Volunteer Roles in Devon

Position: Communications and Project Intern

Location: Home-based (remote)

Commitment: Flexible hours (voluntary)

About Lived Expert

Lived Expert, founded by Mark Johnson MBE, is a pioneering social enterprise focusing on harnessing the power of lived experience. We've led transformative projects in areas like addiction, homelessness, neurodiversity, and the justice system, and now seek an enthusiastic intern to contribute to our mission.

Role Purpose

As a Communications and Project Intern, you'll play a supportive role in our dynamic team, helping to convey powerful stories and assist in project coordination. This is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about social change and looking to gain experience in the social enterprise sector.

Key Responsibilities

1. Assist in Communications Tasks: Support in creating content for social media, newsletters, and other communication channels.

2. Project Support: Help in coordinating various projects, ensuring smooth operations and effective communication.

3. Consultation Assistance: Aid in gathering and analysing insight from peoples’ lived experience for ongoing projects.

4. Collaborative Work: Work closely with the team to support various initiatives and campaigns.

Person Specification

· A keen interest in social enterprise, communications, and project support.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills.

· Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

· Organised and detail-oriented, with a willingness to learn.

Benefits

· Gain valuable experience in communications and project coordination.

· Work remotely with a flexible schedule.

· Opportunity to contribute to impactful projects in a meaningful sector.

· Receive guidance and support from an experienced team.

Trustee Role

 The Developers Club Foundation is seeking dedicated individuals to join our existing Board of Trustees, which consists of 6 individuals. As a not-for-profit organisation, we are committed to supporting the housing and professional development of young adults at risk of long-term youth homelessness. We believe that providing quality accommodation and mentorship can be life-changing for generations to come.

 Role Description:

As a Trustee, you will play a vital role in guiding the strategic direction of The Developers Club Foundation. You will be responsible for ensuring the effective governance and financial stability of the organisation, as well as overseeing the implementation of our charitable initiatives.

 Key Responsibilities:

- Attend fortnightly board meetings and contribute actively to discussions during the setup phase. Meetings will transition to quarterly once the setup phase is complete.

- Provide guidance and oversight on the organisation's strategic direction.

- Review and approve budgets, financial reports, and fundraising plans.

- Support the fundraising efforts of the organisation.

- Act as an ambassador for the organisation and promote its mission and values.

Skills and Experience:

We are looking for individuals with a passion for social impact and a commitment to our cause. Ideal candidates will have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

- Housing or homelessness support

- Fundraising and financial management

- Legal or governance

- Marketing and communications

- Youth development

 Application Process:

To apply for the role of Trustee, please submit your CV along with a supporting statement outlining your interest in the position and what expertise you can bring to the table. 

By joining our Board of Trustees, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of young adults at risk of homelessness. We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to our team.

 Please note that The Developers Club Foundation is yet to receive official charity status, and an application will be submitted once suitable additional Trustees have been appointed. Thank you for your support.

Our mission is to create disruptive technology solutions to global challenges.Aseel is a technology startup harnessing innovative technology to improve lives in underdeveloped and underrepresented countries.Aseel challenges conventional growth models and techniques, fostering a culture of thinking big and learning from collective experience to bridge the gap between fast-paced technology sectors and impact-driven international development firms.Partnering with government and non-government entities, private companies, and international organizations, Aseel’s mission is to create disruptive technology solutions to complex global challenges.

Aseel accomplishes this mission with a diverse team of professionals with experience in international development, systems engineering, data science and analytics, business and finance, product management, application development, and e-commerce sales. Global employees consist of driven team members passionate about the mission and committed to making positive changes in international development using technology-based systems. We are using the technology to solve these challanges.

TECHNICAL WRITER

• As a technical proposal writer, you will contribute to proposal development by creating compelling content. You will also need to stay updated in the field through educational opportunities and professional networking, as well as aiding the New Business team in creating applications, editing applications, and contributing to proposal development. You also need to actively seek and pursue New Business opportunities aligned with Aseel's mission.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week for 3-5 months

About Vocal Advocacy

Vocal is a small independent advocacy organisation operating in South and West Devon including Torbay, that helps adults with communication difficulties to understand and exercise their rights, make informed choices and speak up for themselves. Our main activity is one-to-one advocacy, however we also offer services including training, person centred planning and independent quality monitoring or care packages.

We have a reputation locally for the high quality of its services. We hold the national advocacy quality mark.  We may be small, but we are effective, enthusiastic and innovative. 

What will you be doing?

We are all dedicated to ensuring that the aims of the organisation are achieved and that people's rights are upheld. One of the trustees has been on the management committee, in various roles, since the organisation was founded 29 years ago. Their hard work was recognised when DeVA selected them for ‘trustee of the year winners’ at the Devon Community Foundation volunteer of the year awards ceremony. Our Board needs to encompass a wider range of skills, especially around strategic planning and marketing in order to drive the success of our development project. If you are interested in becoming a trustee of Vocal, we would love to hear from you!

What are we looking for?

We are looking for passionate people to join our Board. You don't need to have a background in health and social care or in supporting people who have a learning disability, but you must share our passion for ensuring people's rights!

We particularly wish to broaden our skill base of the Board to support our Chief Officer through the development of the organisation.

Key areas are skills in income generation, strategic and business planning, marketing and communications. We would welcome a Trustee with finance/ accountancy background to take on the Treasurer role in due course.

In terms of planning for the future, our Chair would like to have a succession plan in place, should she decide to step down in a few years time, and it would be good to recruit trustees who might be interested in and be suitable future leaders for the charity.

What difference will you make?

As part of our Board, you will support and shape our work and strategic direction, as well as help us achieve our purpose to ensure wide ranging and easily accessible advocacy is available to people with a learning disability in South Devon and Torbay. As a Trustee, you will have a real opportunity to offer your unique skill set to help the strategic progression of the charity.

You will become part of a warm friendly and inclusive organisation where staff trustees and our ‘experts by experience’ (people who’ve used our services) work supportively and enthusiastically together to a common end. Everyone contributes in their own way, and is valued for what they bring. Vocal is a great network to belong to, and our in person or virtual meetings involving all the different groups are stimulating but also fun!

Commitment:

Trustees meeting every six weeks, plus other organisation meetings every three months for two to three hours. Email and other communication between.

Our vision is of a world where health and well-being decisions are based upon timely, trusted and relevant evidence.

The Cochrane Collaboration (Cochrane) is an international network of researchers, health professionals, patients, carers, and people passionate about improving health outcomes who share a common purpose to gather and summarise the best evidence from research to inform decisions about health and care.

Treasurer

Unremunerated (Travel costs and reasonable out of pocket expenses are covered.) 

Remote with occasional travel 

Time Commitment – approx. 15 days per year. 

Cochrane is seeking a dedicated and motivated individual to join the Governing Board.  In this key role you will advise and support at both Board and Executive level to ensure that the organisation is making informed and considered financial decisions, continues to be financially healthy and guide the Board in fulfilling all its financial duties and responsibilities. 

As Cochrane is a complex, global organisation operating in a rapidly changing area, this will suit a highly motivated, dynamic and experienced strategic leader, who brings:   

· Significant leadership experience, including reporting to/contributing to decision making at Board level with strong influencing, advocacy and communication skills

· Substantial experience of management accounting and a good understanding of the UK charity regulations and third sector governance

· A track record of success in contributing to the success of a complex organisation, including experience in providing financial advice, support and guidance to an organisation undergoing significant change

· Understands and can example good practice in corporate governance

The successful applicant should be available to take up the post before the current Treasurer steps down in September 2024.

Cochrane is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. Cochrane welcomes applications regardless of sex, gender, race, age, sexuality, belief or disability. 
 

Recruitment Timetable 

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 5th June

Interviews with Cochrane: w/c 24th June  

Available for start:September 2024

Role Description

Come join our team working to help change the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society. Ranked 2023 Q4 by Best Companies as the 8th best charity to work for in the UK, Medaille Trust is one of the UK’s leading charities in the fight against modern slavery. Our innovative model is based on three principles: Prevent, Protect and Pursue.  We are one of the UK’s largest providers of survivor services, with ten safehouses and six outreach hubs, staffed round the clock by specialist staff, working with more than 600 men, women and dependent children each year.  We work to raise awareness in the UK and to provide preventive work in source countries. Our Pursue work helps survivors to engage with police and within the legal system to seek justice and to secure convictions against their perpetrators.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and have a wide range of experience and motivations. Whatever your reason for deciding to volunteer, we want to make sure you enjoy your time with us and know just how much we value your support.

Many of our service users don’t use English as their first language and rely on high quality translation to understand information. Therefore, we are looking for volunteers who can accurately translate English text into any of the languages below:

Mandarin, Bengali, Arabic, Amharic, French, Albanian, Vietnamese, Romanian, Polish, Tigrinya, Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi.

Volunteers need to:

•Be at least 18 years old

•Hold a translating or interpreting qualification or to hold a degree (in any subject) and be fluent in speaking and writing in English, and one or more of the languages above

•Have excellent command of English and other language(s)

•Have grammatical accuracy

•Have excellent proof-reading skills including IT skills

•Have use of own computer

•Be willing to have a basic DBS check

•Have the willingness to learn about human trafficking issues

•Have the ability to maintain confidentiality

To apply please complete an application form on our website.

Our Volunteer champions are a vital part of our work, as they help us to raise awareness with local communities and with new audiences.

What is the role of a Volunteer Champion? 

As a regional Volunteer Champion, you will help us raise awareness of BPD and support our work in your local community. You will promote volunteering, and the benefits of volunteering, with the people of your local community. You will act as an ambassador for the organisation.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Championing volunteering in your local area 
• Being the first point of contact for volunteers in your area 
• Connecting with your local volunteer organisations 
• Posting volunteer roles in your community 
• Giving talks in the community and online 
• Connecting with our social media platforms 
• Creating social media posts of activities in your community 
• Take part in our campaigns 

Why Should I Get Involved? 

From enhancing your CV and learning new skills to building confidence and teamwork, there are lots of reasons why volunteering with us as a Volunteer Champion can be beneficial.

• Join a community of volunteers who are united in supporting our mission
• Get involved with your local community, creating opportunities to connect with new people and engage with your local community.
• Make a difference in the lives of people with borderline personality disorder, your involvement will help us to reach more people in need of support.
• The Volunteer Champion role can enhance your CV as you will be engaging with different audiences to promote our services, create content and develop new skills.

Who can be a Volunteer Champion? 

If you are interested in, and passionate about, volunteering and would like to be part of our program, you can sign up as a Volunteer Champion today! 

How much time does a Volunteer Champion commit? 

You can get involved in whatever way feels right for you! This is a flexible and self-led role which is part of a wider network.

We do ask that you attend four online sessions per year to connect and network with the full Volunteer Champion network.

What can you expect from us? 

All Volunteer Champions receive:

• An induction, training for your role and ongoing support 
• A welcome pack including useful resources and digital assets 
• Regular updates, calls to action and communication 
• Opportunities to connect, network and attend exclusive online events with other Volunteer Champions 

How to become a Volunteer Champion  

If being a Volunteer Champion sounds like something you would like to be involved in, apply today so that we can start you on your journey supporting us. 

Next Steps 

Once we receive your application we will invite you to an open evening to find out more about the role. The open evening will be 7pm on Tuesday 18th June and will be held over Teams. After the open evening, we will introduce you to the rest of the team and get you started on volunteering with us. 

Our Volunteer champions are a vital part of our work, as they help us to raise awareness with local communities and with new audiences.

What is the role of a Volunteer Champion? 

As a regional Volunteer Champion, you will help us raise awareness of BPD and support our work in your local community. You will promote volunteering, and the benefits of volunteering, with the people of your local community. You will act as an ambassador for the organisation.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Championing volunteering in your local area 
• Being the first point of contact for volunteers in your area 
• Connecting with your local volunteer organisations 
• Posting volunteer roles in your community 
• Giving talks in the community and online 
• Connecting with our social media platforms 
• Creating social media posts of activities in your community 
• Take part in our campaigns 

Why Should I Get Involved? 

From enhancing your CV and learning new skills to building confidence and teamwork, there are lots of reasons why volunteering with us as a Volunteer Champion can be beneficial.

• Join a community of volunteers who are united in supporting our mission
• Get involved with your local community, creating opportunities to connect with new people and engage with your local community.
• Make a difference in the lives of people with borderline personality disorder, your involvement will help us to reach more people in need of support.
• The Volunteer Champion role can enhance your CV as you will be engaging with different audiences to promote our services, create content and develop new skills.

Who can be a Volunteer Champion? 

If you are interested in, and passionate about, volunteering and would like to be part of our program, you can sign up as a Volunteer Champion today! 

How much time does a Volunteer Champion commit? 

You can get involved in whatever way feels right for you! This is a flexible and self-led role which is part of a wider network.

We do ask that you attend four online sessions per year to connect and network with the full Volunteer Champion network.

What can you expect from us? 

All Volunteer Champions receive:

• An induction, training for your role and ongoing support 
• A welcome pack including useful resources and digital assets 
• Regular updates, calls to action and communication 
• Opportunities to connect, network and attend exclusive online events with other Volunteer Champions 

How to become a Volunteer Champion  

If being a Volunteer Champion sounds like something you would like to be involved in, apply today so that we can start you on your journey supporting us. 

Next Steps 

Once we receive your application we will invite you to an open evening to find out more about the role. The open evening will be 7pm on Tuesday 18th June and will be held over Teams. After the open evening, we will introduce you to the rest of the team and get you started on volunteering with us. 

Agriculture is the primary source of income and food security for over 80% of the population in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Unfortunately, farmers in this region face numerous challenges that significantly hinder their productivity and overall well-being. These challenges include limited access to important information, inadequate storage infrastructure, transportation limitations, insufficient financial assistance, reliance on rainfall, and a lack of opportunities for training and skill development. As a result, over 7.7 million people in the DR Congo are currently struggling with severe food insecurity.

Our organization is fully committed to supporting farmers by providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to enhance their productivity and meet the highest standards of quality.One of the primary focuses of our program is to offer farmers comprehensive training on the most effective agricultural practices. This encompasses guidance on soil management, efficient water utilization, integrated pest and disease control, and responsible use of chemicals. Moreover, we provide training on sustainable production techniques, such as organic farming and permaculture, to minimize environmental impact and safeguard natural resources.

GRANT WRITER

• Create grant proposals in response to open calls and develop templates for future opportunities.
• Volunteer 2-3 hours per week for 3-5 months.

Befriending Volunteer

You can make a difference…Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local, independent charity that has been working with older people in the area since 1963. We rely on your support to keep serving the older residents with in the Wamdsworth community. We have a dedicated team of experienced staff and a large network of dedicated local volunteers. Our aim is to enable everyone to age well in Wandsworth. We would love your help to be able to continue to support older Wandsworth residents.

Our Be-a-Friend service is one of our longest running services, matching people over 65, who live alone and have limited social contact, with a friendly local volunteer with similar hobbies and interests. The volunteer and their new friend set up a suitable time for them to meet each week for a chat and a cup of tea, which could be during the day, in the evening on the way home from work or even on the weekends . If you would prefer to volunteer from home, you can also be matched with an older person for telephone befriending. For many of our matched pairs, this is the beginning of a firm friendship. 

Befriending Plus

Befriending Plus is an extended version of the Be-a-Friend programme, for individulas needing help with life admin and small tasks as well as companionship. For Befriending Plus pairs, time spent together can include helping to use a phone or tablet, helping the client to organise their file, going out for a coffee or popping to the post office together. This support can help older people to stay independent at home for longer, as well as increasing their confidence to do these tasks when the volunteer is not there.

Become a Volunteer YouTube Content Creator!

Are you enthusiastic about making a positive impact and using your creative flair to support a worthwhile cause? Mast Cell Action, a dynamic and influential charity committed to raising awareness and driving positive change, is in need of a Volunteer YouTube Content Creator. Your role will be pivotal in helping us spread our message, raise awareness, and inspire action through compelling videos.

Role Overview:

As a Volunteer YouTube Content Creator, you'll collaborate with our Volunteer Creative Multimedia & Equality Manager to craft captivating videos that showcase the essence of our organisation. Your creative storytelling skills will captivate audiences, translating intricate ideas into accessible content that resonates with viewers.

Responsibilities:

Utilise your proficient video editing skills to craft high-quality, visually appealing content.

Apply your expertise in camera equipment, lighting, and sound setup for professional video production.

Weave engaging narratives that emotionally connect with viewers and align with our mission.

Employ your exceptional communication skills to effectively convey our message through videos.

Utilise your knowledge of YouTube and social media best practices to maximise video reach and engagement.

Manage your time efficiently to meet deadlines and handle multiple projects concurrently.

Collaborate with fellow volunteers, staff members, and stakeholders to align video content with our objectives.

Uphold strong ethical standards in content creation, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and sensitivity.

Respect confidentiality and the privacy of individuals associated with our charity.

Requirements:

Proficiency in video editing software and techniques.

Demonstrated experience in video production and content creation.

Creative thinking and the ability to transform complex concepts into engaging content.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Familiarity with YouTube platform functionalities and algorithms.

Adaptability to changing priorities and evolving needs.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Ethical standards in content creation.

Desirable Skills:

Experience in managing a YouTube channel.

Knowledge of animation and motion graphic techniques.

Proficiency in Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Adobe Photoshop (or equivalents).

Time Commitment: 4-8 hours per week

Benefits:

Opportunity to make a tangible impact by supporting a deserving cause.

Develop and showcase your creative talents.

Gain experience in content creation and video production.

Collaborate with a passionate and diverse team.

If you're excited about contributing your skills to a purposeful cause and being part of a vibrant community of change-makers, we invite you to apply! Please submit your application, including your CV and a portfolio highlighting your past work.

Let's collaborate to create content that ignites change and raises awareness for Mast Cell Action's crucial mission. Join us today and make a meaningful difference!

Volunteer Opportunity - Fundraising Senior Position

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in the community? Do you have a flair for fundraising and a drive to support important causes? We have an exciting volunteer opportunity for you!

Main Purposes of position:

• Support and develop a variety of income generation functions, including individual giving initiatives, community fundraising, grant-making, and corporate giving.
• Undertake ad hoc admin tasks to support income generation efforts.
• Facilitate the successful delivery and completion of fundraising campaigns.

Key Tasks:

• Utilise your skills to undertake a variety of processes supporting fundraising efforts. This includes setting up community fundraising campaigns on platforms like JustGiving, promoting individual giving, facilitating grant applications, and enabling online donations.
• Unleash your creativity and look for new income generation opportunities while also nurturing existing grant pipelines. Support and encourage community fundraisers with their ideas and plans.
• Engage with the MCAS community, providing support to fundraisers. Collaborate with the communications team to share fundraising opportunities on social media, and work on developing our stewardship plans.

Key Results/Objectives:

• Help us achieve increased income generation to support our mission and goals.
• Drive enhanced community engagement with our fundraising campaigns, making a real impact on important causes.
• Contribute to the establishment and expansion of additional income generation channels, such as corporate giving.

You will report to our Director of Operations, Engagement, and Services, who will provide guidance and support throughout your volunteering journey.

If you are ready to take on this vital role and be part of a vibrant and passionate team dedicated to making a difference, we want to hear from you! Join us in our quest to create positive change and leave a lasting impact on our community.

To apply, please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience to [Email Address]. We can't wait to welcome you to our passionate team of changemakers!

Note: This is a volunteer position. We greatly value the time and commitment of our volunteers and will provide necessary support and training to ensure a fulfilling experience. 

We're starting a circular fashion revolution. Loom connects you with designers to upcycle your clothes. Using AI and machine learning, we're making upcycling easy, fun and accessible. In the UK it’s estimated we only wear 1/4 of our wardrobes. That’s 1.6 billion unworn items of clothing in the UK alone, mainly due to bad design, bad fit and poor quality. This is leading to a global crisis. By 2050, 150 million tonnes of clothes will be in landfill. In fact, the problem is so huge you can already see a textile landfill in Chile from space.

There’s no need for those clothes to be thrown away. There are tens of thousands of designers and seamstresses in the UK who can help repair, alter or redesign your clothes - saving them from landfill and giving them a whole new lease of life. But currently ordering custom made or upcycling your clothes is expensive and inaccessible. Would you even know where to start? Imagine if you could create your own tailor made wardrobe at the touch of a button. Introducing Loom. Loom connects you with designers to create bespoke or upcycled clothing. Tell us about an item you no longer wear, and we’ll give you ideas on how we could transform it. Or already have a vision of what you want to create? Tell us & our designers will bring your vision to life. Our technology uses AI and machine learning to match-make your projects with the right designers based on style, location and design. And our technology not only supports you but also our incredible community of designers. Loom is an all-in-one software solution to not only help our designers find more work, but also manage orders, payments & customer service, to help grow their businesses sustainably.

INFLUENCER PARTNERSHIP MANAGER

• Reach out and foster relationships with micro-influencers, partner with influencers on collaborations and campaigns monitor end-to-end progress of campaigns and support with influencer strategy and ideation of collaborations.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week remotely for 3-5 months.

Social Anxiety Alliance UK aim to provide information and resources for individuals suffering from social anxiety and social phobia.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and develop the UK’s first dedicated Social Anxiety charity. 

We are ideally looking for trustees with previous charity trustee experience or with experience working in the mental health or charity sector. Howerver if you beleive you have the passion, time and skills to help us take the charity forward please feel free to apply.

Trustees will typically lead on a particular project depending on their skill set e.g. editorial content, web site development, social media, networking with other charities, policies and procedures, funding/grants, human resources, writing articles for the website, review of online social anxiety courses and resources.

Other opportunities are available depending on your experience and skill set.so please see the charity website and use the feedback form if you have other skills the charity might need.

We are a friendly board, getting involved will mean that you can work with us on particular projects that suit your skills. We hold trustee board meetings for approximately 60 minutes each month and work on additonal projects as time allows.

As part of our board you will support and shape our work and strategic direction, as well as help us achieve our aim of helping people who experience social anxiety.