Mental health volunteer roles in lewisham, greater london
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Listening Place is a volunteer-led charity aiming to transform how we support people who feel suicidal. Our trained volunteers are part of a team delivering face-to-face, confidential, ongoing support to thousands of people each year. They help create the warm and welcoming environment that encourages people struggling with suicidal thoughts and feelings to talk openly without being judged or given advice.
Listening volunteers provide ongoing face-to-face support to visitors on regular, fortnightly 4-hour shifts during which they meet with up to 3 visitors (for up to 50 minutes each). In order to ensure continuity for our visitors we require a one-year minimum commitment from our LVs, as well as three months’ notice of intention to leave.
No experience or qualifications are necessary – we provide full training in active listening. We look for warmth, empathy and resilience in our volunteers and the ability to be non-judgemental and avoid giving advice.
We are primarily recruiting Listening Volunteers for our new site near Liverpool Street. We also have limited vacancies available at our other sites in Hammersmith, Pimlico and Kings Cross.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role Title: Advice and Information & Signposting Volunteer
Weekly Hours: Minimum 4 hours per week
Expenses: Expenses are compensated where applicable such as travel
Commitment: At least 3 months
Responsible to: The Service Navigation Lead
Project overview:
Mind in Kingston is a local charity that supports people with mental health issues, and campaigns to raise awareness about mental health in Kingston and surrounding areas. We are affiliated to National Mind but operate independently in the Borough of Kingston upon Thames and surrounding areas.
The Information, Advice, Signposting & Referral Service is designed to provide enquirers with empathic advice, information and/or signposting.
Volunteers are extremely valued within our team and a vital part of our service delivery. We encourage and welcome people with lived experience of mental health issues to apply to volunteer with us; this could be personal experience relating to yourself, a family member or a friend; or in a professional capacity working with people with mental health issues.
We care about everyone’s wellbeing and as an integral member of our team, volunteers receive support to ensure they are trained and skilled up in their roles that they may take further in their career aspirations. They receive regular supervision and development opportunities as well as be part of our volunteer awards programme to recognise and celebrate their achievement and contribution to our community. As team members, volunteers have the opportunity to engage with the board of trustees, staff and other volunteers both professionally and socially.
Main purpose of the role:
· To provide confidential telephone advice and information about local services to service users.
· To provide empathic listening.
· To signpost service users to appropriate services.
· To promote emotional and physical wellbeing to service users.
· To collect data for monitoring purposes.
Tasks will include:
· Phone or email service users to provide advice, information and signposting.
· To research and learn about local services for information.
· To record each interaction with a service user on an enquiry sheet and file these in line with data protection regulations
· To fill in the message book and inform colleagues about messages relevant to them.
· To immediately raise safeguarding concerns and complete safeguarding if necessary.
· To maintain regular contact with your supervisor
· To attend meetings and supervision on a regular basis.
What you will receive in return:
· Training in providing remote support and telephone skills including mental health awareness, and boundaries.
· Training in adult safeguarding and local procedures.
· Training for any other skills as identified by yourself and your supervisor.
· Regular check-in with your supervisor, and monthly clinical and managerial supervision.
· An opportunity to learn new skills and develop existing ones while being a part of a lively and supportive team at Mind in Kingston.
· References upon completing your volunteering with us.
· Reasonable expenses to be paid so you are not left out of pocket.
What we expect from you:
· Commitment for at least three months
· Attend and complete training as directed.
· Adhere to our policies and procedures, particularly confidentiality, data protection, Safeguarding and health and safety.
· Confidence in supporting people with mental health challenges.
· Be able to deal with distressed users in a calm and robust manner.
· Proactive engagement with your supervisor for support.
· Safe handling and return of any equipment issued.
You may on occasion volunteer from home, so a confidential space is essential.
Application Process:
· Two references (one from a professional contact) are required.
· An enhanced DBS check is necessary.
We ask volunteers for two references, one of which must come from a professional connection such as a current or previous employer or a tutor. You will also need to undergo an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, as you will be working with vulnerable adults.
We are Mind in Kingston. We fight for mental health. For Respect. For Support. For you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This flexible home volunteering role is worthwhile and rewarding. Make a real difference writing letters. As a Volunteer Penpal Writer you’ll be a key member of the Letterbox Team. Your letters will cheer someone up and establish a trusting, supportive relationship with a client who might be lonely or socially isolated.
What tasks can this role include (some or all of the following):
- Writing letters to clients
- Building trust and companionship with a client through correspondence. Omega befriends a variety of people including: caregivers, the lonely, isolated or people with ill-health.
- Liaising with the Letterbox Team by email or post.
- Respecting service standards, appropriate boundaries and recognising the policies and procedures that are necessary when befriending adults at risk.
- Making suggestions to help us improve the service we provide to clients and Volunteer Pen pal Writers.
This role could be for you, if you:
- Enjoy writing and receiving letters
- Are enthusiastic and self-motivated
- Associate strongly with Omega’s values and strategy
- Have knowledge or understanding about a variety of client issues including caring, feeling isolated and lonely and its impact on people and society
- Have satisfactory written and inter-personal communication skills
- Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can show this in practice
- Are committed to inclusion, treating people with dignity and respect
What support and training will be provided?
- Feedback from clients and colleagues
- Regular and ongoing support from Letterbox Team Leader
- Answering questions
- Stationary and pre-paid envelopes can be provided making the service free.
- Opportunity for peer support events and invitation to Omega events
- Reward system and opportunity for volunteer of the month rewards
What are the benefits for you?
- Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life by doing something you enjoy
- Joining the Omega Team, who are taking action against loneliness and isolation as well as helping people in crisis
- An opportunity to enhance your CV or learn new skills
- An opportunity to engage with your community
Location of the role:
- Mainly your home
When are you needed?
- At a time to suit you
Omega is a registered charity dedicated to reducing social isolation and loneliness.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Would you like to work at the frontline of suicide prevention?
At our sanctuary (Finsbury Park, North London) for those in suicidal crisis, we offer a potentially transformative experience with a once-only 4-night stay at our non-medical, family-style house. Through respite, time and space for reflection and compassionate and nurturing care, our Volunteer Befrienders and Lead Befrienders support an opportunity for the revival of hope and resilience.
Volunteer Befrienders are key to Maytree and work alongside Lead Befrieders to provide an open and containing space for people who are feeling suicidal. Befriending is as its sounds: sitting alongside our guests as a compassionate, confidential, and non-judgemental friend. Through active listening and human warmth our volunteers enable our guests to explore their feelings and their options in their own way and in their own time. This face-to-face support is not therapy; it is about being calm and committed and not afraid of difficult subjects, including suicide.
To fill a gap in services for the acutely suicidal. Offering brief stay crisis support and engagement with non-medical, compassionate Befrienders.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Chatterbox Befrienders offer one-to-one telephone support and will call a client once a week offering companionship and a listening ear for an individual who might otherwise go unheard. Chatterbox volunteers befriend a variety of people including carers, socially isolated individuals who are struggling with loneliness, people with ill health and those that have been bereaved.
This role could be for you, if you:
- Would like to make a real difference in someone’s life
- Want to challenge loneliness and can commit to a weekly phone call
- Are a good listener
- Are empathetic, patient and of a caring nature
- Have good verbal and inter-personal communication skills
- Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can uphold this in practice
- Are committed to inclusion and treating people with dignity and respect
Requirements of a Befriender include:
- Calling your client once a week for a chat of up to 45 minutes; this is a 26 week initial commitment, at the end of which each client’s needs are reviewed
- Completing an online call log record promptly after each phone call
- Ensuring immediate contact with the Chatterbox Coordinators if you feel that the client might be a risk to themselves or others
- Liaising with the Chatterbox Coordinator on a regular basis regarding the service, as well as discussing personal learning and development needs
- Respecting service standards, appropriate boundaries and recognising the range of policies and procedures that impact on befriending vulnerable adults
Benefits of this role may include:
- Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life
- Joining the Omega Team who are taking action against loneliness and isolation
- An opportunity to enhance your CV or learn new skills
- An opportunity to engage with your community
Support and training provided:
- Omega Chatterbox induction program
- Safeguarding training
- Ongoing support from Chatterbox Coordinators for all questions, concerns, and support
- Out of pocket expenses are reimbursed and a mobile phone can be provided if appropriate
- Monthly Befriender group support meetings via the Zoom app
Location of the role:
- Home-based
When are you needed:
- Provided on enquiry
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this role. If you have a criminal record this does not automatically prevent you from being considered as an Omega Chatterbox Befriender. We will take into account the nature of the offence, when it happened and whether it is relevant to the voluntary role. If you are shortlisted, this will be discussed with you during the recruitment process.
Omega is a registered charity dedicated to reducing social isolation and loneliness.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Listening Place is a volunteer-led charity aiming to transform how we support people who feel suicidal. Our trained volunteers are part of a team delivering face-to-face, confidential, ongoing support to thousands of people each year. They help create the warm and welcoming environment that encourages people struggling with suicidal thoughts and feelings to talk openly without being judged or given advice.
Helping Volunteers are responsible for welcoming visitors onto our premises, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere (along with a cup of tea), and supporting our Listening Volunteers to help everything run smoothly.
We are looking for volunteers who have the empathy to greet distressed visitors, the willingness to undertake a variety of admin and other tasks and the resilience to support their team. Our HVs need to be proactive, self-starters and team players with a basic understanding of IT. We ask for a weekly commitment of four hours for a period of at least six months.
We are primarily recruiting Helping Volunteers for our new site near Liverpool Street. We also have limited vacancies available at our other sites in Hammersmith, Pimlico and Kings Cross.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you a Somali speaker looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community? We invite you to become a volunteer for our Talking Bubble Project!
Many older adults and vulnerable individuals in the UK’s Somali-speaking community experience loneliness and isolation. By offering just a small amount of your time each week, you can make a big difference by providing companionship and a friendly voice in their native language.
What is the Talking Bubble Project?
☎︎ A phone-based service that connects volunteers with individuals who may feel isolated or lonely. Through regular phone calls, you’ll have the opportunity to build friendships, brighten someone’s day, and provide much-needed emotional support—especially for those who feel more comfortable speaking Somali.
Why volunteer with us?
✔ Support members of the Somali-speaking community in the UK
✔ Make a meaningful impact on someone’s life
✔ Enjoy flexible volunteering hours
✔ Receive training, ongoing support, and a reference upon completion
✔ Enhance your own sense of fulfilment and purpose
How to get involved:
Simply apply through CharityJob’s website or by filling out our online form here: [https://lnkd.in/e36t8zWB]. No previous experience is required—just a friendly, compassionate nature and a willingness to listen.
Open to UK residents only.
Help us spread kindness and connection within the Somali-speaking community across the UK!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Social Anxiety Alliance UK is a young and developing charity looking for an experienced Trustee.
It may be possible for someone with a dedication and passion for helping those with social anxiety to apply for this role providing they are aware of the governance issues relating to the role (please read the charity commission document "The essential trustee")
Social anxiety involves an excessive fear of social situations. Sufferers will often fear being embarrassed or worry about being negatively evaluated by others. Anticipatory anxiety and situational avoidance are common, and individuals may endure social situations with a high level of discomfort. The scope of the anxiety may be focused on specific types of social situations or generalised to almost any social encounter.
We are the first UK charity dedicated to Social Anxiety.
What will you be doing
· Contribute towards the good management of the charity by carrying out key responsibilities as follows:
· To ensure that the charity complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
· To ensure that the charity pursues its charitable objects as defined in its governing document.
· To ensure that the charity uses its resources exclusively to further its objects.
· To contribute towards setting the charity’s strategic direction and to evaluate performance and progress against agreed targets.
· To uphold the reputation and values of the charity.
· To commit to read papers in preparation for meetings and attend regular board meetings.
What we are looking for
· An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties and responsibilities of trusteeship.
· A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to their duties as a trustee.
· Willingness to act in the best interests of the organisation.
· An ability to work effectively as a member of the team.
· Willingness to prepare for and attend monthly Board meetings.
· Willingness to participate actively in discussions.
· Enthusiasm for the charity’s vision and mission.
· Empathy for the challenges faced by people affected by social anxiety.
· A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
· Integrity and honesty.
· Good, independent judgement.
Experience or interest in some of the following areas:
· • Charity management, governance, compliance, law, or the dedication to learn about governance and what it takes to be a Trustee
What difference will you make
As part of our board, you will help to support and develop the charity and set its strategic direction. You will have the opportunity to offer your unique skill set, experience and enthusiasm to help us to achieve the charity’s mission and goals:
To foster a society in which social anxiety is widely understood, where there is easy access to appropriate information, support and treatment so that no one has to face social anxiety alone.
Board meetings and projects
We are a friendly board and we hold our meetings monthly online in the evening, typically on a Tuesday at 7pm to 8:30pm.
We would hope that Trustees can contribute to some other charity tasks and projects as the need arises.
Please could you submit a cover letter explaining your interest in the role
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you an Albanian speaker looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community?
We invite you to become a volunteer for our Talking Bubble Project!
Many older adults and vulnerable individuals in the UK’s Albanian-speaking community experience loneliness and isolation. By offering just a small amount of your time each week, you can make a big difference by providing companionship and a friendly voice in their native language.
What is the Talking Bubble Project?
☎︎ A phone-based service that connects volunteers with individuals who may feel isolated or lonely. Through regular phone calls, you’ll have the opportunity to build friendships, brighten someone’s day, and provide much-needed emotional support—especially for those who feel more comfortable speaking Albanian.
Why volunteer with us?
✔ Support members of the Albanian-speaking community in the UK
✔ Make a meaningful impact on someone’s life
✔ Enjoy flexible volunteering hours
✔ Receive training, ongoing support, and a reference upon completion
✔ Enhance your own sense of fulfilment and purpose
Requirements:
✔ Volunteers must complete an online Safeguarding Adults Level 2 training and undergo a DBS check—both fully paid for by the organisation.
How to get involved:
Simply apply through CharityJob’s website. No previous experience is required—just a friendly, compassionate nature and a willingness to listen.
✔ Open to UK residents only.
Help us spread kindness and connection within the Albanian-speaking community across the UK!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you interested in facilitating a peer support group for people who are struggling with their mental health? We are looking for passionate volunteers to facilitate a weekly online or face-to-face group, to discuss topics relating to mental health. We are hoping to find someone who has either ‘lived experience’ of mental health issues and is now at a positive place with their own recovery or someone who has good knowledge of mental health and looking to support others.
We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.
In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.
We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.
What you will be doing
- Facilitating weekly peer support groups, covering topics related to mental health.
- To encourage participation and to provide focus and guidance for discussions within the group
- To negotiate/facilitate conflicts or disagreements that may arise during group meetings
The skills you need
- Strong listening and communication skills
- Ability to create and maintain a safe environment where the participants' thoughts and feelings are valued, and group members are treated with fairness, equity and respect
- Lived experience of mental health or desire to learn
What's in it for you
- Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
- Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
- Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.




Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Are you a Sylheti speaker looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community? We invite you to become a volunteer for our Talking Bubble Project!
Many older adults and vulnerable individuals in the UK’s Sylheti-speaking community experience loneliness and isolation. By offering just a small amount of your time each week, you can make a big difference by providing companionship and a friendly voice in their native language.
What is the Talking Bubble Project?
☎︎ A phone-based service that connects volunteers with individuals who may feel isolated or lonely. Through regular phone calls, you’ll have the opportunity to build friendships, brighten someone’s day, and provide much-needed emotional support—especially for those who feel more comfortable speaking Sylheti.
Why volunteer with us?
✔ Support members of the Sylheti-speaking community in the UK
✔ Make a meaningful impact on someone’s life
✔ Enjoy flexible volunteering hours
✔ Receive training, ongoing support, and a reference upon completion
✔ Enhance your own sense of fulfilment and purpose
How to get involved:
Simply fill out the application through CharityJob's website or by following this link: [https://lnkd.in/e36t8zWB]. No previous experience is required—just a friendly, compassionate nature and a willingness to listen.
Open to UK residents only.
Help us spread kindness and connection within the Sylheti-speaking community across the UK!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We’re Mind, the leading mental health charity. We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. We provide advice and support to empower anybody experiencing a mental health problem and we campaign to improve services, raise awareness, and promote understanding.
About the volunteer role
The aim of our E-Commerce Assistant role is to provide administrative and operational support to the E-Commerce Manager, assisting with online sales, customer service, and digital marketing initiatives
Key tasks
· Product Listings: Assist in creating and updating product listings on our e-commerce platform.
· Order Processing: Assist in processing orders, including packaging and dispatching items.
· Customer Service: Provide support for customer inquiries via email, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.
· Compliance: Ensure all e-commerce activities comply with relevant regulations and guidelines.
· Administrative Support: Provide general administrative support to the E-Commerce team.
About You
· Communication Skills: Good communication skills.
· IT Literacy: Comfortable using MS Office applications – Outlook, Word, Excel.
· E-Commerce Platforms: Familiarity with e-commerce platforms e.g., Shopify & eBay
· Organisational Skills: Good organisational skills.
· Attention to Detail: High attention to detail.
Experience & skills you will gain
· Experience working as part of a team.
· Experience working within an e-commerce administrative role.
· Gain hands-on experience in the dispatch process, including packaging and shipping.
· Experience in managing product listings and inventory.
· Exposure to customer service practices in an online retail environment.
· Experience in digital marketing.
· Exposure to sales analysis and reporting.
Our Commitment
We are committed to becoming actively anti-racist in everything we do. This is a critical priority for Mind. We embrace diversity and understand that being an inclusive organisation, recognising 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.
Mind Retail are a network of over 170 Mind charity shops across England and Wales.




The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Community Support/Reach Out volunteer will be volunteering remotely, providing online support and guidance to visitors of The Forward Trust Website communicating in real time using web chat.
The Reach Out Service sits within our Recovery Support Department and is aimed at offering friendly and confidential listening support and assistance. The role involves utilising your communication skills to establish rapport with individuals seeking drug and alcohol help and or to talk about their mental health or other varied life challenges. You will be supporting people who are seeking help for drugs and alcohol help for themselves or from family members concerned for their loved one.
Training is provided to all volunteers to support them with their volunteering role and enable them to further their skills and experience with our client group.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Time Commitment: We recommend that volunteers can commit to an average of 3 hours online per week for a minimum period of six months.
Service Delivery
- Be available for the duration of the shift to answer web-chat/calls as they happen.
- Engage with individuals in a friendly and empathetic manner.
- Gain an understanding of the individual needs and sign post to appropriate organisations for further support or explore specialist services as required.
- Link individuals into Forward Trusts community drug and alcohol services when required and link individuals into drug and alcohol help in other geographical areas where Forward Trust does not have a service.
- Report any Safeguarding concerns to shift supervisor and follow safeguarding procedures as appropriate.
- Respond to offline messages at the beginning of each shift.
- Debrief with and ask for support and guidance from Reach Out Coordinator regarding any concerns arising from web chat conversations.
- Provide handover to supervisor and/or next volunteers covering the shift prior to logging off
- To book shifts in a timely fashion and inform the Reach Out Coordinator of any need to cancel a shift at the earliest opportunity.
- Engage with support and supervision offered by placement supervisor.
CHECKS REQUIRED FOR THE ROLE
- 2 References (this may be from a keyworker, volunteer supervisor, tutor or sponsor if you are not able to provide a work reference)
- Enhanced DBS Check
Perks and Benefits
TRAINING & INDUCTION
Induction training will be provided to the volunteer and will include the following E-Learning (Data Protection/GDPR/PECR, Safeguarding – Knowledge and Health & Safety – Knowledge).
A full induction to your team including placement specific policies and procedures. Additional volunteer training will be discussed and offered according to the need of the volunteer in placement.
Skills You'll Need
Below is a list of the qualities that we are looking for from volunteers:
- If in recovery, to be 12 months abstinence from all mood altering substances.
- Must be over 18 years of age.
- Ability to use computers and IT equipment.
- To have good verbal and written communication skills.
- To have a clear understanding and maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
- To have a clear understanding of how to set and maintain boundaries.
- To have the ability to reflect and receive feedback.
- To be reliable, flexible and committed.
- To treat individuals with respect and dignity.
- To have the ability to follow instructions.
- To be committed to own learning and development.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Who are we?
Switchboard LGBTQIA+ exists to provide members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as their friends, family and those supporting them, with a listening service that they can contact via phone, instant message and email between the hours of 10am to 10pm every day.
We are happy to talk to service users about any topic they wish. Topics we often talk to service users about include: sexual health, safer sex, relationships, coming-out, gender identity, transitioning, mental health, experiences of hate crimes, support for meeting other LGBTQIA+ people and making friends, and much more.
However, we want to also be upfront and transparent about the fact that not all of our conversations are positive or constructive. Our volunteers can also be exposed to abuse from the public, manipulative callers, sexual fantasies and safeguarding concerns.
What is our over 50's club?
Our over 50's club is a new initiative for Switchboard.
We want to create a space that enables older members of the LGBTQIA+ community to volunteer with us on our phone lines and instant messaging service, whilst providing a social element that encourages volunteers to come together at our London HQ.
This club will meet on both Mondays and Tuesdays during the day (you can choose which day works better for you), completing a shift either between 10am to 1pm or 2:00pm to 5:00pm. You can join us weekly or bi-weekly, whichever you prefer.
We then come together between 1pm and 2:00pm to have lunch (paid for by us) and a good natter!
Volunteers who support Switchboard in this capacity are trained to take both phone calls and respond to instant messages. They do not respond to emails, however.
Who are we looking for?
To ensure we can provide a high quality service to those who contact us, we are looking for volunteers who:
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Simply put, like communicating and chatting with other people (you’re most likely a people-person who feels energised by this type of communication)
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Feel comfortable taking calls and speaking over the phone to people you do not already know
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Are familiar with different instant messaging platforms (such as WhatsApp and other chat tools) and the types of communication they might receive
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Are able to read between the lines to decipher messages
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Are good listeners who let others lead conversations and instead create the space they need
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Are able to ask broad, open questions to keep conversations flowing
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Understand the importance of using the right tone when communicating in writing, and are able to flex their writing style to suit different people
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Have a strong attention to detail, with a particular focus on spelling and grammar
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Are able to evaluate sources of information and identify those that can be trusted, from those that cannot
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Know when to challenge and when to step back
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Have essential digital literacy skills (such as using email tools such as gmail and outlook, search the web for information and copy and paste website URLs)
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Understand and support our mission
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Have an awareness of the challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community
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Are empathetic in nature
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Agree to uphold our values of being non-directive and non-judgemental
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Who are we?
Switchboard LGBTQIA+ exists to provide members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as their friends, family and those supporting them, with a listening service that they can contact via phone, instant message and email between the hours of 10am to 10pm every day.
We are happy to talk to service users about any topic they wish. Topics we often talk to service users about include: sexual health, safer sex, relationships, coming-out, gender identity, transitioning, mental health, experiences of hate crimes, support for meeting other LGBTQIA+ people and making friends, and much more.
However, we want to also be upfront and transparent about the fact that not all of our conversations are positive or constructive. Our volunteers can also be exposed to abuse from the public, manipulative callers, sexual fantasies and safeguarding concerns.
Training for POC volunteers
At Switchboard we are working to ensure that our volunteer membership reflects everyone within the LGBTQIA+ community. We want service users to be able to speak with volunteers who can empathise with their experiences and volunteers to connect with folks from a wide range of different backgrounds, cultures and identities.
To help enable us to do this even more, we have created brand new dedicated training groups for different identities within the LGBTQIA+ community.
This group training group is specifically set up for people of colour. By joining this group, you'll undertake our Core Acceptance Training programme which equips you with the skills needed to support those contacting us via phone and instant message. Our hope is that this safe space enables you to freely ask questions, put our listening toolkit into practice and discuss approaches to different scenarios in an engaging, enjoyable way.
Who are we looking for?
To ensure we can provide a high quality service to those who contact us, we are looking for volunteers who:
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Simply put, like communicating and chatting with other people (you’re most likely a people-person who feels energised by this type of communication)
-
Feel comfortable taking calls and speaking over the phone to people you do not already know
-
Are familiar with different instant messaging platforms (such as WhatsApp and other chat tools) and the types of communication they might receive
-
Are able to read between the lines to decipher messages
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Are good listeners who let others lead conversations and instead create the space they need
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Are able to ask broad, open questions to keep conversations flowing
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Understand the importance of using the right tone when communicating in writing, and are able to flex their writing style to suit different people
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Have a strong attention to detail, with a particular focus on spelling and grammar
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Are able to evaluate sources of information and identify those that can be trusted, from those that cannot
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Know when to challenge and when to step back
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Have essential digital literacy skills (such as using email tools such as gmail and outlook, search the web for information and copy and paste website URLs)
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Understand and support our mission
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Have an awareness of the challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community
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Are empathetic in nature
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Agree to uphold our values of being non-directive and non-judgemental
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.