Volunteer Befriender Volunteer Roles
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Deafblind UK members have combined sight and hearing loss and many can feel lonely or socially isolated. We offer a free telephone befriending service where we match volunteers with one of our members to have a weekly 30 minute chat together.
We are looking for confident, empathetic and friendly people who can hold a good conversation. You could be chatting about similar interests or learning about each other’s lives. Whatever the conversation you’ll be having a positive impact.
One 30 minute call seems really simple but having someone to talk to and someone to listen, could really make a difference to our members. It could be that you’re the only person they speak to that day, or even that week.
Our members love to chat with people who have had some life experience and stories to tell. You will need good communication skills and be able to strike up a conversation. You will also need to be reliable, patient with a naturally warm and friendly nature.
We will ensure you are supported throughout your journey with us, offering training and support at all times.
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!
Overview
Healthwatch Greenwich aims to provide a befriending service to support individuals in need of companionship and emotional support.
Our befriending service will pair clients with volunteers who will talk to them for up to an hour each week. This could be face to face, by telephone, or online.
Befrienders will signpost clients to wider activities as appropriate.
What You'll Do:
· You will be working closely with the Volunteer Coordinator to:
· Offer face-to-face, phone, or virtual befriending support for up to one hour per week for three months.
· Write befriending updates after each meeting.
· Collect demographic information.
· Attend monthly support sessions.
What You'll Learn:
· How to improve your communication skills.
· How to use active listening.
· How to find activities for clients.
· How to write client updates and gather demographic data.
We offer a comprehensive induction and training to support you to carry out this role please note all volunteers undergo reference and DBS checks.
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!
Our volunteers champion the rights of young people in care and on the edges of care, support them to access advocacy and make their voices heard. Training is provided. Whether you are currently studying, recently graduated, working part-time, retired or between jobs, volunteering with Coram Voice is a great opportunity to make a difference at the same time as gaining experience of working for a national children’s rights charity.
Our Helpline Supervisors will support you to develop valuable advocacy skills and knowledge of children’s rights and we offer specialist training in safeguarding, equality and diversity and advocacy. This training and other resources will help you to prepare for the role. You will be joining a team that provides quality support to young people in a friendly and supportive environment.
Our volunteer team is integral to our service and we could not provide the service we do without them, particularly in terms of the support we offer to homeless children.
We believe this role will be of particular interest to anyone looking to develop a career involving giving advice, advocacy, children’s and human rights, legal work, social work or youth work; or for professionals in those fields who want to use their experience to support the work of a children’s charity.
Please see our candidate information document for more information about our organisation and the training provided.
We ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us in relation to this position. We have chosen to recruit directly as this helps us to minimise our recruitment costs, ensuring that funds are not diverted from the children and young people we help.
We are a leading children’s rights organisation. We champion the rights of children and get young voices heard in decisions that matter to them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The impact a volunteer telephone befriender can have on a lonely individual is amazing and for many of our service users our volunteer telephone befrienders are the only people in their lives who can offer quality time for a nice chat. With just one hour of your time per week you can help provide companionship and support for someone suffering from chronic loneliness.
You will have to complete a DBS check and an Adult’s Safeguarding training, both covered by our organisation.
For this role volunteers will gain:
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Confidence using the telephone.
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Develop interpersonal and communication skills.
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Free Safeguarding and DBS check
Time Commitment
Volunteers can give a minimum of 1 hour per week and must commit to a minimum of 3 months. However, the longer you commit to this role the more you will benefit.
Training
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Level 2 Safeguarding adults
We offer ongoing supervision and regular catch ups with team members. The volunteer has the opportunity to meet with fellow volunteers for monthly or bimonthly zoom events.
Is a DBS Check required?
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We require all applicants to provide two references. DBS is required for this role, but the cost will be provided by the Dialogue Society
Personal Requirements
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Engage with a client to provide support on a weekly basis or schedule a specific time with the client.
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For this role you will need a clear and polite telephone manner.
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The ability to actively listen, empathise and promote conversation.
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Adhere to the appropriate guidelines while communicating with the clients, preserving the reputation of the organisation.
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To identify if a person may be at risk and alert a supervisor.
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To maintain confidentiality.
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To work within a team of volunteers and staff.
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To work within Dialogue Society’s policies and procedures
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A non-discriminatory and a non-judgemental attitude
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Reliable
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!
Age restrictions: 18+
Why we need your help
Marie Curie recognises that the best way to understand its services is by seeing it through the
eyes of the people we support. Feedback from people we care for is critical in telling us what
we are doing well and where we can improve.
Through this exciting volunteer role, you will help us understand our services’ quality by
listening to the people we support. You will help us by contacting people while they are
receiving our services to make sure we are providing our patients and families with excellent
care, and if there are issues, to help us nip things in the bud.
This role has the scope for broader conversations with people about their experiences at the
end of life. Gaining insight and understanding allows us to ensure we’re there for all people
experiencing dying, death and bereavement.
What we need you to do
Your role will include some of, but is not restricted to, the following tasks:
• Speak with patients and families over the phone to complete surveys
about their experiences of our care and support.
• Record data accurately, capturing as much as possible in the person’s
own words.
• Input feedback data into online an online database.
• If comfortable, undertake analysis of data to help us report on themes
and trends; what we are doing well and what we can improve.
• Communicate with patients and families how we use their feedback and ideas to improve
services, where appropriate.
• Work with the Clinical Nurse Managers to highlight any issues and concerns about the care
provided in their services.
• Relay positive feedback to Marie Curie Nursing staff and volunteers.
• If comfortable, conduct semi-structured interviews to understand peoples’ lived
experiences of dying, death, and bereavement.
What skills or experience do you need?
• Good communication, listening and people skills.
• The ability to deal with people in a warm, friendly, and sensitive manner.
• Understanding the importance of confidentiality.
• Empathy and an understanding of the needs of people experiencing end of life care issues.
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
Note - weekend/evening volunteering is not available for this role, we are looking for volunteers who are able to give some time between Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
About Us
Every day of your life matters – from the first to the last. When you volunteer for Marie Curie, you understand that better than ever. We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of more than 4,400 staff and 6,500 volunteers, here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. We offer expert care, guidance and support, to help them get the most from the time they have left.
Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work. We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.
Marie Curie is committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.
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!
We are looking for fun, reliable, and enthusiastic volunteer Independent Visitors from all different cultures, backgrounds and experiences who have a genuine interest in making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
Our Staffordshire and Stoke Independent Visitor Service is looking for volunteers in or near to Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
- Are you passionate about wanting to help young people?
- Do you have 2 to 4 hours to spare, once a month?
- Are you ready to make a long-term, regular, commitment?
If the answer is yes and you would like to support a child or young person currently in the care of their local authority, then we would love to hear from you.
You will decide with your young person what to do, but activities could include going to the cinema, bowling, playing football, going to a restaurant, riding a bike, or walking in a park. We will match you with a child you share common interests with.
You do not need experience of working with children and young people, just an interest in their development and welfare. Full training and support are provided.
Here’s a few of the young people we have waiting for a volunteer:
- Amy (12) lives with an older carer, she would like an active Independent Visitor who can do sports with her.
- Brad (13) lives in residential care with other young people, he doesn’t have anyone in his family visit. He would like an Independent Visitor to take him out and have fun, like the other young people.
- Cassie (16) lives with carers in a new town, she doesn’t have any friends in the area yet. She would like an Independent Visitor to help with her confidence and going out in the local area, she loves hot chocolate and cake.
- Danny (11) lives with foster carers and attends a special school. He would like an Independent Visitor to help him be more independent, he likes parks, aeroplanes, and animals.
- Emma (9) lives with her carer in a very busy household, she would like an Independent Visitor to spend some time with her on her own trying different activities together.
*names have been changed
The Application
- Volunteering mainly happens at weekends and after school hours as the young people are usually in school during the daytime
- The role requires commitment of at least 24 months with one visit per month; this ensures stability for the Child or Young Person
- Complete the Personal Statement section on the application form as fully as possible; tell us all about you; it forms part of the shortlisting process
Our values are to be Compassionate, Open and Bold. If this sounds like you, please click the apply button. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please call or email and we will be happy to help.
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!
Choice in Hackney is currently recruiting Volunteer Walking Friends who will accompany our service users on walks to help them feel less isolated.
Job Requirements:
- Available to commit to the project for a minimum of 3 months;
- Open-mindedness and willing to learn;
Benefits:
- References for future employers etc. where appropriate
- Flexible commitment (time, geographical area, etc.)
- Regular support from the Volunteer Coordinator (by phone, in person, and by email)
- Out-of-pocket expenses (including safety equipment such ask masks or gloves) reimbursed
- Joining a friendly and supportive volunteer community