Volunteer Roles in Greater London

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors.

With training in alternative therapies such as Reiki and Sound Healing, you will support young women to improve their physical and emotional well-being in a group setting or on an individual basis.

Activities

•  Delivering Sound Healing sessions in a 1-2-1 or group basis.
•  Providing a safe, relaxing, therapeutic environment for the activity to take place.

Experience and requirements:

•  Suitable candidates need to be qualified or nearing the end of a substantial training.
•  Volunteers may be asked to have professional liability insurance.
• This role will require us to carry out an enhanced check through the disclosure and barring service.

Commitment 

Commitment can be flexible to suit your availability, from about 1-2 hours per week. Ideally this volunteer will commit to a minimum of 3 months

Support 

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training
•  Reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed
• The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons

We are looking for Volunteers based in either:

Gloucester, Bristol., South Wales, Devon, Somerset, Hertfordshire and Leicester.

To help run our family hubs, where tasks involve making refreshments and interacting with families.

Help with fundraising events: include selling raffle tickets, helping at the charity awaremeness stand, talking to people etc.

A bit about this role

If you enjoy driving and would love to use those skills to help our cats, this could be the role for you. Our transport volunteers provide vital assistance to our teams and volunteer groups in the local area by transporting equipment, litter, food– and even cats! They have the essential role of connecting our network of volunteers, sites, vets and supporters.

Without the passionate and committed teams of volunteers across Cats Protection, we wouldn’t be able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us for help.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Arranging and transporting equipment, litter and cat food
• Transporting cats to and from vets, foster homes and centres
• Transporting equipment to and from events

BCHA is a dynamic, charitable housing association providing housing, support and employability & skills services to people who are experiencing homeless or other forms of social need. We manage around 1400 short-stay and long-stay homes in Plymouth, Exeter, Yeovil, Wiltshire, Dorset and Bournemouth-Christchurch-Poole with a strong mission to provide accommodation and services for those most in need.

We have just launched our new 5-year Strategic Plan and welcome you to join us work towards our exciting new vision that everyone has a home nd the opportunity to thrive.

We are currently seeking to recruit non-executive board members to fill current and future vacancies. These roles are unpaid.

Along with a passion to make a difference, we are especially looking to attract candidates who have strong experience of any or all of the following:

· Charity/not-for-profit governance

· managing growing organisations

· health and social care commissioning

If have the right motivation and skills to offer and want to join us on our journey in delivering our new Strategic Plan, BCHA would love to hear from you!

We’re a charity awarding £1,000 grants to people of colour based in the UK who want to bring a new creative project to life. We support creativity in all its forms including: poetry, paintings, fashion, zines, music, food, flowers, photographs, workshops, events or something else completely.

Brief:

We need a volunteer to help neurodivergent applicants or applicants with long term illness write their applications. 

An important distinction is to be made here - your role is to help someone write a clear application. You are not here to help them develop their idea or to turn it into something it’s not.

Applicants answer these questions:

1. What is their Grand Plan? (300 words)

2. Why is now the right time to do it? (100 words)

3. What is your budget? 

These answers are then marked against a criteria which can be found on our website (which we can share with you). 

Process: 

We will ask applicants to come to you with bullet points for ideas of what their project is. This is the minimum; some may come with a written application that needs tweaking. 

You will then read through what they have and help write clearer sentence structures. While we try not to judge on things like grammar and spelling, this does often help clarify the project’s ambitions. 

The aim is to work in a collaborative Google Doc, but if that is not possible, we will explore other options. 

Keep sentences simple and to the point. We need to be sold on your vision, but it doesn’t need to be overwritten. Using simple and straightforward language helps give us clarity on your project.

We will allow applicants up to two rounds of feedback - meaning you can work on the application a maximum of three times. We ask applicants to group their feedback. 

Applicants

This will be open to applicants who are disabled, including those with dyslexia or dyspraxia. So it’s important to be patient and anticipate that they may not have the clearest written communication. 

Skills

• Copywriting/Proofreading
• Desireable: Experiance of working with people who have long term illnesses or are neurodivergent

Do you want to make a real difference to Scope, the disability equality charity, and our income?

Do you like a variety of roles, from talking to people to sorting stock, or are you not sure what you’d like to do?

Do you have a couple of hours a week to support your local charity shop?

You might like our shop volunteer role! 

About this role 

An exciting opportunity to volunteer at our brand new Fulham shop, generating income and raising awareness of our work in your local community. You will receive all training and support you need to get involved and enjoy your time volunteering. 

Your role may include: 

• sorting and organising goods for sale
• helping to display stock and window dressing
• tidying and cleaning the shop
• welcoming and supporting customers
• using the till and taking payments
• steaming clothes so they look better for customers
• pricing and tagging new donations

When and where 

You will be in our Scope Fulham shop at 421 North End Road, Fulham, London, SW6 1NY. We are flexible on the times you would like to volunteer. We’d love your help for as little as 1 hour a week, but if you can give more time that would help us even more.

Who we’re looking for 

We welcome anyone who is friendly and passionate about disability equality! 

Some volunteers want to learn more about charities or about retail. Others want to make a difference to the lives of disabled people. Other volunteers are interested in our training and development opportunities. Some people join us to meet new people and make friends. Sometimes people want to help a charity shop they like shopping in, while also getting a discount in the shop!

We particularly welcome applications from disabled people. Equality and inclusion are at the heart of Scope’s mission. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all volunteers.

Skills and experience you can gain 

• teamwork
• customer service
• till operation
• organisation
• retail skills
• communication
• stock preparation and management
• health and safety
• valuable experience for your cv
• experience of a large, national disability charity

What we can offer you ​

• introduction to scope
• demonstration of your tasks
• training courses, in person and online
• personal development opportunities
• support and regular catchups from a dedicated manager
• agreed travel expenses- all volunteers are entitled to claim their travel expenses if they work a minimum of a 4-hour shift.
• adjustments to make the role accessible for you
• work experience for your cv
• a work reference
• 20% discount in your scope charity shop

Safeguarding 

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Scope is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of children and adults at risk, whether receiving services or being staff or volunteers. It expects all trustees, staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Volunteering at Scope 

Scope is a disability equality charity providing practical information, emotional support and campaigning for a fairer society. 

As a shop volunteer, you’ll help raise vital funds for our work towards everyday equality for disabled people. You will make a real difference to the lives of disabled people and their families. 

Are you passionate about law, policy, and effective communications? Statewatch, a small team dedicated to promoting civil liberties and human rights through research, reporting and analysis, is seeking a motivated volunteer to assist in our efforts to make legal and political information accessible to all.

Terms

Time commitment: Approximately 2-3 hours per week, including a 1/2 hour check-in with the communications worker, for a 3-month period (with the possibility of extension). 

Starting date: Immediately. 

Compensation: This is an unpaid volunteer position.

Location: Remote

About Statewatch 

Statewatch produces and promotes critical research, policy analysis and investigative journalism to inform debates, movements and campaigns on civil liberties, human rights and democratic standards. We began operating in 1991 and are based in London.

Our vision: An open Europe of democracy, civil liberties, personal and political rights, free movement, freedom of information, equality and diversity.

Our mission: To monitor, analyse and expose state activity that threatens civil liberties, human rights and democratic standards in order to inform and enable a culture of diversity, debate and dissent.

About the position: 

In this role, you will work closely with the communications specialist to conduct the following.

1. Archive review and cataloguing: 

• Review Statewatch's archive of work, including reports, articles, and publications.

• Identify content with continued relevance based on ongoing policies or contemporary issues.

• Catalogue relevant content by both topic/context and type of relevance (e.g., policy implications, historical insights).

• Organise the catalogued content for easy reference and retrieval.

1. Social media messaging: 

• Draft ideas for social-ready messaging in various length by distilling relevant information from the catalogued content.

• Assist with translating legal and political language into accessible and accurate information suitable for social media platforms.

• Ensure messaging aligns with Statewatch's mission and messaging guidelines.

1. Language guide development: 

• Identify key terms and phrases commonly used in Statewatch's external messaging.

• Research and provide guidance on the relevance and appropriateness of certain statements or terminology.

• Assist with developing a language guide for discussing specific topics, including examples and explanations.

• Collaborate with Statewatch team members to ensure consistency and accuracy in messaging.

Key results

1. Catalogued archive of relevant content, organised by topic/context and type of relevance.

2. Social media messaging templates and content suitable for various platforms.

3. Comprehensive language guide for discussing specific topics, including examples and explanations.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Has an understanding of legal and political language, with an interest in translating complex concepts into accessible information.

• Research and analytical skills.

• Is proficient in written communications in the English language

• Interest in the political and social context in which Statewatch operates

Benefits:

• Gain hands-on experience in legal research, policy analysis, and accessible communications.

• Work closely with a dedicated team passionate about civil liberties and human rights.

• Make a meaningful contribution to Statewatch's mission of promoting transparency, accountability, and democratic standards.

• Develop valuable skills in communication, research, and advocacy.

Galop - Chair
Galop is seeking a new Chair to lead the Board and form a strong team of passionate Trustees to support the organisation in a period of change to develop and deliver Galop's life-changing work.

About Galop:
Galop is the UK's LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, working with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence. Run by LGBT+ people, for LGBT+ people, the needs of the community are at the centre of everything they do.

The key responsibilities of the Chair of the Trustees include:
* To provide strategic leadership to the Board, including developing the Board as a team
* To lead on the recruitment of a permanent CEO and support with the development of a strategy for the period
* To be an advocate and champion for Galop
* To support and, where appropriate, to challenge the CEO and other Trustees and to ensure that the Board as a whole works in partnership with the staff team
* To lead on ensuring that all decisions are informed by Galop's values
* To line manage the CEO on behalf of the Board as a critical friend, supporting the CEO including agreeing objectives, and undertaking an annual appraisal
* To lead on the recruitment of a permanent CEO and support with the development of a strategy for the period

How to Apply:
This post is only available to applicants from the LGBTQ+ community as permitted under the Equality Act 2010 as a Genuine Occupational Requirement.

Charity People Ltd is acting as a recruitment agency advisor to Galop on this appointment. If you believe your values align with those of Galop and you are keen to be pivotal in driving the organisation's strategic vision for finance and property matters, then we would love to hear from you.

To receive the full recruitment pack, which has the details about this role and how to apply, please send your CV to Senior Appointments at Charity People

Timeline:

Closing date for applications: 9th May
First round interview: w/c 20th May
Final interview w/c 27th May

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.

Charity People actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the charities with which we work.

A bit about this role

At Cats Protection we help thousands of cats and kittens each year thanks to our dedicated and passionate volunteer groups. We have over 250 branches across the UK, all of which help our feline friends in different ways. Branches take in stray and abandoned cats and ensure they receive the veterinary care and attention they deserve, help raise funds, promote neutering and help spread cat welfare messages. Our branch team leader volunteers lead their local team by supporting and managing volunteers within their group, maintaining communications with both volunteers and staff, and helping promote a positive and professional image of Cats Protection.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Supporting your team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure volunteers are happy and confident
• Making sure the team observes charity best practice and compliance
• Collaborating with your Branch Development Manager (BDM) to plan volunteer activity
• Leading the team to follow Cats Protection policies, procedures and guidelines
• Monitoring expenditure and helping ensure long term financial stability of the volunteer group
• Organising and chairing team meetings
• Acting as an ambassador for Cats Protection

Galop - Treasurer
Galop is seeking a new Treasurer to oversee the charity's finances and risk management by working closely with the previous Treasurer (who will remain on the Board) along with the Financial Controller.

About Galop:
Galop is the UK's LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, working with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence. Run by LGBT+ people, for LGBT+ people, the needs of the community are at the centre of everything they do.

The key responsibilities for the Treasurer will include:
* Financial & Risk management oversight
o Maintain an overview of the charity's financial affairs.
o Offer guidance to the Board of Trustees and the CEO on all financial matters.
o Ensure the charity's statutory financial viability.
* Financial reporting and analysis
o Oversee, approve, and present annual budgets, financial statements, and quarterly management accounts.
o Scrutinise related party transactions (e.g. CEO expenses, Credit card activity)
o Present annual accounts to the Board at the AGM
* Financial planning and compliance
o Oversee, approve, and present annual budgets, financial statements, and quarterly management accounts.
o Scrutinise related party transactions (e.g. CEO expenses, Credit card activity)
o Present annual accounts to the Board at the AGM

How to Apply:
Charity People Ltd is acting as a recruitment agency advisor to Galop on this appointment. If you believe your values align with those of Galop and you are keen to be pivotal in driving the organisation's strategic vision for finance and property matters, then we would love to hear from you.

To receive the full recruitment pack, which has the details about this role and how to apply, please send your CV to Senior Appointments at Charity People

Timeline:

Closing date for applications: 9th May
First round interview: w/c 20th May
Final interview w/c 27th May

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.

Charity People actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the charities with which we work.

Every 6 minutes someone learns that they are losing their sight. Every five hours, a baby is born with sight problems. In these moments, two profound questions emerge:

• Can this be stopped?

• How do I (or my child) live this life?

The merger of Fight for Sight and Vision Foundation, which took place on 1st April 2023, will enable us to address both questions. By combining our strengths and expertise we are now the only significant national funder with the efficiency,

capability, and capacity to increase investment in medical research and social improvement. Together we can mitigate both the prevalence and impact of sight loss. We have a clear ambition – to save sight and to change lives.

We are now seeking up to four new trustees as we establish ourselves in our new form and under our new name (soon to be announced). This is an exciting inflection point for us, and our new trustees will be central in enabling us to achieve our ambition.

We have worked through our merger and have a clear focus and vision, as well as a strong Board and senior leadership team, all of whom are ambitious for the potential impact we can make. Our re-brand will also enable us to amplify our position as a leader within the sight loss sector. Our merger was a critical step in accelerating research which will create a positive impact on the lives of millions of people. We do not want this opportunity to pass us by and that’s what makes these such an important and exciting roles for the right people.

As a trustee, you will have the opportunity to steer the course of our charity and our sector, shaping our strategies, and advocating for meaningful change. You will be help us be a driving force behind world leading research into sight loss prevention, and transformative initiatives that enhance the quality of life for countless individuals.

We are particularly seeking individuals who have a medical or scientific research background, ideally in ophthalmology, and those who have experience in retail and fundraising. If you want to be part of something that will really make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

“I extend a heartfelt invitation to those who share our commitment to making a profound difference in the lives of individuals affected by sight loss. Our journey towards a future where eye diseases are prevented and the challenges faced by the visually impaired are overcome requires the collective effort of dedicated individuals. We are seeking trustees who are not only passionate advocates for our cause but also possess the vision, expertise, and dedication to guide and govern our organisation. Your unique perspectives and skills will play a pivotal role in shaping and defining our impact for years to come.”

Dr Heather Giles, Chair

“Our two organisations came together to form a new dynamic, ambitious, entrepreneurial, impact-driven organisation to save sight and change lives. We are searching for trustees that can join us, and be at the forefront of creating the culture, the outlook and the methods of working and the operations to truly make a difference in society.”

Keith Valentine, CEO

 

ABOUT US 

We are a new organisation forged from two ambitious charities: Fight for Sight and Vision Foundation. Our single, unifying mission is to save sight and change lives.

It is a mission that reflects two urgent questions everyone faces when they receive a diagnosis of sight loss: ‘How do I stop this?’ and ‘How do I live my life?’

Answering these questions guides our strategy as we progress a five-year plan with solid and lofty aspirations.

THE MERGER

Fight for Sight funds breakthrough research and life-changing services to build a more equitable future for blind and partially sighted people by accelerating breakthroughs in multiple sight loss conditions.

Vision Foundation works to inform, include and empower the visually impaired community. Empowerment is at the heart of what we do; our work focuses on what people can do, rather than what they can’t.

The merger will help us to realise a joint ambition to tackle sight loss from both a clinical and social perspective. Our combined organisation is now grounded in data and insight into the science, as well as the lived experience of, sight loss. With this wealth of evidence we’re determined to:

- generate further investment into the sector,

- accelerate clinical progress,

- improve quality of life for people facing or living with sight loss

Crucially, coming together is about growing our influence and impact, not reducing or diluting what we do. So, as we evolve as a merged organisation, we are combining our teams, announcing our new name and fine-tuning our unified

mission and strategy – as well as continuing with the important work we’re already committed to – you can expect big things from us and it is an exciting time to join us as a trustee.

OUR FUTURE

Our principal role is as a grant-maker. We award grants to the scientific community that could lead to scientific breakthroughs and treatments to stop eye diseases from progressing. In the future, we believe research can prevent people from losing sight and reverse sight loss. We invest to advance treatments that will cure eye disease and protect and grow the community of world-class scientists, technologists, and data scientists who can deliver tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Historically, Vision Foundation has funded innovations that directly impact people who are blind or partially sighted, from music classes for children to projects that take eye tests into at-risk communities. We invest in programmes, organisations and activities that deliver equity for and with blind and visually impaired people.

As a grant-maker, we are change-makers, accelerators and drivers of impact. We are bold, energetic, challenging, disruptive, tenacious, and determined.

We aren’t afraid to tackle the challenges facing the sight loss community, either. Recent campaigns include The Unseen, which unearthed the shocking scale and nature of domestic abuse among blind and partially sighted people, and See My Skills, which addressed high unemployment rates. The charity excels at working in partnership with others towards creating a more equitable society for the sight loss community.

As we progress, we’ll scale the impact of projects like these, look beyond the nation’s capital, and drive systemic change. We’ll need to secure the funds to invest in our trusted partners to achieve our ambitions. We’ll continue to fundraise by engaging with supporters and companies through legacies, events such as the London Marathon, and our network of charity shops.

The evidence we commission influences policy and decision-making to demand equality for all.

We’ll shortly have a new name that reflects our united ambitions, so it’s an exciting time for us and the people we serve.

 

OUR FINANCES

The charity is in a strong position financially, with a high level of reserves that we intend to draw down over the coming years as we focus on investing in sustainable growth and increasing our impact. Compared to many charities, we

have well diversified income streams, predictable costs, and are in the fortunate position to hold a sizable portfolio of investments. Our plans for the short and medium term are to invest in our income generation infrastructure, and to significantly increase the amounts of funding we can put to our charitable purpose.

OUR BOARD AND LEADERSHIP TEAM

Fight for Sight / Vision Foundation is the only organisation in the sight loss sector with an Executive Leadership Team that has over half of its members with lived experience of sight loss.

The Board currently numbers ten trustees, including our newly appointed Chair.

The Board meets four times a year, or more often as required.

Follow this link to find out more about our Board.

 

ROLE DESCRIPTION

As the most senior leaders in our charity, trustees play a pivotal role in guiding our strategic direction, amplifying our impact, and ensuring the fulfilment of our mission to save sight and change lives. You will serve on the main board and will be invited also to get involved in one of our sub-committees. These are currently:

- Social Impact & Scientific Research Committee (SISR)

- Finance, Audit, Risk & Resources Committee (FARR)

- People Committee

- Retail Committee

 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Planning

- Provide leadership and strategic guidance to the charity, aligning efforts with the mission and values of the organisation.

- Collaborate with the board, executive team, and stakeholders to develop and implement long-term strategies that advance the charity’s impact and sustainability.

Governance

- Ensure effective governance, decision-making, and compliance with legal and ethical standards.

- Work closely with board members, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, collaboration and open communication, harnessing different views and opinions.

Engagement

- Represent the charity at public events and networking opportunities to promote our mission and raise awareness about our cause.

- Develop and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, partners, corporations, government agencies, and the visually impaired community.

Evaluation and Accountability

- Collaborate with the board to evaluate performance, ensuring alignment with the charity’s goals and objectives.

- Ensure the charity is accountable to donors and beneficiaries, that is financially robust and sustainable, and that is effective risk management in place.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

We are seeking dynamic and dedicated individuals to serve as trustees of our ambitious merged organisation. The ideal candidates will have a strong commitment to our cause, along with the following:

Specialist experience

At this time, we are particularly interested in candidates who have leadership experience in:

- Scientific and/or medical research

- Ophthalmic research and/or clinical practice

- Strategic oversight of substantial fundraising and/or retail operations

Despite these areas of interest, we welcome a diversity of skills and experience at our charity and on our Board, and want to find the right candidates regardless of their specific areas of expertise or experience. So if you are interested in this role and think you can contribute to our mission, we’d love to hear from you.

General attributes

Knowledge & experience

- An understanding of governance, and experience on a committee or board.

- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain partnerships with stakeholders, including donors, corporations and government agencies.

Skills & abilities

- Strategic thinking and the ability to contribute to long-term planning and vision to deliver impact.

- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.

- Entrepreneurial instincts and a healthy understanding of risk balanced with ambition using sound judgement.

Styles & behaviours

- High ethical standards and commitment to upholding the charity’s values, as well as a passion for advocating on behalf of individuals with, or at risk of, sight loss.

- Collaborative, highly inclusive, fostering trust and valuing difference perspectives.

- Solution-focused, with an ability to see the big picture and be pragmatic.

 

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

Remuneration

This role is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although reasonable expenses may be claimed.

Time commitment

While the exact time commitment may vary based on the charity’s needs and priorities, we anticipate the following general expectations:

- A minimum of four Board meetings per year

- Up to four subcommittee meetings per year (the specific committee depending on skills and experience)

- Preparation for meetings, review of materials, and other trustee engagement as appropriate.

- Annual Strategy Day with full Board and executive team.

- Meetings with members of the executive leadership team as appropriate.

- Representing the charity at high profile events, functions and public engagements to enhance its reputation and partnerships.

Location

At present Board meetings are held in central London. Subcommittee meetings are held remotely.

Chair of HR Sub-Committee
Galop is seeking a new Trustee to take on the role of Chair of the HR Sub-Committee. They will work to provide strategic HR leadership in ensuring alignment with the charity's long-term vision and goals as well as leading the HR Sub-Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities.

About Galop:
Galop is the UK's LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, working with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence. Run by LGBT+ people, for LGBT+ people, the needs of the community are at the centre of everything they do.

The key areas of responsibilities for the Chair of HR Sub-Committee include:
* Strategic HR leadership
* Organisational Culture
* Change management and Organisation Design
* Policy Advocacy
* Values integration
* Performance Monitoring
* Risk Management
* Resource Allocation
* Coaching

How to Apply:
Charity People Ltd is acting as a recruitment agency advisor to Galop on this appointment. If you believe your values align with those of Galop and you are keen to be pivotal in driving the organisation's strategic vision for finance and property matters, then we would love to hear from you.
To receive the full recruitment pack, which has the details about this role and how to apply, please send your CV to Senior Appointment at Charity People

Timeline:

Closing date for applications: 9th May
First round interview: w/c 20th May
Final interview: w/c 27th May

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.

Charity People actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the charities with which we work.

We are looking for self-motivated and compassionate individuals to help facilitate our support groups and make a difference to the lives of people affected by cancer.

Support Groups offer those with cancer a chance to share their feelings and experiences in a safe and welcoming environment. Support Group Facilitators listen, provide emotional support and share approved cancer related information.

No special qualifications are needed for this role, but being able to devote time to setting up and maintaining a group is essential.

Family Lives was formed over forty years ago by volunteers with the aim of ensuring that all parents had somewhere to turn before they reach crisis point.

Remote Family Support Volunteer – Live Chat

We know that the right support at the right time makes all the difference. Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families who are struggling.

Organisational values:

Mission: We build better family lives together.

Vision: Families should have access to active support and understanding. 

Values: Trustworthy, Compassionate and Collaborative

Purpose of the role: To be part of a flexible team providing empathic, caring and informed support to families, carers and others who use our services.

Live chat: is a free confidential service that is accessed via our website. Service users are offered emotional support, information and advice and guidance on a broad range of family issues.

Supervised by: The Shift Supervisor

 Activities: The volunteer will be fully supervised, supported and trained to provide the following activities:

·Provide emotional support to family members via our live chat service

·Use the Family Lives support model and tools to provide an empathic responses

·Ensure that all service users receive a high quality experience

·Sign post users to other agencies for information and additional support

·Complete conversation data records

·Alert the shift supervisor to any difficult situations

 

General: Volunteers should be willing to:

·Attend the relevant volunteer training

·Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the other policies and procedures of the organisation

·Participate in regular support, supervision meetings and learning sessions as agreed

For home based volunteers only:

·Volunteers will need a Laptop/PC, plug in headset with microphone, fast broadband and a private place to work from home

·Volunteers need to be IT/PC literate and confident troubleshooting should they have technical difficulties

 Time: We would be looking for volunteers to commit to one four-hour shift per week, plus attending training and supervision.

Location: working remotely from home

 You need to be a UK resident

Supervision and Support:

·Supervision during shifts

·Debrief after every shift

·1 to 1 supervision every 6 months

·Staff available outside of shift within office hours

·Annual review

 

The Benefits of Volunteering:

·Satisfaction in making a real and lasting difference to families who are struggling

·An opportunity to develop experience for CV and references. Family Lives is committed to helping volunteers develop their own learning and development, gaining new skills, knowledge or work experience

·Being part of a team of Family Lives volunteers and staff

·Personal development

·Opportunities to meet and interact with a wide range of people

·Out of pocket expenses reimbursed to a maximum of £10 per session if working from a centre

·Flexible hours

 

Volunteer Person Specification. We are looking for individuals who:

·Have experience of parenting/being in a parenting role or demonstrable experience of working with parents or children e.g. in their work, previous volunteering or a previous role

·Have an ability to respond empathically to emotional content

·Good written and verbal communication

·Have good keyboard skills and IT skills, with a minimum of 50 wpm

·Can demonstrate a willingness to question their own attitudes e.g. toward different forms of parenting

·Have a fluent, descriptive and expressive use of English

·Can remain open minded and non-judgemental

·Willing to commit to work within Family Lives’ policies, in particular our Confidentiality Policy and Risk of Harm Procedures

·Willing to commit to attending regular supervision and support sessions

·Willing to work as part of a team

·Willing to commit to a mutually agreed period or ideally a 12 months commitment to the organisation.

Typing Task Prior to Application for Live Chat

Prior to you submitting your application for a Live Chat Volunteer, we will require you to do a speed test, we ask for a minimum speed of 50 words per minute. 

Please take a screen shot and send it across with your application

You can have up to 3 attempts and decide which result you would like to forward as part of your application

Typing task

Go to the website typingtest

You are required to take the one minute typing test recording all of the results (speed, number of errors and adjusted speed).

We have remote voluntary call taker training groups the dates are below are you would need to be able to attend all 5 Modules from the training group.

Our next training groups are:

June Saturday training dates:

Module 1 – Saturday 8th June

Module 2 - Saturday 15th June

Module 3 – Saturday 22nd June

Module 4 – Saturday 29th June

Module 5 – Saturday 6th July

10am to 2pm

Please note that all roles offered are subject to a satisfactory DBS being obtained, you will receive details of documentation required prior to your training and this must all be in no later than the second session of your training.