379 Access to health volunteer volunteer roles

Why we want you

As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community to ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.

Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.

What you will be doing

• Activity Organisers - Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Promoting SSAFA Services - Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
• SSAFA Storytellers -Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
• Community Connectors - Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects.
• Fundraising Heroes - Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
• Administrators - Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.

The skills you need

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Confident to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
• Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
• Basic IT skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
• 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!

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Why we want you

As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community to ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.

Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.

What you will be doing

• Activity Organisers - Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Promoting SSAFA Services - Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
• SSAFA Storytellers -Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
• Community Connectors - Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects.
• Fundraising Heroes - Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
• Administrators - Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.

The skills you need

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Confident to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
• Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
• Basic IT skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
• 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!

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Why we want you

As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community to ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.

Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.

What you will be doing

• Activity Organisers - Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Promoting SSAFA Services - Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
• SSAFA Storytellers -Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
• Community Connectors - Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects.
• Fundraising Heroes - Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
• Administrators - Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.

The skills you need

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Confident to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
• Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
• Basic IT skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
• 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!

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Join our team of befrienders! You will support us to reach some of the most isolated adults in your community to reduce their feelings of loneliness, build friendships and provide support for mental wellbeing. You will support people to relight a spark to continue a hobby, interest or encourage them to explore and participate in new social activities.

You will support individuals to rebuild their lives beyond crisis.

Loneliness and isolation can affect anyone in life, whatever their age or family situation. Official data from the Office for National Statistics shows that rates of depression doubled during the COVID pandemic, and one of the major causes of depression is isolation.

What you will be doing

• Agree a mutual time and frequency to meet in the local community
• To develop and promote a positive relationship with your befriendee
• To encourage your befriendee to engage in social activities and support them in doing so whilst building their confidence
• To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
• Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals

The skills you need

• Good listening and communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere which motivates and inspires others
• Willingness to engage in activities in the community
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow professional boundaries

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 - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Are you a fluent Farsi speaker with a passion for helping others? We are seeking dedicated volunteers to assist women in improving their English language skills. Improving someone’s understanding and spoken English language, will allow individuals to communicate and connect with people in their local community, widen their network of friendships and relationships and provide people opportunity to improve their employability skills.

What you will be doing

• To support people who are not confident with spoken English to develop these skills through conversational English sessions through 1:1 or in small groups.
• Agree a mutual agreeable time and frequency that works for both parties Engage in conversation, allowing the person to feel supported and comfortable to practice speaking English Preparing and delivering sessions independently including setting work and assessing
• To keep records of conversations and update the support worker on progress of sessions.

The skills you need

• Hold a TEFL qualification, or equivalent qualification to support individuals
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere
• Fluent in Farsi and English

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 - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Why we want you

As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community to ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.

Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.

What you will be doing

• Activity Organisers - Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Promoting SSAFA Services - Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
• SSAFA Storytellers -Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
• Community Connectors - Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects.
• Fundraising Heroes - Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
• Administrators - Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.

The skills you need

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Confident to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
• Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
• Basic IT skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
• 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!

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Hertfordshire’s Family Centre Service brings children’s centres, health visiting and school nursing together, to provide a more joined-up service for children, young people, and their families.

The centres deliver a range of support groups and activities for children and their families to help them be healthy, grow and develop. To make it easy for families to fit sessions and services around their busy lives, access is available from any Hertfordshire Family centre. We have locations across the entire county so please do enquire ensuring you have provided your postcode. 

Main Tasks/ Responsibilities/ Activities

To support Public Health Nursing teams by helping parents use baby weighing equipment in a welcoming and safe environment.

Key Responsibilities:

· Welcome parents, carers, and babies to the self-weigh session in a friendly and approachable way.

· Explain how to use the weighing equipment safely and accurately (training provided).

· Support parents to record their baby’s weight on growth charts or apps as appropriate.

· Ensure the weighing area is safe, clean, and ready for families to use.

· Provide reassurance and encouragement to parents and carers.

· Signpost any questions or concerns about a baby’s health or development to a Family Centre staff member

Skills / Abilities / Experience / Qualities

· Friendly, patient, and approachable.

· Good communication and listening skills.

· Confident in supporting parents to use simple equipment (training given).

· Reliable, punctual, and able to work as part of a team.

· Respectful and non-judgemental towards all families.

Training / Support

· A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided.

· Requirement to undertake One YMCA online training courses

· To understand and implement One YMCA’s policies.

· Ongoing support and regular 1:1 meetings

· Access to organisational events throughout the year including Socials, Conferences and Training opportunities. 

Additional Information

· Undergo enhanced DBS check

· X2 References required

· Undertake additional training as and when required

· We offer to pay volunteers’ “out of pocket” expenses within agreed guidelines

Are you a current Keele student looking to make a difference during your time at university?

The Keele Student Volunteering Group is part of the North Staffordshire Network, offering you the best of both worlds: student-led sessions on campus and access to a wide range of training and public event medical cover across the wider area.

 There will be a two-day Community First Aider Course and associated e-learning to be completed for the role.

There is a minimum requirement of 80 hours of volunteering per year. Keele students meet on Monday evenings (7 pm) during term time on the Keele Campus.

You’re also welcome to join the Wednesday sessions at our partner hub in Stoke, or the Tuesday sessions run by our neighbouring network in either Hanley or Cheadle.

We run a monthly whole network training night in Hanley, for which transport can be provided from campus to attend; offering a great mix of opportunities to work alongside fellow volunteers and learn from a wide variety of subject experts to continue your ongoing training/development.

Interviews will begin mid-October during our Monday Night meetings or as arranged, depending on need.

If you are successful, you will need to undertake induction & training for the role at these dates: Welcome Event (Induction) - Week commencing 3rd December. Training for role - End 2026-Early 2027. Dates to be confirmed.

Community First Aider course dates TBC, depending on recruitment completion and course availability. Support will be offered to help identify the most suitable course and location for volunteers to attend.

Age UK Bucks ‘Age Better Bucks’ volunteers will support local older people to achieve personal goals – by helping them navigate and take advantage of a Support Plan devised by as community worker, that is designed to help them meet the challenges of older age.

This could be by phoning them to provide encouragement, explanation and support, and to check on progress, and also to help them with attendance at appointments and going to new groups or activities.

What do Age Better Bucks Volunteers do?

• Work with the Community Support Connector from Age UK Bucks to accept a client and understand their goals and support plan – and which services they have been referred to for support
• Contact the client to introduce yourself, and explain what you can help them with and if that’s OK with them
• Agree how your support is best provided – e.g. weekly calls for progress and encouragement, or help with something specific on their plan. That could be a home visit (if appropriate) to help them make a call or prepare for an appointment; attend a group or activity with them; or help them take a bus etc.
• Report back to the Community Support Connector if there are any issues or concerns and agree when your support can stop
• Ideally, you’d support a few clients each week or month, depending on how much time you have

The role is to support and help the client to access the referrals and support put in place for them – and not to support them with care or specific needs yourself. Referrals might be to local care services, to local groups or clubs, or to an occupational therapist for home adaptations, other voluntary organisations and support groups etc.

Our Age Better Bucks Service

Age Better Bucks supports over 65s who could benefit from extra support to manage their well being and remain independent. It is for older people experiencing challenges or need extra support to stay independent and well – for example increasing loneliness/isolation; bereavement; health/mobility decline; mood change.

Our team of support workers will assess their needs and circumstances specific to them, and develop an action plan with them to ensure more support and help can be arranged. We check in with the client after 6 weeks to see how they are getting on, and after 6 months to see how they are and check if anything has changed, got worse or improved.

The service is designed to give people the tools, contacts and support to make positive changes and especially to tackle the impact of loneliness and isolation.

An action plan, or support plan, will be devised with all clients, identifying their main goals based on their individual needs and challenges, and referring them, with their consent only, to other services and support we agree can help. At this stage we’ll assess if a volunteer like you can help then take full advantage of this support.

What you will get out of it

• Join an enthusiastic team of people who want to make a difference
• It's a great way to support older people making a real difference to their lives
• You'll be giving something back to your community
• You get to be part of Age UK Buckinghamshire's volunteer team
• We will reimburse reasonable, approved out of pocket expenses
• Volunteers tell us they find Volunteering really rewarding and get lots out of it themselves
• You will be fully supported by our Team and wider Age UK Buckinghamshire support.

What is expected of me?

We tell you about each client and ask if you’d like to take it up. You would then arrange and complete the call or visit when convenient. The work you do is conducted in line with guidance we provide and you must comply with necessary procedures including Data Protection/Confidentiality and Personal Safety.

After the visit/contact you will complete and submit a contact form. Volunteers complete relevant training, provide references and complete a DBS check.

Key skills and requirements

• Good listener, clear communicator and able to maintain confidentiality. A good conversationalist!
• Ability to lead the conversation, provide feedback to the team and summarise the conversation.
• Non-judgmental. Able to respect others’ differences and choices
• Patient, flexible and reliable
• Able to work independently with guidance and support
• Ability to travel around the area to visit people
• A regular commitment to give 1-2 hours a week would be appreciated but the role is flexible, you can work from home, do visits, only make calls, whatever works for you.
• An interest in helping older people live the lives they want

About South Tyneside Adult Recovery Services (STARS)

South Tyneside Adult Recovery Service is the alcohol and drug service in South Tyneside for adults.

South Tyneside Adult Recovery Service is open Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 4.45 pm.

About the role:

• Provide a welcoming meet and greet service to people attending STARS 

• Answer internal phone calls

• Replenish leaflets / resources 

• Create and maintain displays in the waiting area / rooms 

• Copying / printing resources for colleagues

About you:

Due to the location of the printer, applicants will need to be able to walk up and down a flight of stairs to access the printer/copier.

The service is open 9am – 5pm so the role would take place during these hours. 

Confident IT skills as there are mandatory training modules to complete online. 

Applicants must have excellent verbal communication skills, be professional, able to maintain professional boundaries and adhere to Waythrough policies.

Experience of volunteering / working in an admin / reception / customer service role would be desirable.

To have a caring, patient and empathetic nature.

Ability to remain calm and focused in a busy environment. 

About Waythrough

Waythrough provides specialist support across mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. We delivery high-quality, evidence-based services designed around the real needs of the people we serve.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through over 250 services - and it's all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy:

• Discounts from various schemes

• Training and personal development

• A chance to make a real difference in people’s lives

• Free induction and role-specific training

• Support from experienced staff and regular supervision

• Opportunities to meet new people and develop your confidence

• Reimbursement for travel and agreed expenses

• Valuable experience that can support your personal or career development

Inclusion and accessibility 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

How to apply 

If you’re viewing this advert on an external platform such as Indeed, please click ‘Apply via company website’ to view the full job description and submit your application. 

Please note that while this role has a stated closing date, we reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a high number of applications.

Why join us

Rebuild with Hope Foundation was established in 2021 and began supporting people facing multiple barriers to employment. From our humble beginnings we have seen continued and exciting growth which has allowed us to further develop and expand our support programmes alongside the opening of several retail outlets, high street stores and a community hub and café.

Our additional retail stores are in Runcorn (two stores), Earlstown, Kirkham, Thorn Cross and Wrexham. Our mission is to support those facing multiple barriers to employment by providing mentorship, employment opportunities and holistic support. Rebuild With Hope provides opportunities and delivers comprehensive support making transitioning back to work as smooth as possible.

We offer training, volunteering, work experience and progression to real work opportunities, coupled with wrap around support to foster independence, promote self-esteem and provide hope for people when they need it most. Employment and volunteering opportunities continue to help us support communities with the ongoing and ever challenging cost of living crisis.

Overview

The Rebuild with Hope Foundation is a fast growing and impactful charity supporting those facing barriers to work. Due to our continued growth we are looking to increase and diversify our Board membership. We are looking to appoint Trustees, no former experience is required as training will be provided. We are also looking to appoint a Treasurer a long with an experienced Chair of the Board. There are separate recruitment packs for each of the three roles, with each outlining the different knowledge and experiences required .

As Trustee you will help steer the charity towards achieving its mission. This vital role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to meaningful community initiatives, support sustainable growth, and foster positive relationships with stakeholders. As a Trustee, you will play a key part in shaping the charity’s future, ensuring accountability, transparency, and effective governance. This paid position invites passionate individuals eager to make a lasting difference through dedicated service and innovative thinking.

Role Description

Board Members are jointly and severally responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, its financial health, probity of its activities, developing the organisation’s aims, objectives, and goals in accordance with the Constitution, legal and regulatory guidelines. All Board Members should be aware of and understand their individual and collective responsibilities and should not be overly reliant on one or more Members in any aspect of the governance of the charity.

Duties

• Ensuring the charity complies with legislative and regulatory requirements and acts within the confines of the Constitution and its charitable objects.
• Acting in the best interest of the charity, beneficiaries, and future beneficiaries.
• Promoting and developing the charity to help it grow and maintain its public benefit.
• Maintaining sound financial management and control of the charity’s resources.
• Ensuring a fully effective and appropriate system recruitment, for appointment the and monitoring of the work and activities for the CEO and Senior Management team.
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the charity and its resources, striving for best practice in good governance.
• Maintaining absolute confidentiality about all aspects of Trustees’ business

This role offers an inspiring opportunity to contribute your skills and experiences toward creating positive change while working alongside passionate professionals dedicated to making a difference in our communities.

How to apply

Please download the relevant recruitment pack for either Trustee, Treasurer and Chair. The application process is outlined within the pack.

We request no contact from external agencies

The role in a nutshell:

You will meet an older person you’ve been matched with once a week up to a maximum period of 6 months to support them in working towards their goals.

What will you be doing?

 Depending on their needs, you may:

• Visit them at home

• Go for a walk

• Meet in a local community space, such as a library or a café

• Help them access local groups or services

• Encourage them to build positive and sustainable connections

You will keep track of their progress and share updates with your Volunteer Lead.

How would you be supported in this role?

As a Friendship Companion, you will:

• Attend an induction session

• Complete essential online training, including goal setting and safeguarding

• Receive support from a dedicated Volunteer Lead

• Have agreed out‑of‑pocket expenses reimbursed. 

Hertfordshire’s Family Centre Service brings children’s centres, health visiting and school nursing together, to provide a more joined-up service for children, young people, and their families.

The centres deliver a range of support groups and activities for children and their families to help them be healthy, grow and develop. To make it easy for families to fit sessions and services around their busy lives, access is available from any Hertfordshire Family centre. We have locations across the entire county so please do enquire ensuring you have provided your postcode.

Main Tasks/ Responsibilities/ Activities

To represent Family Centre Services within local communities and help strengthen the link between families and the centre by promoting services and support available.

Key Responsibilities:

· Promote Hertfordshire Family Centres by attending toddler and parent groups and local activities.

· Distribute leaflets, posters, and other promotional materials in community venues (e.g. libraries, health centres, nurseries, shops).

· Talk to parents, carers, and professionals about the Family Centre offer, signposting them to services and activities.

· Share updates on Family Centre activities through word of mouth, local networks, and community noticeboards.

· Provide feedback to Family Centre staff about local needs, events, and opportunities for engagement.

· Represent the Family Centre in a positive and professional way at all times.

Skills / Abilities / Experience / Qualities

· Friendly, approachable, and confident in talking to new people.

· Good communication skills.

· Reliable and able to work independently as well as part of a team.

· Enthusiasm for supporting children, families, and the local community.

· Respectful of diversity and inclusive of all families.

· Knowledge of the local area and networks

Training / Support

· A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided.

· Requirement to undertake One YMCA online training courses

· To understand and implement One YMCA’s policies.

· Ongoing support and regular 1:1 meetings

· Access to organisational events throughout the year including Socials, Conferences and Training opportunities. 

Additional Information

· Undergo enhanced DBS check

· X2 References required

· Undertake additional training as and when required

· We offer to pay volunteers’ “out of pocket” expenses within agreed guidelines

Lead Volunteer

Mind Retail

About the role

Without the help and support we receive from our Lead Volunteers and volunteer teams we wouldn’t be successful at what we do. Our Lead Volunteers play a key role by supporting the shop management team with the day to day running and management of our shops - helping us to raise crucial funds from the sale of pre-loved, donated stock to fund Mind's vital mental health support services.

Our shops are vibrant hubs in local communities across England and Wales. In our Lead Volunteer role, you’ll play a key part in building this community, helping to create a culture where every person is valued and supported - and where people have fun!

You can gain a wide variety of knowledge, skills and experience by becoming one of our valued Lead Volunteers, including:

· Experience working as part of, and leading, a diverse team

· Shop management, retail management and key holder experience

· Opportunities to improve your management, leadership and interpersonal skills

· Stock organisation, processing, pricing and merchandising skills

· Cash handling skills, including management cash functions

· Understanding of sales information, including takings

· Commercial knowledge and skills

· Understanding of policies and procedures

· Administrative skills

· IT skills

· Additional learning and development opportunities, including your own eLearning account with access to personal and professional development courses

Our Lead Volunteer roles are also flexible, so they're perfect for fitting in around your commitments. We value any time that you can give us, so whether it’s a few hours a week or a few days – we’d love to hear from you!

We need great people like you to help us in the fight for mental health. Will you join us?

Click on the role profile to find out more about our Lead Volunteer role and read on to hear some stories from our existing Lead Volunteers!

About You

• Commitment to our values & behaviours
• Enthusiastic and committed to achieving shop targets
• Flexible and adaptable approach
• Ability to work as a team and on your own initiative
• Able to build good working relationships
• Ability to work within Mind Retail’s policies and procedures
• Willingness to learn
• Good customer service skills
• Good communication skills

About Mind Retail

Mind Retail are a network of almost 200 shops across England and Wales, generating a net income of around £21 million per year. We have ambitious plans to grow over the next few years and we're going to be fighting for mental health in a way we never have before. We won't stop until everyone with a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve.

Safer Recruitment at Mind Retail

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our employees and volunteers and we expect anyone working or volunteering with us to share this commitment. This role may involve the supervision of young volunteers who are under 18. Because of this, the minimum age for this role is 18 and under our Safer Recruitment Policy, you’ll also be required to agree to an enhanced DBS check.

Our Commitment

We embrace the different perspectives that each of us bring. We want our staff and volunteers to be authentic and bring their whole selves to work. We want Mind to be a workplace that truly reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people we support. Where everyone is appreciated – regardless of race, gender, age, religion, identity and experience.

Hear from some of our existing Lead Volunteers…

Stuart, Lead Volunteer at our North Shields Mind Shop

Why did you want to become a Lead Volunteer?

I chose to volunteer at Mind, specifically because of the cause – I support the charity in what they want to achieve. Mind also supported me through the lockdown period during the pandemic, which I found very isolating.

I’ve volunteered for Mind for 20 years - I started volunteering for Mind in 2005. At the time, I had a full-time job, but I wanted to try volunteering. I’ve volunteered in a number of Mind shops, including Wallsend, Whitley Bay, Gateshead (which was where I became a Lead Volunteer) and finally, North Shields.

I wanted to become a Lead Volunteer to gain more experience, which I can then pass onto others. I now undertake key holder duties in my current shop. It was a little scary to begin with, but there was plenty of support from the wider region and I feel really proud to now be doing the role.

What knowledge and skills have you gained or developed whilst being in the Lead Volunteer role?

I’ve developed my technology skills – I’ve learnt how to use the till, how to use the computer including emails and Microsoft Teams, how to complete eLearning and the new Gift Aid hub. I struggled a bit before with technology, so it’s really helped me to be exposed to it more. I’ve also developed cash handling skills and how to deal with external contractors. My confidence has really grown and I’m also now able to cover local stores too!

What do you enjoy most about being a Lead Volunteer?

I really enjoy giving amazing customer service and working with the team of staff and volunteers – we have lots of fun whilst we work! The shop has a great atmosphere. My Shop Manager has said she couldn’t do without me! I would really recommend for anyone to come and volunteer with Mind – it’s a great way to meet new people.

Lead Volunteer at our Turnham Green Mind Shop

Why did you want to become a Lead Volunteer?

I wanted to become a Lead Volunteer because I wanted to take on more responsibilities and keep myself as productive as possible. By taking on more responsibilities, I’m able to support the wider team with certain activities within the shop. It’s also helped me become less focused on my myself and my own problems. I suffer from low self-esteem and felt that by becoming a Lead Volunteer, it would help strengthen my self-worth.

What knowledge and skills have you gained or developed whilst being in the Lead Volunteer role?

As I have never worked in retail, becoming a Lead Volunteer has given me more insight into how the retail industry and how Mind Retail operates day-to-day. I have become more patient and not as isolated as before. My communication skills have improved too.

What do you enjoy most about being a Lead Volunteer?

Certain customers are confiding in me about their mental health. I find it great to be able to assist and provide some support. We all just need an ear to listen…

It’s also great to be able to make decisions too. The team I work with at the shop are very supportive and understanding – they look after me and I feel like a belong to a small family. The team really understand that our shops are not just shops! They’re a place where everyone, including those with mental health problems, can feel safe and listened to.