Reception volunteer roles in Ashford, surrey

Volunteers are an essential part of our team, making sure that clients are able to  access the right service. Our Reception Volunteer will welcome clients and visitors at our office in Deptford. You will also deal with basic enquiries (in person, over the phone or by email), assess what support clients need and help them access the right service.

Our Volunteer team is integral to the smooth running of LRMN. Without them our advisors wouldn’t be able to provide life changing support to the people who access our services. 

Our Volunteer Receptionist will be the first person that clients will talk to so it is essential that we offer a  safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space and give them the right information about the services we offer. Given the demand that we face, volunteers help us do that. 

What activities will you be involved in? 

As part of our volunteer team, you will work with staff and fellow volunteers to: 

• Welcome clients to our office and Advocacy Drop-In Service, speaking with them to understand their needs in a professional and compassionate manner
   

• Respond to queries from clients and members of the public via phone and email
   

• Support clients to complete our online referral form
   

• Help clients and referrers understand the services we offer and how to access them
   

• Respond to new referrals and upload them onto our case management system
   

• Contact clients to book appointments and follow up on referrals
   

• Take messages for staff and volunteers and ensure they are passed on promptly
   

• Log incoming mail and post outgoing mail for staff and volunteers
   

• Help gather feedback from clients to support service improvement
   

• Undertake other administrative tasks as required

As you become more experienced, you may be involved in giving basic advice, providing  support letters and other duties. 

What can you gain from this opportunity? 

By volunteering with LRMN, you will: 

• Make a difference to the lives of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees living in south-east London 

• Be part of a diverse, knowledgeable and proactive team in an organisation that has  been running for over 25 years 

• Gain experience of admin work in an office environment 

• Gain an understanding of the issues affecting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants 

• Have regular support and supervision from the Business and Operations Officer 

• Be provided out of pocket expenses to the value of £6 for lunch per day (if volunteering 4+ hours) &  up to £15 travel expenses (when volunteering in the office for 4+ hours) 

Is there induction and training? 

Yes, we provide a comprehensive induction to all new volunteers. This covers roles and  responsibilities, safeguarding, record keeping and use of our client management system  (Advice Pro).

You will be provided with the training needed to perform the role and will have the opportunity to join training with the whole LRMN team.

Who are LRMN looking for? 

We’re looking for someone who is: 

• Passionate about supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers 

• Friendly and approachable and can manage professional boundaries 

• Excellent at communicating 

• Proactive and able to use own initiative 

• Organised and methodical in their work 

• Respectful of client confidentiality 

• Experienced in working with multicultural communities 

• Able to use their digital skills to make referrals and manage online systems 

LRMN is committed to equality and diversity. We pride ourselves on having a diverse team  with a range of experiences. We encourage people with lived experience of the asylum  and/or immigration system to apply. If you need additional support or adjustments to apply or volunteer,  please contact us. 

What commitment do you need to make? 

We ask volunteers to commit to volunteering at least 4 hours (9.30am -1.30pm) for at least six months.

We are seeking a proactive and organised Appointments Admin Volunteer to support the Appointments Lead of client appointments across the Helen Bamber Foundation. This role will play an important part in supporting the smooth running of appointment scheduling, improving communication with clients, and helping to reduce missed appointments. You will work closely with the Client Services team and wider multidisciplinary teams to support effective appointment management.

Main tasks and activities

Appointments Coordination

· Support the scheduling and coordination of client appointments, including Initial Assessments and follow-ups

· Liaise with staff, clinicians, and relevant teams to assist in organising appointment availability and ensuring effective use of appointment slots

· Assist in contacting clients via phone, email, or text (including WhatsApp where appropriate) to confirm appointments and provide reminders

· Support the updating and maintenance of appointment trackers, spreadsheets, and shared calendars to ensure accuracy and consistency

· Help ensure client contact details are accurate and regularly updated on internal systems

· Assist in the booking, rescheduling, and cancellation of appointments, ensuring all changes are communicated clearly to relevant parties

· Support the preparation and coordination of virtual appointments, including setting up and sharing meeting links (e.g. Teams, Zoom)

Data & Administration

· Support accurate and timely record keeping within the Client Management System (CMS), ensuring all appointment-related information is recorded correctly.

· Assist with maintaining and updating spreadsheets, appointment trackers, and internal databases to ensure data is current and reliable

· Support the team in monitoring data quality and flagging any inconsistencies or missing information

Interpreter Coordination

· Assist with booking interpreters for appointments where required, ensuring requests are communicated in a timely manner

· Support maintaining accurate and up-to-date interpreter contact lists and availability records

· Assist in confirming interpreter bookings and sharing relevant appointment details where appropriate

General Support

· Provide support to the Client Services and Operations team as needed

· Assist with reception cover where required

Skills and experience needed

· Excellent communication skills with a high standard of written and spoken English;

· Excellent interpersonal skills; Empathetic and understanding.

· Computer literate with experience of Microsoft packages;

· High attention to detail and accuracy;

· Punctual, reliable and self-motivated with a positive, ’can-do’ attitude;

· Ability to deal sensitively and in a warm, friendly and appropriate manner with clients who have specific needs;

· Ability to multi-task and prioritise tasks within a time-pressured environment;

· A high level of discretion and confidentiality given the sensitivity of the information and nature of the work;

· Understanding of, and commitment to, the objectives of the Helen Bamber Foundation.

What you will get out of the role:

· A better understanding of asylum seeker and refugee processes in the UK;

· Stronger administrative skills;

· An ability to multi-task between competing priorities;

· Experience of working with a multi-disciplinary team in a Human Rights charity;

· Ability to process large amounts of data and prioritise or categorise it;

· Ability to manage multiple busy calendars at the same time.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that all our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in. We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma who are under-represented in our organisation.

Please note that successful candidates will be offered the volunteer position subject to a DBS check.

A little over three years ago we successfully opened our brand new venue in Elephant & Castle, making us a two building, three venue, London fringe powerhouse. We present and host over 40 main house theatre productions per year alongside a busy community participation programme.

We are looking for up to 3 people to join our board of trustees and be part of our ongoing development and evolution. Ensuring that we remain ambitious but also resilient going forwards.

Plans include: building and developing the staff team; introducing a fundraising and development strategy; enhancing our profile and marketing offer; and developing our own in-house programme of work.

We are also looking to the longer-term and the potential development of a new theatre in London Bridge.

Becoming a trustee of Southwark Playhouse will introduce you to a range of people and activities not found elsewhere. You will take up a position within an organisation that has broad impact and delivers engaging, joyful and thought-provoking experiences. You will witness first hand the life changing impact that engagement with arts and culture can have on individuals and communities and we hope that you will be proud to govern an organisation that has such a positive and powerful legacy.

Trustees are the guardians of our purpose - as a trustee you will have oversight of the strategic direction of Southwark Playhouse and contribute to creative discussions about our aims and mission, ensuring that we remain a vital and relevant cultural asset for Southwark, the Capital and beyond.

As a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, you will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with our governing documents, charity law and other laws that apply to our organisation.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We’re looking to recruit up to 3 new Trustees to the Board.

We’re looking for passionate and committed individuals who love theatre and the arts, believe in the work that we do, and who want to play a part in our next chapter of growth and development. You do not need to have been a Trustee before or have previous Board experience.

Whilst we’d like to hear from applicants from a range of backgrounds and experiences, we are particularly keen to hear from those with skills in any of the following areas:

• Marketing / Communications
• Legal: Employment Law / Contract Law
• Fundraising / Development
• Finance / Accountancy
• Creative strategy / Production

The general attributes we’re looking for in potential Trustees include:

• Good, independent judgement.
• An ability to think creatively and strategically.
• An ability to collaborate and work as part of a team.
• Effective interpersonal skills, and a willingness to act as an ambassador for Southwark Playhouse.
• An active commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• An ability to command trust and respect.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties and responsibilities of being a Trustee.
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort required.

EXPECTATIONS

What we ask of you:

• To serve an initial term of 3 years.
• To attend 4 x 2-hour Board Meetings a year.
• To attend 1 x 1-hour AGM per year (often appended to a board meeting as above)
• Attend an annual Away Day.
• To attend and at times host Southwark Playhouse receptions, events, opening nights and other engagements.
• To sit on a Board Sub Committee as required and appropriate.
• To provide specialist advice and expertise as required and appropriate.
• To advocate and champion Southwark Playhouse’s work, values, ambition and strategic direction.

In total, Trustees usually commit the equivalent of 6-7 days per annum to their role.

What you can expect from us:

• The opportunity to help shape the future direction of London’s leading fringe theatre, and be part of an active, loyal and engaged group of Trustees.
• 2 complimentary tickets for every production presented at Southwark Playhouse (subject to availability).
• Flexibility when it comes to attending meetings either in person or remotely via video call.
• A full Trustee induction with current Trustees and permanent staff.

Please note that Trustee roles are voluntary and therefore unpaid, however reasonable out-ofpocket expenses can be covered.

The NIAS Creative Campus Events & Digital Administrative Assistant will support the smooth operation, promotion, and growth of the Creative Campus venue.

The role exists to assist with the administration, marketing, and delivery of events and programmes hosted at the venue. The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience in venue operations, digital promotion, social media marketing, event coordination, and community engagement.

This role is ideal for an energetic and organised individual who enjoys working in a creative environment and is interested in gaining practical experience in events management, digital communications, and creative venue operations management.

The position will work closely with the Venue Coordinator, supporting day-to-day venue administration, event preparation, online promotion, and community outreach.

Key Responsibilities (You will gain practical experience in two or more of the listed areas)

1. Venue Administration Support

Support the venue coordinator with the day-to-day administration of the Creative Campus venue.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing incoming enquiries and bookings
• Maintaining venue booking calendars
• Assisting with venue hire documentation
• Providing reception and guest welcome support
• Assisting with record keeping and administrative tasks

2. Event Operations Support

Assist in the preparation and delivery of events hosted at the venue.

• Assisting with event setup and breakdown
• Welcoming event organisers and guests
• Supporting performers, speakers and facilitators
• Assisting with ticketing and guest registration
• Helping coordinate volunteers and temporary event staff

3. Social Media & Digital Promotion

Support the promotion of Creative Campus activities across digital platforms.

• Updating Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms
• Creating posts promoting upcoming events
• Capturing photos and short videos during events
• Supporting WhatsApp marketing to regular guests
• Assisting with Eventbrite and event listing updates

4. Website & Digital Content Management

Assist in maintaining the Creative Campus online presence.

• Updating website content using WordPress
• Uploading events to the website calendar
• Supporting digital newsletters and announcements
• Assisting with online promotional campaigns

5. Community Engagement & Partnerships

Support outreach activities to increase venue use and community participation.

• Communicating with artists, performers and community groups
• Supporting outreach to schools, creative organisations and local groups
• Assisting with coordination of creative workshops and programmes

Learning Opportunities

Successful candidates will gain practical experience in:

• Venue operations and event management
• Digital marketing and social media promotion
• Community engagement and partnership building
• Website management and content publishing
• Creative programming and event production

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

Essential

• Strong organisational and administrative skills
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Attention to detail and ability to multitask
• Confidence working with digital tools and social media
• Ability to work independently and take initiative

Desirable

• Interest in arts, culture, music or creative industries
• Familiarity with WordPress or website editing tools
• Experience using social media for marketing
• Interest in events, festivals or community projects

Personal Qualities

The successful candidate will be:

• Intelligent and trustworthy
• Highly organised and proactive
• Enthusiastic about creative environments
• Comfortable working with a wide range of people
• Able to respond calmly to changing event environments

Benefits

The role offers valuable real-world experience in a creative venue environment.
Benefits include:
• Structured career development support
• Access to training and skills development opportunities
• Mentorship from experienced project leaders
• Professional references for future employment
• Reimbursement of approved out-of-pocket expenses

Time Commitment

• Part-time and flexible hours, depending on event schedules.
• Evening and weekend participation may occasionally be required.
• Remote, working from home