Volunteer roles

Work and Skills in an online personal development programme aimed at providing people living with HIV who are unemployed or in unsuitable work with online peer support, online work ready workshops and online 1-2-1 employment mentoring.

The online employment mentor is an integral part of the support structure for each individual, providing space for the participant to ask questions, set goals and plan how to achieve them, explore work and volunteering ideas, reflect on their skills and gain feedback on job/volunteering applications and interview technique. 

Enthusiastic, hands-on volunteers needed to help provide food to the community. A key role, you will work at the main hub of the food bank and help the food service run as smoothly as possible. An exciting opportunity to make a real, immediate impact to those in need of support. 

Hours: Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, 10:00-12:30, 12.30-15:00 or 14:45-17:00. 

Book shifts to suit your own schedule!

Location: St Michaels Church Hall, 37 Bounds Green Rd, London, N22 8SD

About Bounds Green Food Bank: 

Open since June 2020, we serve over 1,500 children and adults in the community. We are committed to improving lives by providing food and essential household items to build a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow. We strive to promote social inclusion by supporting people who find themselves in a crisis situation where they need assistance to feed themselves and their families.

The role: 

• Help with setting up the food service and replenishing goods when needed, including decanting and repacking items.

• Warmly welcome guests, serving them the appropriate number of items depending on their household size and needs.

• Follow food bank policies including Health and Safety procedures e.g. wearing gloves when handling fresh food and lifting boxes safely. 

• Keep the hall tidy throughout the food service e.g. tidying away boxes and neatly restocking items. 

Person specification: 

• Patient and flexible

• A team player 

• Understands and is sensitive to the challenges and difficulties faced by guests accessing the food bank e.g. food and fuel poverty, feelings of shame and embarrassment, language barriers.

Benefits:

• Flexible - book shifts to suit your own schedule!

• Give back to the community - one of the NHS’ 5 Ways to Wellbeing!

• Gain access to free workshops for volunteers and upskill on a range of topics (conflict resolution, mental health first aid, arts and crafts, and more)

• Join free social events for volunteers (such as picnics, walks, games nights and celebration events)

• Gain a sense of community and meet the huge team of volunteers

Join us and make a difference in the lives of children with additional needs

We are seeking to recruit two new trustees to join our passionate and dedicated board.

We are looking for individuals who share our vision of a world where all children and young people with additional needs and disabilities are fully included in their communities. Whether you're an experienced trustee or looking to take your first step into governance, your contribution could be life-changing for the children we support and for their families.

About the role

As a member of our board of trustees, you will be jointly responsible for the legal, effective, and safe running of me2 club. Working closely with fellow trustees and the senior leadership team, you will help shape the charity’s strategic direction and ensure we continue to deliver high-quality support to our beneficiaries.

As one of our ‘guardians of purpose’, you will play a vital role in making sure all decisions reflect the best interests of the children, young people, and families we serve.

We are also looking to appoint a charity secretary, either as one of the new trustees or as a separate role. This position plays a key part in supporting the governance and smooth running of our board.

Who we’re looking for

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from parent/carers with lived experience of caring for a child with additional needs. Your insight is invaluable in helping us ensure our services truly meet the needs of our community.

We are also looking for candidates who may have experience in human resources, business development, impact and evaluation or fundraising.

You do not need previous board experience just a commitment to our mission, a willingness to learn, and a desire to make a difference.

Interested?

To find out more about these exciting opportunities and how to apply, please visit our vacancy page on our website.

Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth (CAML) is a local charity dedicated to providing information, support and advice to individuals and families who live, work or study in Merton or Lambeth. We also work to raise awareness and understanding of the challenging issues affecting our clients and communities.

Aim of this role
Assessor volunteers support the drop-in sessions in our offices and outreach. They discuss with clients the issues they have come to us for help with. After this (and with full support from the supervisor), assessors discuss next steps and actions with the client to help resolve their issues.

As an Assessor, you will be a part of the service delivery. You will:

·         Complete an induction to Citizens Advice and training for your role

·         Help with the drop-in sessions

·         Complete full assessments with our clients, following CAML processes and procedures

·         Record a summary of your interactions with clients in our Case Management System and consult with the Supervisor on the day regarding the relevant next steps

·         Be part of a friendly and supportive charity team

·         Develop transferable skills for employment, training or other volunteering opportunities

·         Have an opportunity to progress with your training and develop adviser knowledge of some of our key enquiry areas.

Locations
We need Assessors in our main offices in Kennington, Morden and Mitcham and different outreach locations in Merton and Lambeth. All three offices are well-connected to public transport, and the office in Mitcham has a car park.

What’s in it for you?

• Make a real difference to people’s lives

• Build on valuable skills such as communication, listening and problem solving, and increase your employability

• Work with a range of different people, independently and in a team

• Have a positive impact in your community.

And we’ll reimburse expenses, too.

What do you need to have?
You don’t need specific qualifications or skills but you’ll need to:

• Be friendly and approachable

• Respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own

• Have good IT skills

• Be able to understand information and explain it to others

• Be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection

• Be willing to undertake training in your role.

CAML Assessor training includes one day in an assigned CAML office and one day group online training.

The group online trainings will be on Wednesdays. Before considering your application, please make sure you are available on Wednesdays for the first 8 weeks.

Commitment
This role requires you attend our offices or outreach locations in person.

Our offices are open to the public from 9.30am to 3pm, five days a week. Our volunteers are typically with us for at least one day per week in office. Ideally we ask for a commitment to volunteer with CAML for at least 9 months.

Valuing inclusion
Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from racially minoritised people/people of colour, disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people.

If you are interested in becoming an assessors and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.

How to apply
If this volunteering role is of interest, we would be delighted to hear from you.  Please follow the link to our webiste to find out how to apply.

We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and will process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our online Privacy Policy for more information on how your personal data will be processed and stored.

Little Village is a baby bank: a simple idea with a big impact on the lives of families living in poverty in London. Our work is vital: more than one in three children in the capital live in poverty, with profound impacts from educational disadvantage to reduced life expectancy. We invite community donations of pre-loved baby and children’s items, passing them onto families who need them and saving them from landfill. Meanwhile, our guidance and signposting service provides tailored, one-to-one support, delivered with warmth and understanding.

Families either visit a Little Village hub, or items are packed with care and delivered to their home. But it doesn’t stop there. We also connect families into a wider network of support, helping them to build and extend their own ‘village’.

Thanks to the generous donations of loved items, precious time and money, in 2023 Little Village was able to support more than 8500 children. But the demand for help still outstripped our capacity to respond week on week. This role will play a crucial part in helping us to ensure stock is where it needs to be in order to reach more children with the things they need.   

Our wonderful Finance Trustee is reaching the end of her two terms, and we’re now seeking a successor to step into her very big shoes. 

We’re looking for a qualified accountant who can: 

• Bring fresh eyes and ideas to how we do things in help us increase our effectiveness 

• Collaborate with a passionate team of board members and the charity’s SLT to make our sum of the parts even stronger 

• Provide visionary financial oversight and robust governance at Board level. 

• Work alongside our Director of Finance to safeguard the charity’s stability and ensure its resources are managed with care and foresight. 

• Champion strong policies, processes, and controls that enable transparency, accountability, and lasting impact. 

• Share our passion for tackling child poverty and supporting families. 

• You may or may not have prior Board experience (it’s not essential!). 

  We are especially keen to diversify our Board and particularly welcome applications from men and people under-represented in charity governance, including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and people with lived experience of poverty. 

The role is primarily remote, however, you will be required to attend 3 hour quarterly board meetings, plus a strategy away day and involvement in sub committees. Please see the job pack on our website for further details.

Closing date is 9am on Monday 13th October 2025.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced team member to lead the design of the internet, interpreter services, and online delegate experience, at the 44th World Scout Conference in 2027, which will take place at Olympia from Monday 29th November to Friday 3rd December (with 2 days set-up and 1 day de-rig either side), to ensure we deliver an integrated technical experience across audio-visual production, connectivity infrastructure (WiFi/networking), and hybrid engagement platforms.

This is a strategic and delivery-focused role, requiring technical understanding and a user-first mindset to ensure all delegates, in-person and online, enjoy a seamless, inclusive, and inspiring experience.

With around 1600 delegates expected from across the globe, this high-profile international gathering demands a seamless, accessible, and engaging hybrid experience that embodies the values of World Scouting while using the best of modern event technology.

This is a key role in our team, combining technical production design with strategic thinking around user experience and accessibility — across both physical and digital platforms. 

Please note, while this is a volunteer role, there will be some associated personal cost during the conference period for example, for transport and accommodation.

Key tasks

• Identify all interpretation needs by both conference delegates and language interpreters for all elements of the conference: main plenary sessions, some breakouts sessions, social spaces, and interactive zones.
• Ensure smooth integration of interpretation and captioning technologies.
• Design the infrastructure that will support the provision of multiple language interpretation services.
• Design and deliver a robust networking infrastructure (in partnership with venue and vendors) that supports: High-density public WiFi for ~2,000 users, dedicated bandwidth for, hybrid participation, and interpreters, and hardline connections for live streaming.
• Lead planning for any hybrid session formats, including managing speakers presenting remotely or engaging with a hybrid audience.
• Collaborate in the selection, configure, and manage an online platform that supports hybrid participation (e.g. real-time plenary streaming, voting, Q&A, interpretation, and document sharing).
• Ensure real-time tech support is available to online participants during the event.
• Work with content producers, technical leads, stage managers, and the wider technical support team to ensure smooth show delivery.
• Identify relevant team members and agency support as required.
• Identify opportunities to streamline services or combine resources with other operational areas to stay within financial parameters.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced audio visual and lighting designer to develop and deliver an integrated technical experience across the audio-visual production elements of the conference. 

This is a strategic and delivery-focused role, requiring technical understanding and a user-first mindset to ensure all delegates, in-person and online, enjoy a seamless, inclusive, and inspiring experience at the 44th World Scout Conference in 2027, which will take place at Olympia from Monday 29th November to Friday 3rd December (with 2 days set-up and 1 day de-rig either side).

With around 1600 delegates expected from across the globe, this high-profile international gathering demands a seamless, accessible, and engaging hybrid experience that embodies the values of World Scouting while using the best of modern event technology.

This is a key role in our team, combining technical production design with strategic thinking around user experience and accessibility, across both physical and digital platforms.

Please note, while this is a volunteer role, there will be some associated personal cost during the conference period for example, for transport and accommodation.

Key tasks

• Design all audio-visual elements of the conference: main plenary sessions, breakouts, social spaces, and interactive zones.
• Oversee stage projection, relay displays, camera systems, and live streaming.
• Coordinate with AV providers, venue teams, and show producers to ensure high-quality delivery of presentations, panels, ceremonies, and remote contributions.
• Contribute to the smooth integration of interpretation and captioning technologies.
• Collaborate with our Sound Designer, AV suppliers and venue technical teams to design and deliver sound, lighting, projection, display, and staging systems suitable for Olympia National Hall’s scale and acoustics.
• Oversee the technical setup for high-quality streaming and recording of plenary sessions and key breakouts.
• Design and coordinate appropriate lighting for the main stage and special areas, ensuring both functional visibility and visual impact for key moments (e.g., ceremonies, keynote addresses).
• Work with suppliers to negotiate packages that offer excellent value for money, while maintaining quality and variety.
• Identify opportunities to streamline services or combine resources with other operational areas to stay within financial parameters.
• Work with content producers, technical leads, stage managers, interpretation and translation coordinators and the wider technical support team to ensure smooth show delivery.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced sound designer to lead the planning, setup, and operation of all audio elements of the 44th World Scout Conference, which is taking place at London Olympia from Monday 29th November to Friday 3rd December 2027 (with 2 days set-up and 1 day de-rig either side), to ensure an outstanding integrated experience for both in-person and online participants.

This is a key role in our team, combining technical sound design with strategic thinking around user experience and accessibility — across both physical and digital platforms.

With around 1600 delegates expected from across the globe, this high-profile international gathering demands a seamless, accessible, and engaging hybrid experience that embodies the values of World Scouting while using the best of modern event technology.

Please note, while this is a volunteer role, there will be some associated personal cost during the conference period for example, for transport and accommodation.

Key tasks

• Develop a detailed sound design plan including speaker placement, microphone needs, playback systems, and redundancy planning.
• Liaise with the selected AV supplier and venue technical staff to ensure all onsite equipment and infrastructure is appropriate for our needs and ready.
• Support live-streaming and recording requirements, including multitrack recording or feed splitting, as required.
• Oversee the rigging, setup, and testing of audio systems.
• Coordinate live sound during the conference plenaries.
• Coordinate audio support for breakout sessions and ancillary spaces as required.
• Work with the Team Leader to ensure that all elements are provided within the allocated budget, ensuring accurate forecasting and cost control.
• Identify opportunities to streamline services or combine resources with other operational areas to stay within financial parameters.
• Act as the point of contact for audio coordination & delivery for all sound systems.
• Manage event technical crew members: voluntary and contracted

About the role

We are looking for a culturally aware and detail-driven Catering Lead to oversee all aspects of food and beverage delivery, ensuring an inclusive, high-quality, and logistically seamless experience for participants and event team members with diverse dietary, cultural, and religious needs.

Working closely with Olympia London’s in-house catering and the wider conference delivery team, you will design and manage a catering plan that reflects global diversity, sustainability, and hospitality excellence during the five days of the World Scout Conference, including a welcome/opening evening reception and informal dinner and closing celebrations formal dinner.

This is a strategic and delivery-focused role, requiring an understanding of the practicalities of delivering an effective catering approach that meets the needs and requirements of all delegates and event team members attending the World Scout Conference in 2027, which will take place at Olympia from Monday 29th November to Friday 3rd December (with 2 days set-up and 1 day de-rig either side).

With around 1400 in person delegates expected from across the globe and our 170 person event team, this high-profile international gathering demands a seamless, accessible, and engaging all-round experience that embodies the values of World Scouting while using the best of modern event technology. 

This is a key role in our delivery team, combining excellent catering knowledge for large scale events with a diverse audience with strategic thinking around user experience and accessibility. 

Please note, while this is a volunteer role, there will be some associated personal cost during the conference period for example, for transport and accommodation.

Key tasks

• Develop a comprehensive delegate catering strategy, including daily lunches, mid-morning tea and afternoon coffee breaks, receptions and side events (as needed), event team catering, and VIP functions (as needed).
• Plan service layouts and crowd flow to handle large numbers smoothly and reduce wait times.
• Collaborate to develop menus that are culturally appropriate, nutritionally balanced, and globally inclusive, suitable for delegates representing over 170 countries.
• Champion variety and cultural sensitivity, including religious food customs/observations.
• Contribute to setting up a robust system to collect and manage dietary requirements in advance.
• Ensure strict allergen management and compliance with food safety regulations.
• Oversee catering delivery on-site, managing schedule adherence, quality control, signage, delegate experience, and issue resolution.
• Ensure the catering plan aligns with the event’s sustainability goals.
• Identify opportunities to streamline services or combine resources with other operational areas to stay within financial parameters.

About Us:

The Orpheus Centre is a specialist further education college and charity working to support young disabled adults, who are passionate about the arts, to achieve their potential and lead independent lives.

Set up by musician and songwriter Sir Richard Stilgoe, Orpheus offers learning, supported housing and personal care on the same site in Godstone, Surrey.

Volunteer Role:

As an Action Team Volunteer, you will play a vital role in assisting with our fundraising activities throughout the year, from fun runs, festivals and supermarket collections to special events. By sharing your skills and time, you’ll meet new people as part of a friendly team that makes a difference in the community and have a rewarding experience helping spread awareness of Orpheus and the importance of the funds our supporters raise.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for volunteers who are friendly, have buckets of enthusiasm, have good communications skills and able to work as part of a team. If you are reliable and flexible, then we would love to hear from you. If you would like to get involved with the work we do at Orpheus but want to volunteer in a flexible way, then this is the role for you. 

What will you be doing?

· Cheering, marshalling, collecting money or providing practical support in other ways at our events, such as setting up stalls, selling merchandise and raffle tickets to car park attendants

· Other ad hoc activities that arise on the day

Why volunteer:

Through volunteering with us you will gain a greater sense of purpose and help our learners reach their potential.

If you are someone who is reliable, an excellent communicator, have a friendly and enthusiastic personality and committed to helping, as well as being kind and caring, then this could be the role for you.

You will have a mentor who will help and guide you when you first start volunteering at Orpheus.

Training:

Role relevant training, including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Safeguarding will be given prior to start date. There is also the opportunity to attend our Learning Support training.

On-going support will be available throughout your time at Orpheus.

Benefits/What you’ll get:

· Experience of volunteering in an education setting.

· Working within a team as well as independently.

· The opportunity to meet new people and having fun.

· Develop confidence, empathy, listening and communication skills through working with our students.

· Gain experience in the charity sector.

· Opportunities to volunteer at other fundraising or on-site events at Orpheus.

· Free on-site parking and expenses claimed back.

· Discounted lunches.

· Volunteer social events, like our Volunteer Tea Party.

Safeguarding:

Orpheus is committed to safeguarding and promotes the welfare of all service users. We are committed to the promotion of equal opportunities.

This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  It is therefore subject to an Enhanced disclosure through the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS).

Equality & Diversity:

· To enforce the zero tolerance policy of all forms of victimisation, discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

· To be tolerant of differences and use respectful language.

· Ensure professional standards and boundaries are clear.

· To treat everyone respectfully.

Application Process:

Once your application has been received it will be reviewed, you may then be invited in for an informal interview.

Your references will be checked and you will need to complete the online DBS application before bringing the relevant documents in to be checked.

You will then need to attend all of our training. This can all take 3-4 weeks to be completed before you start volunteering with us.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton (CABB) is a leading provider of legal advice and information, supporting thousands of clients every year. We are a busy, client focused and dynamic service with a track record of delivering high quality advice face to face, over the phone and digitally.
 
Our communities continue to face unprecedented challenges with rising costs. The rising cost-of-living continues to directly impact individuals and families, with more people than ever in negative budgets, debt and housing crises.
We are seeking to strengthen our board of trustees, who share our values and are committed to tackling poverty and improving social justice.

We are looking for local individuals who want to share their specialist skills to challenge the impact of poverty, inequality and discrimination and to making a positive difference to the clients we help. 

Having recently undertaken a skills assessment survey of our board, we are now in a position to recruit board members and prioritise the areas needed to enhance our collective board.
Our recent survey identified 2 key areas of strength:

• Core Governance Strength in fundamental governance areas, including Strategic Planning, Risk Management, and understanding the Legal Duties of Trustees. This provides a solid foundation from which to lead the charity. 
• Core Financial Strength: we have a strong finance sub-committee that work closely with the operational team, ensuring our accounting, financial processes and budget are in line with our charitable objectives and remain in a sustainable and stable position. 
   

The key skills gaps identified in our survey, and ones which we are keen to prioritise when recruiting new trustees are:

• Lived experience of advice services and/or social welfare issues
• Service design and impact
• Digital strategy

What does a trustee do:
Attend board and committee meetings (quarterly), ensuring that you are prepared for the meetings (reading papers etc) and taking an active part in discussions to; 

• Set policy and strategy direction, set targets and evaluate the performance of CABB.
• Use experience, knowledge and expertise to dissect the information provided by the organisation to satisfy that board is reaching sound decisions, which benefit our communities.
• Monitor the financial position of the CABB ensuring that it operates within its means and charitable objectives.
• Seek the views of all sections of the community, review and monitor how well the service meets the needs of the local community.
• Ensure that the service plans for the recruitment and turnover of staff and volunteers is effective and sustainable.
• Review its own work and how effectively it operates including action for improvement.
• Work on specific projects with other trustees or staff within CABB to further our strategic objectives.
• Safeguard the reputation of CABB and ensuring the compliance of governing documents and processes (articles of association, charity law, company law etc).
   

In a stable position both financially and operationally, we are now in a period of growth and development, ensuring our ambitious business plan is not only met, but aligned to the emerging needs of our clients. 

To apply, please submit a CV and Cover Letter.

Join Us as a Trustee – Shape the Next 20 Years of Impact

Next year, Dorset Reading Partners proudly celebrates 20 years of transforming lives and making a real difference to the young people that we support on an on-going basis. Over two decades, we’ve achieved considerable success in helping young people develop their love of reading and schools see tangible improvement in their literacy results. Now, as we mark this milestone, we’re embarking on an exciting new chapter. With ambitious plans for growth, innovation, and deeper impact, we are looking for inspiring new Trustees to join our Board.

As a Trustee, you will:

• Play a vital role in guiding our strategy and vision for the future.
• Bring fresh perspectives and skills to help us evolve and thrive.
• Champion our mission and ensure we continue to deliver lasting change.

We’re seeking people who are passionate about our cause, committed to good governance, and excited to help shape what the next 20 years will look like. Whether you bring expertise in finance, marketing, fundraising, or digital innovation, or, simply a deep belief in our mission, your contribution will matter. If you want to be part of a charity at a pivotal moment—honouring our past while shaping a bold future - we’d love to hear from you.

This is a voluntary role - but the rewards of making a difference are priceless.

Ideally, we would like to receive expressions of interest by 30th September 2025, but we will always welcome future contact. 

Job Description
Are you ready to put your digital marketing skills into practice and make a real impact? As a Volunteer Digital Marketing Manager with TESYouth, you’ll gain invaluable hands-on experience while helping us grow our online presence and reach.

In this role, you’ll be part of a team that values creativity, innovation, and collaboration. You’ll play a key role in developing and implementing strategies that strengthen our brand message, boost engagement, and drive traffic to our digital platforms.

Responsibilities

• Increase traffic and visibility across TESYouth’s digital channels.

• Grow our brand message, vision, and online presence.

• Develop and manage digital marketing campaigns.

• Monitor and analyse performance using SEO, Google Analytics, and other tools.

• Collaborate with the creative and communications teams to align marketing activities.

Requirements

• Experience in digital marketing and social media management.

• Working knowledge of SEO, Google Analytics, and related tools.

• Strong communication and organisational skills.

• Proactive, dedicated, and willing to learn.

Additional Information

• This is a voluntary role and can be carried out entirely remotely.

• All reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

• Flexible hours – ideal for those looking to gain professional experience while contributing to a meaningful cause.

About TESYouth
TESYouth (Training, Employment Opportunities & Social Development for Youth) is a social enterprise and not-for-profit organisation dedicated to reducing youth unemployment. Through training programmes, work experience, interactive workshops, and volunteering opportunities, we support young people in developing their skills and achieving their career aspirations.

Together with our collaborators and partners, we aim to make a lasting positive impact in the community.

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.