol a’r gallu, neu’r parodrwydd i ddysgu, i ddefnyddio technoleg Skype 
• Siarad cymraeg yn ddymunol 

Gofynion gweithio  

• Man tawel a chyfrinachol i weithio, heb aflonyddwch neu ymyrraeth  
• Mynediad at ffôn clyfar, gliniadur neu gyfrifiadur bwrdd gwaith  
• Ar gael ar yr un pryd bob wythnos am hyd at 12 sesiwn 
• Bodlonrwydd a’r gallu i deithio o fewn y DU unwaith neu ddwywaith y flwyddyn ar gyfer hyfforddiant a chymorth – bydd gofyn i chi aros dros nos/dros y penwythnos ar gyfer hyfforddiant (bydd treuliau’n cael eu had-dalu) 

Beth allwn ni ei gynnig i chi:  

• Cyfle gwych i adeiladu ar eich sgiliau mewn amgylchedd elusen 
• Cyflwyniad, hyfforddiant a goruchwyliaeth yn eich rôl 
• Treuliau parod rhesymol y cytunwyd arnynt

Yr hyn rydym yn ei ofyn gennych chi:  

• Darparu dau eirda gan bobl nad ydynt yn aelodau o’ch teulu a dogfennau perthnasol eraill sy'n ymwneud â'r rôl 
• Cadw at holl bolisïau a gweithdrefnau’r elusen  
• Cwblhau cyflwyniad ac unrhyw hyfforddiant sy’n gysylltiedig â'r rôl

Mae Marie Curie wedi ymrwymo i ddiogelu a hyrwyddo lles cleifion a’u teuluoedd ac yn disgwyl i’n holl staff a gwirfoddolwyr rannu’r ymrwymiad hwn.  Bydd Marie Curie’n trin pob gwirfoddolwr yn deg ac â pharch.  Ni fyddwn yn gwahaniaethu ar sail anabledd, ethnigrwydd, statws priodasol, beichiogrwydd neu famolaeth, rhyw (h.y. rhywedd), cyfeiriadedd rhywiol, crefydd neu ffydd, neu ailbennu rhywedd.  Ni fyddwn yn gwahaniaethu ar sail oedran, oni bai fod cyfrifoldebau rôl yn gofyn i ni wneud hynny er mwyn diogelu ein gwirfoddolwyr a/neu ddefnyddwyr gwasanaeth.

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Why we need your help 

Coping with bereavement involves painful emotions, coming to terms with loss and making adjustments in life. Many people find it a great comfort to have someone to talk to about how they are feeling during this difficult time.  

We are looking for volunteers to provide emotional support over the phone to adults who have been bereaved by a terminal illness. This role will be supporting individuals who have made contact with us through our national telephone Support Line. You will be helping them to explore their feelings and adapt to life post-bereavement. Training, support and supervision will be provided.  

What we need you to do 

Your role will include the following tasks:

• Provide short-term emotional support over the phone to matched clients for up to 6, 45-minute, sessions (normally 1 or 2 at any given time) 
• Actively listen to clients and explore their feelings around their loss with empathy and sensitivity
• Direct clients to relevant sources of information and support as needed
• Complete necessary documentation as required by the service (e.g. Confidential Working Agreement) and pass on appropriate service information to your supervising manager 
• Participate in one-to-one and or group supervision with an assigned contact on a regular basis (around once a month, by phone or skype) 
• Undertake both initial and ongoing training in line with the role, some of which will be face-to-face, some independent study. This includes attending a two-day (likely weekend) training programme.

What skills or experience do you need? 

• Ability to provide emotional support without judgement and within boundaries 
• Ability to deal sensitively with bereaved people and have an awareness of their individual needs 
• Patience, empathy and emotional stability 
• Commitment and reliability – able to keep to appointments and volunteer for the duration of a client match 
• An understanding of the importance of safeguarding and maintaining client confidentiality
• Willingness to learn and undertake required training and participate in support supervision 
• Basic IT skills and the ability, or willingness to learn, to use the calling system.
• Welsh speaking is desirable

Working requirements 

• A quiet and confidential space for working, away from distraction or interruption
• Access to a smartphone, laptop or desktop computer
• Available at the same time every week for up to 6 sessions
• Willingness and ability to travel within the UK once or twice a year for training and support – training will require a weekend, (overnight stay depending on location). Expenses will be reimbursed.

What we can offer you: 

• An excellent opportunity to build on your skills in a charity environment and to be involved in delivering a brand-new national service 
• An induction, initial and ongoing training, (including on grief and bereavement), support and supervision in your role 
• Agreed reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, for both training and service delivery e.g. train tickets and call costs

What we ask of you: 

• To keep to all the charity’s policies and guidelines  
• To complete an induction and any training related to the role

Marie Curie is committed to being a diverse and inclusive charity. We aim to demonstrate support for all of our staff and volunteers, valuing each individual’s contribution regardless of age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, civil partnership status, disability, nationality, race, religion or belief.  We are committed to providing equal opportunities to our staff and volunteers and to taking steps to ensure our staff and volunteers are protected from discrimination.

About Us
Mae pob diwrnod o’ch bywyd yn bwysig – o’r cyntaf i’r olaf. Pan fyddwch yn gwirfoddoli i Marie Curie, byddwch yn deall hynny’n well nag erioed. Rydym yn dîm angerddol, ymroddedig ac amrywiol o dros 4,400 o staff a 6,500 o wirfoddolwyr sydd yma i bobl sy’n byw gydag unrhyw salwch terfynol, a’u teuluoedd. Rydym yn cynnig gofal, arweiniad a chymorth arbenigol i’w helpu i gael y budd mwyaf o’r amser sydd ar ôl ganddynt. 

ABOUT US

Every day of your life matters – from the first to the last. When you volunteer for Marie Curie, you understand that better than ever. We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of more than 4,400 staff and  6,500 volunteers, here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. We offer expert care, guidance and support, to help them get the most from the time they have left. 

Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work.  We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.

Marie Curie is committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.

KEEN London is a small but growing charity. Our vision is that every child has the chance to enjoy games and leisure activities and none are left behind due to disability.

We provide free games and activity sessions with tailored support for children with additional needs and disabilities. We support over 100 children, known as our ‘athletes’, with a wide range of additional needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and global development delay. At KEEN London, we strive to use fun and games to improve young people's wellbeing, personal, social and emotional development as well as broadening experiences to increase skills and confidence.

During a typical KEEN London session, you’ll provide one-to-one support to an athlete, helping them to access all the activities on offer, achieve their personal development goals, and of course have tons of fun! You can expect to get involved with a wide range of playground games, ball games, nature walks, and creative activities. From time to time we also run trips for our athletes, and previous trips have included trampoline parks, high ropes courses, pedalo boating and slime-making classes.

Requirements

• We don’t expect any prior experience for this role - just lots of energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn!

• A commitment to attending 2 sessions per month, for at least 6 months. This is to ensure a level of consistency for our athletes and so that you can gain the experience needed to support our athletes effectively.

• Completion of our application process. After submitting your application, we’ll invite you to attend a training session and complete a DBS check. 

What you’ll get in return

• You’ll make a difference to the lives of our athletes, see their progress, and have fun along the way!

• Regular social events, and opportunities to meet other coaches

• Ongoing training! We’ll ensure you feel comfortable in your role and are fully trained.

• Development of skills such as working with children, teamwork and communication

• The chance to progress to becoming a coach team captain

• Long-term volunteers receive t-shirts, badges, and advance sign-up to our popular events

• Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses.

Volunteer applications from people with disabilities/men/LGBTQ+ people/people of colour are especially welcomed.

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.

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.