Advice, Information Volunteer Roles

Citizens Advice Southampton is looking for a new Treasurer

Our Treasurer is a vital member of our Board of Trustees; this is a voluntary position. Unremunerated but with reasonable expenses covered. 

Skills; we are looking for anyone with relevant financial qualifications or experience who is interested in becoming our Treasurer

Where; Southampton

Time; the Board of Trustees meets once a month apart from August and December when there are no meetings. In addition, the Treasurer will be part of a focussed committee which also meets once a month, such as Finance or Governance and Risk.

About Citizens Advice Southampton; This local and essential Charity provides vital support to the people of Southampton. Integrated into the local Community, Citizens Advice Southampton’s incredible volunteers and paid staff help more than 6500 people with 11000 issues every year, providing advice that is free, independent, impartial and confidential.

What will you be doing? Duties include;  explain, guide and advise the board on the key assumptions and financial implications of the Citizens Advice Southampton budgets, operational and strategic plans  ensure that the organisation has an appropriate reserves policy and a realistic budget that meets the services’ needs  ensure that annual accounts are prepared in compliance with SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) Accounting for Charities and submitted by the deadline to the Charity Commission and/or Registrar of Companies, and make arrangements for them to be audited or independently examined as required

What’s in it for you? Not only will you directly contribute to the success of this essential charity in supporting the local community, for you personally there are many benefits. Such as;  Meet others and build relationships with other trustees, paid staff, volunteers and other community members  Build on your governance and leadership skills  Increase your employability

What are we looking for? Although you will not necessarily need to have prior experience of being a Trustee, we are specifically looking to recruit anyone with relevant experience which will support them in their role as Treasurer. Useful skills for our Treasurer include;  have financial qualifications or experience  some knowledge or experience of charity finances, fundraising, financial consequences and pension schemes  excellent good numeracy skills to understand accounts  be able to explain complex financial information in an accessible way  Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussions  Commitment to the aims, principles and policies of Citizens Advice Southampton  Willingness and ability to learn, and to develop and understand your own attitude  Ability to work effectively as part of a team  Ability to think creatively and to exercise good independent judgement  Ability to understand and accept the responsibility and liability of being a trustee

Citizens Advice Southampton Citizens Advice Southampton are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from all who meet the above specification irrespective of sex, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, age, or disability.

Role: Referral volunteer (laptops)

Team: Casework

Supervised by: Adult caseworker

Location: Tooting office on a Thursday afternoon (2-5pm) for period of training/induction. Remote or in person once induction is complete.

Time commitment: 3 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months

About CARAS :

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.

Our values are at the centre of all our work:

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do

About the Role:

CARAS offers advocacy casework integrated into all of its projects, ensuring that people who attend our groups can access support to address issues in a friendly and timely manner. A key part of the casework service is to help connect people to resources and activities that they need.

A key areas of need is digital access, either by smart phone or laptop.

People living in asylum accommodation receive £9/week making saving for items impossible.

Whilst many activities have returned to face-to-face delivery many have stayed online, not having a laptop impedes people’s ability to join English classes and social activities. People attending college face difficulties in completing college work without access to computers in the evenings, access to a laptop means people are able to take greater control over their independent learning. Smart phones make a huge difference in people’s ability to have contact with family and community across the world.

To meet this need we have built a partnership with a grant giving organisation, Acts435, to support people to get personal laptops.

We are able to refer 5 people at a time for grants to buy new laptops/phones. Once the grant money is received we purchase the devices for community members to collect.

We are looking for a volunteer to do these referrals each month and support people to purchase and receive their laptops and phones. This is an extremely rewarding role, interacting with lots of the CARAS community members and making a very tangible positive impact on people’s lives.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

- contacting community members who are on our waiting lists by phone to explain the scheme to them

- complete grant applications with community members

- monitoring the grant platform to see when grants have been made

- purchasing laptops online and liaising with community members to arrange collection

- completing monitoring forms with community members once grants are recieved and uploading to grant platform

- recording all referrals and work done on our case management system (lamplight)

Person specification:

Essential

· Confidence in using IT (online forms, online shopping, google maps, email, DocuSign)

· To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;

· A commitment to confidentiality and data protection

· Thorough with good attention to detail

· Reliable

· A high level of spoken and written English

· Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English;

· Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way

· A calm, friendly, kind and patient approach

· Enjoyment in speaking to new people

· A commitment to working in an empowering way

· Able to maintain boundaries

· Able to work autonomously

· Currently resident in the UK

Desirable

· Experience working with refugees and asylum seekers

· Fluent in one or more of: Pashtu, Farsi, Tigrinya, Somali, Arabic or Dari, Russian, Ukrainian, Albanian, Amharic, Kurdish Sorani, Spanish, French

· Experience of working with interpreters

Benefits to Volunteering:

Through volunteering with us you will:

· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;

· Develop your skills and competencies;

· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.

All volunteers must complete a DBS check and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.

To Apply:

To Apply To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form, using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.

Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with the Adult caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP.

Adult Casework Volunteer - Role description 

Role: Adult Casework Volunteer 

Team: Casework 

Supervised by: Adult caseworker 

Location: Tooting office on a Thursday afternoon (2-5.30pm)

Time commitment: 3.5 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months 

About CARAS :  

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.

Our values are at the centre of all our work

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do 

About CARAS casework:

CARAS works with adults and young people of a refugee and asylum seeker background to find solutions to their problems. There are two separate sub-teams within the Casework team; young people and adults. We support adults to navigate the asylum system, understand their options, access benefits, connect with services and realise their goals. We are a non-specialist casework and advocacy service, so we work in close partnership with other local organisations to whom we refer people with more complex issues.

Using the empowerment model, our casework service embodies CARAS’ values of ‘with not for’, always striving to ensure people are armed with the information and resources they need to make decisions and take action for themselves.

About the Role:

We are currently recruiting for 2 volunteers to join our Adult Casework team. 

The purpose of the Adult Casework volunteer role is to support adults with a refugee or asylum seeking background to understand their rights, access information and services, and ultimately, take control of their own lives. You will work with individuals to address problems they may face relating to, among other issues, asylum support, accessing healthcare and education, access to legal advice and finding activities and opportunities.

You will start from an understanding that individuals are always best placed to solve their own problems, and often need nothing more than to talk out a problem and find the solution themselves. When helpful, you will provide information to clarify and support to take action. 

The Adult Casework team hold a support session at our office in Tooting on Thursday afternoons from 2-5.30pm.  Volunteer caseworkers have 1:1 appointments, either in person or by phone, with CARAS members.  These can be related to a range of topics.  Currently our biggest areas of work are around housing for people seeking asylum, access to college, nursery/school places for children, referrals to mental health providers, searches and signposting to activities, finding solicitors and supporting people to apply for bus passes and ID cards.  Volunteers also support with administrative tasks such as updating our databases, collating resources and creating information guides. 

Adult Casework Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:  

• Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting.  

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements.   

• Assisting with filling out forms 

• Signposting and referring onto other services and organisations.  

• Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner.  

• Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations and grants.  

• Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required.  

• Keeping accurate casenotes 

• Supporting to maintain our signposting database 

• Researching and collating resources 

• Working collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the Adult Casework project.  

• Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements:

Essential

• Experience of doing 1:1 advice work/casework.

• Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.   

• Confidence in using IT (Microsft office, outlook, zoom, Google search, online forms)  

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds; 

• A commitment to confidentiality and data protection 

• Thorough with good attention to detail 

• Reliable 

• A high level of spoken and written English 

• Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way  

• A calm, friendly, kind and patient approach 

• Enjoyment in speaking to new people 

• A commitment to working in an empowering way 

• Able to maintain boundaries 

• Able to work autonomously 

• Currently resident in the UK 

Desirable 

• Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights and entitlements for people seeking asylum 

• Experience of working with interpreters 

• Direct experience of the UK immigration system.  

• Past experience of working with people seeking asylum 

• Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu or Vietnamese.  

We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process 

Benefits to Volunteering:

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies; 

•  Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Obtain a reference from us relating to your volunteering 

All volunteers must complete a basic DBS check for volunteers working with adults and attend training with us before starting.  You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role. 

To Apply:

To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form, using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.

 Applicants will have an informal meeting with the Adult caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP. 

Successful applicants will undergo training and induction with our team. 

Are you looking to impact a young person’s life and make a difference in the community?

Well come and join us today at The Kids Network!

What is the role

• The Kids Network is looking for committed, fun and passionate volunteers who live in or near to Lambeth to make a difference to the children of London.
• Our structured mentoring programme supports 8-11 year old's, based across London, to support with their social and emotional development before they transition into secondary school.
• As a mentor, you will hold weekly one on one sessions of 1 -3 hours. You will help to build confidence, resilience and help your mentee to manage feelings through a series of fun and positive experiences and activities.
• The weekly sessions can be flexible between weekdays and weekends.
• You will also get to meet fellow adults in your community through our peer network.
• All volunteers will go benefit from two days of in-person  where you'll gain skills and knowledge to support you as a mentor. (Many mentors share that the skills developed support their progression in the workplace, especially those seeking to gain experience working with children and young people)

What impact will this have?

• Help build resilience and confidence in a child in your local community.
• Learn from fellow mentors with our amazing peer network.
• Help a child as they transition from primary to secondary school.

Currently recruiting mentors who are:

·Looking to give back to their communities and make an impact on little londoners.

Expenses

• Volunteers have a budget of £30 per month. We are also able to cover travel expenses.

Training​

• Our induction training will provide you with all the skills and knowledge to support your mentee, including safeguarding, health and safety, child-led mentoring and understanding your role.
• We offer additional training throughout the year to in anti-oppression, trauma-informed practice and lots more to help enhance your mentoring journey and your personal and professional development.

A DBS check is required but is organised and paid for by The Kids Network.

Due to the nature of the research involved, this opportunity is for sighted individuals only. As a Travel & Tech Research Assistant you will be helping to identify new technology opportunities or solutions that will enable more Blind & Partially Sighted people make independent and spontaneous journeys. You will test what technology would work well for blind and partially sighted travelers - using apps, identifying issues and what workarounds are employed when technology and / or transport fails. You will be feeding back on the physical journey and the emotional journey experiences. As part of your role, you may be required to travel on a range of public transport modes, completing some of the same journeys as our Blind and Partially Sighted Explorers with Tech. This could include downloading and testing new travel apps and logging data/information at various points on the journey. You might also be asked to wear various tracking and data capture tech in order to download data on your mobile phone - stress levels, heart rate and any moments of anxiety. As part of your research you may also be asked to record video, voice notes or take photos of venues, platforms, bus stops etc.

Additional location information

• Various public transport locations throughout London & South East area

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 16 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• • Smartphone owner/user • Access to both a major transport station or hub and rural location within 60 minutes on public transport • Confident using all forms of public transport • Confident in planning & carrying out familiar and unfamiliar journeys - on foot and public transport • Confident using technology, including apps to plan and navigate journeys

Purpose

An Oxfordshire Youth Hospital Navigator Volunteer will provide support to Oxfordshire Youth staff and young people within our Hospital Navigator scheme. The post holder will passionately believe in the potential of all young people to achieve their goals.

An Oxfordshire Youth, Hospital Navigators Volunteer will be an advocate for young people.

Oxfordshire Youth Hospital Navigators Volunteers do not have fixed hours, but commit to flexible hours to suit their availability and staff needs. Shifts are available 7 days per week.

Join our dynamic team YPSA Team to coordinate the ground-breaking Intervention programme - Hospital Navigator.  With an increase in the number of young people presenting at emergency departments due to serious violence, mental health issues, and substance abuse, we are addressing an urgent need for signposting young people to support services following discharge from A&E.

The Hospital Navigators will establish trust with young people who arrive at the JR hospital due to pre-existing concerns such as substance addiction, mental health issues, personal care, and violence itself. When in the hospital, there is an opportunity for the young person to reflect and be open to intervention. A volunteer in a dedicated Navigator role would request permission to refer the young person to a third-party agency that can provide the necessary specialist support. This moment may assist in redirecting the young person back into the community via a different pathway. The volunteer would connect them with a local support agency/charity that would assist them in reintegrating into the community, building resilience, and providing mentoring to prevent repeat occurrences that could lead to their hospitalisation.

The Navigator Coordinator will supervise Hospital Navigator volunteers. Once the navigator has gained the young person's trust and agreement, they will prepare an assessment and referral form that includes the type of difficulties, services available for referral, and the type of communication the client prefers.

Main volunteering duties

● Work within a busy A&E and the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) within JR hospital setting

● Liaise with the triage nurse team once people are medically cleared, to screen and offer signposting to appropriate services outside of the hospital

● Liaise with the A&E rapid response team to identify patients readmitted multiple times, and offer information to try to help reduce further re-admission

● Require administrative skills and be able to use IT, including finding out information from the internet on where and how to access services.

● Work within a team of people including doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists. 

● Some important skills include good communication with people, and the ability to listen and build trust in a relatively short time frame.

This role profile is subject to amendment following discussion with the post holder and daily tasks will be determined by the needs of the young people and staff.

What you will gain

You will gain valuable experience and receive high-quality training to ensure you feel confident and motivated to support different aspects of Youth work. You will learn about teamwork, building and maintaining groups and recognising group dynamics.

Available training includes Safeguarding Levels 1 and 2 and GDPR. In addition, it will be possible to have further discussions about available opportunities for a Diploma in Youth Work Practice. Please note that some of this training is mandatory and you will only be able to volunteer if you complete this training.

All volunteers must undergo a DBS check.

Equipment will be provided.

Support for You

● Training and development opportunities in safeguarding level 2, self-harm and trauma-informed training, Mental Capacity Act, GDPR, Motivational interviewing and suicide prevention.

● Networking and social opportunities to meet sector partners and staff members.

● Ongoing day-to-day support and guidance from your team.

● Regular one-to-ones with a member of OY staff appointed to support you during your time with us.

Skills Required

We welcome volunteers over 18 years old and from all backgrounds and levels of the community. No previous experience is required, just an enthusiasm for getting involved.

However, we are looking for volunteers to demonstrate the following key skills and abilities:

● Good administration skills

● good communication and interpersonal skills

● impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidentiality

● an ability to ensure decisions are taken and followed up

● good time-keeping

● using your discretion and sensitivity for others

● a commitment to the organisation and the role

Healthwatch Wandsworth - ‘Enter and View’ Community Researcher

Healthwatch Wandsworth is looking for volunteers who are interested in community research and being part of the Enter and View team.

The role of Healthwatch is to work with the local community and users of health and social care services to ensure that these services are responsive to local needs and delivered to a high standard. We plan visits to services and talk directly to clients and users about their experiences. This is fed back to the managers of the service and we follow up on any actions that may be taken in response to our findings.

One of the ways that Healthwatch can contribute is through its' legal powers to `Enter and View` premises such as hospitals, day care centres, or residential homes to observe the quality of care and to speak with patients, service users and carers.

We need volunteers who, through their work, volunteering, or personal experience, understand health and care services. We particularly welcome people who have personal experience of using services and reflect Wandsworth's diverse population.

Healthwatch Wandsworth's authorised representatives on the Enter & View team will be provided with clear guidelines about the premises they are going to visit, the purpose of the visit, and the reporting arrangements. Relevant training and support will also be offered.

As an ‘Enter and View’ Community Researcher you will

· Take part in an induction process.

· Attend training/briefing sessions.

· Visit health and care premises such as hospital wards, GP surgeries or day centres on a pre-arranged basis.

· Talk to the service users and staff that you meet on the premises and document their views.

· Observe and record what you notice.

· Undertake work face to face with members of the public, occasionally it may be over the telephone or an online meeting.

Essential Role Criteria

· Aged 18 or over.

· Knowledge of health and social care services, either through work, volunteering, or personal experience.

· Excellent inter-personal skills, tact and diplomacy.

· The ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds.

· Ability to listen to what people are saying and reflect these in notes and reports in a non-judgmental way.

· Ability to travel to various locations in Wandsworth (expenses will be reimbursed).

· Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Benefits

· Travel expenses reimbursed

· Learn more about how health and social care services are run.

· The opportunity to help Healthwatch Wandsworth make a difference to health and social services in the local area.

· Your voice can represent your community to health and social care providers.

· The opportunity to acquire new skills, refine old ones, and increase your experience and confidence in things such as community interviews, analysing information, and writing reports.

· The opportunity to meet new people and enjoy new experiences.

· You will be able to update your CV and use your experience with Healthwatch to seek work in health and social care or other fields of employment.

Can you spare 3 hours or more a week to help us provide a confidential helpline for people with mild to moderate mental health problems, drug or alcohol problems? You will be part of a dynamic team of volunteers.

We answer calls predominantly from people in Surrey from 9 am to 7pm Monday to Friday:

• Providing listening and emotional support that is confidential.
• We are non judgemental and signpost to other agencies.
• Refer callers into treatment services.

No qualifications are needed as full training will be provided, but you will need a friendly and calm telephone manner with the ability to communicate effectively. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds.

Our next training course is taking place online on 20th April and 27th April 2024.

Shift times are 9am to 12 noon, 12 to 3pm, 3 to 6pm and 6 to 7pmfts start at 9am). We require a minimum of one shift per fortnight. The Helpline is operated from your own home, at no cost to you.

Member of Connexional Solidarity Circles (Carers, Rural, Disability, LGBT+, Racial Justice, and Women)

Closing date: 9am on 7 May 2024

Proposed tart date: 1 Sep 2024

Solidarity Circles for Disability, LGBT+, Racial Justice, and Women were launched in September 2023 as part of the Strategy for Justice, Dignity and Solidarity. We hope to start 2 new Solidarity Circles – one for Carers and one for Rural Communities in September 2024.

Solidarity Circles are online meetings for the Methodist Church to support people in different diversities of the Church’s life to meet regularly, to support one another and to raise with relevant Church leaders the concerns that need to be addressed. These circles act as consultative groups for the work of the Methodist Church and are supported and led by a volunteer coordinator.

Each Solidarity Circle is formed of up to 15 members who are appointed for one, two or three years with up to five new members recruited each year to ensure a diversity of views and experience are heard.

If you are passionate about working with others towards a fully inclusive church and meet the criteria then please consider applying to join one or more of the Solidarity Circles.

• Solidarity Circle for Disability
• Solidarity Circle for LGBT+
• Solidarity Circle for Racial Justice
• Solidarity Circle for Women
• Solidarity Circle for Carers
• Solidarity Circle for Rural Communities

For the role description and Solidarity Circle Terms of Reference, please review the Solidarity Circle Information pack. The pack also details the additional information regarding preferences and availability, which will need to be noted on your application.

The closing date for applications is 7 May 2024 by 9am.

A drop-in session has been arranged to support the recruitment for new Solidarity Circle members. The session will take place on 24 April from 7-8pm

Please view job on the Methodist Church jobs page to register your interest to attend drop-in

This is an opportunity to be involved with a pioneering project which seeks to use the historic North Wing building at St Bartholomew’s Hospital for inspiration, respite, and recovery.

Barts Heritage are looking to recruit four members to join their Heritage and Health Engagement Advisory Panel; two heritage or cultural professionals, a heritage and health practitioner, and an academic.

You will join an interdisciplinary team, which will include Barts NHS Trust staff, members of the Barts Heritage engagement team, and creative health practitioners. As a group you will:

1. Act as critical friends bringing varied experience and expertise from heritage, health, arts, and cultural contexts to guide and challenge project development.
2. Offer expert advice to ensure the project’s ambitions for innovation in approaches uniting heritage and health are met.
3. Act as advocates, sharing the work of the project within your sector, and connecting the Sharing Historic Barts project team to relevant people within your networks.
4. Play a part in ensuring the project’s work is sustainable and has a legacy.

We are looking for trainee volunteer advisers to join our advice team to support people across Ashford, Kent

You will be trained to give advice to clients across channels including face-to-face and telephone.

Volunteers make up around 75% of our workforce. We would not be able to provide such a vital free advice service without them.

What will you do?

• complete an introduction to Ashford Borough Citizens Advice and training for your role

• talk to clients over the phone, face to face, or online to explore what problems they've come for help with

• find information about the clients' problems and help them to understand their options

• support clients to take action to resolve their problems. This might include drafting or writing letters, making phone calls, or referring the client to another organisation

• write a summary of the clients' problems and what action you've taken

• look out for problems' that are common, or are unfair, and write a short report about the problem or a letter to an elected official like an MP, AM or local councillor

What's in it for you?

• make a real difference to people's lives

• learn about a range of issues such as benefits, debt, employment and housing.

• build on valuable skills such as communication, listening and problem solving

• 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 • be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own

• have good listening skills

• have excellent verbal and written communication skills

• have good maths and 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

How much time do you need to give?

Ideally we ask for you to be available for 2 advice sessionsw per week, for at least 12 months.

We can be flexible so come and talk to us.

Vice Chair

We have an exciting opportunity for a Vice Chair who is passionate about young people and who is willing to give their time and experience to support this organisation in enabling young people to reach their potential.

Position: Vice Chair

Location: Nottingham

Hours: Board meetings, circa 2 hours each month

Salary: Unremunerated although travel and expenditure can be reimbursed.

About the Role

The organisation is recruiting a Vice Chair who can support our transformation journey, we have an ambitious and exciting growth plan, which will provide us with long-term sustainability. During the next three years, it is essential that we build on the existing skills of our Board of Trustees, expanding these to ensure we have sound governance and oversight of new opportunities, which will include a significant partnership and facility development project. We are interested in recruiting trustees who are passionate about young people and who are willing to give their time, and experience to support the organisation in enabling young people to reach their potential and with time to oversee the organisation, develop strategy, and ensure sound governance. We aim to attract trustees from different ethnicities, genders, and experiences to reflect the communities we work with.

As Vice Chair, you will grasp the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead with vision and energy, applying your expertise to make a visible and lasting difference to the organisation. This will mean overseeing the organisation, and strategic developments and ensuring sound governance.

You will need to commit to attendance at Board meetings, currently every three months and an additional sub-group meeting, such as finance or marketing each quarter. There may be other demands on your time, especially during this coming year as we transition into a new facility, but these should not exceed on average 2 hours each month. Experience in the sector is not essential as training will be provided and you will be supported with a thorough induction to the responsibilities of a trustee and the organisation.

Specific duties for all charity trustees which are laid down by Charity Law are:

a. A duty of care, to ensure that the charity works in pursuance only of its objects and that it delivers on these.

b. A duty of compliance with all relevant legislation and regulation; and

c. A duty of prudence in respect of the charity’s assets.

ii. The organisation’s Articles of Association set out the composition of the Board of Trustees, how the Trustees are appointed and their powers.

Purpose

1.1. The Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the overall conduct of the organisation and all its projects and will conduct its business to ensure that the organisation is:

· financially viable;

· properly governed; and

· properly managed.

1.2. The Board of Trustees will monitor the performance of all its functions and will decide the level of resources to meet its financial and other obligations.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining the Board of Trustees, please apply in writing stating your interest, skills and experience and any particular areas you are interested in.

About the Organisation

The organisation was established in 1993 as a charity supporting young people living in the city and county of Nottingham. The overarching aim of the organisation is to provide support to young people taking a holistic approach to their health and well-being; this is provided through easy access to health, counselling, housing, and learning opportunities while providing a safe place to meet, take part in activities and use practical services such affordable meals, laundry, and showers.

Currently, the primary work of the organisation is delivered through the NGY MyPlace centre in Nottingham, bringing together a multi-disciplinary team enabling the needs of young people to be met in one place. Until 2012, the organisation operated from Glasshouse Street and in 2008 became part of the successful Nottingham bid for Myplace funding under the Government’s commitment to provide youth centres for young people. This bid brought 4.9 million into Nottingham, purchased a building and funded the refurbishment, transforming a grade2 listed Georgian townhouse into a multi-purpose centre, named NGY, run by the organisation and bringing together partners in the centre.

You may have experience in areas such as CFO, NED, Non-Exec Director, Non-Executive Director Fundraiser, Trustee, Fundraising Trustee, Fundraising Manager, Community Engagement Trustee, Community Engagement etc.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Role title: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Location: Flexible (travel to London will be required at least once a quarter)
Salary: N/A (Volunteer role)
Time commitment: 2-3 days per month
Contract: The Chair is appointed for an initial 3-year term with the option of renewal for up to 3 terms. The maximum term for all trustees (including the Chair) is 9 years.

Purpose of the role: 
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to join a growing, impact-focused and ambitious charity supporting refugees to access meaningful employment and build a new life. 

The Chair leads the board, ensuring that it governs Breaking Barriers effectively, in service of our vision and mission. The Chair leads in an inclusive way, supporting the board to work together well, and providing support and challenge to the Chief Executive. The Chair is also an ambassador for the charity. 

The Chair of Breaking Barriers provides visionary leadership and strategic direction, ensuring that the organisation effectively achieves its mission while adhering to its core values. This pivotal role involves governance oversight, board leadership, executive support, and serving as an ambassador for the organisation.

Key responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership and vision: Guide the organisation with a strategic vision, aligning the board and staff's efforts with the mission. Lead the development and review of long-term strategies to ensure responsiveness to community needs and adaptability to the changing environment.
• Governance and oversight: Ensure effective governance, oversee board operations, and ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and functional responsibilities. Monitor financial performance and adherence to non-profit management best practices.
• Resource mobilisation: Support and participate in fundraising strategies, leveraging networks, and engaging with donors and stakeholders to secure necessary resources for the organisation's work.
• Building and leading the board: Ensure the board comprises members with diverse skills and perspectives. Lead recruitment, orientation, and training of board members and facilitate effective meetings and discussions, ensuring productive governance to advance the purpose and values of the organization.
• CEO support and evaluation: Support and maintain a constructive relationship with the CEO, creating a positive and strong working relationship to jointly set and achieve appropriate targets, staying in regular contact and acting as a sounding board to discuss strategic or staffing issues - coaching, supporting and challenging as necessary. Ensuring accountability for organisational performance.
• Ambassadorship: Act as the primary ambassador, representing and promoting the organisation's mission, values, and interests to external stakeholders, enhancing its reputation, and fostering collaboration, fundraising and promotional opportunities.

To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accessible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.

Other considerations

• As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.
• Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action.
• We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.

How to apply

If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. Please apply via Charity Jobs by submitting a cover letter (up to approximately 2 A4 pages), referencing how you believe you best meet the person specification. You are also welcome to include any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process. Please view the attached recruitment pack for further essential information for candidates.

Closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Thursday 2nd May. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We belong to the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supports organisations to employ more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reach out to HR Manager Dani Meier for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert, but you can find contact details on the final page of the attached recruitment pack).

Would you like to coordinate the local SSAFA service in your area? Do you enjoy working as part of a team? You don’t need a military background, just good communication and I.T. skills. If so, this could be the role for you!

What is a Divisional Secretary?

The is a key role involving administration and coordinating people. As the first point of contact for the division you will play a key part in promoting SSAFA locally, matching clients to volunteer caseworkers and supporting volunteers to get the best outcomes for their clients.

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.

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.

We aim to provide financial, practical, and emotional support when it’s needed most. More people than ever before are coming to us for help, and you will be one of the people contacting new clients and getting them the support, they need.

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

This role is about coordination and administration. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role would suit someone looking to offer a regular time commitment each week.

What would you be doing?

• Acting as the first point of contact for SSAFA in the local area
• Taking enquiries from potential clients and potential volunteers
• Matching new clients to available caseworkers
• Supporting caseworkers, particularly new volunteers
• Working with the local publicity officer to promote SSAFA locally.
• Providing reports to the local SSAFA branch and to SSAFA’s Central Office
• Maintaining accurate records on our on-line case management system
• Coordinating SSAFA Visitors and Helpers (if applicable)
• Organising local meetings to keep all volunteers up to date with the latest training and information.
• 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.)

The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area
• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support and friendship 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 course, caseworker IT system training, volunteer management – case management and quality. The caseworker course takes 3 days and please allow a further 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 of e-learning courses
• Local induction
• Support from the branch secretary.
• Access to the Welfare Team and Volunteer Support Team based at our central office.
• 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 people with some experience of coordinating people and admin
• Good written and spoken English.
• Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues.
• Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
• Ability to coordinate a team of people volunteering.
• Willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the training course)
• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to reporting any safety concerns etc
• Reliable attitude, contact clients and volunteers promptly, keep appointments etc.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely.
• Access to public transport or a car to travel to meetings, events etc.

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? No*

*Where volunteers are both divisional secretaries and caseworkers a disclosure check will be required.