6 Accredited training coordinator volunteer roles

Prison-based volunteers are the backbone of Fine Cell Work (FCW). Supported by the Fine Cell Work programmes team and by other staff at the FCW office, they teach and administer FCW stitching groups in prisons.

Prison volunteers work in teams to organise classes and teach our stitchers, as well as providing information about the group to the prison and to the FCW office. The precise mix of skills will vary from prison to prison.

Volunteering in prison for Fine Cell Work requires ideally a good level of needlework skill (or a willingness to learn), some teaching experience and/or experience of working with socially-excluded groups. Volunteers must be patient and non-judgemental in order to work effectively. As a prison volunteer you will be:

• Developing skills and confidence
• Teaching prisoners to stitch FCW products within the framework of our training programme
• Encouraging and supporting prisoners to volunteer as class coordinators and peer mentors
• Encouraging and helping prisoners who wish to undertake their own creative projects

It is essential for volunteers to support FCW's ethos, believe in rehabilitation, be an excellent teamworker, observe personal boundaries, be reliable and patient to ensure cell groups run smoothly, and have record-keeping skills and have some knowledge of needlework.

Volunteers work in prisons around the UK dependent on where groups are based, therefore it is requred that volunteers will be able to travel to the relevant prisons. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity. 

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our volunteers.

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in FCW’s workforce.

These include applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+, and male identifying applicants as these are currently under-represented in our volunteers groups.

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

The Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE) is a collaboration of professional bodies and scientific societies established to set and uphold standards of training and education in clinical ultrasound (sonography) in the UK. This is achieved through accreditation of sonographic courses.  CASE works closely with universities and other higher-education institutions to ensure the highest standards are met.

CASE is a not-for-profit organisation which relies on volunteers to commit their time to ensure the students who graduate from our accredited courses do so with the best in education, mentor support and clinical competency and thus preparing the sonographic workforce of the future.

The Member Organisations that make up the Consortium are:

• The British Medical Ultrasound Society
• The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• The College of Radiographers
• The College and Society for Vascular Science
• The Royal College of Podiatry

Further information on CASE can be seen on our website

In over 20 years of operation, the reputation of CASE accreditation as the accepted standard for sonographic education in the UK has grown and become accepted across the NHS and independent sector healthcare providers. In the busy and pressurised context of healthcare provision and diagnosis, CASE accreditation provides the reassurance that a sonographer has been trained to a high standard.

The group of member organisations that provide strategic oversight has operated as a relatively informal collaboration but is now looking to become a legally constituted company.

About the role

CASE is seeking to appoint a part time Independent Chair to provide supportive leadership for the Member Organisations Group. 

The Chair of CASE will:

• Chair the Case Member Organisations’ Board which meets virtually on a quarterly basis, allocating additional time for meeting preparation and follow up. Administrative support is provided by the BMUS.
• Build relationships with Sonography policy leaders within the member organisations and with their representatives that make up the CASE committee, from which the programme of accreditation activity and the setting of standards is conducted. This would usually be via the Committee chair.
• Take part with Board members in increasing the influence of CASE at health policy level across the UK
• Ensure that the Board develops a clear strategy for incorporation, financial sustainability and continuing growth. 
• Work with the CASE Committee Chair to ensure direct communication channels between the strategic and operational arms of CASE are maintained;
• Ensure that the MOs adhere to the terms of reference as set out in the Consortium’s Memorandum of Agreement;
• Act as advisor for the CASE Coordinator regarding actions and issues pertinent to the MOs;
• Provide an independent perspective to ensure the accuracy and quality of strategic CASE documentation including the business strategy, risk register, and policy documents;
• Collaborate with the CASE Co-ordinator to ensure an annual report is produced, providing a record of activity across the CASE year.

Term of Office

The Chair is appointed for a 2-year term.  An extension to the term of office is possible by mutual agreement between the individual and the member organisations.

Expected Time Commitment

Variable, but up to 4 days per year for meetings plus up to 4 days for dealing with documentation, emails and actions.

Compensation

This is a volunteer role, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

The person

• A proven track record of organisational and leadership skills with an ability to motivate and bring people together.
• Experience of committee work and management of meetings.
• Strong inter-personal and relationship skills.
• Ability to be impartial, discreet and exercise sound judgement.
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to listen and engage effectively and respond with tact and diplomacy.
• Partnership working is critical to this role and the candidate will need to be able to demonstrate strong influencing, negotiating and collaborative skills.
• An interest in the delivery of high quality clinical services is required but previous experience in health care is not essential.