Receptionist volunteer roles in stockport, greater manchester

As a bilingual / multilingual Welcome and Reception Support Volunteer, you will be an invaluable part of the Manchester Hub team, supporting the hub to deliver vital frontline services. You'll be the first point of contact for clients and visitors, assisting the administration team with reception duties, and supporting the operation of the Shelter office in their day-to-day business 

You’ll act as the first point of contact for our clients, help to understand their needs and help them access necessary support through the duty or appointment services. Being a positive presence in hubs to ensure visitors feel comfortable and welcomed.

This role is an opportunity to make a real difference to the individuals we support. You’ll be developing your own knowledge and skills to support local people with a range of housing issues as well as providing practical support with form filling and providing a friendly, listening ear. You will gain experience of volunteering within a recognised national housing charity, while supporting your local community. 

Suggested Involvement: Approximately one day per week (can be more & can be flexible around your commitments) 

Availability: This volunteering opportunity will take place within our working hours, Monday-Friday, 9am – 5pm 

Location: Shelter Manchester Hub, Unit 3, Great North Tower, 5 Watson St, Manchester M3 4EE 

Supervised by: Office Administrator

Why volunteer with Shelter? 

A home is a fundamental human need, as vital as education or healthcare. But in Britain today, that right is denied to millions of people whose lives are blighted by homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. The time for change is now.

As a Welcome and Reception Support Volunteer, you’ll be supporting the day-to-day work of Shelter’s housing advisors as they provide advice, support and guidance to the people visiting the Manchester Hub. 

Volunteers are essential to Shelter’s mission to end housing injustice. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. The insights and life experience our volunteers bring to Shelter are valued as much as their contribution through volunteering. 

We aim to provide our volunteers with a positive experience. This is by prioritising accessibility and tailoring the support we provide to the needs of the individual. We make sure our policies and processes are equitable, which means that no-one is unfairly disadvantaged while volunteering because of their background or identity. 

Main Tasks include 

• Cover reception and greeting people who come to the office. 

• Communicating with clients via phone and email to share updates on their case and to gather information. 

• Assisting clients with form filling, paperwork and applications around housing and benefits. 

• Supporting clients with digital skills, for example navigating online systems and forms. 

• Signposting clients to relevant services and providing useful information. 

• General administrative tasks (e.g. minute-taking, photocopying, scanning, and filing). 

Skills and experience required 

• Fluent in English and one of the following languages: Urdu, Arabic, Tigrinya, Kurdish Sorani 

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to understand the needs of our clients 

• Interest in social welfare law, e.g. housing; welfare benefits; debt; community care 

• The ability to work as part of a team and value and communicate effectively with others

• Confident using Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel and PDF documents to a good standard 

• Willingness to follow Shelter’s policies, including volunteering, health & safety, equality & diversity, confidentiality & data protection 

To enable you take part in this opportunity Shelter will:  

• Provide a volunteer pack including a Handbook and all Policies and Procedures. 

• Provide an induction into your role.  

• Provide access to our learning on data protection, safeguarding and screen wellness as well as other appropriate role specific training. 

• Reimburse “out of pocket” expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer expenses policy. 

Benefits of Volunteering with Shelter 

• Supporting Shelter in our fight against bad housing and homelessness. 

• Gain valuable work experience and enhance your CV. 

• Meet new people and be part of a great team. 

• Build your confidence and develop transferable skills. 

Next steps 

Please complete an online application for this role.

Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to a recruitment conversation to discuss the role further. 

Please note, upon offer of role, you will be asked to declare any unspent convictions and undergo a basic DBS check. Having a criminal record does not mean that you cannot volunteer with us. It may limit the different ways that you can get involved, but please contact us if you require more information. 

This is a voluntary position that supports the work of our services and is not replacing the work of a paid member of staff. This role profile does not form part of any contract of employment.

About the Company

Our Vision: The highest quality person centred care for all, always.

The Organisation: Picker is an Oxford-based charity with an international reputation as a key authority in the measurement and improvement of people’s experiences of health and social care services. Our mission is to make person centred health and social care a reality for everyone, always. We are here to:

• Influence: policy and practice so that health and social care systems are always centred around people’s needs and preference.
• Inspire: the delivery of the highest quality person centred care, developing tools and services that enable people’s experiences to be better understood.
• Empower: staff working in health and social care to improve experiences by effectively measuring and acting upon people’s feedback.

We believe that the first step to realising our mission is to gather and make available data to understand the views and experiences both of service users and staff in health and care organisations. We conduct many of the largest quantitative and qualitative research for a wide range of public and private healthcare organisations, national bodies, voluntary sector organisations, and international healthcare providers, investigating issues related to people’s experiences of care and organisations’ efforts to improve services. We are also determined to help turn feedback into action. We do this by a combination of identifying, sharing and promoting best practice via Awards, thought leadership and consultancy services.

About the Role

As part of the Charity’s Board of Trustees, you will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, financial management and governance of the organisation to ensure that at every step we are working to improve people’s experiences of health and social care services. To achieve this, you will:

• Ensure that the organisation works within its mission and charitable objectives and is compliant with charity and company law within the jurisdictions within which it is registered and operates.
• Further the charitable objectives of the organisation, including promoting our mission and staying true to our values.
• Ensure that the organisation’s policies, practice, performance, and operations are in keeping with our aims and objectives.

Responsibilities

Members of the Board of Trustees are expected to:

• Be an active and engaged member of the Trustee group.
• Take part in regular board meetings with a frequency of 6 to 8 meetings each year.
• Undertake work outside board meetings, eg preparation and reading.
• Participate in sub-committees, reflecting trustees’ policies or concerns or provide high level input to defined organisational projects from time to time.
• Interact, respond to and provide constructive challenge to our staff and other board members.
• Occasionally attend our launches and presentations of our work, alongside our staff at events and receptions.
• Occasionally represent Picker at meetings with potential funders or influencers.
• Contribute your skills, interests and contacts and support us in fulfilling our mission and in our influencing and developmental activities.
• Support, coach and help empower our staff to achieve their potential and deliver their goals.
• Take part in any training sessions provided.
• Fulfil any other duties and assignments as may be required from time to time by the Board.
• Act as an advocate for Picker in your activities in other settings.

Commitment

The full Board of Trustees meets every two months, usually in Oxford or remotely via video conference. There may be sub committees, with authority delegated to them by the Board, meeting at other intervals; and staff may seek to consult with you on your particular expertise. Occasionally, you may also be asked to represent Picker at meetings with potential funders or influencers, attend our report or product launches, or work alongside staff at events and receptions. We expect the typical commitment to be around one to two days per month.

Pay range and compensation package

This is an unpaid post, though reasonable expenses incurred through performance of duties will be reimbursed.

Qualifications

Applicants must be committed to the values and vision of Picker and committed to understanding and using people’s perspectives to improve health and social care. Demonstrable passion and commitment to person centred care for health and social care users, their carers and families, and staff is essential.

Required Skills

A background in one or more of the following areas is very desirable for these appointments:

• Communications – with experience of raising the profile of a similar sized charity or organisation to Picker.
• Business development – with expertise in identifying new opportunities to create long term impact.
• Finance experience – with a keen eye for numbers, although you do not necessarily need to be financially qualified.
• Health service – with experience as a user of health and care services, as a researcher in health and social care or as a health service practitioner or manager, whether in the NHS, the private sector, or internationally.
• Social care – with experience of working in or managing a social care provider or elsewhere in the sector.

Preferred Skills

Experience, knowledge, and skills:

• A commitment to the aims and strategic objectives of Picker and the ambitions of its growth strategy.
• A commitment to understanding and using the patient, client, service user, or consumer perspective in health and social care.
• Knowledge and experience of the governance and management principles of a charity registered in England or Scotland (desirable).
• The ability to work supportively with other Trustees, advisers, and executive colleagues to high ethical and professional standards and in line with their legal responsibilities.
• A proven strategic thinker with experience of operating at a senior management level.
• A skilled communicator who is experienced in persuading, influencing, and advising.
• A demonstrable interest in health and/or social care issues and social policy within the UK and/or overseas.
• A commitment to transformational change and learning, improvement and performance.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Picker is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all that we do. This includes a commitment to ensuring diversity in our Board of Trustees so that this group reflects a broad and inclusive range of backgrounds and skills. We welcome applicants from diverse communities and backgrounds.

Please review the full job description before applying

As an Administrative Support Volunteer, you will play an essential role in the team, complimenting the work of the Manchester Hub and allowing Shelter clients to receive the support that they need. The opportunity will allow you to make a difference in your local community as well as gaining hands-on experience in one of the UK's leading housing charities. 

Suggested Involvement: e.g. A suggested minimum commitment of one day per week for six months

Availability: e.g. This volunteering opportunity will take place within our working hours, Monday-Friday, 9:00-17:00 

Location: Manchester Hub, Unit 3, Great North Tower, 5 Watson St, Manchester M3 4EE 

Supervised by: Hub Administrator 

Why get involved with Shelter? 

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We're here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

Shelter volunteers are involved in our head office, services, shops, campaigns, events and our legal teams, and they all contribute their valuable time, skills and experience. We simply couldn’t achieve our goals without them. 

Main tasks 

• General administrative tasks (photocopying, scanning, and minute taking) 

• Covering reception and meeting and greeting people who are dropping into the office on an ad hoc basis 

• Updating local resource documents, such as local authority information sheets

• Inputting information on to our case management system 

• Supporting the team with resources for delivery of training 

Skills and experience required 

• Previous administrative experience or an interest in gaining administrative skills 

• An interest in social welfare e.g. housing, welfare benefits, debt. 

• Ability to manage your own time and task load 

• Confident and professional telephone manner 

• Good communication skills (this may be through experience of working with the public). 

• Confident IT skills including Microsoft Office programmes. 

• The ability to work as part of a team and value others 

• Willingness to follow Shelter’s policies including Volunteering, Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Confidentiality and Data Protection 

Induction, learning and development 

To enable you to take part in this opportunity, Shelter will: 

• Provide you with a Volunteer Handbook and all Policies & Procedures 

• Provide e-learning including Equality & Diversity, Health & Safety, Data Protection, Environmental Awareness and Safeguarding 

• Provide access to other appropriate Shelter training 

• Provide a local induction relevant to your role 

• Pay ‘out of pocket’ expenses in line with Shelter’s Volunteer Expenses Policy 

Benefits of volunteering with Shelter 

• Supporting Shelter in our fight against bad housing and homelessness 

• Gain valuable work experience 

• Be part of a great team 

• Build your confidence and develop transferrable skills 

• Enhances your CV 

Next steps 

Please complete an online application for this role. After you have applied, we will invite successful candidates to an informal interview to discuss the role further. 

Please note, you will be asked to declare any unspent convictions. Having a criminal record does not mean that you cannot volunteer with us. It may limit the different ways that you can get involved, but please contact us if you require more information. 

This is a voluntary position that supports the work of our services and is not replacing the work of a paid member of staff. This role profile does not form part of any contract of employment.  

Befriending Volunteer

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 Wamdsworth 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.

Our Be-a-Friend service is one of our longest running services, matching people over 65, who live alone and have limited social contact, with a friendly local volunteer with similar hobbies and interests. The volunteer and their new friend set up a suitable time for them to meet each week for a chat and a cup of tea, which could be during the day, in the evening on the way home from work or even on the weekends . If you would prefer to volunteer from home, you can also be matched with an older person for telephone befriending. For many of our matched pairs, this is the beginning of a firm friendship. 

Befriending Plus

Befriending Plus is an extended version of the Be-a-Friend programme, for individulas needing help with life admin and small tasks as well as companionship. For Befriending Plus pairs, time spent together can include helping to use a phone or tablet, helping the client to organise their file, going out for a coffee or popping to the post office together. This support can help older people to stay independent at home for longer, as well as increasing their confidence to do these tasks when the volunteer is not there.