Older Person Activity Volunteer Volunteer Roles

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

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

The companion service volunteer can choose to be:

• A companion telephone/video caller                                                               

• A companion within the person’s home

• A companion outside the person’s home

• Or a combination of all three.

Examples of the type of support the service offers include:

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

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

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

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

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

We are looking for the following skills/interests:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please contact the volunteering team for further information

All our Benefits Advocates play an integral role within our Information and Advice team and last year helped us to identify over £2.5 million in unclaimed welfare benefits entitlement for older people in the county. This money is life changing for our clients; improving quality of life and wellbeing, and supporting local services

We are looking for volunteers who are patient, sensitive and reliable, to assist older people to complete benefit forms such as Attendance Allowance. Appointments are usually in the older person's own home but can sometimes take place over the telephone. Full training and ongoing support are provided by our friendly and knowledgeable team.

Our volunteers will also raise awareness of and promote Age UK Devon services to clients, and record details of any other queries or concerns so that our Advisors can follow up with clients.

Skills required for this role are:

· Ability to empathise with others.

· Good verbal and written communication skills.

· Understanding of confidentiality.

· Patience, sensitivity, and reliability.

· Ability to respond appropriately to different and sometimes difficult situations.

· Working as a team member, referring to other team members when appropriate.

· Ability to work unsupervised and manage appointments.

· Good computer skills.

· Knowledge of the Benefits System (training will be provided).

Age UK Devon’s aim is to improve the lives of older people in Devon through delivering services and activities, promoting wellbeing and health, increase independence and access to local services as well as supporting families and carers - enabling people to get the most out of life.

Our volunteers donate their time to enable us to provide fantastic added value to our services and activities and bring a wealth of skills and knowledge to our organisation.

Our aim is to help you enjoy your role and to gain personal satisfaction on your volunteer journey with us – can you be the person we need to help us in supporting and making a positive difference to people in later life in the county?

If you would like an informal discussion about this role or have any queries, please contact Sarah Gunn – Advice and Wellbeing Manager (see our website for details)

Or if you would like to apply please visit Age UK Devon for more information on the role and how to apply.

Do you have a passion for IT or learning new technology? Know your uploads from your downloads or consider yourself a ‘techie’?  Then we are looking for you! But whatever your background, the most important skill you have will be enthusiasm – about being online, technology, willingness to learn and communicate that knowledge to the people Age UK Devon support.

A Digital champion volunteer,  helps older people learn IT skills in a safe and supportive way.

You will help provide support and guidance, to build their digital skills and confidence, enabling them to live a more digitally inclusive and independent life.

The role involves providing personalised support to an older person through one-to-one sessions in their home, or through group coaching in a community setting.

And in return you will gain new skills, be part of your local community, make new friends, and be proud to support Age UK Devon enable older people to get the most out of life!

Age UK Devon will repay any agreed travel expenses

More information about this volunteering role on our website. For an informal chat about this role please call us 

About CARAS:

CARAS is a leading refugee charity in Southwest London, providing firm foundations for new-arrival asylum seekers to build happy and successful lives. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives.

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

Volunteering with CARAS – our Community of Welcome:

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

About CARAS Adult Programme:

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

About the Trips and Holiday Activities Project:

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

About the Role:

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

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

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

Tasks and Responsibilities:

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

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

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

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

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

Requirements – Essential:

To be 18 years or older;

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

To be reliable and punctual;

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

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

Current resident of the UK;

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

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

Requirements – Desirable:

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

Through volunteering with us you will gain:

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

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

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

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

Develop your skills and competencies;

Become an activity lead

As a volunteer activity lead you will run a local Re-engage group who meet on a monthly or fortnightly basis. You will deliver or facilitate regular physical activity sessions for people aged 75 and over in community centres, pubs or church spaces.

This is a flexible role and each group will host activity guests, along with our volunteer drivers who pick up and drop off our activity guests.

Activities can vary from boules and skittles, dancing or singing, or coming up with your own activity to get people moving. In some groups we may have another person coming in to run a specific class so we would ask you to facilitate this and support the activity guests who are attending on the day.

You will be required to complete a DBS check for this role, for which Re-engage will cover the cost.

 Tasks include:

• Facilitating or delivering an inclusive activity with the focus on physical health and social wellbeing.
• Making activity guests feel welcome to the groups and ensuring people can participate in the activities. Activity groups are coordinated by a volunteer group coordinator.
• Following the guidance in your training to ensure that your group sessions are enjoyable, appropriate and in line with our charitable aims.

Your role as an activity lead will be to plan and deliver a session that is achievable for all the activity guests attending. Your session should be inclusive, fun and safely delivered to activity guests. Group activities can stay the same or change on a monthly or fortnightly basis.

This is a long-term voluntary role, so we are ideally looking for individuals who can commit to volunteering with us for at least 12 months.

We are looking for activity leads with the following skills and attributes: 

• Well organised 
• Good conversation skills 
• An enthusiasm for making genuine connections with older people in your community 
• A friendly, empathetic approach 
• The ability to really listen to people 
• Patience 
• A good sense of humour 
• A passion for improving the lives of lonely and isolated older people.  
• The ability to volunteer with others 
• Basic computer literacy (including the ability to use email) 
• As one of our valued volunteers, you’ll receive training from Re-engage, and support and regular communications from your group coordinator. This is a fun and rewarding role which will enable you to connect with lonely older people and make a real and lasting difference to their life.

You can make a difference…Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local, independent charity that has been working with older people in the area since 1963. We rely on your support to keep serving the older residents with in the Wandsworth community. We have a dedicated team of experienced staff and a large network of dedicated local volunteers. Our aim is to enable everyone to age well in Wandsworth. We would love your help to be able to continue to support older Wandsworth residents

Joining our amazing team of volunteers is a fantastic way to give back to the community by providing company and support to an older person in your area.

About the role 

We are looking to find a volunteers for our Memory Lane Project to assist us in providing sessions that will be stimulating, engaging and include a variety of activities that could include word and memory games, paired and group discussions, puzzles and board games, seated exercise and physical activities such as parachute and ball games and target practice.

 You will have fun and enjoy this sessions on a Friday between 11.00am – 1.00pm

About the service 

Gwynneth Morgan Day Centre, where we support older people, adults with dementia, and adults with disabilities between 10am-3pm Monday-Friday. This could include supporting our dementia groups, or providing a hairdressing or nail care service as a treat for our service users.

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• Friendly
• Patient
• Great listening skills

You can make a difference…Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local, independent charity that has been working with older people in the area since 1963. We rely on your support to keep serving the older residents with in the Wandsworth community. We have a dedicated team of experienced staff and a large network of dedicated local volunteers. Our aim is to enable everyone to age well in Wandsworth. We would love your help to be able to continue to support older Wandsworth residents

Joining our amazing team of volunteers is a fantastic way to give back to the community by providing company and support to an older person in your area.

About the role 

We are looking to find a volunteers for our Memory Lane Project to assist us in providing sessions that will be stimulating, engaging and include a variety of activities that could include word and memory games, paired and group discussions, puzzles and board games, seated exercise and physical activities such as parachute and ball games and target practice.

 You will have fun and enjoy this sessions on a Friday between 11.00am – 1.00pm

About the service 

Gwynneth Morgan Day Centre, where we support older people, adults with dementia, and adults with disabilities between 10am-3pm Monday-Friday. This could include supporting our dementia groups, or providing a hairdressing or nail care service as a treat for our service users.

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• Friendly
• Patient
• Great listening skills

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

Tasks you may be involved with include the following:

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

Skills and interests required are:

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

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

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

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

Purpose of role:

With an ageing population, more and more older people are at risk of isolation and loneliness as partners and friends pass away, family members move away and the community around them changes at a fast pace.  As a Befriender, you will become part of the solution to tackling the issues of isolation and loneliness by developing strong relationships with clients and encouraging them to engage in a variety of ways.

Main activities/tasks:

• Visit or call an older person once a week for around an hour
• Spend time getting to know them and understand what things they may like to do at home (e.g. chess, knitting, reading)
• Offer healthy and fun conversation and encourage them to talk
• Give support to enable them to get out in the community and encourage participation in activities
• Promote healthy living and wellbeing
• Accompany them on visits out of the home e.g. going for a walk, shopping
• Support them to find information
• Make monthly reports on visits carried out

Cecil Gardens is a large service containing ninety-nine apartments, close to the city centre of Hull and easily accessible by public transport. The service supports adults with a wide variety of needs including Over 18s, Mental Health needs, Older People, Learning Disabilities and Autism. Our service users live in self-contained apartments and have access to several communal spaces, including a restaurant, a hairdressers and a spa.

We are currently looking for volunteer befrienders at our Cecil Garden service in Hull, if you have a couple of hours to spare and can commit to volunteering on a regular basis, we’d love to hear from you.

Are you a warm and chatty person, who’s also a good listener? We are looking for befrienders who can help someone gain confidence and engage with the local community. Maybe going for walks, trips to a local café, or, supporting somebody to attend their appointments.

Our volunteer befrienders will also encourage people to connect to our internal community here at our service, which includes a wide variety of activity sessions held in several communal spaces on site. As part of our Wellbeing service we are hoping to build a community amongst our Service Users and you will visit service users in their flats and encourage people to join in our activities and take part in events held here.

As a volunteer with Creative Support we offer training for your role, access to a volunteer supervisor, an induction, a monthly volunteer newsletter, and an online volunteer support network group on Zoom.

We are a passionate, inclusive and anti-racist organisation. We embrace diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. As a Disability Confident Employer we welcome applications from people with a disability, and as a proud Stonewall Diversity Champion we actively encourage applications from the LGBT+ community.

Would you relish the opportunity to use your skills and experience to improve the lives of one million older people in financial hardship?

Independent Age is looking for enthusiastic and skilled individuals to join our Board of Trustees. If you’re passionate about our cause and want to help shape the future of our Charity, we’d love to hear from you.

Across the UK, more than 3 million older people are living with limited financial means and experiencing inequalities. At Independent Age, we believe that no older person should face financial hardship. That’s why, by 2027, the charity’s goal is to have improved the lives of one million older people. Through our policy, campaigning, information and advice and grant-making we improve lives by increasing the financial well-being of older people in financial hardship, enabling greater choice and independence.

We are seeking to appoint new Trustees to our Board. Board members serve on at least one of our Committees, which oversee our finance, risk, governance, services, and policy work. We estimate the time commitment for trustees to be around one day per month on average. 

We are particularly looking for skills and experience in one or more of the following:

• Fundraising strategy and performance
• Service delivery and performance 
• Grant-making strategy and evaluation
• Impact measurement 
• Investments (experience of social/impact investing would be a bonus)

If you have the passion to support our cause and strengths in any of these areas, we would love to hear from you.

For more information about Independent Age and the role of our trustees, please see the Candidate Pack below. To apply for this role, please visit our website. The application process will require the following:

• An up-to-date CV
• A supporting statement (no more than 2 pages) that outlines what attracted you to Independent Age’s mission (detailed in the Candidate Pack) and how your skills and experience relate to the role of Trustee.
• A completed diversity monitoring form (optional - link included below).

We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. 

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in south-west London. We work primarily with people who are newly arrived in the UK, most of whom are living in temporary Home Office accommodation. Arriving as a refugee in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language barriers, accessing services, financial insecurity and ongoing uncertainty are extremely challenging and disempowering. CARAS is here to work collaboratively with community members to support them to build skills, connect meaningfully with their local community, and to build positive futures in the UK. 

CARAS offers a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background. For adults this currently includes: ESOL, digital skills and employability sessions; social and recreational activities and casework. All programs are interlinked and work hand-in-hand with one another. For example, community members can practice their spoken English in Coffee Afternoon, and casework issues might be picked up and referred into the team during an ESOL class. We design and develop our programs through consultation and ongoing conversations with our community members. We aim to have a strong volunteer presence across all our programs, fostering connections between asylum seekers and other Londoners! 

About CARAS’s Adult Programming and Coffee Afternoon:

CARAS has been providing support to adult refugee women since 2005, promoting skills and confidence development that helps women gain more power in their lives. In the aftermath of COVID, we have been able to expand our adult programmes, responding to the shifting demographics of those seeking asylum in the UK. We now run a range of mixed programmes for all genders, as well as some women-only spaces. Our coffee afternoon is a mixed group. 

Our coffee afternoon has been running since May 2022 and is one of our most popular groups. It takes place at TARA Theatre in Earlsfield from 1-2.30PM every Friday. Its primary aim is to reduce isolation amongst those we work with by providing a safe, friendly and welcoming space for people to have fun, learn about themselves and each other, and build connections.

In 2023, we have been running creative sessions during Coffee Afternoon, facilitated by freelance creative practitioners in partnership with TARA Theatre. These range from dance to drama, poetry to puppetry. For sessions without a creative practitioner, we sometimes host workshops on important topics such as healthcare rights or have an open and informal space for games and a chat. There is always coffee and a selection of baked goods! 

For more information on TARA Theatre, our partner and host, please visit their website.

Tasks and Responsibilities: 

• To attend CARAS coffee afternoon’s, every Friday between 1-2.30PM in Earlsfield, South-west London. They take place at TARA Theatre, right opposite Earlsfield Station. Location here- https://maps.app.goo.gl/rXwJiKHRj93YFtLG9 (356 Garratt Ln, London SW18 4ES). 
• If there is a week this is not possible, to tell CARAS staff as far in advance as you are able. 
• To welcome and connect with community members attending, working to ensure everyone at the group feels included. 

• To take part if there is a creative activity happening in that session, and help liaise with CARAS staff and the creative practitioner to ensure the activity runs smoothly. 
• To encourage and inspire community members to feel confident and reach their full potential. 
• To share conversation, and chat informally with our community members.
• To assist community members to both recognise and celebrate their achievements. 
• To challenge negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manor. 
• To adhere to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant. 

Requirements:

• To have interest in working with refugees and asylum seekers. 
• To be non-judgemental, and able and willing to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, and differing levels of English. 
• To be reliable and punctual. 
• To be a current resident in the UK. 
• To provide five years’ worth of addresses and be willing to undergo a UK DBS check.
• To attend CARAS General and Safeguarding Training, and any further training as necessary. 
• To be 18 years or older. 

Through volunteering with us you will:

• Meet new members of your local community 
• Learn about different cultures and life experiences from across the world 
• Learn about issues relating to refugee and asylum seekers 
• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team 
• Develop your skills and competencies 
• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding 

To Apply:

Please fill in the volunteer application form and email it to us. Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with the Head of Adult Inclusion and Adult Program Coordinator these meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP! 

Details for this role are in the description and not mentioned in the application form but please fill in your details in the Volunteer application form attached and send it back to us 

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in South West London, and helps them to play their full part in the community. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives. 

We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background, providing them the tools they need to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults include currently include: ESOL classes; sports; women’s creative writing; women’s coffee morning, and casework. 

About the CARAS Adult Team: 

In the post-pandemic environment, CARAS is responding to the role of digital literacies in our programme delivery to learners of asylum-seeking and refugee background. In contrast to the UK essential Digital skills framework, we have built in language inclusion to create a participatory learning course for Essential Digital Literacies for learners who are new to reading and writing in English. The individuals joining CARAS are highly diverse, with different countries of origin, linguistic and educational backgrounds. We have observed over the last year that many CARAS community members have limited digital skills, particularly in regard to using computers. Community members have highlighted that computers are important for many individuals to achieve their educational and employment goals, whilst increasing confidence and independence. We have co-designed a digital skills program in partnership with CARAS community members to improve computer literacy and skills, focusing on basic computer literacy.

About the Role: 

We are seeking two volunteers based in London to teach our lively computer classes in Tooting every Monday 9:00-11:00. Volunteers will lead the sessions with guidance from the CARAS ESOL Teacher and will work closely with our community members to build their skills and confidence using computers. The Digital Literacies course at CARAS is built around Pre-entry to Entry 2 levels in English. Volunteers will be supporting individuals with tasks such as: getting to know how to use a computer, using the internet, setting up an email address, and using Microsoft office. We intend to fold employability sessions, including CV writing and job searching, into these sessions. 

Volunteer Tasks and responsibilities: 

· Lead on the delivery of sessions with support from CARAS’s Essential Digital Skills Teacher. 

· Assist with the logistical set up of the sessions, supporting CARAS staff where needed. 

· Work collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the project. 

· Create class registers and records as required. 

· To attend and contribute to volunteer pre- and de-briefs at each session. 

· To act as a positive role model and set standards of behaviour when volunteering. 

· Support people to develop their knowledge and skills and encourage and inspire participants to reach their full potential. 

· To assist participants to both, recognise and celebrate their achievements. 

· To challenge negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manor. 

· Advocate for the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants with not for them. 

· Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant. 

Requirements: 

· To be non-judgemental, and able and willing to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. 

· To be female identifying. 

· Have a good understanding of how to use a computer. 

· To be reliable and punctual. 

· Excellent presentation and communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English. 

· Commitment to support people seeking asylum to take control of their asylum journey. 

· Ability to volunteer every Friday for a minimum of three months. 

· Current resident in the UK. 

· Ability to work in Tooting SW17. 

· To provide five years’ worth of addresses and be willing to undergo a DBS check. 

· To attend CARAS General and Safeguarding Training sessions. 

· To be 18 years or older. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

· Meet new members of your local community 

· Learn about different cultures 

· Learn about issues relating to refugee and asylum seekers 

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team 

· Develop your skills and competencies 

· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding 

To Apply: 

To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form from the CARAS website using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.

Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with a member of the CARAS staff team. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP! 

We are looking for fun, reliable, and enthusiastic Independent Visitor volunteers from all different cultures, backgrounds and experiences who have a genuine interest in making a difference to the lives of children and young people.

Our Staffordshire Independent Visitor Service is looking for volunteers in or near to Walsall.

• Are you passionate about wanting to help young people?
• Do you have 2 to 4 hours to spare, once a month?
• Are you ready to make a long-term, regular, commitment?

If the answer is yes and you would like to support a child or young person currently in the care of their local authority, then we would love to hear from you.

You will decide with your young person what to do, but activities could include going to the cinema, bowling, playing football, going to a restaurant, riding a bike, or walking in a park.  We will match you with a child you share common interests with.

You do not need experience of working with children and young people, just an interest in their development and welfare. Full training and support are provided.

Here’s a few of the young people we have waiting for a volunteer:

• Amy (12) lives with an older carer, she would like an active Independent Visitor who can do sports with her.
• Brad (13) lives in residential care with other young people, he doesn’t have anyone in his family visit. He would like an Independent Visitor to take him out and have fun, like the other young people.
• Cassie (16) lives with carers in a new town, she doesn’t have any friends in the area yet. She would like an Independent Visitor to help with her confidence and going out in the local area, she loves hot chocolate and cake.
• Danny (11) lives with foster carers and attends a special school. He would like an Independent Visitor to help him be more independent, he likes parks, aeroplanes, and animals.
• Emma (9) lives with her carer in a very busy household, she would like an Independent Visitor to spend some time with her on her own trying different activities together.  

 *names have been changed
 

The Application

• Volunteering mainly happens at weekends and after school hours as the young people are usually in school during the daytime
• The role requires commitment of at least 24 months with one visit per month; this ensures stability for the Child or Young Person
• Complete the Personal Statement section on the application form as fully as possible; tell us all about you; it forms part of the shortlisting process

Our values are to be Compassionate, Open and Bold.  If this sounds like you, please click the apply button.  Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please call or email and we will be happy to help.​