Drugs and alcohol volunteer roles

Together Drug and Alcohol Service is the commissioned community drug and alcohol provision for Devon. It provides a range of support, interventions and treatments for those wanting to make positive changes to their drug and/or alcohol use, as well raising awareness and supporting family members.

We have a dedicated Criminal Justice Team that helps people who have become involved in the criminal justice system and who wish to make changes to their drug and/or alcohol use. This involves writing reports to the Court in line with community sentencing, liaising with Probation in order to facilitate Court Orders relating to drug and/or alcohol use and supporting those released from prison as they transition back to community living.

Role overview:

We are looking for a volunteer to meet people on the day they are released from prison, who can support these individuals to attend initial appointments across organisations in the community.

This role would be well suited to someone looking to gain experience working within the criminal justice system and who is willing to develop understanding of the challenges the early days of living back in the community can bring.
Individuals with lived experience are also strongly encouraged.

Volunteers would need to be available from 8am on the day(s) they volunteer, to meet clients in the reception lounge of HMP Exeter // HMP Channing’s Wood.

Tasks may include:

• • Supporting people to attend appointments with probation, allocated police officers or Together Drug and Alcohol Services.
  • Providing a supportive, non-judgemental and listening ear.
  • Co-facilitating group support sessions, including SMART Recovery meetings (training provided)
  • Signposting to other activities / support the service user to work alongside other organisations e.g. GP or additional mental health support services.

All volunteers are asked to adhere to organisational policies including safeguarding, information governance and health and safety.

We would love you to bring to this role:

• • A confident and friendly approach
  • A willingness to learn
  • Ability to problem solve
  • Awareness of the challenges / barriers faced by people entering / at risk of entering the criminal justice system

Skills we would like you to bring to the role:

• • Confident IT skills – aside from any IT skills required for the role, some of our mandatory training is done online through eLearning modules
  • Professional, honest and committed
  • Non-judgmental towards people with lived experience of criminal justice, drugs/alcohol addiction and recovery, mental health or other associated issues
  • Good time keeping
  • Able to work as part of a team, on own initiative and to instruction
  • A driving licence and own transport would be an advantage but is not essential
  • An understanding of Waythrough – information is available on our website, and you can call a specific project to make enquiries.
  • A genuine interest in being part of the mission, vision and promise of Waythrough

Ability to maintain professional boundaries, adhere to Waythrough policies and media guidelines, engage in supervision, and complete relevant training

Lived Experience Community Ambassador

Please note, this will be based across Bedford

Purpose / Summary of the Role

Aquarius is a national charity working to reduce harm caused by drugs, alcohol, and gambling. We support individuals, families, and communities through prevention, early intervention, and recovery focused services.

The Lived Experience Community Ambassador role works alongside Youth Ambassadors and Aquarius practitioners. The role uses lived experience of substance use, recovery, or being affected by someone else’s substance use to support learning, engagement, and understanding.

You will contribute to peer informed education, community outreach, and parent engagement. Your experience supports honest conversation, reduces stigma, and helps families feel understood and informed.

Responsibilities

· Work alongside practitioners to support education and outreach activity

· Share lived experience appropriately within agreed boundaries

· Support school based sessions and parent focused learning

· Contribute to community outreach and awareness activity

· Support parents and carers with practical insight and reassurance

· Reinforce prevention, harm reduction, and recovery messages

· Follow safeguarding, confidentiality, and information sharing procedures

· Communicate concerns or disclosures to practitioners promptly

Description of Tasks

· Take part in planned lived experience talks and panel discussions

· Support PSHE lessons or awareness sessions alongside staff

· Share personal insight to support understanding of substance use and recovery

· Support parent sessions with perspective drawn from lived experience

· Attend community events to promote support and early intervention

· Work with Youth Ambassadors to model safe, respectful engagement

· Prepare for sessions with practitioners to agree focus and boundaries

· Maintain professional boundaries at all times

Time commitment

- Minimum 2 to 4 hours per month

- Sessions planned in advance

- Flexibility to support school and community activity

Training and support

· Mandatory volunteer induction

· Lived experience and boundaries training

· Safeguarding training

· Project specific briefing before sessions

· Named supervisor

· Ongoing supervision and support

Skills and qualities

· Lived experience of substance use, recovery, or being affected by another person’s use

· Ability to reflect on experience safely and constructively

· Comfortable speaking in groups or community settings

· Calm and reliable approach

· Respectful and non judgemental communication

· Ability to maintain boundaries and confidentiality

· Willingness to work alongside practitioners and follow guidance

Benefits to the volunteer

· Opportunity to use lived experience to support others

· Contribution to prevention and early intervention work

· Development of confidence and communication skills

· Experience within education and community services

· Training and development opportunities

· Support from experienced practitioners

· Reimbursement of agreed expenses

Reimbursement of expenses

Agreed out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed

· Public transport

· Mileage costs at 0.45p per mile

Local Information

Service Name – Bedford

Service Model / Project

Prevention, Early Intervention, and Community Outreach Services

Location

Schools, community venues, and outreach settings

Additional Information / Application procedure

· Application form

· Assessment meeting

· DBS and references

· Induction and training

Person Criteria

Approachable, professional, and reflective

Organised and reliable

Ability to practice patience

Able to maintain confidentiality

Able to understand and maintain boundaries

Able to communicate in a non-judgemental way

Ability to work as part of a team

Lived experience relevant to substance use or recovery

Good level of self-awareness

All activities carried out in line with Aquarius policies and procedures

You should not be an active client of Aquarius services

Build on Belief (BoB) is looking for a new Finance Trustee/ Treasurer – Voluntary

Use your financial skills to change lives Build on Belief is a growing, ambitious charity helping people affected by drug and alcohol problems find peer support, rebuild their lives and strengthen their communities.

We’re looking for a Finance Trustee (Treasurer) to play a vital role in our next stage of growth. As Treasurer, you’ll be a key voice on our Board, helping shape strategy and ensure strong, transparent financial governance. Working closely with the Chair, CEO and fellow trustees, you’ll oversee budgets, financial reporting and risk, and support long term planning — helping us balance ambition with sustainability.

We’re keen to hear from finance professionals with experience in financial oversight or strategic planning. Charity experience is welcome but not essential; what matters most is good judgement, clarity of thought and a commitment to social impact.

This voluntary role involves bi-monthly Board meetings and offers a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference with your expertise. 

Interested? Get in touch and help build belief, recovery and change. 

Our trustees and non-executive directors play a vital role in making sure that the group achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that there is a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision.

Just as importantly, they support and challenge the CEO and executive team in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs, to enable Thrive Social Housing and Emerging Futures CIC to grow and thrive, and through this, achieve our mission.

The Board operates under the leadership and guidance of the chair and works in partnership with the chief executive officer and the executive team.

Board members are expected to always act in the best interests of the organisation and its stakeholders, and to use their background knowledge and skills to work with the chair and other board members to ensure that the Board, supported by its committees, carries out its responsibilities effectively and lead from the top in demonstrating our culture, values and behaviours.

Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always act as a group and not as individuals.

Together Drug and Alcohol Service is the commissioned community drug and alcohol provision for Devon. It provides a range of support, interventions and treatments for those wanting to make positive changes to their drug and/or alcohol use, as well raising awareness and supporting family members.

The role:

Recovery Support Volunteers can be involved in various aspects of service delivery. It is a front line, client facing role and may involve a focus on one particular area, such as group work or Duty support, or, it may involve a combination of tasks and activities. We are looking for a team player with a willingness to learn.

Tasks may include:

• Support people engaged in support with Together to achieve their Recovery Plan goals
• Support the facilitation of structured and unstructured group work programmes, both virtually and face to face
• Support and empower individuals to engage in recovery activities, including those provided by Together and the wider community
• Conduct welfare and check-in phone calls
• Be a first point of contact for individuals, professionals, or family members, taking referrals as appropriate
• Provide Brief Interventions, including those focussed around harm reduction
• Use Halo (internal case management system) to document sessions and support the team with updates and audits
• Identify and report any concerns or risks to the Duty staff or Duty Manager

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

Reach: Reach Drug and Alcohol Services is the commissioned community drug and alcohol provision for Dorset. It provides a range of support, interventions and treatments for adults and young people wanting to make positive changes to their drug and/or alcohol use, as well as offering support to family members and running campaigns and events that raise awareness of addiction and celebrate recovery in the community.

Reading Through Recovery -A weekly 90‑minute group supporting anyone on a substance or alcohol recovery journey, whether actively using or abstinent, through the shared experience of reading.​​

In a relaxed and inclusive space, participants bring a book they’re reading, explore themes that resonate, and dive into stories that spark insight and strength. Together, we share literature that has inspired, supported, or shaped our recovery journeys, with optional recommendations and themed reading ideas each week.​​

This is more than a book group, it's a place to find meaning, connection, and momentum in recovery.​

Details of the role & tasks

The role:

We are seeking enthusiastic readers to co-facilitate our new project – Reading Through Recovery. Volunteer group facilitators will help to make newcomers feel welcome, and empower everyone in the meeting to contribute, should they wish to.

This role is ideally suited to people with lived experience of recovery, either directly, or through supporting a close friend or family member, although we welcome applications from anyone with an empathetic, non-judgemental attitude that can build strong working relationships with others.

Tasks may include:

• Facilitating a non-judgemental space to allow participants to express feelings and share experiences freely.

• Foster a sense of community and trust

• Enable participants to connect through shared narratives, enabling them to relate to one another’s journeys.

• Encourage reflection and discussion.

Personal qualities

Skills we would love you to bring to the role:

• Welcoming, friendly and an ability to put other people at ease

• Confident and calm in group settings

• Good IT skills – the SMART Recovery UK training all takes place electronically and includes submitting some written responses via email

• Non-judgmental towards people facing challenges in their lives, including around drug and/or alcohol use and/or mental health

• Good time keeping

• Able to work as part of a team, on own initiative and to instruction

• An understanding of Waythrough – information is available on our website

• A genuine interest in being part of the mission and vision of Waythrough

• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, adhere to Waythrough policies and media guidelines, engage in supervision, and complete relevant training

Waythrough

What Volunteers can expect from us:

Volunteering with Waythrough offers people a unique chance to have a significant positive impact on people’s lives. We work both with and within diverse communities across the UK and every day we see people making positive changes to turn their lives around. We also offer:

• Regular supervision and support

• Induction and access to online and face to face training

• To learn and practice new skills within a teamwork setting

• To feel part of a team and the wider Waythrough organisation

• Reasonable travel expenses reimbursed with proof of journey

• Opportunities to progress and experience other areas of Waythrough's work

Our values:

Our values underpin everything we do – from how we work together through to how we design and deliver services. All our work to fulfil this vision is strengthened by our values.

• Kindness - be generous, caring and understanding.

• Courage - be bold, trust, commit.

• Respect - everyone deserves dignity.

Location: Some flexibility depending on staff and volunteer availability and ability to travel though meetings are currently held in Weymouth, Dorchester and on-line.

Timing: We are looking for someone who can offer around 2-3  hours a

Training: Volunteers have access to Waythrough’s training platform, LearningKind, and will be asked to complete an induction workshop ahead of their start date and a number of training modules within their first 3 months.

Volunteers in this role will be facilitating or co-facilitating regular SMART meetings.

Volunteer SMART facilitators will help to make newcomers feels welcome, and

empower everyone in the meeting to contribute, should they wish to.

If not already trained, volunteers will need to complete the full SMART Recovery UK facilitator training programme.

This role is ideally suited to people with lived experience of recovery, either directly, or through supporting a close friend or family member, although we welcome applications from anyone with an empathetic, non-judgemental attitude that can build strong working relationships

with others.

Tasks may include:

• • Sharing a group agreement at the start of each session, including the importance of respect and confidentiality.
  • Facilitating meetings according to the SMART Recovery Meeting Structure including a check-in, agenda setting, and check-out.
  • Reporting any concerns, including related to safeguarding, that may arise
  • in the group.
  • Link closely with the group lead to plan and evaluate sessions. ·
  • Procuring necessary resources such as flip chart, paper and pens, and setting up before/packing away after each meeting.
  • Support the group lead with any admin tasks linked to the running of the SMART group. E.g. Completing SMART audits or liaising with Regional SMART Community Coordinator.

Skills we would love you to bring to the role:

• • Welcoming, friendly and an ability to put other people at ease
  • Confident and calm in group settings
  • Good IT skills – the SMART Recovery UK training all takes place electronicallyand includes submitting some written responses via email
  • Non-judgmental towards people facing challenges in their lives, including around drug and/or alcohol use and/or mental health

Volunteers in this role will be facilitating or co-facilitating regular SMART meetings.

Volunteer SMART facilitators will help to make newcomers feels welcome, and

empower everyone in the meeting to contribute, should they wish to.

If not already trained, volunteers will need to complete the full SMART Recovery UK facilitator training programme.

This role is ideally suited to people with lived experience of recovery, either directly, or through supporting a close friend or family member, although we welcome applications from anyone with an empathetic, non-judgemental attitude that can build strong working relationships

with others.

Tasks may include:

- Sharing a group agreement at the start of each session, including the importance of respect and confidentiality.

- Facilitating meetings according to the SMART Recovery Meeting Structure including a check-in, agenda setting, and check-out.

- Reporting any concerns, including related to safeguarding, that may arise 

in the group.

- Link closely with the group lead to plan and evaluate sessions. 

- Procuring necessary resources such as flip chart, paper and pens, and setting up before/packing away after each meeting.

- Support the group lead with any admin tasks linked to the running of the SMART group. E.g. Completing SMART audits or liaising with Regional SMART Community Coordinator.

Skills we would love you to bring to the role:

- Welcoming, friendly and an ability to put other people at ease

- Confident and calm in group settings

- Good IT skills – the SMART Recovery UK training all takes place electronicallyand includes submitting some written responses via email

-  Non-judgmental towards people facing challenges in their lives, including around drug and/or alcohol use and/or mental health

£Volunteer - Travel expenses only

Flexible - Monday to Friday

West Midlands Area – based around local treatment services - Bloxwich, Bournville, Coventry, Oldbury,

Perry Barr, Stechford and Wolverhampton

Closing date: 31st August 2026 at 9.00am

Interview date: Rolling Basis

Ref LEP 252

Are you a proactive, collaborative and compassionate individual with proven experience of working positively with adults to engage successfully despite ‘challenging’ behaviour?  Do you have the ability to be a positive role model, demonstrating the virtues of engaging with treatment support services?

If so, St Giles is looking for a Lived Experienced Peer Volunteer to join our team and provide interventions and build meaningful, peer-led relationships with service users to encourage them to engage in drug and alcohol treatment following arrest.

About St Giles Trust
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need.  Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

About this key role

As a Peer Volunteer, you will increase client engagement with drug and alcohol treatment services by providing vital peer-led support and building trust and motivation among a client group that has been historically disengaged/not offered support previously.  You will provide holistic, short-term intervention to bridge the gap between referral and full treatment engagement, capture client experiences and barriers to improve service design and accessibility and develop a strong service user voice to inform future service improvements.

Areas of support from Peer Volunteers may also include initial engagement and motivation such as welcome calls, check-ins, peer-led conversations and motivational chats over coffee.  You may also offer practical support such as appointment reminders, transport assistance and paperwork support, plus help to build positive routines such as activity-based engagement and supporting small lifestyle changes, including meal planning, budgeting, and time management.

What we are looking for

• Personal experience of the criminal justice system or lived experience of the issues facing this client group (i.e. experience of substance misuse and recovery)
• Proven experience of working in a high intensity environment, being self-motivating, with an ability to effectively manage your own wellbeing
• Knowledge of the issues facing those arrested for potential criminal offences
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, safeguarding practices and policies
• The ability to use monitoring systems to record all aspects of the work
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, verbal and written.

Please note:  as an organisation that works with children and adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Child Workforce with Child Barred list DBS.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

To apply visit our website via the apply button.

We will be reviewing applications as they are received and reserve the right to close this advert early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We therefore strongly encourage early applications to avoid any disappointment.