3 Office coordinator volunteer volunteer roles in Bristol

Become a Helpline, Text & Email Listening Volunteer in Bristol 

Sift has been supporting people affected by self-harm for 40 years. Our wonderful team of volunteers provide valuable, non-judgemental listening to a community that often faces stigma, misunderstanding and a lack of support. 

For this training, we're recruiting Bristol-based volunteers to work across our helpline, text and email services on our Monday and Thursday shifts. These volunteers work from our office, located in the city centre.

Our volunteer training course for this opportunity takes place online over Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October 2026. Volunteers must attend all four dates to complete the training. 

(If you're viewing this ad after these dates have passed, please check the Sift website, where we'll list our next training dates as soon as we have them.)

Why volunteer? 

By volunteering with us, you'll: 

• Develop valuable knowledge around self-harm, trauma, and mental health and transferable skills in active listening. 

• Meet supportive, like-minded peers on shift, as well as at our quarterly Volunteer Days where you'll receive additional relevant training. 

• Get support from our coordinators and volunteer team through supervision and reflective practice, ensuring you're always emotionally and practically supported in the work you do. 

• Develop a gentle, transformative approach to mental health support that can be applied elsewhere in life. 

• Transform the lives of an overlooked and misunderstood community. 

What's it like being a volunteer? 

When you join our team, you’ll take part in our four-day in-person training course. The training is an opportunity to meet new people and learn the valuable skills you’ll take with you into the work. 

Working on the service, you’ll answer calls, texts and/or emails from people impacted by self-harm and offer them confidential, emotional support to understand their own experiences and make decisions that are right for them. 

Every quarter, you’ll meet a group of your peers to discuss volunteering and have a safe and confidential space to reflect on the work. 

Who can volunteer? 

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds and life experiences. You may have your own experiences of self-harm or mental health challenges or be keen to learn more about how to support others through these experiences. 

You don’t need previous listening or counselling experience, just an open mind, a commitment to the role, and a willingness to learn. 

We're looking for anyone who wants to offer meaningful support, and can listen with empathy and an understanding that everyone’s situation is unique. We're keen to recruit volunteers who are flexible, adaptable, and open to new learning experiences. 

What happens now? 

After you submit the form, we'll get in touch to arrange a chat if we feel you'd be the right fit for our services. We have limited training spaces available and may only be able to respond if your application is successful. If you don’t hear back from us this time, we recommend following us on LinkedIn or checking our website periodically to look out for training opportunities later in the year. 

Practical details: 

• An Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check will be required for this role, which will be paid for by Sift. 

• Volunteers train on and work across all three of our services: helpline, text and email.

• We ask that volunteers commit to a year on the service after completion of training. If you're looking for a shorter commitment, this may not be the role for you. 

• You must be available on the training dates mentioned above, and available for one evening shift per week on Mondays and/or Thursdays.

Please note that only applications made using our online form will be considered. 

The Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE) is a collaboration of professional bodies and scientific societies established to set and uphold standards of training and education in clinical ultrasound (sonography) in the UK. This is achieved through accreditation of sonographic courses.  CASE works closely with universities and other higher-education institutions to ensure the highest standards are met.

CASE is a not-for-profit organisation which relies on volunteers to commit their time to ensure the students who graduate from our accredited courses do so with the best in education, mentor support and clinical competency and thus preparing the sonographic workforce of the future.

The Member Organisations that make up the Consortium are:

• The British Medical Ultrasound Society
• The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• The College of Radiographers
• The College and Society for Vascular Science
• The Royal College of Podiatry

Further information on CASE can be seen on our website

In over 20 years of operation, the reputation of CASE accreditation as the accepted standard for sonographic education in the UK has grown and become accepted across the NHS and independent sector healthcare providers. In the busy and pressurised context of healthcare provision and diagnosis, CASE accreditation provides the reassurance that a sonographer has been trained to a high standard.

The group of member organisations that provide strategic oversight has operated as a relatively informal collaboration but is now looking to become a legally constituted company.

About the role

CASE is seeking to appoint a part time Independent Chair to provide supportive leadership for the Member Organisations Group. 

The Chair of CASE will:

• Chair the Case Member Organisations’ Board which meets virtually on a quarterly basis, allocating additional time for meeting preparation and follow up. Administrative support is provided by the BMUS.
• Build relationships with Sonography policy leaders within the member organisations and with their representatives that make up the CASE committee, from which the programme of accreditation activity and the setting of standards is conducted. This would usually be via the Committee chair.
• Take part with Board members in increasing the influence of CASE at health policy level across the UK
• Ensure that the Board develops a clear strategy for incorporation, financial sustainability and continuing growth. 
• Work with the CASE Committee Chair to ensure direct communication channels between the strategic and operational arms of CASE are maintained;
• Ensure that the MOs adhere to the terms of reference as set out in the Consortium’s Memorandum of Agreement;
• Act as advisor for the CASE Coordinator regarding actions and issues pertinent to the MOs;
• Provide an independent perspective to ensure the accuracy and quality of strategic CASE documentation including the business strategy, risk register, and policy documents;
• Collaborate with the CASE Co-ordinator to ensure an annual report is produced, providing a record of activity across the CASE year.

Term of Office

The Chair is appointed for a 2-year term.  An extension to the term of office is possible by mutual agreement between the individual and the member organisations.

Expected Time Commitment

Variable, but up to 4 days per year for meetings plus up to 4 days for dealing with documentation, emails and actions.

Compensation

This is a volunteer role, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

The person

• A proven track record of organisational and leadership skills with an ability to motivate and bring people together.
• Experience of committee work and management of meetings.
• Strong inter-personal and relationship skills.
• Ability to be impartial, discreet and exercise sound judgement.
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to listen and engage effectively and respond with tact and diplomacy.
• Partnership working is critical to this role and the candidate will need to be able to demonstrate strong influencing, negotiating and collaborative skills.
• An interest in the delivery of high quality clinical services is required but previous experience in health care is not essential.