Volunteer communications volunteer roles

This flexible home volunteering role is worthwhile and rewarding. Make a real difference writing letters. As a Volunteer Penpal Writer you’ll be a key member of the Letterbox Team. Your letters will cheer someone up and establish a trusting, supportive relationship with a client who might be lonely or socially isolated.

What tasks can this role include (some or all of the following):

• Writing letters to clients
• Building trust and companionship with a client through correspondence. Omega befriends a variety of people including: caregivers, the lonely, isolated or people with ill-health.
• Liaising with the Letterbox Team by email or post.
• Respecting service standards, appropriate boundaries and recognising the policies and procedures that are necessary when befriending adults at risk.
• Making suggestions to help us improve the service we provide to clients and Volunteer Pen pal Writers.

This role could be for you, if you:

• Enjoy writing and receiving letters
• Are enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Associate strongly with Omega’s values and strategy
• Have knowledge or understanding about a variety of client issues including caring, feeling isolated and lonely and its impact on people and society
• Have satisfactory written and inter-personal communication skills
• Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can show this in practice
• Are committed to inclusion, treating people with dignity and respect

What support and training will be provided?

• Feedback from clients and colleagues
• Regular and ongoing support from Letterbox Team Leader
• Answering questions
• Stationary and pre-paid envelopes can be provided making the service free.
• Opportunity for peer support events and invitation to Omega events
• Reward system and opportunity for volunteer of the month rewards

What are the benefits for you?

• Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life by doing something you enjoy
• Joining the Omega Team, who are taking action against loneliness and isolation as well as helping people in crisis
• An opportunity to enhance your CV or learn new skills
• An opportunity to engage with your community

Location of the role:

• Mainly your home

When are you needed?

• At a time to suit you

The Abraham Bridge Initiative (TABI) is a one year deadline exclusive peace initiative under Lauder's school of Government, Diplomacy & Strategy and the Shimon Peres Fellowship for Peace. We are searching for ambitious university students who are passionate about diplomacy, innovation, and cross-regional cooperation between Israel and Abraham Accords nations (UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, etc.). This initiative provides hands-on experience in cross-regional networking, business innovation, peace-building research, communication, and cultural diplomacy, allowing students to work alongside regional leaders, regional students, diplomats, and MENA professors with the goal of building social bridges between Jewish and Arab students across the Middle East and North Africa.

- The project will be completed by December 31st 2025 and there will be an award ceremony for all those involved along with networks and connections for life.

Ideal Candidates for Participating Students:

✅ Passionate about regional diplomacy, communication or cultural dialogue.
✅ Able to respect differing opinions and dialogue with different cultures and religions respectfully
✅ Networking ability to spread the word of TABI 

�� We Are Looking for Two Creative Roles

As part of our initiative, we are seeking two creative and motivated students to help us bring TABI’s mission to life through engaging content. These roles require around 5-7 hours per week on average, making them manageable alongside studies. The right candidates will align with TABI’s values and want to put their skills to meaningful use.

�� Graphic & Motion Designer

This role is perfect for someone with a creative eye for design and a passion for visual storytelling. You will design and animate social media posts, event visuals, and promotional materials that help spread TABI’s message.

�� Create static and animated social media content
�� Design visuals for events, announcements, and media outreach
�� Ensure brand consistency and an engaging visual identity

�� Digital Content Creator

This role is ideal for someone skilled in video editing and short-form content creation, helping TABI share its story across social media, media outlets, and our website.

�� Edit engaging videos and short clips for online platforms
�� Capture and curate footage from events, interviews, and initiatives
�� Collaborate on storytelling strategies to highlight TABI’s impact

Make a real difference to families going through separation.
Volunteer with TLC to help parents access vital, publicly funded mediation support.

About the Role

The Family Mediation Department at Talk, Listen, Change (TLC) is growing nationally to ensure separated parents can access publicly funded mediation. Our volunteers play a vital role in making sure families get the help they need — at one of the most challenging times in their lives.

We're looking for committed and compassionate volunteers to support the legal aid application process at our Manchester Head Office. This role is ideal for someone who wants to make a meaningful difference, gain experience in a mediation, and develop valuable administrative skills.

Volunteer Responsibilities

• Contact clients to explain what income evidence is required for legal aid
• Sending clear guidance to clients on what documentation is required
• Check submitted documents for completeness and accuracy
• Provide support and clarification if documents are missing or incorrect
• Upload documents to our internal database (CharityLog)
• Forward documents to the Lead Mediator / Head of Department for review
• Liaising with admin team to move cases forward for Mediation Information Assessment Meetings (MIAMs)

What We’re Looking For

• Good communication skills and attention to detail
• Comfortable using email and basic computer systems
• Empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to confidentiality
• Willingness to commit to 6 months minimum
• Ability to travel to our Manchester office weekly
   

What You Can Expect from TLC

• Weekly check-ins with a friendly member of the Mediation team
• One-to-one supervision (optional, every 6–8 weeks)
• Ongoing training opportunities
• Emotional support if your work raises personal issues

We are looking to appoint a Chief Operating Officer who can provide leadership to operational departments and maintain consistent effectiveness across the organization. 

About YAUK

Youth Advantage UK is a charitable organization that uses a research-led approach to inform policy work and projects that aim to promote and further the human rights of young people aged 11 to 25 across the United Kingdom.

Please note that this is a remote VOLUNTEER role.

We won't accept applications from individuals residing outside of the UK as we operate on the principle of bettering the lives of young people in the UK. Therefore, we require our volunteers to have an understanding of what it is like to live in the UK.

Key responsibilities 

• Oversee the operations of the organization ensuring of efficiency

• Translate strategy into actionable plans

• To provide leadership to departmental heads in departments such as Communications and IT (this may extend to other departmental heads as required)

• Work with the CEO to develop strategy

• Lead the creation of policy and guidance

Requirements

• Proven leadership experience

• Understanding of key business functions

• Excellent decision-making skills

• Ability to problem solve effectively

• Great at multitasking

• Competence in strategic planning

• Integrity

• Ability to use remote tools and IT systems

• Good people and communication skills

• Right to volunteer in the UK

Benefits

• This is a UK-based, 100% fully remote and flexible role.

• Supportive team and management to enhance your skills and build on your experience.

• Your work will help transform and empower many young people’s lives, rights, and interests and assist in promoting equality for all young people.

Why Volunteer with Us?

We are a supportive and friendly organization that takes pride in developing and nurturing our volunteers and providing them with excellent opportunities to thrive and further encourage their career growth and future aspirations.

We offer a fully remote working environment and a flexible and adaptable working schedule. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing organization, enhance your skills, and gain valuable experience. If this sounds like you and you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your CV.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Support Volunteer for the Warrington and District Group. As our local group Support Volunteer you’ll help people affected by MS find information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access local information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application. See a video about one of our Support Volunteers here.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services. Most importantly you’ll help people affected by MS to access the help they need.

Time commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the local area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

Trailblazers’ mission is to reduce re-offending and inspire new futures and the charity has been providing mentoring services to people in prison since 1998. We provide support to men between the ages of 18 - 35 in custody who have 6 months left of their prison sentence, and then 'through the gate' into their community for up to 12 months.

In the West Midlands, services are delivered near Wolverhampton at HMPYOI Brinsford. We are looking for volunteer mentors who can spare half a day per week to support young men to change their life by acting as an inspirational role model and helping with goal setting. Mentoring sessions usually last 1 hour per week; allowing enough time for travel and liaising with Trailblazers staff will take about half a day.

Your support will help a young man to reconnect with his own community, friends and loved ones, go into education, training and employment, and to give a person a sense of hope for the future. As a charity we are reliant on volunteers; with your help we can continue to support people in prison to make and change to their lives, their family and wider society. We welcome all skill sets within Trailblazers as we work with a diverse group of men, all we ask if you have a genuine passion for social change and that you can commit to at least 1 young man for up to 12 months, so they have a consistent person in their life - something that some of our mentees have never had. The national average re-offending rate for a person leaving prison is up to 55%, the rate for those who have a Trailblazers mentor is lowered to 9%. 

We are actively looking for people to join our mentoring community with lived experience of the criminal justice system, underrepresented groups from BAME community, creative arts, business skills, wellbeing - whatever your skills and background we are open to hear from you to support our diverse group of men.Out of pocket expenses are covered as well as training to equip you for your role. More information and the application form can be found on the website. 

Role activities:

• To provide a positive role model for people in prison and in their own community, to be empathic and to have a desire and commitment to support people to fulfil their potential.

• To attend and participate fully in the initial and ongoing mentor training.

• To attend group support/supervision meetings and review performance within mentoring relationships.

• To complete mentoring session notes relevant to the mentoring service for monitoring purposes.

• To take part in introductory meetings with mentees and set ground rules and boundaries.

• To report safeguarding concerns immediately.

• To follow relevant policies and procedures. 

• To perform your role in line with the aims of the organisation.

• To meet with and actively develop a supportive relationship with mentees.

• Be prepared to travel and undertake visits for mentoring sessions. 

• To make the necessary practical arrangements to meet the mentee on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

• Assist the mentee to celebrate their achievements.

• Support the mentee to meet identified goals.

• Develop an understanding of the role, responsibilities and boundaries of a volunteer mentor.

• Be committed to the project for a minimum of 12 months.

• Regular communication with Trailblazers staff in support of your mentee. 

Skills/behaviours/knowledge required:

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and challenges faced by mentees (Desirable) full training will be given. 

• Awareness of own professional boundaries and the ability to report any concerns within the mentoring relationship that could be pertinent to risk to the mentee, or to others. 

• To be an advocate for a mentee and to actively seek opportunities for mentees for resettlement back into their own community in conjunction with Trailblazers staff. 

• To be non-judgmental, focus on the person rather than the offense. 

• Professional but relatable with strong communication skills. 

• Awareness of adversity and how to overcome barriers to build a supportive network around the mentee. 

• Basic IT skills. 

• Be able to take advice and guidance from Trailblazers staff. 

Criteria: 

• Over 21. 

• We encourage applications from those with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System but you must be off licence for a minimum of 12 months, and not in crisis yourself. 

• You cannot apply to a project if you have been a resident in the same prison yourself. 

• A good level of fitness to able to move around a prison at fast past that does include stairs 

• Due to security checks at the prison you must be a British citizen.     

• Not committed an offense where you are barred from working with vulnerable adults or children. 

• Live within a 30-mile radius from the prison at which you would like to volunteer.

As a volunteer Senior Administrator, you will play an essential role in supporting the operational activities of RollaDome All Skate. You will assist with office management, scheduling, data organisation, and helping ensure that administrative tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Provide administrative support to senior leaders and staff. 

• Manage scheduling of meetings, events, and appointments. 

• Organise and maintain office filing systems and records. 

• Handle inquiries and provide customer service to stakeholders. 

• Assist in the preparation of reports, documentation, and presentations. 

• Ensure smooth communication between departments and external partners. 

Skills & Qualifications 

• Interest in business administration and organisational processes. 

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail. 

• Good communication skills, both written and verbal. 

• Comfortable with Microsoft Office and basic digital tools. 

• Ability to work effectively within a team and independently. 
   

Commitment 

• Minimum 15 hours per week, with flexible hours. 

Benefits 

• Gain practical experience in administration and office management. 

• Develop organisational and problem-solving skills. 

• Make a meaningful contribution to a community-focused initiative. 

Bring your creativity skills to a cause that matters and help shape the voice of a youth mental health charity—creating content that inspires, informs, and connects.

What will you be doing?

We’re looking for a creative and proactive Digital Marketing Manager to help us grow our online presence, engage our community, and promote our youth mental health programmes and events.

As a small but passionate charity, we support children and young people aged 5–18 through free, 1:1 in-school mentoring. Your digital skills will help us reach more young people, schools, and supporters—amplifying our impact and helping us tell our story.

You’ll take the lead on shaping and delivering our digital communications strategy, including:

• Creating and managing a content calendar across social media and our website
• Writing and updating blog posts and website content to reflect our latest news, events, and impact
• Designing branded graphics and visuals using Canva (or similar tools)
• Creating and scheduling engaging content across Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Bluesky, TikTok & YouTube
• Monitoring analytics and suggesting improvements based on insights and trends
• Supporting the promotion of events and fundraising campaigns
• Engaging with our online community and encouraging interaction
• Supporting the creation of our newsletter

You’ll work closely with the CEO, Trustees & Operations Manager, who will provide guidance on our brand, tone, messaging and regular information on anything ongoing at YMM.

What are we looking for?

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in digital marketing, social media management & content creation
• A strong communicator with excellent writing skills
• Confident using platforms like Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube
• Confident using tools like Canva (or similar design platforms)
• Proactive, creative and able to work both independently and collaboratively
• Passionate about youth empowerment, mental health & YMM’s mission
• Website content management (WordPress)
• SEO understanding and blog writing
• Video editing or short-form video content (especially for TikTok or Reels)

What difference will you make?

Your work will help us connect with more young people who could benefit from our mentoring, while also engaging new supporters, volunteers, and schools. You’ll play a vital role in strengthening our digital presence—helping us share our message, highlight our impact, and ensure more young people get the support they need to thrive.

Administration and Office Support Volunteer 

Team: The Fundraising Team  

Location: Woodhouse Square, Leeds, LS3 1AD  

Time commitment: 1 day a week

_________________________________________________________________________ 

About Candlelighters 

Candlelighters provides financial, emotional and practical support to families affected by childhood cancer in Yorkshire. We support around 150 new families each year and our work ensures the whole family unit is supported in these extraordinary circumstances. 

We support children and their families from diagnosis and throughout their journey, including providing  financial support, practical help in hospital, much needed breaks, as well as emotional and well-being support at our Family Support Centre (The Square) and Family Support Bus.

Purpose of the Role and Key Activities 

Candlelighters needs to fundraise £2million every year to continue providing services to families. The Administration and Office Support Volunteer provides crucial administrative and office support to the Fundraising Team and is central to helping the team raise the money we need to continue supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer in Yorkshire.

Activities vary, but may include 

• Responding to enquiries from supporters via telephone and e-mail

• Providing administrative support and helping to prepare resources, merchandise and equipment for events 

• Taking leadership over the Candlelighters Ebay page. Adding merchandise to sell, liaising with any queries and fulfilling any orders 

• Answering the phone, transferring calls and taking messages 

• Updating the supporter database 

• Writing thank you letters and sending certificates 

• Processing large mailings (including mail merge) and dealing with any returns 

• Franking letters and parcels 

• Arranging courier companies for large deliveries

• Filing (paper and electronic)

• Providing administrative support for events 

• Assisting the Fundraising Team with other tasks and activities as required 

• Send out Merchandise to our fundraisers/Challenge events participants (Running tops, T-Shirts, FR Materials) 

• Research – future challenge events/mailing contacts 

• Preparing Collection Tins/Buckets for use by fundraisers 

• Making up Goody Bags for events 

• Adhering to Candlelighters’ policies and procedures.

Volunteer Requirements 

We are looking for volunteers who 

• Have strong administrative skills 

• Have experience of working in an office environment 

• Have strong IT skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel 

• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills 

• Have experience of communicating in a professional capacity via telephone, email and in person.

• Are friendly and approachable, whilst also able to maintain professional boundaries 

• Have strong attention to detail

• Are able to work well as part of a team 

• Are able to work independently and use own initiative 

• Are able to lift and carry boxes, equipment and resources

• Are able to climb multiple flights of stairs 

• Are able to follow Candlelighter’s policies and procedures. 

We recognise that family members accessing Candlelighters’ services may wish to volunteer with Candlelighters. However, this particular role is not suitable for family members receiving support from Candlelighters. This is to ensure they are given the best possible care and support without any potential conflict of interest. Other volunteering opportunities can be found on our website.

Support and Benefits 

You will receive: 

• Thorough induction & training to give you the confidence to perform your role well and to the best of your ability 

• Opportunity to develop new and existing skills to help you beyond your involvement with Candlelighters 

• Ongoing support from the Fundraising and HR teams 

• The opportunity to meet lots of new, friendly people 

• The opportunity to expose yourself to new experiences 

• Certain expenses to be reimbursed as agreed with your Volunteer Supervisor, in accordance with our Expenses policy 

• Regular reviews with your Volunteer Supervisor to help you develop in your role 

• Satisfaction in knowing you are making a valuable contribution to supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer 

• We can be a reference once you’ve volunteered for three months 

• Access to the MINDFUL EMPLOYER+ 24/7 mental health hotline 

• Charity Worker Discount card 

• Access to The Company Shop 

 Successful applicants will be invited to attend an interview.

Thankyou

The Volunteering Opportunity

How you can make a difference 

As a volunteer you'll make sure that everyone has a great time and can make the most of the activities on offer. You'll need lots of energy, a warm and welcoming personality and to be happy getting stuck into a wide range of tasks and activities, all of which make sure that everyone has the best day they can together. 

Key Duties

What your role will involve

• Taking part in activities alongside disabled young people. You could be joining creative activities, movement or sports session, trips out into the local community or seasonal themed activities.
• Helping to set up the activities at the start of the day, clear away at the end and keep activities safe, clean and running smoothly throughout.
• Helping to welcome young people to the group, find their way around and between activities, enjoy breaks and lunchtime and generally have a great day with the team and Sense.

A basic / enhanced Disclosure & Barring check will be required for this volunteer role. 

Skills & Qualities

Will the role suit me? Yes, if you are:

• Fun and friendly and confident to meet and spend time with disabled young people.
• Willing to develop the knowledge and skills to communicate with young people who have multi-sensory impairments and who may use a wide range of communication methods
• Able to work well in a team and be flexible about the role you play during the day depending on what’s needed by individuals and activities
• Reliable and punctual.
• Committed to providing support in a way that offers choice, independence and dignity
• We welcome volunteers of all ages to this role who can create an inclusive and welcoming peer environment for everyone involved in the group. 

Benefits 

What can Sense offer me as a volunteer?

• Induction information to prepare you for your role, a briefing at the start of each event, and lots of on-site support and guidance from our experienced staff team who will be running the day
• Agreed out of pocket expenses to be reimbursed, in line with Sense policy
• The chance to get to know new people, try new activities in your local community and to have lots of fun taking part together
• To develop new skills and knowledge about communicating and working with children and young people with complex communication needs and multi-sensory impairment
• To know you’re part of a passionate and committed team making a big difference to how young people can get the most out of both new and favourite activities and to have a great time together.
• If you are 16 or 17 we will ask to make contact with a parent or other appropriate adult to share details of your volunteering role, timings and contact / emergency information. 

About us

For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to offer personalised support to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our experts offer support that’s tailored to the individual needs of each person, whether that’s at our centres, through our holidays and short breaks, or in people’s own homes. In addition to practical support, we also provide information to families, and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.

Volunteers add real value to Sense, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the work that we do. We believe that volunteers enable us to bring people together and provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world.

Are you creative? Would you like to support others to express their emotions through arts and crafting?

Art plays a valuable role in mental wellbeing with research showing that crafting, regardless of the medium you use can boost your mood, self-confidence and reduce stress overall. Taking part in art-based activities increases our resilience and engages us in the here and now. You will be supporting people to express their emotions, provide a time for people to relax and feel proud of their final art products!

We are recruiting for a volunteer to support and facilitate an art and craft group.

Hestia has a variety of different services that support people across London and the South East. These services support people that are struggling with their mental health, are victims of Domestic Abuse or Modern Slavery, and more. Join our team of volunteers who play a vital role in what we do! We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.

In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.

We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.

What you will be doing

• To prepare arts and craft sessions, involving individuals in the planning process where possible
• Inspire and motivate individuals to develop their arts and craft skills, assisting them in the creation of their projects and supporting them to brainstorm and use their own initiative
• Encourage individuals to continue independent activities

The skills you need

• Experience of arts and/or crafts either in a professional, educational, or personal level
• Able to collaborate with individuals to plan an art group session and facilitate confidently
• A calm and patient manner
• Ability to provide a trusting, open, kind-hearted atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• An effective communicator with a patient and sympathetic nature

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Disclaimer

Hestia is proud to be a Disability Confident employer. Should you require our role pack in an alternative format or wish to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need for your interview, please contact hestia. As part of the process of volunteering, all applicants will need to complete a DBS and references. If you have any convictions/cautions, this does not mean that you cannot apply for any of our roles, however we do require a DBS for all positions. We ensure that all positive disclosures on DBS records are discussed with our volunteers and fairly assessed. Schedule 9 (1a) of the Equality Act 2010 applies to this position – (Only Female applicants please)

Liberty Domestic Abuse Group (women only) runs Tuesdays 10am – 12 pm

Talk 4 M Domestic Abuse Support Group for Men runs on Wednesdays 5.45pm – 7.45pm 

Could you be a part of our inspiring, hardworking and motivated team making a positive contribution to rebuilding the lives of women and children?

At One YMCA we provide a range of varied and exciting volunteer roles - we currently are looking for support at our Horizons (Domestic Abuse) support services based in Bedford.

Some of the tasks and responsibliites include: 

• Supporting the group facilitators to plan weekly sessions
• Setting up the room, including tables, chairs and resources for the participants
• Ensuring a register is taken of the attendees
• Supporting the facilitator to run particular activities as part of the session delivery
• Ensuring you have a non-judgmental, friendly and approachable demeanour
• Maintaining confidentiality at all times
• Ensuring feedback is provided to and collected from participants at the end of the session/course 

You will be: 

• Be a good and active listener who can support others
• Have a non-judgmental approach 
• Be of a friendly, welcoming and approachable disposition
• Self-motivated, reliable and punctual
• Experience supporting people with complex needs/situations including: grief, trauma, mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse
• Good communication skills in English; in person & over the phone
• A willingness to learn new things and get stuck in
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work as part of a team

A full induction to the Horizons/Onyx service and specific sites will be provided, including an "Introduction to Domestic Abuse" 1 day training course

You will be required to complete online training, plus a menu of optional training linked the role will be made available.

You will receive regular 1 to 1s and supervision with line manager and oportunities to attend volunteer meetings and events!

Please note you will be required to undergo a DBS check and two references will be taken up prior to commencing the role. 

Summary

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces at our sites across Hertfordshire and Bucks including

Brindle Court, Watford
Northgate End, Bishop's Stortford
Our smaller sites in Stevenage, Hoddesdon and Hemel Hempstead 
Crest Rd, High Wycombe

Detailed description

Having access to a secure garden or outdoor area can be crucial for providing opportunities to socialise and relax, which can be invaluable for the mental well-being of our residents.

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces, including:

·Weeding

·Sweeping

·Pruning

·Clearing leaves and large twigs

·Watering plants

·Planting bulbs and tidying up flower beds

We would love for this to be an opportunity to involve our residents and potentially lead a gardening activity with them, equipping them with knowledge and skills to maintain their own green spaces in the future. 

You will need:

• Enjoy working outside in all weathers.
• An interest/basic knowledge of gardening
• Role requires some degree of physical work and lifting/manual handling
• To work under your own initiative.
• Good communication skills
• Opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills

A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided as well as access to training and events throughout the year!

Some sites have basic tools however any additional tools and material required can be discussed with your volunteer manager .

What volunteers need:
You will be required to under go a Disclosure and Barring Service check and provide details of 2 x referees

What we will provide to volunteers:

• Reimbursement of costs
• Full training and induction
• Access to events and celebrations throughout the year 

Why we want you

Prison in reach volunteers support members of the Armed Forces community who are in prison. They make a real difference by providing essential support during these incredibly difficult times.

Our volunteers work closely with veterans in custody support officers, attending veteran forums, and offering one to one support, including making applications for financial assistance. We also connect clients with organisations, to help support pathways for positive change.

Come and join our team! We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

We are keen to increase volunteer diversity, especially from under-represented groups such as young people, those of working age and individuals from minoritised groups.

What you will be doing

• Attend group forums for veterans within the prison environment.
• Complete individual assessments and complete one to one personalised support for veterans within the prison environment, which includes casework.
• Promote the services available to family members.
• Establish an agreement around the rate of visits with the VCJS team and the prison.
• Record the support offered to veterans accordingly and appropriately.
• Complete monitoring reports.

The skills you need

• Be over 21.
• Have a good level of fitness to able to move around a prison quickly - including stairs.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Awareness of boundaries and confidentiality.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with a range of people, including prison staff, other agencies, SSAFA colleagues and clients.
• Positive, committed and non-judgemental. Non-judgemental and empathetic attitude.
• Good IT skills.
• An enhanced DBS check is required for this role. Individual prisons will determine if they authorise individuals to be based in their facilities based on security considerations. Security Vetting by His Majesty’s Prison Service is often required. For further discussion, please get in touch.
• You will need to declare potential conflicts of interest, for example any family connection with the prison.

What's in it for you

• Full training provided with regular ongoing support.
• You gain criminal justice sector experience and build your CV.
• You can make a real difference to the lives of Veterans who are in the justice system.

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost for you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.