Volunteer community befriender volunteer roles in dorchester, dorset

Chatterbox Befrienders offer one-to-one telephone support and will call a client once a week offering companionship and a listening ear for an individual who might otherwise go unheard. Chatterbox volunteers befriend a variety of people including carers, socially isolated individuals who are struggling with loneliness, people with ill health and those that have been bereaved.

This role could be for you, if you:

• Would like to make a real difference in someone’s life
• Want to challenge loneliness and can commit to a weekly phone call
• Are a good listener
• Are empathetic, patient and of a caring nature
• Have good verbal and inter-personal communication skills
• Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can uphold this in practice
• Are committed to inclusion and treating people with dignity and respect

Requirements of a Befriender include:

• Calling your client once a week for a chat of up to 45 minutes; this is a 26 week initial commitment, at the end of which each client’s needs are reviewed
• Completing an online call log record promptly after each phone call
• Ensuring immediate contact with the Chatterbox Coordinators if you feel that the client might be a risk to themselves or others
• Liaising with the Chatterbox Coordinator on a regular basis regarding the service, as well as discussing personal learning and development needs
• Respecting service standards, appropriate boundaries and recognising the range of policies and procedures that impact on befriending vulnerable adults

Benefits of this role may include:

• Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life
• Joining the Omega Team who are taking action against loneliness and isolation
• An opportunity to enhance your CV or learn new skills
• An opportunity to engage with your community

Support and training provided:

• Omega Chatterbox induction program
• Safeguarding training
• Ongoing support from Chatterbox Coordinators for all questions, concerns, and support
• Out of pocket expenses are reimbursed and a mobile phone can be provided if appropriate
• Monthly Befriender group support meetings via the Zoom app

Location of the role:

• Home-based

When are you needed:

• Provided on enquiry

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this role. If you have a criminal record this does not automatically prevent you from being considered as an Omega Chatterbox Befriender. We will take into account the nature of the offence, when it happened and whether it is relevant to the voluntary role. If you are shortlisted, this will be discussed with you during the recruitment process.

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

Department: Community Support

Location: Remote

Time Commitment: Flexible, approximately 1-3 hours per week

Reports To: Deborah Bircham – Community Support Coordinator

About Mast Cell Action

Mast Cell Action is a charity dedicated to supporting individuals living with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), raising awareness, advancing understanding through education and resources and advocating for better recognition and treatment of MCAS within the medical community and the wider world.

Our stories are a key part of our community support, providing validation and reassurance to those living with MCAS, their families and carers, and helping to advocate for their needs to the medical professionals who look after them.

Main purposes of role

We are seeking a Volunteer Stories Writer to join our Community Stories team. You will play a vital role in capturing and sharing the lived experiences of individuals with MCAS. This project aims to provide a voice to those affected, helping both the MCAS community and medical professionals better understand the real-world impact of the condition.

Key tasks

• Collate emailed stories submitted by community members living with MCAS.

• Transcribe, edit, and proofread stories with accuracy and sensitivity.

• Adapt patient stories for different audiences, ensuring an empathetic and engaging tone for the MCAS community and a more structured, medical-focused version for healthcare professionals.

• Maintain high standards of spelling, grammar, and clarity in all written content.

• Work closely with the Community Support Coordinator to ensure consistency and alignment with the charity’s goals.

• Upload approved stories to the charity’s website.

Skills and Experience 

• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with strong attention to detail.

• Ability to write with empathy and sensitivity to the challenges faced by individuals with MCAS.

• Experience in storytelling, journalism, or content writing.

• Ability to adapt narratives for different audiences, particularly medical professionals.

• Strong understanding of tone, voice, and structure in written content.

• Familiarity with basic website content management systems (preferred but not essential).

Key results/objectives

The regular updating of our Community Stories website with stories that validate our community members’ experiences, and provide positive and uplifting stories of hope. 

Those living with MCAS feel heard and seen, and validated. They have access to a library of others’ experiences that help them to navigate their own journey. 

The creation of Medical Stories which can be used to educate medical professionals about the experiences of those living with MCAS, and lobby for systemic change in diagnosis and treatment. 

Improving the quality of life of people with MCAS through access to information and support. 

What We Offer

The chance to make a meaningful difference for people living with MCAS.

Flexible, remote volunteering to suit your availability.

Opportunities to develop your skills and experience in writing and content creation.

A supportive and inclusive environment.

If you are passionate about writing meaningful stories and want to contribute to a worthwhile cause, we’d love to hear from you!

Are you an Albanian speaker looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community?
We invite you to become a volunteer for our Talking Bubble Project!

Many older adults and vulnerable individuals in the UK’s Albanian-speaking community experience loneliness and isolation. By offering just a small amount of your time each week, you can make a big difference by providing companionship and a friendly voice in their native language.

What is the Talking Bubble Project?

☎︎ A phone-based service that connects volunteers with individuals who may feel isolated or lonely. Through regular phone calls, you’ll have the opportunity to build friendships, brighten someone’s day, and provide much-needed emotional support—especially for those who feel more comfortable speaking Albanian.

Why volunteer with us?

✔ Support members of the Albanian-speaking community in the UK
✔ Make a meaningful impact on someone’s life
✔ Enjoy flexible volunteering hours
✔ Receive training, ongoing support, and a reference upon completion
✔ Enhance your own sense of fulfilment and purpose

Requirements:

✔ Volunteers must complete an online Safeguarding Adults Level 2 training and undergo a DBS check—both fully paid for by the organisation.

How to get involved:

Simply apply through CharityJob’s website. No previous experience is required—just a friendly, compassionate nature and a willingness to listen.

✔ Open to UK residents only.

Help us spread kindness and connection within the Albanian-speaking community across the UK!

Are you an Arabic speaker looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community?
We invite you to become a volunteer for our Talking Bubble Project!

Many older adults and vulnerable individuals in the UK’s Arabic-speaking community experience loneliness and isolation. By offering just a small amount of your time each week, you can make a big difference by providing companionship and a friendly voice in their native language.

What is the Talking Bubble Project?

☎︎ A phone-based service that connects volunteers with individuals who may feel isolated or lonely. Through regular phone calls, you’ll have the opportunity to build friendships, brighten someone’s day, and provide much-needed emotional support—especially for those who feel more comfortable speaking Arabic.

Why volunteer with us?

✔ Support members of the Arabic-speaking community in the UK
✔ Make a meaningful impact on someone’s life
✔ Enjoy flexible volunteering hours
✔ Receive training, ongoing support, and a reference upon completion
✔ Enhance your own sense of fulfilment and purpose

Requirements:

✔ Volunteers must complete an online Safeguarding Adults Level 2 training and undergo a DBS check—both fully paid for by the organisation.

How to get involved:

Simply apply through the CharityJob website. No previous experience is required—just a friendly, compassionate nature and a willingness to listen.

✔ Open to UK residents only.

Help us spread kindness and connection within the Arabic-speaking community across the UK!

About IHF
The International Humanity Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to educating and empowering underserved children in Kenya, Indonesia, and Thailand. We believe in transparency, equal opportunity, and self-sufficiency.

Role Summary
We’re seeking experienced Fundraising Volunteers (remote) with a proven track record—at least 3 years of successful fundraising or grant writing. Your efforts will directly support our global programs and mission.

Responsibilities

Identify and pursue fundraising/grant opportunities

Craft compelling proposals and campaigns

Engage donors and support long-term funding strategies

 Work with and lead our fundraising team 

 Coordinating our At Home volunteers and Global Leadership Development candidates

Requirements

3+ years fundraising experience

Proven fundraising success

Strong writing and communication skills

Self-motivated, reliable, and results-driven

What You Gain
Strategic involvement in meaningful NGO initiatives

Opportunity to expand your global portfolio and build international credibility

Access to leadership roles and professional growth within a purpose-driven organization

A platform to make measurable, lasting impact in the lives of children and communities
Reports To:

Global Outreach Coordinator

Director of Fundraising Initiatives