Volunteer roles

Do you speak Italian and enjoy meeting new people?   
  
We are looking for a friendly volunteer who would like to spend time with a lady we support in Southampton! 

“Hi! I live in Southampton and I am supported by Dimensions. I would love an Italian speaking buddy who can I chat to and spend time with!”  

If you would like to make a difference and make a great friend along the way, we would love to hear from you!   

Activities will include:  

• Sharing your time and providing company, friendship and fun  

• Chatting in Italian, socialising and singing together

We are looking for a volunteer who is:  

• Friendly, chatty and a good listener  

• Italian speaking

• Comfortable chatting with people with learning disabilities and autism.  

• Reliable/dependable and willing to commit to volunteer regularly (exact times/days can be discussed)  

  
A DBS check and two-character references will be required for this role.   

What you’ll gain from being a Dimensions volunteer:  

Dimensions provides support for around 3,500 people with learning disabilities and autism across the UK.  

 Our volunteers play a vital role in our work and in return, we support them with:  

• Access to free online training (with access to 800 plus courses)  

• Comprehensive support from professional, friendly and trained Dimensions staff  

• Reasonable expenses may be reimbursed at manager’s discretion   

• An opportunity to gain real experience in the social care sector  

If you’d like to be a Dimensions volunteer, please get in touch!   

Supportive is a not-for-profit charity that operates in County Durham. For over 30 years our volunteer drives are the backbone of our service. Right now, we are looking for Volunteer Drivers with a caring and understanding nature.  Supportive covers the whole of County Durham and enables people in our community accessible transport to and from NHS hospital and GP appointments. 

 
We give our volunteers 45p a mile to cover the cost of fuel and offer support and training through our induction process.

Supportive are looking drivers that would like to volunteer a bit of their time to supporting people who struggle to attend their vital hospital appointments and give something back to their community. 

Can you help?  If so and you and would like more information, please don't hesitate to get in touch and one of our amazing team will be able to support you through the process. 

Are you a social media whiz?

Can you take a successful brand and make it sparkle?

Do you have 3-5 hours a week to give to a charity supporting SEND families?

As a social media volunteer you will be managing and creating content for the charity's social media platforms, monitoring performance and establishing and maintaining active social media accounts.

What will you be doing?

• Creating and managing daily posts across all social media platforms e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Advertising our services, webinars and other events in order to reach more families in need of the support we offer.
• Working in conjunction with the Operations Manager, develop new, engaging content to increase interest, improve our presence, attract followers and drive growth.
• Create posts for the organisations needs as and when needed.

What are we looking for?

• Clear understanding of social media platforms.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly motivated, enthusiastic and a positive can-do attitude.
• Knowledge of marketing and public relations is desirable.
• Creativity and experience with Canva for content design is also desirable.

Use your skills to help shape brighter futures for children, young people, and families across Kirklees

About Fresh Futures

Fresh Futures is a Kirklees-based charity aiming to improve lives and inspire change for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people, adults, and families.

Our vision is for everyone to have opportunities for a better life, now and in the future.

To achieve this, Fresh Futures focuses on four interwoven strands: Education, Health & Wellbeing, Employability & Skills, and Relationships.

What will you be doing?

One of Fresh Futures key services is Brian Jackson College, an alternative education provision. The college can support up to 100 young people aged 13 to 18 based across three sites, in Heckmondwike and Huddersfield. The College is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

There are ambitious plans to grow the provision across Kirklees and neighbouring areas in the near future.

The Board of Governors is a sub-committee of Fresh Futures Board of Trustees. Governors can also be appointed as Trustees of the Charity, but do not need to be so.

The role of the Governors is to:

· Ensure clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction

· Hold the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the College students, and the performance management of staff

· Oversee the financial performance of the College and make sure budgets are allocated appropriately

Governors are asked to attend 4 meetings a year, one per term, usually held virtually via Teams, and one in-person awayday.

What are we looking for?

We are looking to fill vacancies on our Trustee board and on our Finance and Governors sub committees.

Members of these committees do not necessarily have to also be Trustees. We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board.

We are particularly interested in recruiting new Trustees/members who have experience in any of the following:

· Health and safety

· Charity finance

· Marketing & PR

· Charity fundraising

· The commercial sector

· Knowledge of Kirklees

· Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

· Independent education

We strive to be more representative of the diversity of the communities we serve. Applications from first time Trustees/Governors are welcome, you do not have to have previous experience of being on a board. Training and induction are provided.

What difference will you make?

By joining Fresh Futures as a Governor, you’ll help guide our strategy, strengthen governance, and ensure we continue improving lives across Kirklees. Your skills and perspective will support vital services in education, employability, health and wellbeing, and relationships - helping thousands of children, young people, and families thrive.

Do you have a passion for food and community, work in hospitality or enjoy cooking in a sustainable way and want to use your experience to help the community?

Are you studying public health, nutrition or social policy?

Are you passionate about social change and working to support marginalized groups? This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in any combination of the following:

• Addressing social isolation and food insecurity
• Operations management
• Local food systems and sustainability
• Youth engagement work
• Refugee and asylum seeker support
• Non-profit coordination

Role Responsibilities:

• Supporting the project manager in delivering our aMAZIng Meal Box Service. – Ensuring the kitchen is well managed & food hygiene standards are met – Communicating with volunteer groups
• Assisting with the training of new volunteers to meet in house standards
• Uphold the mission and values of The MAZI Project!

Requirements:

• Organised, passionate, resourceful, good attention to detail
• Ability to communicate, follow instructions and collaborate or lead effectively
• Willingness to work with many different personalities: friendly and approachable
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude; enthusiastic and committed

Learning Outcomes

(dependant upon applicants’ areas of interest)

• Local food systems and seasonal eating
• The MAZI Project’s charitable processes, development work and structures – Accessing on-going funding revenues
• The implementation of logistical systems
• Improving services for refugees and asylum seekers
• Building networks within the local food and hospitality industry

Extra perks

• Snacks, tea and a good time every Tuesday
• Any surplus fresh local and organic veg to top up your fridge
• Discounted tickets to our supper clubs hosted some of Bristol’s best chefs – The opportunity to start your own projects, initiatives or events
• Giving back to your community!

We welcome all applications, including those from under-represented backgrounds. Whether you have experience in the charity sector or want to take your first step into this industry, we would like to hear from you if you have the enthusiasm, insight, and commitment. We have a firm commitment to encouraging fairness and diversity in our workforce and we welcome applications from disabled people and those from BAME backgrounds.

Who is The MAZI Project?

We are a Bristol based charity empowering marginalized 16 – 25 year olds through food. We support care leavers, young asylum seekers, youth recovering from homelessness and fleeing domestic violence.

We do this by:

1. Feeding young people great local and nutritious food with our aMAZIng meal kits 2) Building connections within Bristol’s food scene
2. Hosting aMAZIng events to create a community and togetherness
3. Build young people’s confidence, practical skills and food independence

Do you enjoy meeting new people?  

We are looking for a friendly volunteer who would like to socialise and build a friendship with a lady we support in Warrington! 

“Hi! I live in Warrington, and I am supported by Dimensions. I enjoy going for walks, trips out for coffee, aqua aerobics and much more.  I would love a buddy to spend time with!” 

 If you would like to make a difference and make a great friend along the way, we would love to hear from you!  

Activities will include: 

• Sharing your time and enjoying fun trips out.

• Enjoying your buddy’s favourite activities

• Providing company, friendship and fun 

• Encouraging your buddy to meet others in her activity groups and helping her to build friendships

 
We are looking for volunteers who are: 

• Friendly, chatty and a good listener 

• Happy to be out and about 

• Comfortable chatting with people with learning disabilities and autism. 

• Reliable/dependable and willing to commit to volunteer regularly (exact times/days can be discussed) 

A DBS check and two-character references will be required for this role.

What you’ll gain from being a Dimensions volunteer: 

Dimensions provides support for around 3,500 people with learning disabilities and autism across the UK. 

Our volunteers play a vital role in our work and in return, we support them with: 

• Access to free online training (with access to 800 plus courses) 

• Free membership to an online shopping discount scheme 

• Comprehensive support from professional, friendly and trained Dimensions staff 

• Reasonable expenses may be reimbursed at manager’s discretion

• An opportunity to gain real experience in the social care sector 

We are looking for support in the 4 following areas - you don't have to tick every box to apply, role names, scope and focus are flexible. If you think you have any of the skills, interests or experience to support us in any of these areas, please feel free to apply!

Social Media Coordinator: Support audience growth and reach - looking for skills/experience such as...

• Experience in social media management and content creation with Canva (or similar design tools)
• Copywriting for Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc
• Graphic design 
• Understanding of maintaining branding and visual identity 
• Video media creation and editing 
• Designing and executing social media strategy
• Conducting market research
• Measuring, tracking and interpreting analytics

Research Coordinator: Research and writing support & delivery - looking for skills/experience such as...

• Strong writing and editing skills
• Experience in fact-checking and evaluating sources
• Academic research methods/citation
• Interest in tackling misinformation
• Managing project timelines
• Workshop/presentation delivery
• Providing peer support

Production Coordinator: Technical production support - looking for skills/experience such as...

• Website design and management
• Knowledge of WordPress themes, plugins and backend updates
• Coding knowledge (HTML/CSS/JavaScript)
• Provision of general tech support
• Website hosting knowledge
• Podcast editing and production
• Audio and video editing 

Growth Coordinator: Organisational growth and strategy support - looking for skills/experience such as...

• Networking and outreach 
• Engagement with a range of stakeholders 
• Fundraising research and writing
• Measuring and reporting the impact of work
• Maintaining financial records
• Project management
• Writing and maintaining policies or governance documents 

Spero is a UK-born, newly formed, youth-led, non-profit global storytelling platform dedicated to sharing diverse perspectives from around the world. We're creating a place for people to look beyond their own borders and to learn and connect with the real lives and experiences of others everywhere. 

Our aim is to foster understanding and connection in an increasingly polarised world by sharing authentic stories, building empathy, and encouraging thoughtful dialogue. Part of our mission is to humanise global issues, making them more engaging and accessible - especially for young people who often feel disconnected from traditional news and politics.

We’re looking for motivated people with the passion, time, and curiosity to join our team. These volunteer roles are a chance to gain meaningful experience, contribute to an impactful mission, and grow your skills in a supportive, creative environment. 

Spero is entirely volunteer-run, so these positions are unpaid and remote. But in return, you’ll gain hands-on experience in project management, communications, research, teamwork, creative production, and problem solving all while helping us build something that matters.

Application Deadline: Friday 12th September 14:00 BST

All volunteers should have :

● Interest in global issues and diverse perspectives.

● Ability to be proactive, work both independently and collaboratively, and manage time effectively.

What you need to know

- Roles are part-time, flexible, and designed to fit around other elements of your life

- We are asking for a commitment of about 5-8 hours per week for a minimum of 3 months (but hopefully long-term if you enjoy our work)

- Our team meets on Mondays, 7:30–9:00 pm BST (attendance at most meetings is important, so make sure timing works if you’re international).

- Expected start date Monday 29th of September

- As a coordinator you will provide flexible support to your area of work as well as across the organisation. You will get the chance to take on an area or project with direct ownership and responsibilities.

If you’re passionate about global issues, creativity, and working in a dynamic team, we’d love to hear from you!

Our Programming volunteers provide a warm welcome to everybody as part of the programming on property, making sure our visitors get the most from their experience with us. 

 This role will suit you if you are:

• Someone who loves meeting people and being part of a team
• Looking for new experiences
• Wanting to utilise your communication skills or develop them further
• Someone who enjoys a busy environment
• Flexible with what you can support with, there will be a rota you can pick and choose the events and activites you wish to get involved in
• Cheerful – even when last minute changes including the weather affect proceedings

By getting involved you could:

• Help support activities across the property
• Support ticketing, guiding, ushering and hosting events with external partners
• Enjoy some of our events 1st hand from a seat in the wings
• Become part of a friendly and dedicated team
• Enjoy new experiences and learn something new every day
• Build your confidence and experience
• See first-hand the rewarding results of helping visitors have a great time
• Share your enthusiasm and passion for what we do 

You’d also be joining Europe’s largest conservation charity and the wider National Trust team proudly looking after 780 miles of coastline, over 250,000 hectares of land, over 500 historic houses, castles, ancient monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves (including lighthouses, villages, pubs and a gold mine!). We are a unique charity welcoming millions of people each year and with a vision to open up places for the benefit of everyone, for ever.All National Trust volunteers will be asked to

• Respect and uphold the National Trust values whilst volunteering with us.
• Complete training required of all NT volunteers and any role specific training
• Adhere to relevant policies and processes including safeguarding, health and safety, and equality and diversity. 

 We want all our volunteers to feel welcome and to have an equally positive experience when volunteering with us. So, volunteers will:

• Be provided with the necessary induction, training, equipment and reasonable adjustments to do this role well and safely
• Be offered expenses to cover agreed travel costs between home and place of volunteering.
• Have remote access to support, news and rotas via our volunteer website

Tasks and responsibilities

• Providing a warm, welcoming and friendly approach to all of our visitors to our events and activities
• Supporting our visitors by providing them with information and guidance so they get the most from their time with us during the event
• Supporting visitors at several points throughout their experience
• Being ‘in the know’ at events and during activities to best help our supporters enjoy it in the way best suited to them
• Support accessibity needs during events to help ensure all visitors are feel included and welcome
• Responding to situations to ensure we always provide a great experience for people – and often spotting issues before they happen!
• There will be plenty of opportunities to do the little things that make a big difference to someone’s experience at Ickworth
• Helping things run as smoothly and safely as possible – this includes getting to know health and safety and evacuation procedures.
• Being part of a team that may need to adapt and change in response to local needs, National Trust priorities or changes to government guidelines

Skills acquired: Adaptability, Advice & Guidance, Communication Skills, Community Development, Crafts, Customer Service, Event Support, Fundraising, General Education, General Play and Recreation, Guiding, Interpersonal Skills, Music Arts, Public Relations, Teamwork, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, Youth Activities Management

Chief Advancement Officer

• Volunteer Role
• Remote/Homebased
• 10hrs a week
• Charity Worker Discounts shopping worth over £2000/year

About Project Yananai
Project Yananai is a dynamic, globally operating nonprofit organisation, with Christian values, dedicated to empowering underserved communities through adult education, sustainable skills training, and humanitarian aid. We believe in creating pathways to self-reliance and resilience, equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to transform their lives and communities.

Position Summary
Project Yananai seeks an inspiring, strategic, and results-driven Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to join our Executive Leadership Team. The CAO will serve as a key driver of the organisation’s global impact, leading all efforts related to resource development, external communications, and organisational branding. This leadership role involves guiding, mentoring, and developing the departments within the Advancement Division - specifically, Brand & Marketing, Communications & Public Relations, Fundraising & Grants, Donor Relations & Stewardship, Strategic Partnerships, and Ambassador & Influencer Engagement - through their respective department heads. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CAO will develop and execute comprehensive strategies to expand revenue streams, enhance visibility, and foster strategic partnerships aligned with Project Yananai’s mission and growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Departmental Oversight

• Provide visionary leadership for the entire Advancement Division, including the departments of Brand & Marketing, Communications & Public Relations, Fundraising & Grants, Donor Relations & Stewardship, Strategic Partnerships, and Ambassador & Influencer Engagement.
• Guide, develop, and support department heads to ensure alignment with organisational goals, operational excellence, and innovative practices.
• Lead the strategic planning process for the advancement functions, ensuring integration across departments to maximise impact and efficiency.

 Resource Development & Revenue Generation

• Oversee all fundraising and resource development activities across the organisation: major gifts, institutional giving, corporate partnerships, grants, individual giving, and innovative revenue streams.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective donors, partners, and stakeholders worldwide.
• Develop and implement strategies to diversify and expand revenue sources, including exploring new funding opportunities and innovative financial models.

Communications, Marketing & Brand Management

• Lead the creation and execution of integrated communication, marketing, and public relations strategies that effectively convey Project Yananai’s mission, impact, and value proposition globally.
• Ensure consistent, mission-aligned branding and messaging across all channels.
• Elevate the organisation’s visibility through strategic storytelling, digital campaigns, and media engagement.

Organisational and Team Development

• Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing, diverse team within the Advancement Division, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Promote ongoing training, professional development, and succession planning within the division.
• Foster a workplace environment aligned with Project Yananai’s principles of equity, inclusion, and empowerment.

Cross-Department Collaboration & Organisational Alignment

• Serve as a key member of the executive team, collaborating across functions to ensure alignment with organisational priorities.
• Advise on initiatives that intersect with organisational operations, supporting project delivery and organisational sustainability.

Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Partnerships

• Lead efforts to build and deepen strategic partnerships with organisations, institutions, and influencers aligned with Project Yananai’s mission.
• Oversee Ambassador & Influencer Engagement initiatives, cultivating relationships with advocates and public figures to amplify the organisation’s reach and impact.

Risk & Security Oversight

• Collaborate with Risk & Security Management to ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and security standards, especially in high-risk environments.
• Support development of strategies that mitigate risks related to organisational growth and external engagement.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in global nonprofit organisations, with demonstrated success in fundraising, communications, marketing, and partnership development.
• Extensive experience leading and developing diverse teams and departments.
• Demonstrated ability to secure significant philanthropic support from a broad range of sources, including major donors, foundations, corporations, and innovative revenue streams.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical, creative, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a talent for storytelling and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience working in multicultural, international settings and a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice principles.
• Familiarity with the complexities of humanitarian and development work, including risk management and security considerations, is highly desirable.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a purpose-driven organisation making a transformative difference in communities around the world.

Project Yananai is a UK registered charity number 1209060 and an equal opportunity organisation. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all colleagues. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures.

Your role

Amazing, giving, and inspiring are just a few words we would use to describe our volunteers.

Our volunteers play an integral part in the services we provide and the people we support. If you are looking for a rewarding role where you will really make a difference whilst gaining experience along the way, then join us here at Rethink Mental Illness.

About the role 

As a Regional Fundraising Volunteer, you will support Rethink Mental Illness in generating income, raising awareness, and building community engagement through local fundraising initiatives. The role will involve event planning and support, and public engagement to help achieve regional fundraising goals. 

You will play a major part in bringing to life regional fundraising activities in line with our “Rethink in the Community" concept and increase regional awareness to generate much needed additional income and amplify the impact of the work Rethink Mental Illness do.

You will receive training and regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role. 

Regional locations

Whilst this is a home based role, you will occasionally attend events within your region. We're particularly interested in receiving applications from people who live in the following areas:

Yorkshire & Northeast: Newcastle, Gateshead, York, Sunderland

Northwest: Manchester, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent

Midlands: Birmingham, Solihull, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton, Walsall

Southwest: Gloucester, Bristol, Plymouth, North Devon, South Devon, Cornwall

East of England: Norfolk, Norwich, Ipswich

What you will be doing as a Regional Fundraising Volunteer: 

• Support and assist in organising and participating in local fundraising events.

• Help with event logistics, set-up, and participant engagement to ensure smooth delivery. 

• Take part in local initiatives acquiring donors and do it yourself fundraisers. 

• Increase awareness of the organisation’s work by helping to promote regional fundraising activity. 

• Represent the organisation at schools, community groups, and public events, delivering presentations to inspire support. 

• Communicate with supporters via phone, email, and face-to-face interactions. 

• Attend and contribute to meetings with the fundraising team and supporters to share updates and ideas. 

What will make you a great fit for this role?  

You will have good knowledge of your local community and be passionate about making a difference to those severely affected by mental illness. You will also have:

• The ability to organise events and activities

• The ability to inspire and motivate others

• Good communication skills

• Creative ideas to promote diverse fundraising activities 

• Dedication to our cause 

Who are we? 

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”     

It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like its key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.     

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion   

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.   

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation   

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.   

We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and (asexual) (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. 

The local South Yorkshire MND Association branch are looking to recruit Events Volunteers to contribute to planning, organising and running a variety of events, this maybe fundraising suh as band concerts and golf days or activities for people living with MND and their families, such as the successful Family Event the branch organise and fund each year at Rother Valley Theme Park. 

We ask for a few hours of your time each month this maybe face to face at the Branch Committee meeting which is held every 6 weeks in Sheffield or this may be an online meeting from your home. Events are held at various venues throughout the year. 

Get in touch today to find out more. 

Seeking Social Media Coordinator to contribute to research, digital marketing efforts, and database management to improve campaign effectiveness.

Responsibilities:

• Execute a results-driven social media strategy;
• Develop and curate engaging content for social media platforms;
• Assist in the creation and editing of written, video, and photo content;
• Maintain unified brand voice across different social media channels;
• Create a social media calendar;
• Monitor social media channels for industry trends;
• Interact with users and respond to social media messages, inquiries, and comments;
• Review analytics and create reports on key metrics;
• Assist in the development and management of social media marketing and influencer marketing strategy.

Qualifications / Skills:

• Passion for women's human rights;
• Expertise with social media and proficiency with major social media platforms and social media management tools;
• Proficiency with editing tools/digital media formats;
• Ability to understand historical, current, and future trends in the digital content and social media space;
• Strong copywriting and copy editing skills;
• Top-notch oral and verbal communication skills;
• Impeccable time management skills with the ability to multitask;
• Detail-oriented approach with ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• 2+ years experience with social campaigning, social media marketing or content development;
• 2+ years experience with donor campaign platforms;
• Direct experience using social media management tools;
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook);
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premier Pro) or equivalent digital media editing tools a plus.

Finance Volunteer

We’re the MS Society – a community of people living with MS, scientists, campaigners, listeners, organisers, ambassadors and fundraisers. Our volunteers are a key part of achieving our goals and their support is vital. Join us.

About this opportunity
We are looking to recruit a Finance Volunteer for our Preston Group. As a Finance Volunteer, you would be joining a coordinating team of volunteers to plan and deliver services and activities to support people locally.

You will maintain and approve income and expenditure records and explain financial information clearly to other group members. You would ensure our financial requirements and policies are followed, and that money is spent in a cost effective manner.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience with a large charity, develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you
You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be comfortable with figures, preferably with an accounting or business background. You will live in the immediate area of the Group, allowing you to meet with other volunteers from the Group.

Apply 

Read through the role description carefully

Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

We are delighted to have secured funding to deliver a 24-month befriending programme. This exciting opportunity will support the delivery of our ambitious five-year strategy by: 

• Promoting Independence - ensuring more older people can stay independent for longer 

• Providing Connection - enabling friendship and social connection for olderPeople 

The befriending service will be provided through 2 different strands which aim to support older people in different ways based on the needs identified via an assessment. 

Clients will enter the strand that is most appropriate to their needs.

• Strand A: We will offer a local face-to-face service of up to 1 hour for 26 weeks. Strand A provision would be appropriate for older people who have experienced a recent life event, such as a hospital admission, bereavement or home move and who need time limited support and guidance to connect with suitable services and activities.

• Strands B: We will offer ongoing support either face-to- face of up to 1hour or by telephone between 30 minutes and 1 hour. Strand B provision is for older people leaving Strand A that require long term support or for those who are identified as needing ongoing face-to-face or local telephone befriending support on entry to theprogramme. 

Purpose of Role 

• Arrange and carry out assessment for new service users within the befriending service using the Guided Conversation approach, in order to gather appropriate information about the older person, their needs, and what a befriender will be expected (and not expected) to do. 

• Ensure that the person wants a befriender, has given consent, confidentiality has been discussed, and the person is able and willing to join the service. 

• Ensure that volunteers and service users are well-matched and that the service runs safely, effectively, and in line with organisational standards. 

Key Tasks 

• Carry out a needs assessment for new service users referred to the befriending service. It could be a telephone-based discussion or review of a referral form or a home visit. 

• Gather key information such as visit preferences, activity interests, potential risks, and any unmet needs. 

• Complete assessment forms and input information into the online database 

• Refer service users to other services where appropriate 

• Match service users with suitable volunteer befrienders 

• Introduce befriender and service user, and carry out a 6-week review with both parties 

• Maintain accurate records and liaise with staff throughout the process 

Skills and attributes Required 

• Good communication skills with a friendly approachable manner. 

• Confident using IT 

• Empathy and understanding of older people. 

• Understanding loneliness and social isolation. 

• Consistency and reliability.

• Understanding of Confidentiality. 

• Understanding of and empathy with the needs of older people. 

• Patience and Sensitivity. 

• Confidence to deal with emergencies. 

• Record keeping.

• Ideal for students studying Health & Social Care, though open to all. 

Support Provided 

• You will be inducted in cohorts with other volunteers. 

• Training for the role is provided including Safeguarding, Making Every Contact Count, Sexual Harassment and Building a positive volunteering experience and other more. 

• Ongoing support including regular supervision by the Volunteer Manager. 

• Goup supervision with other volunteers. Groups supervision is a safe place where you can share experiences, challenges, and successes, process emotion and learn from each other. 

• Reimbursement of agreed expenses.

• Access to an AGE UK Discount portal provided by Aon.  

• Monthly volunteer newsletter. 

• We hold an annual Volunteer Award event where we celebrate and recognise the contribution of our Volunteers! 

• Access to in-house training opportunities 

• You will receive supervision and support throughout your course placement from your named supervisor 

Benefits 

• Make a Real Difference: Have a direct impact on the lives of Making a Difference: Volunteering allows you to have a tangible impact on someone's life, particularly those in vulnerable situations. Helping older people can provide a strong sense of accomplishment and purpose. 

• Emotional Rewards 

• Intergenerational Connections 

• Learning and Skill Development 

• Enhancing Career Prospects 

• Building Empathy and Compassion 

• Giving Back to the Community 

• Social and celebration events 

• Placement Support: Ideal for Health & Social Care students—gain placement hours with supervision and guidance from a named supervisor 

• Insight into Care Needs. 

Commitment 

• We expect a minimum of 6 months commitment but would ideally prefer more of a longer-term commitment.

• Weekly commitment 2 to 3 hours.