Service manager volunteer roles in hackney, ceredigion

Location: Remote with travel across England/Wales
Contract: Fixed-term project (Length TBC)
Hours: Part-time

Salary: Volunteer
Reporting to: Peer Support Lead

About Long Covid Support

Long Covid Support is a registered charity committed to advocating for and supporting individuals living with Long Covid. Our work includes peer support, awareness campaigns, and partnership building to address the ongoing needs of people with Long Covid across the UK.

Role Overview

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Project Manager to establish two in-person peer support networks for individuals with Long Covid in underserved communities in England and Wales. This is a dynamic and collaborative role, ideal for someone with strong project management skills and a passion for community-based health support.

Key Responsibilities

1. Research and Scoping

• Identify and scope two target areas with high prevalence and need for Long Covid support.
• Collaborate with the Peer Support Lead, local contacts, and established community groups.
• Conduct visits, assess existing support networks, and engage through social media.
• Evaluate suitability of community spaces in partnership with our community space provider.

2. Assessment of Resources and Gaps

• Map existing services, networks, and links to the charity’s current support offerings.
• Identify service gaps and opportunities where peer support groups could add value.

3. Implementation and Support

• Set up two local peer support groups using identified community spaces.
• Recruit and train volunteer facilitators to run group sessions.
• Connect with expert services for supplementary support at group meetings.

4. Evaluation and Reporting

• Use appropriate evaluation tools to measure impact and effectiveness.
• Produce a comprehensive project summary with findings, learnings, and recommendations for future initiatives.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Demonstrated experience managing short to medium-term projects.
• Background in peer support or community health initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Familiarity with evaluation tools and reporting processes.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Long Covid or experience working in long-term health conditions.
• Existing network or experience working in England/Wales health or community sectors.

The ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Service

Our ESOL provision is part of the Centre’s Employment and Learning Service, which also includes digital inclusion and employment support.

We have qualified volunteer ESOL teachers providing 1:1 support to clients who want to improve their English.  We also have a couple of volunteers running small conversation classes at the Centre, within our Family Services.

We now want to expand our ESOL offer to include learning opportunities offsite in a group setting to adults and young people in temporary accommodation, mainly asylum-seeking families.

What will you be doing?

• Conversational English with a small group
• Find out from your students what areas they want to cover and what skills they want to develop
• Encourage a positive atmosphere where students feel they can make mistakes
• The aim of the groups is to help our clients to become more independent and to pursue their social and professional goals. 
• Be aware of the variety of levels within the class, providing support for weaker students and challenge for stronger ones
• Give students encouragement and constructive feedback
• To liaise with the manager of Family Services and communicate any issues that arise with the class 

How does this role make a difference?

This support provided by volunteers to our clients really helps them progress with their English. Often clients do not have opportunities to learn English or interact with an English speaking person, so this opportunity is invaluable to them. Improving our clients English also enables individuals to access our other services such as welfare rights and Immigration advice services, digital inclusion, which will in turn, improve their employment prospects and assist in integration in their local community.

Who will you be helping?

Our clients are refugees, migrants and asylum seekers who are unable to afford or access English classes at colleges. We have many clients at the Centre who need support with their English.

What are we looking for?

• Experience in teaching English as a second language to adults in a group setting and to mixed abilities and a range of languages.
• A recognised ESOL/EFL teaching qualification such as CELTA.
• Good communication and organisational skills.
•  An awareness of some of the issues that affect refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
• A commitment to upholding the Centre’s values of valuing each person, welcoming, encouraging potential, working together, reflecting and improving.

Time Commitment:

The class will run on Wednesdays from June 2025, from 10.30am – 12/12.30pm. We ask for a commitment to run this 90 – 120-minute class for at least two terms ideally. 

How will you be supported?

•  You will be supported by our Volunteer Coordinator, the Manager of Family Services and the wider team
•  You will receive a Centre induction.
•  You will have access to e-learning modules on a range of topics.
• You will be reimbursed for reasonable and agreed ‘out of pocket’ expenses such as travel.
• You will be invited to social and other events

Please note that despite the January deadline on the job description, this role now has a rolling deadline and will be actively interviewing until the position is filled.

About TLC 

The Trans Legal Clinic is the first trans-led specialist gender identity legal practice and registered charity in the UK. The mission of the Trans Legal Clinic is simple; we provide free and accessible legal help to transgender and non-binary people in need. Our overarching vision is a society where all people have access to the legal resources required for gender self-determination and where gender diversity is not just accepted but embraced, with trans* people equipped with the necessary legal tools to navigate the world in their affirmed gender. 

Service Introduction 

The Casework department is the core of our organisation, working directly with clients by offering them support and advocacy. We have assisted over 70 clients since October 2023 and will be re-opening our referrals in January 2025 to new clients seeking our support. 

Our Casework department is divided into four teams. Each team constitutes of one Specialist Caseworker who oversees 5-15 casework volunteers. Our four teams are: 

Housing and Homelessness 

Discrimination 

Gender Recognition: legal transition and healthcare advocacy 

Gender-Based Violence: domestic abuse and hate crime 

Our Gender-Based Violence team provides specialist support to trans* individuals who have experienced hate crime, domestic abuse, and/or sexual violence. We work with compassion and care to empower our clients, often in extremely distressing circumstances, offering practical assistance in navigating the criminal justice system, obtaining protective orders, and accessing support services. Recognising the unique challenges trans* people face in these situations, our team works to address systemic inequalities and ensure that all clients feel safe, heard, and supported throughout their journey to justice and recovery.  

Key tasks and responsibilities 

Support and outreach 

Be fully aware of safeguarding issues and lead on client risk management within the service. 

Update the Gender-Based Violence client database to ensure client records are updated within agreed timeframes and that they accurately record interventions and demonstrate progress. 

Liaise with our team of solicitors when requesting advice and guidance on a case. 

Reach out to organisations that specialise in gender-based violence, especially hate crime, domestic abuse, and/or sexual violence and trans* specific services, to collaborate and share knowledge and resources.

Teamwork 

Lead the Gender-Based Violence team by supervising caseworkers.

Support caseworks by setting clear objectives and holding team and individual supervisions regularly. 

Set and moderate team performance targets. 

Attend department meetings and contribute to discussions. 

Be respectful to colleagues and support good communication between all stakeholders. 

Research 

Create and deliver training for current and future caseworkers in the Gender-Based Violence team. 

Create resources for caseworkers on relevant legislation, case studies, and good practice, to allow them to become more knowledgeable and independent whilst working with clients. 

Create resources for clients and those seeking information on our website about hate crimes, domestic abuse, and sexual violence. 

Conduct general research into hate crimes, domestic abuse, and sexual violence experienced by trans* people in the UK. 

General 

Ensure you approach to contact with clients is trauma-informed and person-centred. 

Adhere to Trans Legal Clinic’s Policies and Procedures at all times. 

Cover for other members of the team and department as necessary. 

Be proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying upon areas for improvement and development. 

Undertake any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the role and/or reasonable required by more senior members of staff. 

Attend and participate in external meetings and briefings as required. 

The duties listed are not exhaustive and may be varied from time to time as dictated by the changing needs of the Trans Legal Clinic. The post holder will be expected to undertake other duties as appropriate and as requested by their line manager. 

Wekume

Wekume is a comprehensive mobile app designed to provide university students in Uganda with seamless access to reproductive health services, including counseling, testing, products, and health education, while also offering personal development resources like business incubation and career-building opportunities

• Limited Access to Reproductive Health Services: Many university students in Uganda face barriers such as stigma, limited health resources, and lack of awareness, which prevent them from accessing essential services like family planning, STI testing, and HIV prevention.

• Stigma and Misinformation about Sexual Health: In my Ugandan community, discussions about sexual and reproductive health are often taboo, leading to misinformation and fear.

• Youth Unemployment and Lack of Opportunities: Beyond facing rigid access to reproductive health, there's a lot of unemployment among student

• Inclusivity for Vulnerable and Minority Groups: These marginalised groups include refugees and students with disabilities.

Wekume provides:

Convenient Access to Reproductive Health Services: Wekume provides a centralized mobile platform that enables students to easily obtain sexual and reproductive health information without the need to visit healthcare facilities in person. This includes:

• SafeChat: Anonymous virtual counseling services aimed at reducing stigma and promoting open discussions about reproductive health issues.

• QuickTest: A feature that allows students to schedule HIV testing and receive their results quickly.

• ARV Corner: Offers information and support regarding anti-retroviral treatment for students living with HIV.

International Fundraising Manager (US & Europe-based candidates)

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

Wekume is a youth-led movement empowering students to reach their full potential by breaking barriers to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) through collaboration, empathy, innovation, and community. Our core product — the Wekume app — provides university students with trusted, discreet access to lifesaving tools like SafeChat, QuickTest, ARV Corner, and SRH product ordering. Together with our on-campus engagements and social media platforms, Wekume helps students protect themselves and rewrite the narrative around SRH in Uganda.

Role Summary Wekume is seeking a Volunteer International Fundraising Manager to design, build, and lead our international fundraising efforts. This is a key leadership role, critical to growing partnerships with corporations, individuals, businesses, organizations, and allied nonprofits to help fund Wekume’s transformative work. You will recruit, guide, and mentor a team of experienced fundraisers and gift officers, working together to secure the support needed to:

1. Develop and launch our new and improved Wekume app
2. Fund vital programs, SRH product access, marketing, transportation, volunteer support, leadership salaries, and more
3. You will also help share Wekume’s story globally — inviting the world to stand in compassion and purpose alongside our innovative Ugandan team, and to advocate for hope, dignity, and the power to protect oneself.

Note: Wekume has 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship through Give to Africa, enabling U.S. donors to make tax-deductible donations. Additionally, Friends of Wekume is a non-profit charity awaiting 501(c)(3) status to provide US-based fundraising support to Wekume in Uganda.

Key Responsibilities

1. Build and manage Wekume’s international fundraising team
2. Develop and lead strategies to engage corporations, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and other partners
3. Strengthen Wekume’s global donor network through storytelling, outreach, and relationship building
4. Ensure consistent progress on both major gift and grassroots international fundraising efforts
5. Collaborate closely with Wekume’s leadership, grants team, and marketing team to align messaging and goals
6. Mentor and inspire your team, fostering growth, accountability, and excellence

Required Qualifications

1. Significant experience in non-profit fundraising, donor engagement, or major gifts (international experience a plus)
2. Strong leadership skills with experience managing and mentoring teams
3. Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
4. Passion for Wekume’s mission and the drive to help reshape futures alongside our Ugandan team
5. Strategic thinker, able to set vision and translate it into action

What You’ll Gain

1. A leadership role building the foundation for Wekume’s global fundraising success
2. The opportunity to make a transformative impact on young lives in Uganda
3. Experience leading international fundraising in a dynamic, start-up non-profit

Weekly Time Commitment

10+ hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

6+ months

Do you have senior clinical service experience and a passion to improve the lives of people with a life-limiting illness and their families?

We are looking for applicants with health care experience at a senior management or board level. As a member of the Board of Trustees this position will support the Executive Board to deliver our organisational strategy and ensure that our Charity has in place appropriate and effective controls to deliver outstanding standards of care and services to all stakeholders.

Key skills and experience for this Trustee role

• Extensive health service experience at leadership level in either primary or secondary care

• Clinical experience in community care with shown ability to enable change management

• Quality standards and requirements of the Care Quality Commission

• Ideally, active in clinical practice

• Safeguarding (adults and children), risk management and data management

• Keen interest in professional education, research and development

• Developments within the field of palliative care

East London Waterworks Park is looking for comms strategists and PR managers to help grow East London Waterworks Park's audiences.

East London Waterworks Park is a charity that has raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for communications strategists and PR to participate in our community-led working group who are promoting public awareness and support of the project. 

There is opportunity to lead on projects across communications, content creation, social media, PR, newsletters, film, podcasts or any other channels of interest, and facilitate the direction of the working group.

The Comms Circle currently meets fortnightly on a Tuesday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

You should be experienced in implementing effective strategic communications, managing media relations and social media platforms by creating engaging content, and building online communities. Strong writing and editing skills for various materials including press releases and social media posts. Comfortable with community-led processes. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role. 

Contribute to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. Your strategic communication will be instrumental in fostering a strong connection between our community, the park, and its biodiversity. Your input will help us craft compelling narratives that inspire, educate, and engage our service users, stakeholders, funders, and the general public, ultimately driving support for the park's mission and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

Clinical Trustees

We have a vacancy for clinical trustees who have worked in health or social care to join our board of trustees, to be part of the full board and our clinical sub-committee. We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic to support the organisation with their skills and knowledge to continue to deliver a service that is safe and meaningful to its service users. We are particularly keen to meet a candidate who has experience in community neurological services and safeguarding.

We are a charity with 30 years’ experience of providing physical, emotional, and social support to adults with long-term neurological conditions in Richmond and neighbouring boroughs. Our passionate, professional service helps individuals and their carers to achieve a greater quality of life, enhancing their long-term well-being. INS has up to twelve trustees and has three subcommittees Clinical, Finance and Fundraising and Marketing.

 We are looking for a trustee who is initerested in

Working with fellow trustees to shape, drive and monitor the charity’s strategy.

Commited to attending 3 Clinical Committee meetings per annum (on average lasting 1.5 hours), as well as four full board Trustee meetings (1-2 hours) • Prepare for and participate fully in board and sub-committee meetings.

Ensuring the proper management and administration of the charity.

Using any specific skills, knowledge or experience you have, to help the board of trustees reach quick and sound decision by leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Reviewing funding applications, agree the allocation of funds and have oversight of the progress of funded projects.

Promoting the work of INS externally

Participating in sub-committees.

Ensuring that the charity’s mission, values, and the principles of best practice are upheld in the delivery of its objectives. 

Say Aphasia is seeking an enthusiastic and skilled volunteer grant writer to join our small but dedicated team. As a proactive member of our charity, you will help secure funding to support people living with Aphasia—a communication disability that affects over 360,000 people across the UK.

Job description:

As our Grant Writer you will be responsible for identifying appropriate grant opportunities, and managing the grant development and proposal process from research to submitting grant applications with any supporting documents.

As our grant writer, you will:

• Identify appropriate sources of funding where we fit their criteria. 

• Write appropriately tailored grant/funding bids that meet funders’ interests and requirements and to write any additional documents in support of funding bids.

• Help develop a Trusts and Foundations strategy to help create and maintain strong and diverse income that meets Say Aphasia’s funding needs.

• Create a calendar of grant deadlines and track submitted funding proposals.

• Help us develop a case for support.

• The bid writer will receive a percentage from successful funding received from their submitted applications.

If you are an experienced grant writer or you just enjoy researching and persuasive writing then we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for a someone who has:

• Experience of being a grant writer, project proposal writer, marketing, or nonprofit development.

• Excellent writing, analytical, and research skills are essential.

• Creative and persuasive written and spoken communication skills. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to inspire and engage diverse audiences.

• Self-motivated and highly-organised.

• Ability to work remotely.

• Ability to search online databases and other sources to identify appropriate funds.

• An understanding of how grant funding works, and the variety of requirements from different Trusts and Foundations.

• Ability to organise your own work, track and report back regularly. 

• Ideally have a good network of people, organisations and charities which can help us to support our projects.

• Determination to get the job done.

You would be working closely with the charity’s Service Manager, with regular updates and remote meetings as needed. We have an induction process that will help successful applicants to understand how our charity operates. We would like to offer the volunteer a commission on successful grant applications. 

Join Manor Gardens Welfare Trust (MGWT) as a Trustee and play a pivotal role in empowering communities to thrive. Help us deliver innovative, culturally competent services tackling inequalities and improving lives across Islington and beyond.

MGWT has been at the heart of community support since 1913, continuously evolving to meet contemporary challenges. Our dynamic hub in Upper Holloway supports over 2,600 people annually, promoting health, wellbeing, and social inclusion among diverse, underserved communities. Our services include multilingual advocacy, mental health support and therapy services, youth service provision as well as chairing Islington's award-winning Food Partnership working for a sustainable food system in the borough. 

Although MGWT is a local charity, we have a notable track record of innovation and wider impact. We pioneered the first LGBTQ+ youth group in Europe and launched the UK's first specialist psychotherapy service for survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Our groundbreaking work continues to inform practices and policies at both local and national levels.

We are particularly seeking trustees with skills in fundraising (including expertise in securing grants from trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, statutory funding, legacies, and major gifts), Human Resources, and communications. Knowledge, experience, and a thorough understanding of the charity sector are essential, alongside a demonstrable commitment to our values. Previous board experience is desirable but not essential. We particularly welcome candidates with lived experience of the issues we are seeking to address, including socioeconomic inequality, mental health, and the asylum process. 

Trustees commit roughly 6 hours monthly, guiding strategic direction, ensuring effective governance, promoting equality and inclusion, and serving as ambassadors for MGWT’s vital work.

Single Parents Support and Advice Services is a Charitable Incorporated Company with over 35000 members UK wide. 

Our charity founder and director, Nicola Booth, took the initiative to set up SPSAS in 2012, with the purpose to reduce isolation, loneliness, and to promote equal and fair treatment amongst Single Parents and their Children. We also aim to help, advise and support single / lone parents by giving them access to support and services that they normally would not be able to access for varied reasons. We try to eliminate the stigma attached to being a single parent in society, within all ethnicities across the UK. 

Our charity runs solely on donations and all members of our charity, including the director are currently working on a non-paid voluntary basis. Despite these hurdles, we feel we have made a positive impact with our services. 

We are looking for a solicitor or barrister to occasionally supervise our legal student advisors currentlystudying LPC/BPC. The role is based remotely

Key Responsibilities:

Your duties will include, but are not limited to, will include the supervision of students carrying out legal work, including some legal advice activity, 

Essential

·Be a qualified solicitor/barrister with experience of family law and various other laws;

·Have a valid practice certificate 

·Commitat least 1 day a week for a minimum 3-month period

·Have an enthusiasm for working with students;

·Have proven networking and public speaking skills;

·Be dedicated to providing a stimulating learning environment for students;

·Have a demonstrable commitment to pro bono, ideally through pro bono work or volunteering;

·Have an understanding of and commitment to the roles of both clinics and pro bono in the provision of legal services;

·Have excellent organisational and management skills;

·Have excellent verbal and written skills and ability to convey complex information in an accessible way;

·Be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines ;

·Be able to prioritise tasks;

·Be able to work as part of a team;

·Be able to use computer and information technology;

·Demonstrate enthusiasm, initiative and motivation

We hope we have caught your interest and very much appreciate it if you would agree to become a volunteer for SPSAS.

Volunteer Sunday Admissions Assistant

You'll be multitasking throughout the day, with a mix of responsibilities including customer service, ticket sales, promoting Gift Aid donations, shop duties, guiding visitors and providing information about the Museum and the collection. If you enjoy a fast-paced environment and love engaging with people, this is the role for you. 

The Volunteer Admissions Assistant role is all about making a lasting impression and creating a memorable visitor experience. You’ll be:

• Welcoming and engaging with visitors, sharing information about the museum and its collection.
• Selling tickets and gift shop items, ensuring smooth transactions and great customer service.
• Collecting data for Gift Aid and marketing purposes, including how visitors found out about us.
• Creating positive experiences to encourage return visits and word-of-mouth recommendations.
• Helping visitors explore the Museum through interpretation, answering questions and distributing trails, accessibility and family activities.
• Maintaining the gift shop, including restocking, counting stock, and setting up attractive displays.
• Conducting online research and building contact lists to support marketing efforts.
• Promoting the Museum locally, raising awareness and encouraging more visitors to discover what we have to offer!

Who we’re looking for:

We’d like to extend an invitation to anyone, particularly members of the local community.  Full training will be provided, we are looking for anyone with:

• Great customer service skills – you will be friendly and confident about approaching visitors of all ages and backgrounds
• Great communication skills – you will be able to clearly explain information about the Museum and ticketing to visitors
• Good computer skills – with training, you will be able to use our ticketing system, email and Microsoft Office
• Good Sales Skills – you will be able to promote ticket sales and gift shop items as well as encouraging Gift Aid donations
• Multitasking skills – with various responsibilities such as selling tickets, guiding visitors, and managing the gift shop, you will be able to juggle tasks efficiently
• A good telephone manner
• Good team working skills

This role offers plenty of variety, and you'll play an important part in making every visitor's experience unforgettable.

Training and support:

All volunteers will first be invited for a trial shift.  We have an induction and training process, during which we give volunteers the information they need to enjoy their time with us. Training is mainly 'on the job', supported by an experienced volunteer as well as the manager on duty. Volunteers are given regular feedback and we remain open to suggestions on how we can improve the volunteer experience. The Admissions Assistant receives continued training and development throughout their time with us.

Availability:

We are looking for Sunday volunteers to support our reopening.  We are looking for volunteers who would ideally like to donate 2-4 shifts per month, as a 11am-2pm shift, a 2pm-5pm shift, or a full day, for a minimum of 3 months. Ideally you will be able to start immediately, although this is not essential. Travel expenses up to £5 will be paid, with up to an additional £5 for lunch expenses if you are on a full day shift.

Please note: Applicants from some overseas countries are required to have a relevant work permit or student visa to volunteer in the U.K. We’ll need to see this for our records before volunteering can commence.

We are looking for someone keen to move into the area of advising small charities on management and governance issues and assessing their needs in these areas.

We are a very ambitious local grant-making charity that also offers various training, support and consultancy services to small charities and community groups in Ealing & Hounslow. Our broad-ranging plans are now beginning to bear fruit and so we need someone to help us in the following areas as demand for our services begins to grow:

• Supporting small groups and start-ups with basic governance and management issues
• Promoting our services to local groups and assessing their needs

Our ideal candidate would have a good all-round management or professional background gained over a number of years, but need not be experienced in the areas mentioned above. You'd be given full training, with the opportunity to shadow the people already working in these areas. Far more important is adaptability, initiative, an ability to get on well with people from all sorts of backgrounds, and good organisational and writing skills. Most crucially you would have a demonstrable commitment to our ideals of promoting a strong and influential civil society in West London. You will thrive on challenges and find rewards in seeing our objectives achieved.

The role would probably require an average of 1 day a week and would involve dealing with our clients during office hours, so you will probably be someone who is working part-time, or is perhaps retired or semi-retired, or is otherwise not in full-time employment.

Much of the work would be taking place from home, but it will also involve quite a lot of face to face contact with clients, so living in the Ealing and Hounslow area would be a definite advantage.

All reasonable expenses will be reimbursed and refreshments provided where suitable.

Lifelites is looking for a new trustee to join our Board at a pivotal and exciting time of growth and change. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a small but ambitious charity, making a real difference to the lives of children with life-limiting conditions.

About the role

As a trustee, you will play a vital part in overseeing our work, supporting our strategic direction, and helping us deliver on our Mission. We are particularly keen to hear from people with experience in:

• Marketing
• Communications
• Fundraising or sales

These skills could come from your professional background or from voluntary work. Direct experience in the charity sector is not essential – we’re looking for people whose skills are transferrable and whose values align with ours.

Above all, we’re seeking someone who shares our passion for improving the lives of children and families, and can bring their expertise to help us deliver our Mission.

Why join us?

Lifelites believes that every child with a life-limiting condition should be able to enjoy a childhood filled with joy, connection, and special moments with their families.

Using assistive and sensory technology, we empower children in palliative care settings to play, learn, communicate, and connect with their families. We currently reach around 13,500 children across Britain and Ireland – and we want to do even more.

We have launched a bold seven-year strategy to reach many more of the 99,000 children and young people living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions in the UK.

As a trustee, you’ll help us achieve that goal by guiding our growth, increasing awareness, and improving our sustainability.

What’s involved?

• The Board meets in person at least four times a year, plus an annual away day.
• Trustees are also expected to join one of our committees and may occasionally support specific projects.
• Most additional meetings take place online.
• This is a voluntary role, but reasonable expenses are covered.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. These words are engrained in our services and our culture. As an organisation that seeks to empower children and young people with life-limiting conditions and complex disabilities, we are similarly committed to these values in the way we recruit and develop our people, build our teams, work in partnership and cultivate success. We actively welcome, nurture and celebrate the different abilities, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith, and gender of candidates, existing staff, stakeholders and volunteers.

We are delighted to have secured funding to deliver a 24-month befriending programme. This exciting opportunity will support the delivery of our ambitious five-year strategy by: 

• Promoting Independence - ensuring more older people can stay independent for longer 

• Providing Connection - enabling friendship and social connection for olderPeople 

The befriending service will be provided through 2 different strands which aim to support older people in different ways based on the needs identified via an assessment. 

Clients will enter the strand that is most appropriate to their needs.

• Strand A: We will offer a local face-to-face service of up to 1 hour for 26 weeks. Strand A provision would be appropriate for older people who have experienced a recent life event, such as a hospital admission, bereavement or home move and who need time limited support and guidance to connect with suitable services and activities.

• Strands B: We will offer ongoing support either face-to- face of up to 1hour or by telephone between 30 minutes and 1 hour. Strand B provision is for older people leaving Strand A that require long term support or for those who are identified as needing ongoing face-to-face or local telephone befriending support on entry to theprogramme. 

Purpose of Role 

• Arrange and carry out assessment for new service users within the befriending service using the Guided Conversation approach, in order to gather appropriate information about the older person, their needs, and what a befriender will be expected (and not expected) to do. 

• Ensure that the person wants a befriender, has given consent, confidentiality has been discussed, and the person is able and willing to join the service. 

• Ensure that volunteers and service users are well-matched and that the service runs safely, effectively, and in line with organisational standards. 

Key Tasks 

• Carry out a needs assessment for new service users referred to the befriending service. It could be a telephone-based discussion or review of a referral form or a home visit. 

• Gather key information such as visit preferences, activity interests, potential risks, and any unmet needs. 

• Complete assessment forms and input information into the online database 

• Refer service users to other services where appropriate 

• Match service users with suitable volunteer befrienders 

• Introduce befriender and service user, and carry out a 6-week review with both parties 

• Maintain accurate records and liaise with staff throughout the process 

Skills and attributes Required 

• Good communication skills with a friendly approachable manner. 

• Confident using IT 

• Empathy and understanding of older people. 

• Understanding loneliness and social isolation. 

• Consistency and reliability.

• Understanding of Confidentiality. 

• Understanding of and empathy with the needs of older people. 

• Patience and Sensitivity. 

• Confidence to deal with emergencies. 

• Record keeping.

• Ideal for students studying Health & Social Care, though open to all. 

Support Provided 

• You will be inducted in cohorts with other volunteers. 

• Training for the role is provided including Safeguarding, Making Every Contact Count, Sexual Harassment and Building a positive volunteering experience and other more. 

• Ongoing support including regular supervision by the Volunteer Manager. 

• Goup supervision with other volunteers. Groups supervision is a safe place where you can share experiences, challenges, and successes, process emotion and learn from each other. 

• Reimbursement of agreed expenses.

• Access to an AGE UK Discount portal provided by Aon.  

• Monthly volunteer newsletter. 

• We hold an annual Volunteer Award event where we celebrate and recognise the contribution of our Volunteers! 

• Access to in-house training opportunities 

• You will receive supervision and support throughout your course placement from your named supervisor 

Benefits 

• Make a Real Difference: Have a direct impact on the lives of Making a Difference: Volunteering allows you to have a tangible impact on someone's life, particularly those in vulnerable situations. Helping older people can provide a strong sense of accomplishment and purpose. 

• Emotional Rewards 

• Intergenerational Connections 

• Learning and Skill Development 

• Enhancing Career Prospects 

• Building Empathy and Compassion 

• Giving Back to the Community 

• Social and celebration events 

• Placement Support: Ideal for Health & Social Care students—gain placement hours with supervision and guidance from a named supervisor 

• Insight into Care Needs. 

Commitment 

• We expect a minimum of 6 months commitment but would ideally prefer more of a longer-term commitment.

• Weekly commitment 2 to 3 hours.