Volunteer Advocates Volunteer Roles
Hours: Dependent on volunteer availability and project need
Across Coventry and Wolverhampton community
Ref CVM-232 (Vol)
Are you a dynamic, collaborative and creative individual with a proven record of engaging positively with young people vulnerable groups and families? Do you have experience of providing support, advice and advocacy and the ability to assess clients’ needs?
If so, join St Giles Trust as a Community Violence Volunteer Mentor working on our CIRV service, supporting young people, adults and families who have been or at high risk of being affected by violence offending and or exploitation.
About St Giles Trust and Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV)
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.
The Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) is a pilot service running across Wolverhampton and Coventry which seeks to engage children, young people and adults at risk who are within the criminal justice system due to criminality and violence and provide them with effective interventions to reduce the risk of reoffending and violence.
CIRV project is run through the Violence Reduction Unit and is a collaboration between West Midlands Police and a variety of agencies, including St Giles Trust. The service is for children and young people aged 14 years and older that are at risk of, or are experiencing, group-based violence and exploitation. St Giles Trust mentors will engage and support these young people and when their risk of violence has reduced, the young person will work with a volunteer mentor before exiting the service.
About this key role
Our CIRV Volunteer Mentor will engage and support young people, adults, and families once they have been identified as being involved in a violence-related incident, being at risk of exploitation or gang-affiliated and build positive relationships with the clients and their families, plus work directly with them in order to promote positive change, build resilience, and prevent young people from experiencing significant harm.
As a mentor, you will be non-judgmental, reliable and respectful of the young person’s autonomy. You are not there to tell them what to do, your role is to explore options with them, support them to make good decisions and act as a transfer of trust between the young person and other agencies.
What we expect from you:
- To strive for the best that you can do and complete your volunteering activities with dedication and commitment
- To attend any briefings and training that we think will help you in your placement
- Be positive about and support the work of St Giles
- Follow and operate within the policies and procedures of the organisation, including Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities
- Act responsibly and within the law
- Maintain confidentiality of St Giles activity, our clients, our team and our procedures
- Value and respect the rights of clients
- Work in partnership with staff and volunteers to make society a better place for our beneficiaries
- Let your volunteer manager know if you are having any problems or if you have any complaints, concerns or feedback
- Meet agreed time commitments and give reasonable notice when you’re not available so that arrangements can be made.
In return you will be introduced to how our organisation works and your role within it. Give information about St Giles work, policies, and procedures. Offer training, group supervision and support. Deliver a Level 2 Mentoring qualification.
Please note this role requires Enhanced Adult and Children DBS with the Child Barred List.
We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.
St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.
To apply, please visit our website via the ‘Apply’ button.
Closing Date: 11 p.m. on 12 April 2024
Please apply early as interviews will be conducted when suitable applications are received.
Driver
Do you enjoy driving? Why not combine the good you can do through volunteering with a chance to explore your local area, engaging in good conversation, by driving blind and partially sighted people from their homes to local activities using your own vehicle?
Where?
Princess Risborough
What you will be doing?
Drive to BucksVision social groups and activities; sighted guiding.
What skills and experience are needed?
· Friendly and professional attitude, reliable and punctual
· Willingness to work independently
· Full Driver’s License
· Valid MOT certificate and proof of insurance
What will you gain from the role?
· A chance to make a difference
· Sense of purpose
· Build confidence, and improve wellbeing
· Working with people with sight loss
What support will be given?
· Induction
· Training Day, including sight loss awareness and sighted guiding
· Ongoing training and development opportunities
· Expenses
· Support from your Volunteer Manager and local Divisional volunteers.
Criminal Record Check Information/DBS
This role will require a Disclosure and Barring Check (Enhanced working with adults), as it involves supporting vulnerable people in a 1-2-1 basis.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Why we need your help
Marie Curie is piloting a Companions in the Community Service in partnership with Langport Surgery to support those in their last year of life.
The Service will compliment the support already provided by the Surgery Team, and local community service, providing end of life expertise to patients and their circle of support. Whilst clinical and care professionals provide hugely important services, we want to ensure that those who have a life limiting condition and/or experiencing health decline have all the support they need to help navigate the practical and emotional journey.
What we need you to do
Companions will be trained in a variety of end-of-life support needs, to allow the person to choose what they need, when they need it. This will include topics such as: Compassionate Conversations, Advance Care Planning, Unconscious Bias, Community Services and Connection, what to expect at the End of Life and Bereavement Support.
Support provided could be a one off activity such as completing an Advance Care Plan or supporting them to access Carer’s Support Allowance, or it could be an going engagement providing different aspects of support over a longer period of time.
What skills or experience do you need?
willingness to support others during death, dying and bereavement.
Interest in supporting people face to face, including their personal homes, care homes and community.
Access to IT equipment and basic IT skills e.g. typing on word and email attachments
Passionate individuals who are keen to support us in making this pilot a success, to benefit the people we support and the Langport Surgery Team
Patience, empathy, and emotional awareness
Excellent active listening skills and an ability to build a rapport with others.
Commitment and reliability
Inclusive and respectful values
Willingness to learn and operate within Marie Curie processes and boundaries.
What we can offer you
An excellent opportunity to build on your skills in a charity environment
An induction, training, support and supervision in your role
Agreed reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
What we ask of you
To provide two references from non-family members and other relevant documents related to the role
To keep to all the charity’s policies and guidelines
To complete an induction and any training related to the role
Marie Curie is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of patients and their families and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Marie Curie will treat all volunteers fairly and with respect. We will not discriminate on the basis of disability, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, sex (i.e. gender), sexual orientation, religion or faith, or gender reassignment. We will not discriminate on the basis of age, unless the responsibilities of a role require us to do so in order to safeguard our volunteers and/or service users.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Head of Community Engagement is an exciting role focusing on fostering meaningful connections, collaboration, and support within the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. This position leads efforts to engage community members, organisations, and stakeholders, ensuring that Pride Cymru initiatives are inclusive, impactful, and reflective of community needs and aspirations.
Duties and responsibilities:
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Develop and implement strategies for engaging with diverse LGBTQ+ communities, organisations, groups, and individuals across Wales.
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Build and nurture relationships with community leaders, activists, advocates, and stakeholders to foster collaboration and partnership opportunities.
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Seek opportunities for collaboration and partnership to maximise impact and reach.
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Oversee and cultivate partnerships with organisations responsible for managing spaces during Pride Cymru events.
Skills and experience
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Proven experience in community engagement, activism, or advocacy, preferably within the LGBTQ+ community or related social justice movements.
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Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to inspire and mobilise diverse communities and stakeholders.
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Knowledge of LGBTQ+ issues, and intersectionality.
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Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a passion for promoting social change and empowerment within marginalised communities.
About you
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A genuine desire to support the LGBTQ+ community in Wales
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Commitment to upholding and promoting values of equality, diversity and inclusion
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Ensure work is completed to a high professional standard and in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
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Attend appropriate meetings/events
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Represent the organisational ethos and values
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Carry out any other reasonable duties as the role develops and as may be requested by the management/trustees
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
At Koala NW, our volunteer support is at the heart of what we do and we know how much our families appreciate the support our volunteers offer.
As a Koala North West volunteer, you will be given the training and support to make a real difference to families in your community. You will also develop transferable skills which can support you in your life, whether that’s at home or at work. You will make friends along the way and join other volunteers for peer support sessions and join in celebrations like National Volunteers week & Christmas events.
Once you have completed your 6 session training programme, you will be matched to a suitable family to offer emotional and practical support. You will be supported by a coordinator and given support and supervision regularly.
Every family we support is unique so the support that we offer is equally unique to that family and depends entirely on the circumstances and what they would like support with. We help parents identify what they are already doing well, and support them to build on this to improve their relationships with their children.
You will be visiting families in their own homes once a week for an hour or two, if you have availability to support more than one family just let us know and you can be matched to additional families. Or you may be offering virtual support. During the pandemic, we had to adjust our home visiting to virtual support, via zoom, telephone /What’s App video calls/ texts. It proved very successful as this was a regular contact for families during lockdown.
Due to the success of virtual support, if families prefer this type of support as an alternative to home visits, that’s okay.
Support in one or more of the following areas could be offered:
- Social isolation/loneliness, support families to get outdoors, walking with them to the park or accompanying to appointments etc
- Poor emotional and/or mental health wellbeing
- Managing children’s behaviours/sleep issues
- School readiness
- Family bereavement
- Disability/complex needs or ill health
- New baby/multiple births
- Difficulty with home management/routine
- Budgeting
All home visits by volunteers are carried out between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. (Flexible around family and work commitments)
What does Koala NW expect from you?
- You have parenting experience
- You have a non-judgemental attitude
- You are flexible and can commit to 2 hours minimum each week for a period of at least 12 months
- You are able to attend a 6 session training course. Training is held locally and runs 1 day a week for 6 consecutive weeks between 9.30am and 2.30pm
- You are willing to attend ongoing training to support you in your volunteering role.
We are proud that 43% of our current staff started as volunteers with Koala North West.
Since we started, we have supported in excess of 12,000 families and trained more than 1,500 volunteers.
Volunteering can change a family's life and 1-2 hours per week can make such a huge difference. Our volunteers are the difference.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About Smart Works
Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for success at their job interview. We empower each woman by giving her the clothes and the confidence she needs to succeed. After visiting Smart Works, 69% of clients secure a job within a month, gaining financial independence and transforming their lives.
Smart Works Leeds, operating as a licensee of Smart Works Charity, is led by a Board of passionate and dedicated trustees, who are responsible for the governance and strategic direction of the Smart Works service across Yorkshire.
More information about who we are can be found on our website.
About the opportunity
A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join the Smart Works Leeds Board of Trustees.
The Smart Works Leeds Board of Trustees consists of: Chair, Treasurer, People, Wardrobe & Property, Corporate Fundraising & Partnerships, Events, and Communications & Media Trustees.
The Grants Trustee will lead on fundraising and charitable grants that are key to the ongoing operation and financial health of the Charity. The successful applicant will identify suitable foundations and will own the end-to-end grant application process.
If you have grant writing knowledge and skills to contribute to the Smart Works mission and would like to use your professional experience for good, we would love to hear from you.
General Duties of a Smart Works Trustee
- Work with the Chair of the Board of Trustees to ensure the centre is well-run and governed effectively.
- Provide support to determine the strategic direction of the Centre.
- Advocate for the Centre, raising its profile and the awareness of the Smart Works service in the geographic area.
- Build strong working relationships with the Chair, fellow trustees, staff, volunteers and supporters.
- Work in a small team and tailor strong interpersonal and communication skills to all levels of seniority.
Personal Specification
The successful applicant will have an understanding of grants, opportunities, application processes and be able to lead all aspects of this process and will possess previous experience in this field.
As this is a voluntary, unpaid position it requires a self-starting and proactive approach with the capacity and time to challenge, engage and contribute to the work of the Board in a positive manner.
It is essential that all applicants believe in the mission of Smart Works and align with our core values, share a commitment to fairness and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, acting at all times with honesty and integrity.
If you possess the relevant experience and are seeking to give something back to the community in Yorkshire, then we would love to hear from you. Please note, you do not need to have previous experience of sitting on a board to join us although it would be an advantage.
We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, disabled candidates, and candidates with lived experience of unemployment, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at Smart Works.
How to Apply
Please visit our website or click "Apply Now" to find out more information - we can't wait to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Driver
Do you enjoy driving? Why not combine the good you can do through volunteering with a chance to explore your local area, engaging in good conversation, by driving blind and partially sighted people from their homes to local activities using your own vehicle?
Where?
Marlow
What you will be doing?
Drive to BucksVision social groups and activities; sighted guiding.
What skills and experience are needed?
· Friendly and professional attitude, reliable and punctual
· Willingness to work independently
· Full Driver’s License
· Valid MOT certificate and proof of insurance
What will you gain from the role?
· A chance to make a difference
· Sense of purpose
· Build confidence, and improve wellbeing
· Working with people with sight loss
What support will be given?
· Induction
· Training Day, including sight loss awareness and sighted guiding
· Ongoing training and development opportunities
· Expenses
· Support from your Volunteer Manager and local Divisional volunteers.
Criminal Record Check Information/DBS
This role will require a Disclosure and Barring Check (Enhanced working with adults), as it involves supporting vulnerable people in a 1-2-1 basis.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
At Koala NW, our volunteer support is at the heart of what we do and we know how much our families appreciate the support our volunteers offer.
As a Koala North West volunteer, you will be given the training and support to make a real difference to families in your community. You will also develop transferable skills which can support you in your life, whether that’s at home or at work. You will make friends along the way and join other volunteers for peer support sessions and join in celebrations like National Volunteers week & Christmas events.
Once you have completed your 6 weeks training programme, you will be matched to a suitable family to offer emotional and practical support. You will be supported by a coordinator and given support and supervision regularly.
Every family we support is unique so the support that we offer is equally unique to that family and depends entirely on the circumstances and what they would like support with. We help parents identify what they are already doing well, and support them to build on this to improve their relationships with their children.
You will be visiting families in their own homes once a week for an hour or two, if you have availability to support more than one family just let us know and you can be matched to additional families. Or you may be offering virtual support. During the pandemic, we had to adjust our home visiting to virtual support, via zoom, telephone /What’s App video calls/ texts. It proved very successful as this was a regular contact for families during lockdown.
Due to the success of virtual support, if families prefer this type of support as an alternative to home visits, that’s okay.
Support in one or more of the following areas could be offered:
- Social isolation/loneliness, support families to get outdoors, walking with them to the park or accompanying to appointments etc
- Poor emotional and/or mental health wellbeing
- Managing children’s behaviours/sleep issues
- School readiness
- Family bereavement
- Disability/complex needs or ill health
- New baby/multiple births
- Difficulty with home management/routine
- Budgeting
All home visits by volunteers are carried out between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. (Flexible around family and work commitments)
What do Koala NW expected from you?
- You have parenting experience
- You have a non-judgemental attitude
- You are flexible and are able to commit to 2 hours minimum each week for a period of at least 12 months
- You are able to attend a 6 week training course. Training is held in Liverpool and runs 1 day a week for 6 consecutive weeks between 9.30am and 2.30pm
- You are willing to attend ongoing training to support you in your volunteering role.
We are proud that 43% of our current staff started as volunteers with Koala North West.
Since we started, we have supported in excess of 12,000 families and trained more than 1,500 volunteers.
Volunteering can change a family's life and 1-2 hours per week can make such a huge difference. Our volunteers are the difference.
Full training will be provided and paid travel expenses.
Job Type: Volunteer
Work Location: In person
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
At Koala NW, our volunteer support is at the heart of what we do and we know how much our families appreciate the support our volunteers offer.
As a Koala North West volunteer, you will be given the training and support to make a real difference to families in your community. You will also develop transferable skills which can support you in your life, whether that’s at home or at work. You will make friends along the way and join other volunteers for peer support sessions and join in celebrations like National Volunteers week & Christmas events.
Once you have completed your 6 session training programme, you will be matched to a suitable family to offer emotional and practical support. You will be supported by a coordinator and given support and supervision regularly.
Every family we support is unique so the support that we offer is equally unique to that family and depends entirely on the circumstances and what they would like support with. We help parents identify what they are already doing well, and support them to build on this to improve their relationships with their children.
You will be visiting families in their own homes once a week for an hour or two, if you have availability to support more than one family just let us know and you can be matched to additional families. Or you may be offering virtual support. During the pandemic, we had to adjust our home visiting to virtual support, via zoom, telephone /What’s App video calls/ texts. It proved very successful as this was a regular contact for families during lockdown.
Due to the success of virtual support, if families prefer this type of support as an alternative to home visits, that’s okay.
Support in one or more of the following areas could be offered:
- Social isolation/loneliness, support families to get outdoors, walking with them to the park or accompanying to appointments etc
- Poor emotional and/or mental health wellbeing
- Managing children’s behaviours/sleep issues
- School readiness
- Family bereavement
- Disability/complex needs or ill health
- New baby/multiple births
- Difficulty with home management/routine
- Budgeting
All home visits by volunteers are carried out between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. (Flexible around family and work commitments)
What does Koala NW expect from you?
- You have parenting experience
- You have a non-judgemental attitude
- You are flexible and are able to commit to 2 hours minimum each week for a period of at least 12 months
- You are able to attend a 6 session training course. Training is held in Chester and runs 1 day a week for 6 consecutive weeks between 9.30am and 2.30pm
- You are willing to attend ongoing training to support you in your volunteering role.
We are proud that 43% of our current staff started as volunteers with Koala North West.
Since we started, we have supported in excess of 12,000 families and trained more than 1,500 volunteers.
Volunteering can change a family's life and 1-2 hours per week can make such a huge difference. Our volunteers are the difference.
Full training will be provided and paid travel expenses.
Job Type: Volunteer
Work Location: In person
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
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:
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Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting.
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Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements.
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Assisting with filling out forms
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Signposting and referring onto other services and organisations.
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Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner.
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Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations and grants.
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Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required.
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Keeping accurate casenotes
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Supporting to maintain our signposting database
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Researching and collating resources
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Working collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the Adult Casework project.
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Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements:
Essential
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Experience of doing 1:1 advice work/casework.
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Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.
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Confidence in using IT (Microsft office, outlook, zoom, Google search, online forms)
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To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;
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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
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Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights and entitlements for people seeking asylum
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Experience of working with interpreters
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Direct experience of the UK immigration system.
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Past experience of working with people seeking asylum
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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:
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Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;
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Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;
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Develop your skills and competencies;
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Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.
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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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Care4Calais is a volunteer run charity delivering essential aid and support to refugees living in France and the UK. We believe in a fair and tolerant British society and advocate for a welcoming and inclusive attitude towards refugees.
In northern France we operate year-round from Calais, providing warm clothing, bedding, food and assistance to refugees who live in appalling and dangerous conditions.
Across the UK we collect and distribute clothes, shoes, mobile phones and other essential items, as well as social support and interaction, including language lessons, sport and music workshops. We also help with vital access to legal, medical and educational services.
Due to rapid growth of our UK operations, we are currently looking for volunteers who will help us drive froward UK operations to achieve maximum impact and effectiveness.
Profile:
Strong interest in refugee and asylum work.
Hands on, operational, dynamic and enthusiastic
Team worker with good communication and people skills
Pragmatic with a strong willingness and drive to find solutions and to get things done
Capacity to inspire and sustain volunteer engagement
Organizational skills
Note: Appropriate training and support will be provided.
As a Regional Lead, you will act as a point of contact between volunteers and the Care4Calais UK Operations team. Working mainly via Facebook/Whatsapp groups, Google Drive, and Zoom, your primary function is to motivate, inspire and support volunteers to take actions. These actions include distributions of essential aid to asylum seekers, joining in and organising social activities, and befriending and supporting asylum seekers to access key services. You will be available to answer questions and provide support to volunteers, and to drive the group forward to achieve maximum impact and effectiveness.
In addition, you will represent Care4Calais in your region and support the team to identify and develop local partnerships. You will acquire an in-depth understanding of Care4Calais policies and procedures and ensure they are adhered to for all local operations. You will also be responsible for keeping the UK operations team informed of activities in your area, as well as feeding back to your group any UK-wide information and updates, promoting strong communication, best practice sharing and rapid action.
Our guidance for groups document sets out the key objectives for UK regional groups, explaining the optimum way we should be working together as an organisation to achieve our goals in an organised and effective manner. This guidance was developed based on the experience of our teams on the ground and reflects current best practice. As a regional lead, you should familiarise yourself with this guidance and look to ensure that your group is operating according to its content.
Tasks:
Set-up:
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Request access to the ‘Care4Calais volunteer chat group’ and your regional group on Facebook.
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Ask admin to add you to the main whatsapp groups – Regional Lead Support group (optional) and the UK Hotels group. The former is for issues specific to regional leads and is for support, and the latter for all UK hotel leads.
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We highly recommend using a separate phone and sim card for Care4Calais; this allows you to switch off when you need to. You may also want to set up a specific Care4Calais Facebook account.
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Events, such as upcoming distributions or drop-ins, to keep everyone in the loop and encourage new volunteers to join in.
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Important updates that may affect the group, such as changes in government legislation, or new services that Care4Calais UK are offering.
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Posts to congratulate everyone on their hard work and keep them motivated!
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You should also keep an eye on the ‘Care4Calais volunteer chat group’. Sometimes people may post requests relevant to your area. We also receive requests from areas that don’t have a dedicated C4C group, but there may be an individual volunteer in that area - you can post in the volunteer group in case they can help.
Emails:
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Emails come through from various sources – via the Annie inbox (monitored by admin), from other charities or from other places.
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Emails are often requests for items for individuals in the area. If your group maintains a spreadsheet of requests, add these requests to the spreadsheet, place a post on Facebook (see above) or get in contact with a volunteer if you know someone in their specific area.
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If you are sent an email from the Annie inbox, don’t reply to the Annie email – reply to the email address that sent the original email to the Annie inbox.
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Keep on top of emails daily if possible.
Meetings:
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Host a meeting with the group
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Make sure this is advertised well in advance to increase the amount of people who attend.
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Write an agenda beforehand to ensure you remember to cover everything in the meeting.
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Ask someone to take minutes and post them on the facebook group after the meeting.
General volunteer support:
Another aspect of the regional lead role is ensuring volunteers feel well supported and can reach out to you if they ever need. If you think a volunteer is struggling or doesn’t feel integrated in the group, reach out to them. You need to be there for volunteers when they have questions and just be a friendly supportive face. If you feel a volunteer is dealing with some very sensitive cases that may call for extra support, RLs can, at their discretion, offer volunteers the opportunity to speak to an MSF counsellor.
Remember that the C4C UK Operations Team and Field Operations Coordinators are always here to help, just pop them a message if you have any questions and feel free to reach out to them for support!
Care4Calais is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment and
recognises that this is invaluable to our ability to serve the communities we support.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds including
from Black, Asian and Minority-Ethnic communities, people from refugee and migrant
backgrounds, and people with lived experience of the UK immigration system. If you have
any questions about this or need additional support with the application process for any reason, please let us know.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Driver
Do you enjoy driving? Why not combine the good you can do through volunteering with a chance to explore your local area, engaging in good conversation, by driving blind and partially sighted people from their homes to local activities using your own vehicle?
Where?
Burnham Bowls Club
What you will be doing?
Drive to BucksVision social groups and activities; sighted guiding.
What skills and experience are needed?
· Friendly and professional attitude, reliable and punctual
· Willingness to work independently
· Full Driver’s License
· Valid MOT certificate and proof of insurance
What will you gain from the role?
· A chance to make a difference
· Sense of purpose
· Build confidence, and improve wellbeing
· Working with people with sight loss
What support will be given?
· Induction
· Training Day, including sight loss awareness and sighted guiding
· Ongoing training and development opportunities
· Expenses
· Support from your Volunteer Manager and local Divisional volunteers.
Criminal Record Check Information/DBS
This role will require a Disclosure and Barring Check (Enhanced working with adults), as it involves supporting vulnerable people in a 1-2-1 basis.
South West Advocacy Network (SWAN) want to strengthen their Board of Trustees with up to 4 new Trustee appointments, including a Treasurer. These are voluntary positions and provide opportunity to help SWAN to develop its strategic direction and sustain innovative services to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, primarily, but not solely, in counties across the South of England.
SWAN began life in Wiltshire and over the past 25 years has expanded into Somerset, Bristol, Dorset, Isle of Wight, West Berkshire and Portsmouth. We deliver high quality, independent advocacy services supporting a diverse range of vulnerable people. We have developed a model of advocacy which ensures everyone, including the most marginalised, have the same rights and opportunities as their fellow citizens. Our services are free at the point of delivery, confidential and non-judgemental.
We work with people from all walks of life and have already supported thousands of the most disadvantaged people to have their voice heard and their choices respected by those that are making decisions about their future.
We are looking for dynamic and empathetic people to become trustees within our organisation, people who have the passion and drive to support SWAN and help us to ensure that the voices around our Board table reflect and understand the communities we work in. We would encourage people from all sections of our communities to apply , but particularly Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, disabled, and LGBTQ+ applicants because these groups are currently under-represented on our Board. We are happy to accept applications from people without prior Board experience but who can evidence their commitment to our purpose, values and ambitions and show a willingness to learn in the role.
The organisation is led and managed by the Chief Executive and the Executive Team who oversee the delivery of our services and the infrastructure that underpins them, and we believe that this, coupled with sound governance, will help us to achieve our vision and maximise our reach and impact.
We are looking for individuals who can demonstrate some of the following:
• Experiences that will bring different perspectives to our organisation i.e. being a member of , or working in, diverse or minority communities.
• Having direct experience of using advocacy or support services
• An understanding of, or interest in, the lives of vulnerable adults including those who have been victims of hate crime
• An understanding of, or interest in, the wider voluntary sector
• A commitment and willingness to improving the lives of vulnerable people
• Integrity, strategic vision and relationship building skills
• Governance, finance, and/or entrepreneurial experience
• Good communication skills and knowing how to work as part of a team
· For the treasurer role some experience of managing and understanding budgets and financial reports would also be required.
Time commitment averages 1 day a month, meeting locations are flexible and either face to face or virtual. Trustee expenses, including travel are paid.
Please note that for safeguarding purposes, all our roles require a current DBS check.
If you believe you would add value to our Board we would love to hear from you. Please contact Sarah Gibson for further information on how to apply.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Volunteer will work in mental health, Gender Equality and Health Education Environment Project.
Work Activities
Research and Development
Making Questionnaire
Survey
Fundraising
Organize workshop in schools
Social Media Content Creation
Communication with CSR