Social work volunteer volunteer roles

Interested in supporting victims/survivors of domestic abuse?

We are currently recruiting Trustees to help us take the charity forward into the future.

Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline is a registered charity led by a Board of Trustees.

The Trustees (all unpaid volunteers) act individually and collectively, to provide overall stewardship of the charity, in accordance with our governing document and relevant legislation. In essence we look after the staff, volunteers and the organisation, so they can support the community.

You don’t need specific qualifications or experience to be a trustee and we welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and experience.

Prospective candidates will need to:

• Have empathy with the work of the Helpline

• Be able to devote the necessary time and effort

• Have well-developed communication and interpersonal skills

• Have good judgement

• Be able to work as a team

• Have the ability, commitment and drive to take the organisation forward

Trustee Opportunities

For any charity succession planning is important and with that in mind we are currently looking for people to join our Board as Trustees.

1. Chair: Our Chair will be stepping down soon after 15 years and we are looking for someone to learn the ropes beside her before taking on the role. 

2. Treasurer: After 10 years, our Treasurer is looking to retire in the next year. The Treasurer’s role description is on our website.  

3. General Trustees: Please see the role description on our website

If you would like to apply please complete the application form on our website.  You are welcome also to email Chris Roach, Chair, at that address to arrange an informal chat.

Why we want you

As branch chair you and your branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure 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.

What you will be doing

• Overseeing an appropriate programme of awareness raising activities so that potential beneficiaries, volunteers and supporters are aware of SSAFA as first in mind for support.
• Building relationships with the regional and national SSAFA team, local voluntary organisations and, if applicable, SSAFA serving community teams, local military establishments, etc.
• Attending events as a key SSAFA representative.
• Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s central office
• Overseeing a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc.
• Working with other volunteers, regional and national team members to attract and recruit new volunteers as required.
• Work closely with the community engagement co-ordinator to recruit, welcome, induct, support, and manage volunteers in line with SSAFA policies, such as the Volunteering Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct, Data Protection Policy, and Safeguarding Policy.

The skills you need

• Motivating leadership with an ability lead a team of volunteers.
• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area.
• Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community.
• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.

Disclaimer

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

We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Volunteer Researcher to support our Corporate Fundaising team. Your role will be pivotal in identifying and researching prospects and Charity of The Year Partnerships who align with our mission. You will help us grow our pipeline of supporters and inform personalised, strategic approaches that lead to meaningful engagement and transformational support.

About Us:

Rays of Sunshine is dedicated to brightening the lives of seriously ill young people and their families by granting wishes and providing ongoing support in hospital and within the community. We are seeking a motivated volunteer to support our major gifts team by conducting research and helping to build our partnerships pipeline.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and research prospective corporate partners, with a focus on Charity of the Year opportunities

• Build and maintain a structured prospect pipeline to support new business development

• Research CSR strategies, ESG priorities, funding history, key decision-makers and employee engagement programmes

• Strong research and analytical skills

• Commercial awareness and understanding of corporate partnerships

• Excellent attention to detail

• Confident using LinkedIn, Companies House, Charity Commission and online research tools

• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently

What You’ll Gain:

• The opportunity to directly contribute to securing high-value corporate partnerships

• Insight into charity new business and pipeline strategy

• Experience working with a dynamic, ambitious team

• A chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of seriously ill children and their families

• A reference upon successful completion of your volunteering

Why we want you

As branch chair you and your branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure 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.

What you will be doing

• Overseeing an appropriate programme of awareness raising activities so that potential beneficiaries, volunteers and supporters are aware of SSAFA as first in mind for support.
• Building relationships with the regional and national SSAFA team, local voluntary organisations and, if applicable, SSAFA serving community teams, local military establishments, etc.
• Attending events as a key SSAFA representative.
• Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s central office
• Overseeing a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc.
• Working with other volunteers, regional and national team members to attract and recruit new volunteers as required.
• Work closely with the community engagement co-ordinator to recruit, welcome, induct, support, and manage volunteers in line with SSAFA policies, such as the Volunteering Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct, Data Protection Policy, and Safeguarding Policy.

The skills you need

• Motivating leadership with an ability lead a team of volunteers.
• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area.
• Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community.
• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.

Disclaimer

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

About Us
Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil CIC is a grassroots movement committed to confronting and eradicating Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) across the UK.
We give survivors, families, and allies the power to speak out, heal, and educate communities through storytelling, outreach, and collective action. We work across all communities  Black, white, Asian, Caribbean, and African ensuring no survivor feels alone or silenced.
Our CIC operates through a community-driven, volunteer-led structure, built by people who believe in truth, justice, and love as law.

The Role - Volunteer Content and Donor Communication Specialists

JOB PURPOSE

This role exists to:

•        Craft and manage communications for donors, stakeholders, and the wider community

•        Translate survivor-led stories and CIC activities into impactful messaging

•        Develop content for emails, newsletters, social media, and fundraising campaigns

•        Support the Fundraising Director in building donor relationships through clear, engaging, and ethical communication

•        Ensure all content aligns with CIC values, trauma-informed practice, and safeguarding policies

You are the voice that converts purpose into action.

Responsibilities:

• Develop clear, engaging, and accurate copy for all donor and community communications, including: Emails and newsletters, Fundraising campaign materials, Donor updates and acknowledgements andEvent promotions and volunteer communications.

• Maintain a consistent organisational voice and messaging across all communication channels.

• Collaborate with the Fundraising Director to ensure content aligns with campaign goals, donor engagement strategies, and organisational priorities.

• Work with the Social Media Team to ensure content supports multi-channel campaigns and wider communications objectives.

• Track donor engagement, feedback, and responses to communications to identify patterns and refine messaging for maximum impact.

• Support segmentation, personalisation, and targeting of communications to ensure relevance and donor retention.

• Ensure compliance with data protection (GDPR), safeguarding, confidentiality, and ethical standards in all communications.

• Collaborate with volunteers and other teams to adapt content for different audiences, ensuring inclusivity, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity.

• Proofread, edit, and quality-check all content before publication to ensure accuracy and professional presentation.

• Contribute to content planning, calendars, and scheduling to maintain regular, timely, and coordinated communications.

• Assist in developing templates, guides, or SOPs for donor and community communications.

• Provide guidance and mentoring to other volunteers involved in content creation or communications.

• Monitor performance metrics for communications and produce reports to inform strategy and campaign planning.

• Ensure all communications reflect and uphold the C.I.C’s values, culture, and brand identity

What We’re Looking For:

Essential / Highly Valued Experience

• Professional or voluntary experience in copywriting, communications, or journalism.

• Experience creating email newsletters, donor updates, or fundraising communications.

• Strong understanding of donor engagement strategies and how content impacts retention.

• Experience creating content for social media with organisational or campaign objectives in mind.

• Editing, proofreading, and content planning skills.

• Ability to maintain a consistent organisational voice across platforms.

• Familiarity with GDPR, data protection, and safeguarding requirements for communications.

• Skills in tracking and interpreting engagement metrics and refining communications accordingly.

• Collaborative skills to work effectively with multiple teams, volunteers, and directors.

• Ability to adapt content for different audiences and ensure accessibility and inclusivity.

• Strong organisational and project management skills for content planning and scheduling.

• Experience in creating templates, guides, or standardised communication processes.

Desirable / Can Be Developed

• Experience using email marketing or newsletter platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, CiviCRM).

• Knowledge of digital content analytics tools to monitor performance.

• Experience mentoring or supporting volunteers in communications roles.

• Ability to integrate donor communications with wider fundraising campaigns and events.

• Familiarity with multi-channel campaign planning and content strategy.

• Skills in visual content creation or basic design for communication purposes.

Qualifications

• Formal qualifications not required.

• Equivalent professional or voluntary experience in communications, content creation, or donor engagement highly valued.

Client Support Volunteer - Manchester Schools Project

Do you want to make a difference to someone experiencing the housing emergency?

Information about the role

School staff are working hard to support the thousands of families living in insecure and unsuitable housing in Manchester. Shelter’s @HOME project helps fight for secure and stable homes by working families who would benefit from early intervention to prevent them from becoming homeless and/or mitigate the impact of homelessness on their education. 

Your role will be to support the @HOME coordinator during drop-ins for parents in various school locations.

Location: Various locations across Manchester

Suggested contribution: Two half days per week

Availability: Fridays (Flexible)

The above is the essential information you need to know. You can apply now by clicking ‘fill in an application’ or read on more for details.

Main activities may include:

• Greeting people as they arrive to the drop-in
• Completing registration forms with people as they arrive
• Signposting to appropriate agencies and giving out information
• Running checks with people to assess benefit eligibility
• Being there for people if they need someone to listen
• Translating for clients if possible (common languages: Urdu, Arabic, Somali)

This role fights the housing emergency by supporting people who are struggling with housing and bringing them one step closer to a safe home.

Benefits of volunteering with Shelter

Volunteers are essential to Shelter’s mission to end housing injustice. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. The insights and life experiences our volunteers bring to Shelter are valued as much as their contribution through volunteering.

We aim to provide our volunteers with a positive experience. This is by prioritising accessibility and tailoring the support we provide to the needs of the individual. We make sure our policies and processes are equitable, which means that no-one is unfairly disadvantaged while volunteering because of their background or identity.

Your skills and experience

We’d love the volunteer in this role to have good communication skills and be confident with using IT. But the most important thing is that you are friendly and caring, with enthusiasm for fighting the housing emergency.

Supporting you

• You will be provided with an induction into your role, access to relevant learning and a copy of our volunteer handbook.
• The role, including learning and communications, are flexible, so can be tailored so they best suit your needs and preferences.
• You will be able to claim reasonable volunteering expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer expenses policy. Where financial circumstances would be a barrier to volunteering, we may be able to offer these funds in advance.
• You will be able to access our volunteer support package, including our colleague assistance programme and Shelter’s network of mental health first aiders.

Next steps

You can apply for this role by clicking ‘fill in an application’. If you need to apply by an alternative method, please contact us to see what options are available.

We will then get back to you about your application. Shortlisted applicants will have a recruitment conversation to discuss the role further.

Upon offer of role, you will be asked to declare any unspent convictions and complete a basic level Criminal Record Check. Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you can’t volunteer with us. We will have a conversation with you to discuss the convictions in relation to the role you have applied for. Sometimes it may limit the ways you can get involved. Please contact us if you require more information.

Are you a parent, grandparent or have experience of caring for children?

Do you have 2-3 hours per week to spare? Use your experience to support a family facing challenging times.

Our Home-Visiting Service supports families who are experiencing difficulties or suffering stress and who have at least one child under the age of five years.

Our aims are:

To increase the confidence and independence of the family by:

Offering support, friendship and practical assistance

Visiting families in their own homes and in their community, where the dignity and identity of each adult and child can be respected and protected

Reassuring parents that difficulties in bringing up children is not unusual and encouraging them to enjoy family life.

Developing a relationship with the family in which time can be shared and understanding can be developed. This approach is flexible to take account of different needs.

Encouraging parents’ strengths and emotional wellbeing – for the ultimate benefit of their children.

Encouraging families to widen their network of relationships, and to effectively use the support and services available within the community.

Are you passionate about creating transformative learning experiences that empower individuals and communities? 

Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C. is seeking a skilled Instructional Designer to join our founding volunteer team. This role is central to designing, structuring and delivering educational programmes that support survivors, young people and marginalised communities to access knowledge, develop skills and achieve personal and collective growth.

Purpose of the role:

The Volunteer Instructional Designer supports our mission by designing engaging, effective and learner-centred educational materials. In this role, you will collaborate with subject matter experts, program staff and other volunteers to transform ideas and content into structured learning experiences that are accessible, inclusive and impactful.

About the Role:

As Instructional Designer, you will work closely with the Membership Director, Book Club Coordinator, and Social & Digital Media Education Lead to develop structured learning pathways, modules, and resources for our membership programmes. Your work will ensure that all learning experiences are engaging, accessible, and aligned with our anti-capitalist, community-driven, and survivor-centred mission. This is a hands-on, impactful role combining strategy, creativity, and operational delivery.

Experience Qualification and Requirements

Essential Technical Competencies:

• Experience in instructional design, curriculum development or educational programme creation in formal or informal learning environments.
• Proven experience designing and delivering community-based education, training or learning programmes.
• Experience using content creation tools (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Workspace, Canva).
• Basic familiarity with e-learning tools, learning management systems or content creation software is a plus.
• Ability to develop structured learning pathways with clear outcomes and assessments.
• Ability to translate complex or technical information into clear, accessible and inclusive learning materials.
• Knowledge of accessibility and inclusive design best practices.
• Hands-on experience contributing to open-source projects.
• Implementing security, accessibility or system optimisation practices in real-world projects.

Desirable / Can Be Developed:

• Experience in instructional design, learning design or educational content creation.
• Developing skills in structuring learning objectives, activities and simple assessments.
• Willingness to collaborate with facilitators, subject matter experts and community members.

Qualifications:

• Formal qualifications are not required but desirable.
• Experience in education, instructional design, learning and development or a related field is valued.

Main Responsibilities/ Key Duties

• Design and develop educational programmes, courses and learning resources for members and volunteers.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts, facilitators and leadership to ensure content is accurate, relevant and impactful.
• Structure learning experiences with clear objectives, assessments and progression pathways.
• Integrate digital platforms, multimedia resources and interactive tools to enhance accessibility and engagement.
• Evaluate learning outcomes and gather participant feedback to continuously improve programmes.
• Ensure all learning programmes comply with safeguarding, accessibility and data protection standards.
• Ensure all integrations follow best practices for security, data privacy and performance, maintaining
• compliance with GDPR and other relevant standards.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer by providing clear resources for onboarding new volunteers, team members and technical contributors.
• Maintain documentation of course materials, learning pathways and instructional guides for internal use.
• Support capacity-building by training facilitators, volunteers and community members in programme delivery.
• Collaborate with leadership, technical teams and stakeholders to define the long-term vision and goals for digital platforms and systems.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, including new features, technologies, tools or workflows that improve platform functionality, user experience and operational efficiency.
• Continuously monitor the open-source platform to ensure optimal performance, uptime and reliability, using monitoring tools, analytics, and performance metrics.
• Identify and diagnose technical issues, bugs, or system errors promptly, assessing root causes and prioritising fixes based on impact and urgency.

What This Role Offers You:

• Leadership experience in designing and delivering learning initiatives that directly impact communities.
• Personal and professional growth through hands-on instructional development and facilitation.
• The opportunity to shape transformative learning systems within a pioneering, values-led CIC.
• The satisfaction of empowering survivors, young people, and community members through education.

What This Role Is Not For:

• Individuals seeking purely administrative or content curation work without engagement.
• Those unwilling to adapt learning resources to diverse audiences and community needs.
• People expecting pre-packaged or rigid course structures—this role requires creativity, collaboration, and active problem-solving.

Next Steps

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to

• A values-led conversation.
• If you are ready to design meaningful learning experiences that empower communities and foster personal transformation, we want to hear from you. 
• Apply now and help build education systems that create lasting social impact.

A Final Word
Design learning turns knowledge into action. Shapes the path from curiosity to competence.

If you know that: Education is the bridge between knowledge and action.A bridge between knowing and doing

Why we want you

As branch chair you and your branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure 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.

What you will be doing

• Overseeing an appropriate programme of awareness raising activities so that potential beneficiaries, volunteers and supporters are aware of SSAFA as first in mind for support.
• Building relationships with the regional and national SSAFA team, local voluntary organisations and, if applicable, SSAFA serving community teams, local military establishments, etc.
• Attending events as a key SSAFA representative.
• Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s central office
• Overseeing a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc.
• Working with other volunteers, regional and national team members to attract and recruit new volunteers as required.
• Work closely with the community engagement co-ordinator to recruit, welcome, induct, support, and manage volunteers in line with SSAFA policies, such as the Volunteering Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct, Data Protection Policy, and Safeguarding Policy.

The skills you need

• Motivating leadership with an ability lead a team of volunteers.
• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area.
• Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community.
• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.

Disclaimer

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

CAN YOU HELP?

Volunteer Graphic Designer Needed at Urban Youth

Urban Youth is on a mission to empower young people across our communities — helping them build confidence, resilience, and real opportunities for their future. To strengthen our voice and ensure our message reaches even more young people, we’re looking for a Volunteer Graphic Designer to join our team.

What We Need

We’re seeking a creative individual who can offer some of their time to help us develop:

• A new Urban Youth logo

• A clear, accessible brand guidance document (so future designers and volunteers can easily understand and maintain our brand identity)

Why This Matters

A strong visual identity helps us:

• Communicate our mission with clarity

• Build trust with young people, partners, and funders

• Stand out in a crowded charity landscape

• Create consistency across all our programmes and outreach

Your work will have a direct impact on how we show up in the world — and how effectively we can support the young people who rely on us.

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in graphic design (professional or self‑taught — we welcome both)

• Ability to create clean, modern, youth‑focused visuals

• An understanding of branding principles

• A collaborative spirit and willingness to share ideas

What You’ll Get

• A chance to shape the visual identity of a growing youth charity

• Portfolio‑worthy work with real‑world impact

• Flexible volunteering that fits around your schedule

• The satisfaction of knowing your creativity is helping young people thrive

Interested?

If you’d like to use your skills to make a meaningful difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch with us at Urban Youth and help us build a brand that inspires the next generation.

Why we want you

As branch chair you and your branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure 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.

What you will be doing

• Overseeing an appropriate programme of awareness raising activities so that potential beneficiaries, volunteers and supporters are aware of SSAFA as first in mind for support.
• Building relationships with the regional and national SSAFA team, local voluntary organisations and, if applicable, SSAFA serving community teams, local military establishments, etc.
• Attending events as a key SSAFA representative.
• Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s central office
• Overseeing a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc.
• Working with other volunteers, regional and national team members to attract and recruit new volunteers as required.
• Work closely with the community engagement co-ordinator to recruit, welcome, induct, support, and manage volunteers in line with SSAFA policies, such as the Volunteering Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct, Data Protection Policy, and Safeguarding Policy.

The skills you need

• Motivating leadership with an ability lead a team of volunteers.
• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area.
• Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community.
• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.

Disclaimer

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

Guardian Light Foundation & Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd

Location: Remote / Online
Commitment: Approx. 20 hours per month
Role Type: Volunteer
Reports to: Founder / Safeguarding Lead

�� About Us

Guardian Light Foundation is a mission-driven organisation supporting children, teenagers, and single-parent families affected by homelessness, abuse, trauma, and financial hardship.

Our counselling services operate in three tiers:

Tier 1 – Guardian Light Foundation
Free emotional support for vulnerable individuals.

Tier 2 & Tier 3 – Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd
Low-cost and paid counselling services that help fund our charitable programmes and expand access to professional mental health support.

To maintain the highest ethical and professional standards, we are seeking a Volunteer Clinical Supervisor to support our counselling team.

�� Purpose of the Role

The Volunteer Clinical Supervisor will ensure that all counselling delivered through Guardian Light Foundation and Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd is:

• Ethical

• Safe

• Trauma-informed

• Professionally supported

• Aligned with recognised counselling standards (e.g. BACP / UKCP frameworks)

You will provide clinical supervision, safeguarding oversight, and professional guidance to our counsellors and trainee counsellors.

�� Key Responsibilities

Clinical Supervision

• Provide supervision for volunteer and trainee counsellors

• Facilitate monthly or bi-monthly group supervision sessions

• Offer guidance on complex or high-risk cases

• Support counsellors with professional development

Safeguarding Oversight

• Support decision-making where safeguarding concerns arise

• Ensure appropriate boundaries and ethical practice

• Assist with risk assessments where needed

Professional Standards

• Help maintain high clinical standards across services

• Ensure alignment with recognised ethical frameworks

• Provide guidance on confidentiality, consent, and record keeping

Support for Tier Structure

Provide supervision for counsellors working across:

Tier 1 – Charity Counselling

• Crisis support

• Emotional wellbeing support

• Early intervention

Tier 2 – Low-Cost Counselling

• Structured therapeutic support

Tier 3 – Professional Counselling

• Longer-term therapeutic work

Programme Development

• Advise on counselling frameworks and policies

• Support development of safe referral pathways

• Provide input on improving service delivery

��️ Safeguarding Requirements

Because this role involves oversight of services supporting vulnerable individuals:

• Enhanced DBS Check (Volunteer) required

• Must follow Guardian Light safeguarding policies

• Work closely with the Safeguarding Lead when concerns arise

DBS checks will be conducted via our trusted partner Serve (Rushden).

�� Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Qualified Clinical Supervisor

• Accredited or registered with a recognised body such as:

  • BACP

  • UKCP

  • NCPS

  • BABCP (or equivalent)

• Experience supervising counsellors or trainee therapists

• Strong understanding of trauma, safeguarding, and ethical practice

• Ability to support practitioners working with complex cases

Desirable

• Experience working with:

  • Young people

  • Domestic abuse survivors

  • Trauma

  • Vulnerable families

• Experience supporting trainee counsellors

• Experience working within charities or social enterprises

�� Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who is:

• Compassionate and emotionally intelligent

• Ethical and professional

• Passionate about protecting vulnerable people

• Supportive but able to challenge constructively

• Committed to social impact

⏰ Time Commitment

Approximate commitment:

20 hours per month

This may include:

• Group supervision sessions

• Case consultation

• Safeguarding guidance when required

Flexible scheduling.

�� What You’ll Gain

• The opportunity to shape a growing counselling service from the beginning

• Meaningful impact on vulnerable lives

• Recognition as a key professional advisor to the organisation

• Networking with therapists, legal professionals, and social care specialists

• Opportunity to join the Advisory Board or Board of Directors

• Professional contribution toward social change

�� Structure of Services

Guardian Light Foundation

• Tier 1: Free counselling for vulnerable individuals

Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd

• Tier 2: Affordable counselling

• Tier 3: Professional counselling services that help fund the charity

This structure allows us to sustain our mission while expanding access to mental health support.

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

What is a Caseworker?

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

Why do we need you?

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

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

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

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

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

What would you be doing?

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

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

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

What training and support would you receive?

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

What are we looking for?

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

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

Minimum Age: 18

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

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

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

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

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces?  You don’t need a military background, just the ability to listen, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English.  If so, this could be the role for you.

Our Branch provides lifelong support to anyone who has ever served, in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and their dependants. We also give support to those who has been in the Merchant Navy, Seafarers, Fishermen and their dependants, and British Airways staff past and present. Our main role is seeking welfare benevolent grants on behalf of clients who reside in the 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland. They can arrange anything from household goods, funeral costs, mobility aids or other general needs. Legal fees are not considered. We would advise clients to seek state and local benefits by signposting them to the relevant agencies.

What is a caseworker?

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of help they need, this might be funds for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit.  Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.

Why do we need you?

Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.  Our trained volunteers listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help people navigate life in and beyond military service.  We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us achieve this.

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

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. Our volunteers are based at home with a yearly AGM invite.

What does this role involve?

• Contacting clients and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time

• Meeting clients and completing a form to assess their circumstances

• Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice

• Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability

• Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients

• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser

• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the

Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Support people in your community with a military background and their dependents

• Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others

• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community

• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews

• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support will you receive?

• On-line or face to face instructor led training and e-learning modules, to prepare you for your voluntary role.

• Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.

• Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact. •

• Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.

• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

What skills or experience do you need?

• Good listening and communication skills including written and spoken English

• Respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues

• Willingness and ability to learn basic digital skills.  Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role  

• Ability to make enquires on behalf of clients by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms

• If required, willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the caseworker training course)

• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice

• Reliable attitude, contact clients promptly, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability 

• Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients

• Friendly and approachable with some experience of coordinating people and admin

•       Practice confidentiality and data protection in line with SSAFA policies. 

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

Minimum Age: 18  

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

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two references, this can be former employers or people that know you well (other than relatives)

Is a criminal record check required?  Yes, Garda Vetting, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer.