Volunteer roles in wales

Ready to make a meaningful difference through purposeful leadership?

At Sight Concern Bedfordshire, we’re here to make sure people living with sight loss can lead full, independent, and active lives. Rooted in our local communities across Bedfordshire and Luton, we’ve been quietly making a big impact for over 25 years.

We’re now actively looking for a new Chair of Trustees to help shape our next chapter.

This is a special opportunity to bring thoughtful, grounded leadership to a charity with a clear mission and deep community ties. You’ll be stepping in at a pivotal point as we modernise, grow our partnerships, and explore how assistive technologies and accessible services can unlock new possibilities for those we support.

As Chair, you’ll work closely with our CEO as a trusted partner, someone who can offer encouragement, challenge when needed, and help build a culture of inclusion, community, and accountability. You'll ensure our governance remains robust and fit for the future, and that our Board continues to deliver collaboratively, constructively, and always aligned with our values.

You’ll also represent the charity externally to help us grow our network and strengthen local relationships, as well as amplifying our voice when the opportunity arises. You’ll also help us foster an environment where people feel valued, lived experience is in our central scope, and blind and partially sighted individuals remain at the heart of every decision we make.

We’re not just looking for someone to keep the wheels turning, we’re looking for a leader who understands how crucial it is to lead with integrity, empathy, and purpose. Someone who understands that the best kind of change evolves through collaboration, not control.

You don’t need to have been a Chair before, but you should bring experience as a senior leader in a professional setting or have worked closely with a CEO or senior executive. An understanding of charity governance is key, and we’re also looking for someone with flourishing people skills and a genuine commitment to inclusion and accessibility.

If you’ve got previous Trustee experience too, that’s a bonus.

Does this sound like you?

If the answer is yes, and you're ready to help guide our charity through a meaningful and exciting phase of its journey, we’d love to hear from you.

The official Recruitment Pack can be found on the Sight Concern Bedfordshire website.

We are The Unseen Barriers Foundation - a new, disabled-led Scottish charity (Incorporated as CLG with charity status pending) tackling the invisible causes of exclusion. Shame, sensory overload, emotional exhaustion, disbelief. These are the things that stop people from showing up - to appointments, to events, to life.

The Foundation is built around two original lived experience contributions by our founder:

• The Unseen Barriers Framework - a landmark conceptual model naming the distress-based barriers that keep disabled people locked out of support.
• Cùran - a green plush dragon created as a visual anchor for distress, shutdown, and solidarity.

Both are licensed to the Foundation by the creator to ensure they serve a purpose-first, rights-based mission.

We are now looking for trustees to help shape this work from the ground up. This is a working board - not a figurehead role. Trustees will actively contribute to strategic direction, governance, and growth.

We are currently remote-first to ensure full accessibility, but will provide office space (Edinburgh/Glasgow area) once funded. You do not need to be based in either city.

Estimated time commitment:

Around 10 hours per month including preparation, meetings, and task-based input.

Board meetings held quarterly via MS Teams.

All access needs will be fully accommodated.

We are especially keen to hear from:

• Individuals with skills in marketing and funding
• Disabled people and unpaid carers
• People with lived experience of distress, neurodivergence, or poverty

If you believe in radical inclusion, and want to join something disruptive but grounded, get in touch.

We believe in finding the right people, not just filling seats. Informal conversations will take place on a rolling basis, and trustees will be appointed as and when suitable candidates are identified. Early expressions of interest are encouraged.

Volunteer Role Profile

Events Coordinator

About the Role

At Living Reasons, we’re reimagining fundraising and entertainment events to be more immersive, inclusive, and inspiring than ever before. From sensory-based experiences to creative challenges and accessible escape rooms, we’re breaking away from outdated models and designing events that are fun, innovative, and impactful.

The Events Coordinator will play a hands-on role in bringing these projects to life. Working closely with the Events & Entertainments Lead, you’ll help plan and deliver exciting events, ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day and that participants and supporters have a memorable experience.

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys organisation, teamwork, and creativity — someone who likes to see an idea grow into a successful event.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the Events & Entertainments Lead to plan and deliver specific events and challenges.

• Help ensure events are well-organised, including:

  • Preparing and checking event locations

  • Allocating roles and tasks to volunteers and staff involved

  • Coordinating logistics before and during events

• Support with Health & Safety, insurance, and accessibility requirements (with guidance).

• Work as part of a team of multiple Event Coordinators, collaborating and sharing tasks.

• Take initiative in your area of responsibility, while knowing when to seek support or guidance.

• Analyse and report on the success of events, sharing feedback with the wider team to improve future activities.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to work as part of a team, while also being comfortable taking initiative.

• A practical, solution-focused mindset to keep events running smoothly.

• Good communication skills and a willingness to engage with volunteers, staff, and supporters.

• Enthusiasm for creativity, accessibility, and inclusivity in events.

• Reliability and a positive, can-do attitude.

What You’ll Gain

• Experience in planning and delivering creative and accessible events.

• The chance to work as part of a supportive, fun, and innovative team.

• Opportunities to develop leadership, organisation, and communication skills.

• Insight into event planning and fundraising from the inside.

• The satisfaction of knowing your work directly supports Living Reasons’ mission.

 Interested?
If you’d like to play a key role in making our events a success — and be part of a team creating unique experiences that raise vital funds — we’d love to hear from you.

About the Role

At Living Reasons, we want to change the face of fundraising and entertainment events. We’re not interested in repeating outdated models — instead, we want to create immersive, innovative, and accessible experiences that engage supporters in brand new ways.

The Events & Entertainments Lead will play a key role in making this vision a reality. You’ll oversee events and entertainment coordinators working on specific projects, ensuring events are well-planned, properly funded, safe, and accessible to all. At the same time, you’ll work with the wider team to design bold, creative, and inclusive experiences — from accessibility-led escape rooms to sensory events, to interactive challenges inspired by shows like The Traitors.

This role is about big thinking, imagination, and leadership. It’s perfect for someone who wants to push boundaries and reimagine what fundraising and entertainment events can look like.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and support Events & Entertainments Coordinators delivering specific projects.

• Ensure all events are effectively planned and funded, including managing:

  • Health & Safety requirements

  • Insurance needs

  • Accessibility and inclusivity considerations

• Work with the wider Events, Entertainments & Challenges team to design new, engaging opportunities for supporters.

• Develop immersive, creative experiences that break the mould of traditional fundraising events.

• Build and lead a team of creative volunteers, supporting them to contribute ideas and take ownership of projects.

• Help ensure events raise vital funds to support Living Reasons’ work, while also being enjoyable, inclusive, and meaningful for all participants.

What We’re Looking For

• A creative thinker who sees beyond traditional event formats.

• Strong organisational and planning skills.

• Ability to lead and inspire a team of coordinators and volunteers.

• Confidence in problem-solving and thinking outside the box.

• A commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in every project.

• Enthusiasm for fundraising and creating unique supporter experiences.

What You’ll Gain

• A chance to develop and showcase leadership, event management, and creative design skills.

• Experience in building and leading a team of passionate volunteers.

• The opportunity to test bold ideas and bring innovative events to life.

• The knowledge that your creativity is directly supporting meaningful change.

• A supportive, collaborative environment where your ideas are valued.

Interested?
If you’re excited about reimagining events and entertainment, we’d love to hear from you. Bring your ideas, your energy, and your creativity — and let’s design the future of events together.

Lived Experience Board Member (Advisory Role)

About the Role
At Living Reasons, we believe that real change comes from lived experience. To make sure everything we do is relevant, effective, and grounded in the realities of people’s lives, we are creating a Lived Experience Advisory Board.

This is a non-executive, advisory role. Board members do not carry trustee responsibilities but instead play a vital part in shaping and guiding the organisation. The insights and perspectives of our board members will directly inform the decisions of our trustees, helping us stay focused on what truly matters to the people we support.

How the Board Works

• The board is made up of different lived experience groups, each focusing on particular areas.

• Members can meet in their groups to share experiences, support one another, and identify key issues.

• Groups can also set up their own sub-groups where needed.

• Each group decides what information it wants to share with Living Reasons — members are always in control of their voice.

• From time to time, the full board meets together to discuss wider themes, shared experiences, and how these can guide the direction of Living Reasons.

What You’ll Do

• Share your lived experience in a safe, respectful group setting.

• Take part in discussions, focus groups, and community support activities.

• Contribute to shaping campaigns, policies, and services.

• Review materials, research, and proposals and give feedback to help the organisation grow.

• Be part of a supportive community that uses lived experience to drive meaningful change.

Who We’re Looking For

• People with lived experience of wheel chair use, either:

  • through your own personal experience, or

  • as a supporter, caregiver, guardian, or family member.

We will keep these as two separate groups (personal experience, and supporter/caregiver) so that conversations can be open and relevant to each perspective.

Why Join?

• Your experience will drive real change — in Living Reasons and in wider society.

• You’ll be part of a community where lived experience is valued, respected, and heard.

• You’ll have a direct line to trustees and a say in how resources, campaigns, and priorities are shaped.

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)

FareShare Merseyside redistributes quality surplus food to over 232 community-based organisations who are working with vulnerable people across the region and parts of North Wales. We are keen to expand our reach, actively looking to recruit charity members who want to help us in our Warehouse, Vans, and Kitchen.

Volunteering with FareShare Merseyside

Our volunteers are at the heart of our service, with an amazing team of almost 100 volunteers, who ensure quality surplus food reaches those most in need in all communities in our region.  As a thank you for their support, we hold regular wellbeing social events and offer pathways onto our employability program.

What will I be doing?

• Travelling with designated van drivers to deliver and collect food 
• Representing FareShare in a courteous and professional manner at all times
• Supporting drivers to carry out routine checks on the vans, taking responsibility for the vans throughout the day and reporting accidents or damage to the van or other vehicles 
• Supporting drivers to complete all relevant paperwork
• Planning routes, sorting food, picking orders, loading and unloading vans 
• Assisting with maintenance of the vans including cleaning 

What we need you to be:

• Minimum of 18 years old
• Good at map reading and/or able to use a Sat Nav system 
• Positive, friendly and enthusiastic about tackling food waste and/or food poverty 
• Able to perform physical tasks including lifting and loading 
• Good with numbers, identifying different foods, writing clearly 
• Able to work effectively and use your initiative in a fast-paced environment 
• Able to work well in a team and on your own
• Able to follow FareShare’s policies & procedures 
• Flexible – there may be times when we ask you to help on other projects/tasks 

What will I get out of it?

• Support and supervision from the Regional Volunteer Manager
• An induction and training for the role
• Reasonable travel expenses and a free lunch 
• A fun and friendly place to work 
• The opportunity to take on new challenges
• A work reference for those who have satisfactorily committed to at least 3 months 
• The opportunity to support a great cause and give something back to your community 

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Volunteer Car Drivers to join our team based in Bristol. 

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in your community? Join us as a Patient Transport Volunteer Driver and become a vital part of our Patient Transport Service in your local area. Your commitment will ensure that vulnerable patients can access essential medical appointments on time with ease and comfort.

Our volunteer team is a diverse blend of individuals united by a shared desire to make a positive difference in their communities.

As a volunteer, you'll be the friendly face that patients rely on during their journey to appointments. Your role is simple yet profoundly impactful: providing safe and reliable transportation, while offering reassurance and support during a challenging time in their lives.

No prior experience is necessary - just bring your caring attitude, a 4-5 door car, and some spare time. Whether you're available from the crack of dawn or prefer flexible hours that fit around your schedule, every contribution counts.

By volunteering, you will experience the fulfilment of giving back to your community and supporting the NHS. Join our growing team of compassionate volunteers who are dedicated to enhancing patient care and making a real difference in people's lives.

What benefits can you expect?

·50p per mile with reimbursement for approved expenses

·The chance to make a tangible difference in your local community

·Be a part of our excellent EMED Volunteer Team

·Comprehensive induction, training, and ongoing support

·Opportunities to connect with new people

Other duties include:

·Drive patients to non-emergency appointments

·Assist individuals in accessing vital hospital services

·Coordinate with our dispatch teams for seamless operations

·Foster positive relationships within the community

·Enjoy the autonomy of volunteering independently while knowing you have the backing of a supportive team

What we're looking for:

·A valid driving licence with (no more than 6 penalty points)

·A friendly and empathetic demeanour

·Access to a 4 door (minimum) car

·Alignment with our organization's values

·Basic IT skills (like the use of smartphone)

Please note that this role will be subject to several regulatory pre-employment checks, and you will be asked to provide details of your full employment history should you be invited to an interview. Your HMRC record, available to download from the Government Gateway may help you in preparing this information when required.

Our Values

Collaborative – we work as one team with a shared purpose to meet the needs of our patients, passengers, colleagues, customers, communities, and the planet.

Agile – We listen, learn and adapt to improve the business, each other, and ourselves.

Reliable – We do what we say we will do, we take responsibility and we behave with integrity.

Empowered – We are confident and committed to taking responsibility to deliver the highest quality service.

About Us

The exciting merger of ERS Medical and E-Zec Medical has enabled us to rebrand, therefore as a combined business we are now known as EMED Group. We are the largest Patient Transport and Care Partner to the NHS with circa 4,000 colleagues across 60 depots. Our ambition is to continue developing patient care transport services that improve the health and wellbeing for people across our local communities by providing transport that supports patient care, community support, secure mental health and medical courier services.

EMED Group are committed to providing services for our patients, service users, clients, and community and is supported by employees with an increasing variety of backgrounds. To do this effectively it is essential that we promote equality and embrace diversity and inclusion and treat all of our employees, patients, service users and clients with dignity and respect.

EMED Group is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination, with our aim being to be truly representative of all sections of society and our clients, and for each employee to feel respected, valued and able to give their best.

EMED Group are committed to providing equal opportunities and we endeavour to provide an inclusive and safe working culture for all.

FareShare Merseyside redistributes quality surplus food to over 232 community-based organisations who are working with vulnerable people across the region and parts of North Wales. We are keen to expand our reach, actively looking to recruit charity members who want to help us in our Warehouse, Vans, and Kitchen.

Volunteering with FareShare Merseyside

Our volunteers are at the heart of our service, with an amazing team of almost 100 volunteers, who ensure quality surplus food reaches those most in need in all communities in our region.  As a thank you for their support, we hold regular wellbeing social events and offer pathways onto our employability program.

What is a Warehouse Assistant?

As a WA, you would sort the food that we receive from our food partners and pick daily orders for charities. It’s a great way to keep fit and all you need is a sturdy pair of hands! 

What will I be doing?

• Working as part of a team to manually sort and store large deliveries of surplus food 
• Helping to assemble the daily deliveries of food for local charities and community groups 
• Making sure the food is within use by dates and handled safely 
• You may also be asked to contact our charity members to talk through the food we have available to create their weekly food order

What we need you to be:

• Able to perform physical tasks including lifting and loading 
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills to record quantities and types of food 
• Work well as part of a team 
• Happy to complete tasks independently according to instruction 
• Adaptable – managing surplus can be unpredictable so day to day tasks can vary
•  Positive, friendly, and enthusiastic about tackling food waste and food poverty 

What will I get out of it?

•  A fun and friendly environment 
• Be part of a team of like-minded people
• Gain warehouse management skills such as a Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene certificate and forklift training / such as food safety, and manual handling. 
• Working reference available after 3 months in the role 
• The opportunity to support a great cause and give back to your community 
• Be at the forefront of stopping good food from going to waste 
• Reasonable travel expenses and a free lunch 

Looking to make a real difference and support positive change? Join the GreenLift Hope CIC team and help advance social inclusion and sustainable urban farming! We tackle unemployment and social isolation through micro-agriculture and skills training programs.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to deliver hands-on training, manage production processes, and support vulnerable communities. GreenLift Hope offers a supportive environment for learning, growth, and making a meaningful impact together.

About Us

Suicide Awareness Prevention UK (SAPUK) is a dedicated, non-profit Community Interest Company (CIC), established in 2016, focused on providing support to individuals dealing with suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Our goal is to guide people from distress toward hope, helping them regain the strength to live their lives to the fullest.

Our Work Environment Includes:

• On-the-job training
• Growth opportunities
• A relaxed atmosphere
• Flexible working hours

Job Description

SAPUK is looking for volunteers to assist with our support services, which run daily from 6am to 11pm. Volunteers will engage through our instant messaging support line, which operates via Meta and offers anonymous communication via our website. The service is managed through a free app, available for download on all smart devices.

Over the years, our dedicated team has supported countless individuals, helping them overcome feelings of distress and guiding them away from the darkness. As a volunteer, you’ll be part of a compassionate team, committed to providing life-changing support.

SAPUK offers regular training to help volunteers enhance their skills and gain invaluable experience. Volunteers will become part of a supportive, collaborative team that prioritizes mental health and the well-being of both those we serve and our volunteers.

Volunteer Requirements:

• A minimum of 6 hours per week (one shift, or split into two 3-hour shifts).
• Flexible shift options to fit your schedule, with shifts ranging from 6am to 11pm.
• We’re looking for individuals who can commit to at least one shift per week, though we’ll work to accommodate your availability.

Shift Patterns Available:

• 6am - 12pm
  1. 6am - 9am
  2. 9am - 12pm
• 12pm - 6pm
  1. 12pm - 3pm
  2. 3pm - 6pm
• 6pm - 11pm
  1. 6pm - 9pm
  2. 9pm - 11pm

Application Process:

• You must be based in the UK (no overseas applications accepted).
• Strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills are required.
• Strong proficiency in English is essential.
• Successful candidates will be contacted to complete an application and confidentiality form and provide two references (one work-related, one educational or work-related).
• Following the submission of the forms and references, we’ll arrange a call to discuss the role, then provide you with a training video.
• Volunteers will be added to our WhatsApp groups, and you’ll begin shadowing more experienced team members before taking on your own chats.
• Shadowing typically requires 9-18 hours, depending on your confidence level.

Please note: This role may be distressing at times. Our team is incredibly supportive, and volunteers are encouraged to reach out to team members whenever necessary.

Person Specifications

If you’re passionate about mental health and want to help those in need, SAPUK is the place for you. As a volunteer, you’ll make a significant difference while joining a caring and selfless team.

Requirements:

• Must be 18 or older.
• Minimum commitment of 6 hours per week, with flexible scheduling options.
• Must have WhatsApp and Facebook (or be willing to get them).
• A working email address and phone number linked to WhatsApp are required.
• Willingness to download an additional app and join multiple WhatsApp groups to communicate with the SAPUK team and support individuals.

Benefits:

• Remote work (work from home)
• Gain valuable experience
• Be part of a supportive team
• Work flexible hours, including days, nights, and weekends
• Volunteer benefits package

Job Type:

• Volunteer

Location:

• Remote (UK-based applicants only)

Job Type: Volunteer

Pay: None (Voluntary)

Expected Hours: Minimum 6 hours per week

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Night shift
• Weekend availability

Licence/Certification:

• DBS (preferred, not essential)

Work Authorization:

• Must be based in the UK 

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

African Development Choices (ADC) is a UK-based Social Enterprise on a mission to reduce poverty by empowering communities to make more informed choices in the management of public resources.

ADC’s purpose is to enable communities to independently meet their needs for essential services, such as clean water and safe sanitation and improve lives in Africa.

At ADC we encourage a working culture of seeking and giving input, showing and taking initiative, and commitment to the organisation and its purpose.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a volunteer Senior Web Developer to join ADC.

Main purpose of job: Develop and maintain the ADC website

Division: Operations

Department: Marketing & Communications

Position reports to: Head of Marketing & Communications

Who reports to this position: N/A

Main Duties and Responsibilities
 

· Develop responsive and adaptive website, ensuring optimization for mobile devices and cross-browser compatibility

· Work closely with web designers to match visual design intent and to perfect site aesthetics

· Ensure website meets usability and accessibility web standards

· Test and improve website functionality and performance over time

· Put in place a robust backup and recovery procedure

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential
 

· 3+ years experience as a Senior Web Developer

· Excellent knowledge of WordPress, HTML, CSS and JavaScript

· A keen eye for design and detail, and passion for building modern and elegant websites powered by WordPress

· A strong understanding of optimisation for mobile devices, cross-browser compatibility, responsive web design, and general web functions and standards

· Good experience building website pages from scratch in WordPress

· Ability to work both with autonomy and as part of a team

· Available to volunteer at least 7-10 hours a week

· Ability to actively take initiative and help set things up in a start-up environment

· Ability to actively seek and give input in a collaborative team environment

· A committed team player with good communication skills.

Desirable
 

· Experience working in an early stage star-tup and gone through a scaling phase

· Passion for the start-up life and comfortable in a role with a little ambiguity

What ADC offers you:

• Free training and learning opportunities
• An opportunity to build your work experience within the field of web development
• An opportunity to be part of a team that is changing lives in Africa
• We provide work references

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Here at African Development Choices, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our teams are made up of people from all over the world and we welcome all applications. If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, and you require any reasonable adjustments for your application with us, please let us know by contacting recruitment(at)africandevelopmentchoices(dot)org.

Why we need you:

This role is vital to the work of FareShare Merseyside. You will be preparing and cooking meals for our volunteers and staff, cleaning down the kitchen, and adhering to allergen, HACCP, and other compliance checks.

For the role of the Volunteer Kitchen Lead/ Chef, a background in food is essential. If you have experience leading a small team, and adhering to food hygiene, you would be a great fit for this role.

What will I be doing?

• Learning how to use our internal Warehouse systems to ‘book out’ food, ensuring a good level of stock is available at all time.
• Planning, creating, and cooking meals from surplus food for volunteer and staff lunches.
• Carrying out routine kitchen cleaning, health and safety checks, and completing all relevant paperwork.
• Assisting with one-off corporate or fundraising events.
• Representing FareShare in a courteous and professional manner at all times.

What we need you to be:

• Minimum of 18 years old
• Experience cooking for large numbers of people
• Passionate about food and saving surplus food from going to waste
• Inventive in the kitchen and able to cook for all dietary requirements
• Positive, friendly and personable, able to interact well with different people 
• Good with numbers, identifying different foods, writing clearly  
• Able to work effectively and use your initiative in a fast-paced environment 
• Able to work well in a team and on your own   
• Able to follow FareShare’s policies & procedures  

What will I get out of it?

· An active and sociable role 

· Development of skills such as menu planning, batch cooking, team leading

· Support and supervision from the Regional Volunteer Manager, and our Culinary Lead. 

• An induction and training for the role
• The opportunity to take on new challenges and support people in your community
• Reasonable travel expenses and a free lunch  
• A fun and friendly place to work  
• The opportunity to take on new challenges   
• A work reference for those who have satisfactorily committed to at least 3 months  
• The opportunity to support a great cause and give something back to your community  

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You just need the ability to listen, strong IT skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.

What is a Caseworker?

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of support they need. You will listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help those serving, who have served and their families to navigate life in and beyond military service. Some examples of support are securing funding for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical, and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can complete the administration part of the role from home as long as you have access to IT equipment and the internet.

What would you be doing?

• Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time.
• Meeting beneficiaries and completing a form to assess their circumstances, using good communication skills, empathy and understanding.
• Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice.
• Applying for funding on the behalf of the beneficiary through a specific process and system  
• Arranging for the purchase of goods and services
• Keeping the beneficiary informed of their case progress.
• Liaise with the branch and regional office, regarding your availability.
• Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
• Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.  

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support would you receive?

• Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, and caseworker IT system training. The caseworker training takes 3 days and a further half a day for the other training.
• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
• Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
• Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
• Regular opportunities to meet and share best practice with other caseworkers.
• Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.
• Good communication skills both written and verbally.
• Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
• Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and to enter cases on the Casework Management System. Willingness and ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
• Ability to make enquires on behalf of beneficiaries by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms.
• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice
• Reliable, prompt and trustworthy.
• Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)

Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including checks against the children and adults barred list)

*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered. 

Why we need you:

This role is vital to the work of FareShare Merseyside. You will be preparing and cooking meals for our volunteers and staff, cleaning down the kitchen, and adhering to allergen, HACCP, and other compliance checks.

For the role of the Volunteer Kitchen Assistant, a background in food is desirable but not essential. If you have experience working in a kitchen, a passion for food and sustainability, and a willingness to learn new skills whilst working in a small team, you would be a great fit for this role!

What will I be doing?

• Helping to plan, create, and cook meals from surplus food for volunteer and staff lunches.
• Carrying out routine kitchen cleaning, health and safety checks, and completing all relevant paperwork.
• Assisting with one- off corporate or fundraising events.
• Representing FareShare in a courteous and professional manner at all times.

What we need you to be:

• Minimum of 18 years old
• Passionate about food and saving surplus food from going to waste
• Positive, friendly and personable, able to interact well with different people 
• Good with numbers, identifying different foods, writing clearly  
• Able to work well in a team and on your own   
• Able to follow FareShare’s policies & procedures  

What will I get out of it?

· An active and sociable role 

· Development of skills such as food preparation, batch cooking, and menu planning.

· Support and supervision from the Regional Volunteer Manager, and our Culinary Lead. 

• An induction and training for the role
• The opportunity to take on new challenges and support people in your community
• Reasonable travel expenses and a free lunch  
• A fun and friendly place to work  
• The opportunity to take on new challenges   
• A work reference for those who have satisfactorily committed to at least 3 months  
• The opportunity to support a great cause and give something back to your community