Supporter Relations Team Office Volunteer Roles in Lewisham, Greater London

Are you interested in marketing? Have you got experience of using Mailchimp? Help us engage our charity's audience by creating compelling email and newsletter content so that we can support more people affected by a complex, debilitating chronic condition as well as raise awareness of this rare disease. This is a great opportunity to assist a small but mighty charity.

Description

Our small charity delivers awareness campaigns and a range of support services to patients, relatives, partners and carers who have been affected by a debilitating chronic condition; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). We are urgently looking for 2 experienced email marketing experts to join our communications team.

You will be a big link to our charity's clients who are vulnerable and isolated, to them learning more about events, our latest articles, fundraising events as well as ensuring they are aware of the services that we offer that be of help to them. You will also be helping us to raise awareness of this devastating chronic condition.

Even though we are a small organisation we have big ideas and having regular contact through emails and newsletters will show consistency and know they can rely on us to be there for them.

We would like the volunteer to help with:

• Email strategy: Help us plan and articulate how we can use emails and newsletters to strengthen our organisation, motivate our supporters and communicate with our sponsors;
• Email content: Develop our communication & marketing content calendar, write compelling regular email content, including calls for donations & support, that is relevant and has clear a call-to-action and high click through rates;
• Email content (membership): Create a regular email newsletter for our membership scheme
• Create automated email series 
• Design and implement campaigns and promotional activity

What are you looking for in a volunteer?

We are looking for 2 volunteers who have:

• Strong writing and editing skills
• Good computer skills and a willingness to be contacted via email and/or video chat
• Experience using email marketing software - specifically Mailchimp
• Marketing skills
• Experience of working on marketing strategies
• Ability to quickly understand the needs of our team, organisation and our services users (we are not expecting you to know about the condition we support)
• Can ask key questions to enable us to clarify requirements
• Understands the resource constraints of a small charity and is able to work with these
• Open to feedback
• A passion for marketing and email marketing
• Ability to work flexibly on your own or as part of a team with enthusiasm and commitment
• Ability to create email campaigns with little supervision (after initial support)

Skills

• Digital: Email Marketing
• Marketing and communications: Copywriting/Journalism

Making a difference

What impact will the opportunity have?

You will be joining a small charity during a challenging period and your expert knowledge and experience will be invaluable to our success. You will have a key role in ensuring we reach the patients, relatives, partners and carers who are in need of our support and inclusion on a regular basis. With your help we will expand our readership to ensure more people are aware of this condition, which will help those affected by it when they see a health professional.

What's in it for the volunteer?

You would be a part of our small, friendly, forward-thinking charity team, focused on reaching more people affected by this rare condition who may not know that we exist to support them. You would have a key role in developing a strategy to complement our awareness campaigns. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a real difference in someone’s life which is already isolated and painful, but who may not know there is support out there and to then realise they’re not alone.

About the location

Where will the volunteer be working?

The volunteer will be working remotely, online and entirely from your own home.

Travel Limit

This role will be completely remote.

When will the volunteer be working?

Volunteer availability

• Either in or office hours - however we are flexible

Estimate the time commitment

• 3-6 hours / week - but this is flexible however ideally it would be 4 hours or over to ensure email campaigns are going out at the right time

To apply for the email marketing volunteer please send by email your CV together with a covering letter saying why you think you would be a good candidate for this position, via the Charity Job 'Apply Online' 

As a collection tin volunteer, you will play a vital role in supporting us to raise our profile and fundraise within your community.

You will look after the Magpas Air Ambulance collection tins within a designated area, replacing full tins and returning them to an agreed location. You can also help us by finding new locations in which to place tins. These collection tins are an important part of how we raise money, raising approximately £20,000 per year.

As a collection tin volunteer, you will be expected to:

• Represent Magpas Air Ambulance in a respectful and friendly manner
• Understand the work of Magpas Air Ambulance, having basic knowledge and enthusiasm for our service
• Wear your Magpas Air Ambulance ID badge, ensuring it's visible at all times
• Travel to your collection tins (on two or four wheels). Where motorised vehicles are used, you must hold a full UK driving license, have a road-worthy vehicle with up-to-date road tax, MOT certificate (where applicable) and fully comprehensive insurance.
• Establish the regularity of required tin collections in your area, keep a log of your activities and feedback to the Supporter Care Officer
• Proactively replace full collection tins as needed and deliver them to an agreed location within one working day of collection
• Place new tins in locations within your area, ensuring they are accurately labelled with the location and organisation's name
• Inform the Supporter Care Officer of any new tins placed or any changes, helping us to ensure records are accurate and kept up to date
• Follow all Magpas Air Ambulance policies and procedures, including reporting any accidents and incidents
• Recognise, respond to, and report any safeguarding issues or concerns

What to expect from us:

• Regular support and advice from our staff team
• Expenses covered in line with our volunteer policy
• On-the-job training specific to your role
• Events where you can meet other volunteers and share ideas
• Impressive skills to add to your CV and a reference if/when you need it
• The opportunity to meet like-minded people
• We are an equal opportunity organisation and welcome volunteers with diverse abilities



As well as joining the Magpas Air Ambulance family, you will make new friends and be an important connection within your community, representing the work of a lifesaving team.

We are looking for volunteers who have strong IT skills and have experience using online platforms such as Teams and Zoom. This volunteer opportunity is perfect for those looking to volunteer remotely, have the chance to access opportunities and gain more third sector experience.

Who Cares? Scotland Education and Engagement team are looking for a Virtual Education and Engagement volunteer to assist in the delivery of online sessions, discussing and reflecting on Corporate Parenting practice in relation to people with Care Experience. The role will involve providing technical support and supporting the delivery team where necessary. This is an exciting and newly developed role which gives practical experience within the Third Sector, providing training to Corporate Parents on care experience, and would allow for personal development for a suitable candidate.

This position is almost exclusively online, therefore, open to anyone with the ability to work remotely and possesses IT skills.

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 

Thank you for wanting to find out more about becoming a member of Age UK Lambeth’s Board. 

Our Board members are unpaid volunteers called trustees. They fill an essential role in ensuring our charity improves the lives of older and vulnerable people around the borough of Lambeth. We hope that this pack lets you know more about the charity, the role of a trustee and how to apply to become one. 

We currently have seven Board members with space for up to five more. We want to find people who have a desire to direct services that enable lives to be changed for the better.   We want to increase the diversity of the Board bringing different life experiences which match the Lambeth community, broad and diverse as it is. Ideally we want people that bring new skills and experience or enhance those already in place, but this is not essential. It’s not necessary to have previous Board experience.

Please check the Recruitment Pack attached.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Belong is an established, award-winning criminal justice charity with a vision of hope, rehabilitation and recovery for survivors and perpetrators of crime. We work with multiple stakeholder organisations to develop a more humane and effective criminal justice system. Through engaging with our mentoring, restorative justice, psychotherapy and training interventions, individuals and communities achieve positive, lasting change.

Belong wishes to appoint a new Chairperson to our Board of Trustees. We invite applications from individuals experienced in criminal justice and organisational leadership, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

As the Chairperson of our Board you will be passionate about Belong’s vision and motivated to help drive Belong forward on its mission. An organised, energetic and reliable leader, you will support the Board of Trustees and CEO to realise the highest vision for Belong’s success. A fluent and persuasive communicator, you will represent the organisation publicly as well as internally and build relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders. You will be familiar with financial and risk management processes for medium to large organisations.

The role of Chairperson is a voluntary, non-executive appointment. The role requires a commitment of approximately two days per month, with the capacity to flex upwards should the need arise.

Belong fosters an inclusive and welcoming culture where all aspects of diversity are key to the charity’s success. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, lived experience of the criminal justice system and from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

Belong’s Values

Inspiration - Genuinely believing that people can change, heal, and rehabilitate. Focusing on individual’s strengths and abilities. Role modelling evidence-based practice amongst other professionals.

Respect - Accepting people as they are. Being consistent, open and honest with people. Challenging harmful beliefs and behaviour.

Empowerment - Giving people the skills to move forward and take ownership of the future. Enabling people to talk about their experiences. Encouraging people to voice their needs and set goals.

Perseverance - Providing long term support when this is needed. Working through setbacks with people. Understanding that lasting change takes time.

Restoration - Restoring hope and self-worth Re-building relationships. Promoting a culture of hope within criminal justice systems.

Chairperson Role, Responsibilities and Attributes

The Chairperson leads the Board of Trustees and sets its agenda in consultation with the CEO. Their role is to enable Trustees to fulfil their responsibilities for overall governance, risk management and strategic direction. The Trustee Board is responsible for proactively engaging with and understanding Belong, its service users and the wider criminal justice landscape. Trustees must always uphold the best interests of Belong’s service users, ensuring that the charity achieves its charitable aims whilst abiding by charity law and other relevant regulations. The Chairperson supports and empowers the CEO to lead the organisation so that it achieves its vision, mission and aims, whilst remaining sustainable and ethical.

In supporting the trustee board and CEO, the Chairperson is responsible for:

• Acting as an ambassador and spokesperson for Belong when appropriate.
• Creating meaningful and productive working relationships with the CEO, senior leadership team and trustees.
• Providing empowering, supportive line management to the CEO.
• Chair and facilitate trustee board meetings effectively, ensuring that decisions are made fairly and in the best interests of Belong’s service users.
• Supporting the trustees to have a sound understanding and oversight of the organisations finances, including reviewing annual budgets and financial policies.
• Facilitating annual performance reviews for each trustee and for the CEO.
• Leading and developing the board of trustees and CEO including inductions, training and succession planning as appropriate.
• Supporting other trustees to arrange and effectively chair quarterly subcommittees on risk and resilience, finance and fundraising and communications.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact us via the details on our website. To apply for this role, please submit a CV and covering letter using the link below. Please note that we are not able to consider applications submitted without a CV or covering letter. 

We are seeking an enthusiastic volunteer to assist our Client Service Administrator on Reception in hosting our busy reception area and friendly waiting room. In this role, you will use your excellent interpersonal skills to welcome clients and visiting professionals and other volunteers to the Helen Bamber Foundation, making them feel comfortable, attending to any immediate needs they may have, assisting them with their queries and notifying clinicians and other staff of their arrival.

You will be at the heart of an exciting, team of experts working as a representative of the Helen Bamber Foundation and the first point of contact for our diverse range of clients and visitors.  You will be a self-motivating team player, organised, efficient and have a compassionate mind-set. 

Main tasks and activities:

· Greeting clients and ensuring that clients are having their immediate needs met;

· Ensuring the reception is well-presented;

· Answering the phone and responding to a wide range of enquiries;

· Maintaining the shared Outlook calendar and co-ordinating room allocations;

· Booking interpreters;

· Ensuring the smooth running of the day-to-day activities;

· General office administration including: ordering of office supplies, entering data, filing and organising office supplies storage etc;

· Reception cover when needed.

Could you be an Action for M.E. Trustee?

Are you impatient for change, passionate and have time to spare to make a positive impact?  Around 1.3 million children and adults in the UK with M.E. and M.E.-like symptoms following Covid-19 urgently need people like you.

Action for M.E. is the only UK charity support children and adults with M.E., through information, support, advocacy and healthcare services while working to secure change for the future. Over half of our Board of Trustees have direct experience of M.E.

We are a small organisation that regularly punches above its weight, working on a national and international scale and are delighted to be working with staff, volunteers and our Board of Trustees team who are passionate, dedicated and determined. We have high aspirations and ambitions and believe that Action for M.E. can, and will, make a major contribution to creating the change that is so desperately needed.

As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in guiding Action for M.E. to deliver critical services to meet present needs, while working to secure change for the future.

You will work as part of a dynamic Board of Trustees, helping to shape the strategic direction of the charity, bring fresh ideas and perspectives, ensure effective governance and financial stewardship and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

We're looking for up to three individuals, from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We have a particular need for those who bring skills in either one or more of the following areas: research, science, local/national government, policy/advocacy and communications. These will complement the skills we currently have on the Board.

Are you committed to making a difference? Do you want to accelerate change? If you are ready to contribute your time and expertise to this worthwhile cause, we want to hear from you.

Join us in our mission to transform lives. Become our Charity Trustee today!

Please review the application pack attached for further instructions on how to apply to become our next Action for M.E. trustee.

We are a Disability Confident employer and welcome any reasonable adjustment requests required to take part in this recruitment process. 

The closing date for applications is 30 April 2024, with interviews happening on a rolling basis. 

Would you like the opportunity to join the Board of a housing association whose purpose is to work with a co-operative ethos to help people & their communities to flourish? 

Co-op Homes (CHS) is a housing association which owns some 300 properties across London and the South East. We're also a managing agent for 30 other community housing organisations and housing co-ops, providing services to over 2,000 residents. Our unique proposition lies in our ability to provide expert housing management services to housing co-operatives and other small, resident-led housing organisations, enabling them to maintain their autonomy.

Board member opportunities

CHS is governed by a Board of Management made up of paid members who meet regularly throughout the year to direct policy and make major decisions on housing matters. The Board is also responsible for ensuring that we are managed efficiently, effectively and in line with the requirements of the law, regulatory bodies, best practice and value for money.

We have an active Board, currently made up of five members, bringing a variety of skills and backgrounds. Our Chair has been in the role since 2021 and we appointed a new Managing Director within the last year.

We are now looking to recruit two new board members. One who can bring strategic finance expertise and another with building asset management experience.

• Strategic finance: As a provider, we offer a unique set of services that have particular challenges. We are looking for an experienced senior finance professional to help us balance the risks and benefits involved in relation to our portfolio and scrutinise our finances strategically for the longer term. 
• Building asset management: We are looking for expertise in property management. This will include repairs and maintenance, health and safety legislation and regulations, strategic asset management and decarbonisation.

We would very much welcome applications from people who combine relevant expertise with lived experience of social housing or experience of living in a housing co-operative, as we know you would bring a unique insight to the role. For the same reason we would also welcome applications from minority groups. 

As a board member at CHS, you’ll have the satisfaction of joining a dynamic organisation passionate about making a lasting difference to lives and communities. We are looking for people who share our vision and values. Previous board experience is not required.

How to apply

Eastside People is supporting Co-op Homes in the recruitment for this role. Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter, which should indicate why you are interested in applying for a Board member role and how you meet the role requirements.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can make the application process work for you.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 24 May. Online shortlisting interviews will take place the next couple of weeks. Face-to-face interviews with the recruitment panel at CHS will take place on Thursday, 13 June 2024.

Adult Casework Volunteer - Role description 

Role: Adult Casework Volunteer 

Team: Casework 

Supervised by: Adult caseworker 

Location: Tooting office on a Thursday afternoon (2-5.30pm)

Time commitment: 3.5 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months 

About CARAS :  

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.

Our values are at the centre of all our work

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do 

About CARAS casework:

CARAS works with adults and young people of a refugee and asylum seeker background to find solutions to their problems. There are two separate sub-teams within the Casework team; young people and adults. We support adults to navigate the asylum system, understand their options, access benefits, connect with services and realise their goals. We are a non-specialist casework and advocacy service, so we work in close partnership with other local organisations to whom we refer people with more complex issues.

Using the empowerment model, our casework service embodies CARAS’ values of ‘with not for’, always striving to ensure people are armed with the information and resources they need to make decisions and take action for themselves.

About the Role:

We are currently recruiting for 2 volunteers to join our Adult Casework team. 

The purpose of the Adult Casework volunteer role is to support adults with a refugee or asylum seeking background to understand their rights, access information and services, and ultimately, take control of their own lives. You will work with individuals to address problems they may face relating to, among other issues, asylum support, accessing healthcare and education, access to legal advice and finding activities and opportunities.

You will start from an understanding that individuals are always best placed to solve their own problems, and often need nothing more than to talk out a problem and find the solution themselves. When helpful, you will provide information to clarify and support to take action. 

The Adult Casework team hold a support session at our office in Tooting on Thursday afternoons from 2-5.30pm.  Volunteer caseworkers have 1:1 appointments, either in person or by phone, with CARAS members.  These can be related to a range of topics.  Currently our biggest areas of work are around housing for people seeking asylum, access to college, nursery/school places for children, referrals to mental health providers, searches and signposting to activities, finding solicitors and supporting people to apply for bus passes and ID cards.  Volunteers also support with administrative tasks such as updating our databases, collating resources and creating information guides. 

Adult Casework Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:  

• Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting.  

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements.   

• Assisting with filling out forms 

• Signposting and referring onto other services and organisations.  

• Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner.  

• Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations and grants.  

• Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required.  

• Keeping accurate casenotes 

• Supporting to maintain our signposting database 

• Researching and collating resources 

• Working collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the Adult Casework project.  

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

Requirements:

Essential

• Experience of doing 1:1 advice work/casework.

• Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.   

• Confidence in using IT (Microsft office, outlook, zoom, Google search, online forms)  

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

• A commitment to confidentiality and data protection 

• Thorough with good attention to detail 

• Reliable 

• A high level of spoken and written English 

• Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way  

• A calm, friendly, kind and patient approach 

• Enjoyment in speaking to new people 

• A commitment to working in an empowering way 

• Able to maintain boundaries 

• Able to work autonomously 

• Currently resident in the UK 

Desirable 

• Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights and entitlements for people seeking asylum 

• Experience of working with interpreters 

• Direct experience of the UK immigration system.  

• Past experience of working with people seeking asylum 

• Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu or Vietnamese.  

We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process 

Benefits to Volunteering:

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies; 

•  Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Obtain a reference from us relating to your volunteering 

All volunteers must complete a basic DBS check for volunteers working with adults and attend training with us before starting.  You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role. 

To Apply:

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

 Applicants will have an informal meeting with the Adult caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP. 

Successful applicants will undergo training and induction with our team. 

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and people seeking asylum who live in south London, helping them to play their full part in the community. We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a background of forced migration, providing them with tools to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults currently include: ESOL classes (English for Speakers of Other Languages), a creative writing workshop, drama group, yoga and gardening project.

About the CARAS ESOL Team:

COVID has posed unprecedented challenges to refugees and people seeking asylum in London. Many of those we meet have arrived alone in the UK and have been living in contingency accommodation for many months. Our ESOL team offer English language classes to adults at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling people to attend college and access other services in the future.

About the Role:

CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our online Zoom classes on Tuesday mornings:

Entry 1 class: 10 to 11.30am

Entry 2 class: 11.30am to 1pm (plus a 15-minute debrief)

You are welcome to apply to volunteer in one or both classes. Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

As a volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistant your role is flexible and varied. It will involve supporting the Adult ESOL Teacher in the delivery of online Zoom classes, as well as providing learners with one-to-one or small-group support.

Volunteer  tasks and responsibilities:

Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes;

Helping learners build confidence in digital literacy;

Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session;

Helping create “learner portraits” to understand their strengths and areas of interest;

Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class;

Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project;

Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential;

Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements;

Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management, online communications and all other policies as relevant.

Requirements: 

Essential:

To be 18 years or older;

An interest in education and English language teaching;

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

To be reliable and punctual;

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

The ability to volunteer on Tuesday mornings during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of three months;

Currently resident in the UK;

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

Able to attend compulsory volunteer induction training (online) general and safeguarding prior to start of role

Desirable:

Knowledge of community languages, such as (including Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali and Spanish).

Through volunteering with us you will:

Meet new members of your local community;

Learn about different cultures;

Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;

Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;

Develop your skills and competencies;

Be able to access relevant training, including ESOL safeguarding training;

Gain experience in teaching and interpreting.

As an event volunteer you will play a vital role by raising awareness of our services, assisting with fundraising and engaging with the local community.You will represent Magpas Air Ambulance at a wide range of events indoors and outdoors, come rain or shine. You may be assisting with car parking, meeting and greeting, setting up a stall, selling merchandise, engaging the public and answering questions. Magpas Air Ambulance have a presence at over 150 events each year and need reliable, friendly people like you to help us achieve this. At larger events you will be supported by an event lead and we'll always make sure you are prepared and confident, you don't need to have previous experience, just be willing to get stuck in!

As an event volunteer, you will be expected to:

• Represent Magpas Air Ambulance in a respectful and friendly manner.
• Understand the work of Magpas Air Ambulance to secure basic knowledge and enthusiasm for our service.
• Wear your Magpas Air Ambulance ID badge while volunteering, ensuring it's visible at all times.
• Follow the leadership and guidance of the event lead, staff member or event organiser.
• Assist in all event activities in a flexible and friendly manner.
• Have good communication skills and be able to work with other volunteers and staff as part of a team.
• Process the sale of merchandise and take donations.
• Follow all Magpas Air Ambulance policies and procedures, including reporting any accidents and incidents.
• Recognise, respond to and report any safeguarding issues or concerns.

What you can expect from us:

• Regular support and advice from our staff team.
• Expenses covered in line with our volunteer policy.
• On-the-job training specific to your role.
• Events where you can meet other volunteers and share ideas.
• Impressive skills to add to your CV and a reference if/when you need it.
• The opportunity to meet a network of like-minded people.
• We are an equal opportunity organisation and welcome volunteers with diverse abilities.



As well as joining the Magpas Air Ambulance family, you will make new friends and be an important connection within your community representing the work of a lifesaving team.

Role: Referral volunteer (laptops)

Team: Casework

Supervised by: Adult caseworker

Location: Tooting office on a Thursday afternoon (2-5pm) for period of training/induction. Remote or in person once induction is complete.

Time commitment: 3 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months

About CARAS :

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.

Our values are at the centre of all our work:

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do

About the Role:

CARAS offers advocacy casework integrated into all of its projects, ensuring that people who attend our groups can access support to address issues in a friendly and timely manner. A key part of the casework service is to help connect people to resources and activities that they need.

A key areas of need is digital access, either by smart phone or laptop.

People living in asylum accommodation receive £9/week making saving for items impossible.

Whilst many activities have returned to face-to-face delivery many have stayed online, not having a laptop impedes people’s ability to join English classes and social activities. People attending college face difficulties in completing college work without access to computers in the evenings, access to a laptop means people are able to take greater control over their independent learning. Smart phones make a huge difference in people’s ability to have contact with family and community across the world.

To meet this need we have built a partnership with a grant giving organisation, Acts435, to support people to get personal laptops.

We are able to refer 5 people at a time for grants to buy new laptops/phones. Once the grant money is received we purchase the devices for community members to collect.

We are looking for a volunteer to do these referrals each month and support people to purchase and receive their laptops and phones. This is an extremely rewarding role, interacting with lots of the CARAS community members and making a very tangible positive impact on people’s lives.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

- contacting community members who are on our waiting lists by phone to explain the scheme to them

- complete grant applications with community members

- monitoring the grant platform to see when grants have been made

- purchasing laptops online and liaising with community members to arrange collection

- completing monitoring forms with community members once grants are recieved and uploading to grant platform

- recording all referrals and work done on our case management system (lamplight)

Person specification:

Essential

· Confidence in using IT (online forms, online shopping, google maps, email, DocuSign)

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

· A commitment to confidentiality and data protection

· Thorough with good attention to detail

· Reliable

· A high level of spoken and written English

· Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English;

· Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way

· A calm, friendly, kind and patient approach

· Enjoyment in speaking to new people

· A commitment to working in an empowering way

· Able to maintain boundaries

· Able to work autonomously

· Currently resident in the UK

Desirable

· Experience working with refugees and asylum seekers

· Fluent in one or more of: Pashtu, Farsi, Tigrinya, Somali, Arabic or Dari, Russian, Ukrainian, Albanian, Amharic, Kurdish Sorani, Spanish, French

· Experience of working with interpreters

Benefits to Volunteering:

Through volunteering with us you will:

· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;

· Develop your skills and competencies;

· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.

All volunteers must complete a DBS check and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.

To Apply:

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

Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with the Adult caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP.

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!