Social Care / Development Volunteer Roles in South West

About Roots Academy

At Roots Academy, we’ve built a learning experience that’s changing the lives of the ummah’s future leaders, change-makers and visionaries.

Our vision is enabling university students to live God-centred lives, so we teach structured, engaging and transformative face-to-face foundational Islamic education to over 1,800 students across the UK.

Role Summary

The Safeguarding lead will take the lead in ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place for keeping students, volunteers and team members safe at Roots Academy.

You will promote the safety and welfare of young people involved in Roots Academy’s activities at all times.

Key tasks

• Take a lead role in developing, reviewing and implementing Roots Academy’s safeguarding policies and procedures: ensuring all safeguarding issues concerning students and volunteers who take part in Roots Academy’s activities are responded to appropriately.
• Make sure that everyone working or volunteering at Roots Academy, including the board of trustees, understands the safeguarding policy and procedures and knows what to do if they have concerns about a student or volunteer’s welfare.
• Develop and deliver safeguarding training.
• Make sure students and young people who are involved in activities at Roots Academy know who they can talk to if they have a welfare concern and understand what action the organisation will take in response.
• Receive and record information from anyone who has concerns about a student or volunteer who takes part in Roots Academy’s activities.
• Take the lead on responding to information that may constitute a safeguarding concern, including a concern that an adult involved with Roots Academy may present a risk to children or young people. This includes:

a. assessing and clarifying the information

b. making referrals to statutory organisations as appropriate

c. consulting with and informing the relevant members of the organisation’s management

d. following the organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures.

• Liaise with, pass on information to and receive information from statutory agencies such as the police. This includes making formal referrals to agencies when necessary.
• Store and retain safeguarding records according to legal requirements and the organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures.
• Work closely with the board of trustees the People Team Lead to ensure they are kept up to date with safeguarding issues and are fully informed of any concerns about organisational safeguarding practice.
• Report regularly to the board of trustees on issues relating to safeguarding, to ensure that safeguarding is seen as an ongoing priority issue and that safeguarding requirements are being followed at all levels of the organisation.

What we’re looking for

• The Safeguarding Lead must have received relevant safeguarding training
• Experience as a qualified social worker or safeguarding lead desirable
• Understanding of safeguarding in further education desirable
• Strong understanding of Islam and the Muslim community essential

What we have to offer

• Be part of a team of 40+ dedicated volunteers from across the country.
• Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform.
• Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.
• Receive in-house tarbiyah sessions to develop your deen.

Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position.

Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy.

Men Who Talk is a UK registered charity, running twice weekly online peer-to-peer support groups for men aged 18+ across the UK. The groups take place between 7:00pm - 8:30pm every Wednesday evening, and 11:00am - 12:30pm every Saturday morning. 

Our groups are supportive spaces for men aged 18+ to come and talk openly about what's on their mind. All groups are free to attend and follow the evidence based model of peer support. 

Volunteers are required to be online from 6:45pm to 8:45pm on a Wednesday evening, and from 10:45am - 12:45pm on a Saturday, and are required to facilitate around 1 group per month. Volunteers are asked to commit to an a minimum of 6 months of volunteering in the initial stage. 

All groups are facilitated by 2 facilitators, and follow a semi-structured pattern.

We are looking for passionate men with some experience of groups facilitating or working in mental health settings to come join us as facilitators. Experience in using online platforms such as zoom is essential. 

A degree in psychology is preferred but not an essential requirement.

Why Join MWT? 

Men Who Talk is an exciting, fast growing charity, creating new spaces for men to talk openly about what's on their mind. 

We have a diverse team full of talented and passionate individuals who are committed to changing the face of mens mental health across the UK. 

As well as the opportunity to join the organisation at an exciting stage of it's development, volunteers also have the opportunity to develop their own skills and have regular chances to feed into the creative and strategic development of the organisation. We also provide enhanced safeguarding adults training, and the opportunity to develop key skills to enhance a career in mental health. 

PLEASE NOTE: We are only able to accept applications from individuals who already have the right to live and work in the UK. 

Join our amazing volunteer team to make a real difference to people living with sight loss. You’ll be supporting people to come together in a group setting, to benefit from each other’s company, knowledge and encouragement, leading to reduced isolation, stronger networks of support, and new friendships. You can support with either local and regional telephone groups or face-to-face groups. 

What you’ll be doing: 

• Meeting and greeting group members on arrival or joining virtually. 

• Creating a warm and welcoming environment. 

• Supporting group conversations. 

• Assisting with group activities (if appropriate). 

What you’ll gain from the role:

• An opportunity to give something back. 

• A chance to build a strong community. 

• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.

• A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people 

• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. 

In return for donating your time we will provide: 

• A rewarding experience. 

• A great Induction and training. 

• A supportive manager. 

• Regular updates and catchups. 

• Expenses. 

• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. 

Join our amazing volunteer team to raise awareness of sight loss and RNIB services at local events. You’ll be making a real difference to people living with sight loss by helping to create a world without barriers. This face to face opportunity will see you providing information about RNIB services and activities to help people with sight loss live the lives they want, enabling them to hear about the support that is available, and how they can help others. What you’ll be doing • Creating a welcoming and interesting display stand. • Speaking directly to people affected by sight loss. • Being a friendly face of RNIB locally - engaging with a diverse range of people. • Providing information and demonstrations of basic independent living aids for the general public and professionals. What you’ll gain from the role: • An opportunity to give something back. • A chance to build a strong community. • A sense of achievement through the difference you make. • A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people • An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. In return for donating your time we will provide: • A supportive route to building your confidence in meeting members of the public and serving customers. • A rewarding experience. • A great Induction and training. • A supportive manager. • Regular updates and catchups. • Expenses. • An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. In applying for / signing up for this role you agree to be contacted when we are seeking volunteers to help with an event in relation to this role description. We will contact you via a communication method for which you have given consent.

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• • An outgoing, friendly approach to meeting new people • An empathetic and professional manner. • Good communications skills with active listening. • An interest in helping people access the information they need.

Joining elop’s youth mentoring team, you will be part of an enthusiastic and dedicated team who values and appreciates volunteers and the benefit of supporting LGBTQ+ young people.

LGBTQ+ Person of Muslim Faith Youth Mentor Role Description

You will be an integral part in supporting young LGBTQ+ people of Muslim faith or from Muslim faith backgrounds with issues related to their lived experience. elop is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all volunteers to share this commitment.
In order to do this you will need to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check and provide two references.
Our Mentoring Volunteers provide support and are role models to the young people we work with, and must be responsible, reliable and committed to the mentoring relationship. You will need to be good at communicating, enthusiastic and have a desire to help LGBTQ+ young people.
Previous experience of working with young people would be beneficial but is not essential. No formal qualifications are required. You will need to commit to meeting with three young people on a one-to-one basis each for an hour a week for 6 months. This could be online or face to face in a designated location. Selection for interview will be based only on the information contained in the application form. When completing the application form please ensure that you include information about yourself that is relevant to these requirements
Volunteer LGBTQ+ Person of Muslim Faith Youth Mentors Role Description Duties and skills

Have relevant experience and training to support young people aged 12 - 24 in a 1:1 capacity.

Understand the issues and lived experience of young LGBTQ+ people of Muslim faith or from a Muslim faith background.

Have the ability to be non-judgemental, listen and support, and create a safe space for young LGBTQ+ people of faith or from faith backgrounds to achieve positive outcomes from mentoring.

•

Have the ability to plan and deliver mentoring sessions to support a young person with individual needs related to their identity.

Have the ability to set professional boundaries with young LGBTQ+ people in 1:1 settings and adhere to elop policies particularly safeguarding and confidentiality.

Have the ability to accurately record written notes for mentoring sessions and admin for the role as necessary.

You must be LGBT+ and identify/have previously identified as a person of faith to apply for this role. In addition, all volunteers need to meet the minimal essential requirements for the volunteering at elop.

1. Applicants should have lived experience of the issues faced by LGBT+ people and communities
2. Understand the issues faced by different members of LGBT communities.
3. Be able to work in a way that values and respects individuals and cultural diversity
4. Understand the need to work within organisational policies and procedures
5. Understand the need for boundaries and be able to maintain them within all aspects of your work
6. Be able to offer support to other volunteers.
7. Be able to work as part of a team
8. Understand that volunteering is commitment and that services may be dependent on your involvement.

Induction and support

elop will provide an induction programme which will include induction to the organisation, induction to the role of mentoring which will include, elop mentoring programme, safeguarding induction training, use of materials, trauma informed approaches, support available.
Volunteer mentors will receive line management support and supervision from an elop worker once a month and group reflective practice 1.5 hours every other month.

Are you a good listener?  We need you to facilitate one of our weekly telephone groups that offer blind and partially sighted people the opportunity to socialise with others.  You will contribute to the group to ensure that all participants feel comfortable and the group conversations run smoothly.

We are particularly looking for volunteers to support in the following;

*Craft group – someone with an active interest in any sort of craft e.g. knitting, crochet, embroidery, card making etc

*South Wales Valleys group – someone from or with knowledge /experience of the area

*Powys - someone from or with knowledge /experience of the area

 Role Description:

We are seeking volunteers anywhere in the UK to help out with Study Group sessions for young Refugees or young people seeking asylum. We have continued to keep study group online as it enables community members from across and outside of London to get help and support with homework.

The Study Group sessions are delivered weekly on Zoom, every Tuesday from 5.30-6.30 pm. 

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities:

The role of a Study Group volunteer can include:  

• Providing learners with homework support; preferably 1:1 in Zoom breakout rooms (may be extended to 1 volunteer to 2 young people in busy sessions). 

• Promoting other online learning. ie. Reading an extract of an e-book together/ playing games to learn English/ completing a quiz on a topic of interest. 
• Providing social and emotional support to young people. Many of the young people that attend will be quite isolated at this time and will therefore benefit from the social element of Study Group. 
• Supporting young people with a range of technical issues relating to their laptop/phone/ zoom. 
• Staying for debrief after each session to feedback on what you covered with the Young Person in your breakout room. This offers a space to learn and share resources/ ideas for future weeks with other volunteers. 

Benefits of volunteering with CARAS:

Study Group Volunteers will have the opportunity to:  

• Attend CARAS induction training which covers Safeguarding 
• The opportunity to further professional development through attending other free training opportunities CARAS distribute regularly 
• A safe and supportive space to improve your mentoring/teaching skills 

• Gain first-hand experience of some of the issues young Refugee and Asylum Seeking people face and contribute to making London a better place for them to be 
• Receive support and feedback on teaching from the Project Coordinator through supervision meetings  
• Obtain a work reference after three months of weekly (or six months of fortnightly) volunteering.  
• Be part of the wider CARAS team and join in other activities with volunteers.  

All training and Study Group sessions are delivered online, so you won’t need to travel to the CARAS office in London. No prior experience of online teaching is required, but you will need a laptop or desktop PC with a good microphone and internet connection. You will be required to share your screen on your laptop but all basic Zoom functions can be taught upon induction. 

About the organisation:

CARAS is a registered charity working with people in south London and beyond who have an asylum or refugee background. Our values are: 

• 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 of 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.   

Requirements: 

Essential 

• To be 18 years or older; 
• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds; 
• To be reliable and punctual; 
• Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English; 
• Currently resident in the UK; 
• Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; 
• Able to attend compulsory volunteer induction training (online) general and safeguarding prior to the start of role 
• To be able to attend at least 2 sessions every month 
• To have a quiet confidential space from which to participate and to provide your own device and microphone with access to zoom 

Desirable 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as (including Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali and Spanish).

Are you a good listener? Are you able to manage group conversations and ensure people feel comfortable together and that groups run smoothly? We need you to facilitate our weekly telephone groups that offer blind and partially sighted people the opportunity to socialise with others. This is a telephone-based role that you can do from home. You will need access to a landline and/or mobile phone We ask you to commit to a minimum of 3 hours per week to facilitate 3 or more Talk and Support befriending groups per week which will be at the same day and time each week. Each group runs for an hour.

• Effective listening skills
• Good verbal communication skills
• Work with wide range of people

• Home Based: over the telephone (this role requires you to have a landline or mobile telephone)

• This role requires 2 references

Become a Volunteer Advocate: help parents with a learning disability express themselves, and understand important information regarding their children.

A Volunteer Advocate plays an incredibly important role when it comes to supporting a parent with a learning disability. By having an advocate, parents have a much better chance at being able to navigate difficult processes about their children and be treated fairly throughout.

As a Volunteer Advocate, you will support the parent at meetings that are within children services by making sure they understand the information that is being shared, reasonable adjustments are made in line with their learning disability, they have the opportunity to share their views and feel like their voice is heard, as well as talk through the options that they have and discuss the consequences of each option so they can then can make an informed decision.

Full training will be available to understand more about learning disabilities, advocacy, as well as the potential processes parents are affected by when the local authority are involved with their family.

You will also;

• Receive supervision & development.
• Gain interpersonal communication skills.
• Gain an insightful experience within a social care setting.
• Make a real difference to someone’s life.
• Gain teamwork skills with an amazing team!
• As well as planning & organization skills, problem solving skills and positive attributes.

"Volunteering gives me the opportunity to connect with people & gives a sense of belonging to my community in a mutually beneficial way."

Are you a Clinical Supervisor interested in supporting counsellors and therapists?

Burning Nights CRPS Support has a highly skilled counselling and therapy team who provide counselling and psychotherapy to adults and children who have been affected by a debilitating pain condition, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). This team is expanding rapidly and we are now looking for a volunteer Clinical Supervisor to join this team ensuring we can continue the provision of our vital emotional support services to this community. We would ideally like to take on a Clinical Supervisor - one supporting the therapists who deal with adults.

All our Counselling and therapy team help to develop our growing mental health support service for patients, families and carers affected by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). As a volunteer with the CRPS Counselling & Therapy Service, your skills and experience as a Clinical Supervisor will be providing support to therapists who offer therapy to vulnerable individuals, many of whom are isolated and in need of mental health support.

Depending on your qualifications, skills and experience, you will provide Supervisor support for counsellors or psychotherapists who provide counselling support or specialist services, such as general talking (person centred) therapies, integrative therapists, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for CRPS patients, their loved ones and carers. The service currently offers specialist support to anyone over the age of 5 who is affected by CRPS.

Key Tasks and Objectives

• Facilitate Clinical Supervision one to one and group sessions on a monthly or fortnightly basis (online)

• Administer this supervision from invitation through to record keeping

• Maintain appropriate clinical records of all work and to report, along with any concerns on individuals or their practice to the Chair of Trustees

• Commitment to ongoing supervision of supervision practice at Burning Nights CRPS Support as well as engaging in separate own personal supervision as/if appropriate

• Work flexibly as part of a small team as necessary to provide maximum coverage for supervision, such as in the event of emergencies

• Abide by all Burning Nights CRPS Support policies and procedures

• Adhere to BACP, BABCP (or other appropriate therapies governing body) Ethical Framework

Key Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• Psychotherapy/Counselling qualification with a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in a similar field

• Qualification in Clinical Supervision - ideally level 7 or above (could also suit experienced counsellors who require a placement during Clinical Supervision placement, or experienced counsellors wishing to gain experience in supervision)

• Accreditation/registration (or working at the level of or towards this qualification) as a Supervisor with BACP/HCPC/BAPT or equivalent

• Significant proven experience of supervising individual counsellors/psychotherapists from a range of training backgrounds 

• Appropriate and proven clinical experience of working with clients with a range of difficulties including complex medical health issues, loss and bereavement. Ideally experience of working with clients living with or affected by chronic pain or chronic conditions

• Willingness to engage in any Burning Nights CRPS Support training

• Understanding of issues regarding confidentiality and management of risk within a counselling service

• Good administrative skills

• Understanding of the voluntary sector

• Commitment to on-going engagement in personal supervision

• Knowledgeable of and committed to equalities’ provision

Desirable:

• Appropriate and proven clinical experience of working with clients living with or affected by chronic pain or chronic conditions

• Being able to supervise therapists who work in therapy such as CBT, ACT, EMDR etc

• Experience of working within a low-cost / free voluntary sector counselling setting

• Experience of working within the voluntary charity sector

Youth Team Volunteers teach young people, of all different backgrounds, vital and life-changing first aid skills. We have two programmes – our 5-10 year olds are called Badgers and our 10-17 year olds are called Cadets.

 You'll help them build up their confidence, self-discipline and, teamwork skills, and have some fun along the way.

We're looking for Youth Helpers and Youth Leaders. You’ll start off as a Youth Helper and, if you fancy it, you'll get the opportunity to become a Youth Leader, with some additional training and experience. 

As a Youth Helper you will:

· Create a safe, inclusive and open environment, where young people can learn life skills including First Aid.

· Support the delivery of games, activities and sessions.

· Coordinate with your team to make sure young people are safe and supervised.

· Empower and encourage inclusion and participation of all the young people.

· Support with administration, collecting resources, paperwork, etc.

All training will be given, so no experience is necessary.

Youth Team Volunteers teach young people, of all different backgrounds, vital and life-changing first aid skills. We have two programmes – our 5-10 year olds are called Badgers and our 10-17 year olds are called Cadets.

 You'll help them build up their confidence, self-discipline and, teamwork skills, and have some fun along the way.

We're looking for Youth Helpers and Youth Leaders. You’ll start off as a Youth Helper and, if you fancy it, you'll get the opportunity to become a Youth Leader, with some additional training and experience. 

As a Youth Helper you will:

· Create a safe, inclusive and open environment, where young people can learn life skills including First Aid.

· Support the delivery of games, activities and sessions.

· Coordinate with your team to make sure young people are safe and supervised.

· Empower and encourage inclusion and participation of all the young people.

· Support with administration, collecting resources, paperwork, etc.

All training will be given, so no experience is necessary.

Youth Team Volunteers teach young people, of all different backgrounds, vital and life-changing first aid skills. We have two programmes – our 5-10 year olds are called Badgers and our 10-17 year olds are called Cadets.

 You'll help them build up their confidence, self-discipline and, teamwork skills, and have some fun along the way.

We're looking for Youth Helpers and Youth Leaders. You’ll start off as a Youth Helper and, if you fancy it, you'll get the opportunity to become a Youth Leader, with some additional training and experience. 

As a Youth Helper you will:

· Create a safe, inclusive and open environment, where young people can learn life skills including First Aid.

· Support the delivery of games, activities and sessions.

· Coordinate with your team to make sure young people are safe and supervised.

· Empower and encourage inclusion and participation of all the young people.

· Support with administration, collecting resources, paperwork, etc.

All training will be given, so no experience is necessary.

Youth Team Volunteers teach young people, of all different backgrounds, vital and life-changing first aid skills. We have two programmes – our 5-10 year olds are called Badgers and our 10-17 year olds are called Cadets.

 You'll help them build up their confidence, self-discipline and, teamwork skills, and have some fun along the way.

We're looking for Youth Helpers and Youth Leaders. You’ll start off as a Youth Helper and, if you fancy it, you'll get the opportunity to become a Youth Leader, with some additional training and experience. 

As a Youth Helper you will:

· Create a safe, inclusive and open environment, where young people can learn life skills including First Aid.

· Support the delivery of games, activities and sessions.

· Coordinate with your team to make sure young people are safe and supervised.

· Empower and encourage inclusion and participation of all the young people.

· Support with administration, collecting resources, paperwork, etc.

All training will be given, so no experience is necessary.