Social Care/Development Volunteer Roles
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you enjoy meeting and engaging with new people? We are looking for a volunteer to join our team to provide a friendly face as people arrive at our Service. You will also support people to connect with others, feel welcome whilst assisting our staff to run services for people in crisis. Get in touch and make a difference!
What you will be doing
- Welcoming and engaging people using the Service
- Holding conversations with people using the Service, checking in on their wellbeing and providing a listening ear/friendly face
- Motivate and inspire people to take part in activities
- Support with preparing light refreshments to create a relaxed environment
- Document interactions and keep a record of who attends
- Opportunities to deliver activities alongside the staff team and other volunteers such as board games
The skills you need
- Good communications skills
- Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
- Calm and patient approach
- Maintain discretion and judgement when dealing with sensitive and/or confidential information
What's in it for you
- Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
- Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
- Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are recruiting for a volunteer to teach the children at our Ealing refuge martial arts and learn some basic techniques.
Hestia supports survivors of domestic abuse in London and the Southeast.
Our team provide support in 31 refuges across 7 London Boroughs. Last year Hestia supported 4,000 people to recover from the trauma of domestic abuse.
What you will be doing
- Coordinate and set up a weekly martial arts class for women and children
- Inspire and motivate children to take part in the sessions and take a role in planning/designing upcoming sessions
- Create a safe space for individuals to practice and learn new techniques through martial arts
- Encourage members of the group to connect and relate to each other through practicing together
The skills you need
- Qualified to teach martial arts
- Good communication skills
- Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages participation
- Calm and patient approach
What's in it for you
- Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
- Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
- Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Our organisation has great demand but has suffered over the last 12 months due to reduced funding. We seek Trustees with fundraising experience or from the LGBTQI+ community who can help us as we continue to meet our growing needs.
What will you be doing?
We are currently looking for two new Trustees. Our Trustees are like a non-executive board of directors - although they are not involved in the day-to-day running of the charity, they oversee what we do and make sure we stay on track, meeting 4 times per year in Accrington or via Teams for up to 2 hours at a time. In between meetings, the charity's management and admin team might call on the trustees for particular issues with which they need help or support, such as proofreading funding applications, working on developing specific projects using a trustee's contacts or area of expertise, or simply when a sounding board for new ideas is needed.
Our trustees may also come to our events a few times a year to keep up with what we are doing - this is arranged as convenient for the trustees.
New trustees will be joining our board, which currently stands at 5. The only absolute requirements are that you are interested in and enthusiastic about what we do and that you are willing to work to support the charity using any skills, knowledge, or contacts that you have that may be relevant.
What are we looking for?
We are currently looking to grow and expand and are particularly keen to hear from potential trustees from the
LGBTQI+ community or who have fundraising experience. However, if you are interested and have other skills or experience, please do get in touch - we welcome interest from all potential Trustees, regardless of their skills or background, as long as they are enthusiastic about what we do and are keen to support our work. We particularly welcome applications from women and from people of colour as we are looking to improve the diversity of our board.
What difference will you make?
The RYC is going through a rough time at the moment as we respond to increased demand and reduced funding.Your presence and work on our Board of Trustees could help us reach hundreds of children and young people across the North-West who are the most vulnerable in our society. Living with issues such as eating disorders, anxiety, self-harm or suicidal tendencies, these young people are forgotten by mainstream clubs, therefore missing out on the social benefits of having friends or a safe space to connect or ask for help, especially in the wake of COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis.
You and your experience will help us reach our goals and develop our work more quickly and effectively, meaning we can get the most out of our resources and people.
To Apply:
Please send your CV and cover letter
If you would like an informal chat with our CEO, please email your details, and one can be arranged.
We look forward to seeing your application!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Description
We’re currently recruiting LGBT+ Group Facilitators to join our amazing and dynamic volunteer team at elop!
elop is an award-winning LGBT Mental Health and Wellbeing Charity with 29 years’ experience of supporting LGBT+ communities across London and surrounding areas.
Joining our LGBT+ Group Facilitators team, you will be part of an enthusiastic and dedicated team who value & appreciate the benefit of supporting others to socialise & network, supporting LGBT+ people to come together in a welcoming, safe and supportive environment with opportunities to meet new people, form new friendships, gain peer support and much more.
Each of elop’s dedicated groups or meet-ups run planned activities that supports shared interaction, positive identities and a feeling of being valued.
Duties
Volunteering in this role will give you opportunities to contribute & support the planning & promotion of group programmes, help in organising & facilitating sessions, along with supporting & enabling the involvement, voice & inclusion of all members attending, ensuring a welcome, supported, safe and comfortable environment for all.
Our activities are delivered on various days and times across the week and weekends, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
You may already have some previous experience of activity facilitation, which is fantastic; however it isn’t necessary to come with all the skills & experiences already on board, just a friendly & outgoing personality with good communication abilities, the rest you’ll be supported to develop.
Respecting diversity, understanding and upholding professional boundaries and confidentiality are fundamental to all of our work and you will be required to support this.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for fun, reliable, and enthusiastic Independent Visitor volunteers from all different cultures, backgrounds and experiences who have a genuine interest in making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
Our Independent Visitor Service is looking for volunteers in or near to Wheaton Aston.
- Are you passionate about wanting to help young people?
- Do you have 2 to 4 hours to spare, once a month?
- Are you ready to make a long-term, regular, commitment?
If the answer is yes and you would like to support a child or young person currently in the care of their local authority, then we would love to hear from you.
You will decide with your young person what to do, but activities could include going to the cinema, bowling, playing football, going to a restaurant, riding a bike, or walking in a park. We will match you with a child you share common interests with.
You do not need experience of working with children and young people, just an interest in their development and welfare. Full training and support are provided.
Here’s a few of the young people we have waiting for a volunteer:
- Amy (12) lives with an older carer, she would like an active Independent Visitor who can do sports with her.
- Brad (13) lives in residential care with other young people, he doesn’t have anyone in his family visit. He would like an Independent Visitor to take him out and have fun, like the other young people.
- Cassie (16) lives with carers in a new town, she doesn’t have any friends in the area yet. She would like an Independent Visitor to help with her confidence and going out in the local area, she loves hot chocolate and cake.
- Danny (11) lives with foster carers and attends a special school. He would like an Independent Visitor to help him be more independent, he likes parks, aeroplanes, and animals.
- Emma (9) lives with her carer in a very busy household, she would like an Independent Visitor to spend some time with her on her own trying different activities together.
*names have been changed
The Application
- Volunteering mainly happens at weekends and after school hours as the young people are usually in school during the daytime
- The role requires commitment of at least 24 months with one visit per month; this ensures stability for the Child or Young Person
- Complete the Personal Statement section on the application form as fully as possible; tell us all about you; it forms part of the shortlisting process
Our values are to be Compassionate, Open and Bold. If this sounds like you, please click the apply button. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please call or email and we will be happy to help.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for fun, reliable, and enthusiastic Independent Visitor volunteers from all different cultures, backgrounds and experiences who have a genuine interest in making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
Our Independent Visitor Service is looking for volunteers in or near to Wolverhampton.
- Are you passionate about wanting to help young people?
- Do you have 2 to 4 hours to spare, once a month?
- Are you ready to make a long-term, regular, commitment?
If the answer is yes and you would like to support a child or young person currently in the care of their local authority, then we would love to hear from you.
You will decide with your young person what to do, but activities could include going to the cinema, bowling, playing football, going to a restaurant, riding a bike, or walking in a park. We will match you with a child you share common interests with.
You do not need experience of working with children and young people, just an interest in their development and welfare. Full training and support are provided.
Here’s a few of the young people we have waiting for a volunteer:
- Amy (12) lives with an older carer, she would like an active Independent Visitor who can do sports with her.
- Brad (13) lives in residential care with other young people, he doesn’t have anyone in his family visit. He would like an Independent Visitor to take him out and have fun, like the other young people.
- Cassie (16) lives with carers in a new town, she doesn’t have any friends in the area yet. She would like an Independent Visitor to help with her confidence and going out in the local area, she loves hot chocolate and cake.
- Danny (11) lives with foster carers and attends a special school. He would like an Independent Visitor to help him be more independent, he likes parks, aeroplanes, and animals.
- Emma (9) lives with her carer in a very busy household, she would like an Independent Visitor to spend some time with her on her own trying different activities together.
*names have been changed
The Application
- Volunteering mainly happens at weekends and after school hours as the young people are usually in school during the daytime
- The role requires commitment of at least 24 months with one visit per month; this ensures stability for the Child or Young Person
- Complete the Personal Statement section on the application form as fully as possible; tell us all about you; it forms part of the shortlisting process
Our values are to be Compassionate, Open and Bold. If this sounds like you, please click the apply button. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please call or email and we will be happy to help.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Volunteer Receptionist
You can make a difference…Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local, independent charity that has been working with older people in the area since 1963. We rely on your support to keep serving the older residents within the Wandsworth community. We have a dedicated team of experienced staff and a large network of dedicated local volunteers. Our aim is to enable everyone to age well in Wandsworth. We would love your help to be able to continue to support older Wandsworth residents.
We are looking for reception volunteers to support our first contact staff at our office in Old York Road, Wandsworth. You will play a key role in creating a great first impression, greeting our visitors, answering the telephone and dealing with enquiries. You’ll be part of a friendly and caring team who work together to ensure that older people can ‘Age Well’ in Wandsworth.
About the service
You will be working first hand with older people who drop into our office for advice. Whether you're answering the phones, carrying out admin tasks, or performing benefits checks under the supervision of our staff, it's a fantastic way to give back to your community.
You will play a key role in creating a great first impression, greeting our visitors, answering the telephone, and dealing with enquiries. You’ll be part of a friendly and caring team who work together to ensure that older people can ‘Age Well’ in Wandsworth shifts are either 10.00- 13.00 or 12.30 to 15.00 with a minimum commitment of once a week for 6 months. Our office is open Monday to Thursday only.
Key responsibilities
- Meeting and greeting visitors to the office.
- Answering telephone calls, transferring them or taking messages for staff.
- Dealing with enquiries either using available information, passing to a staff member or logging for a staff member to deal with when available.
- General maintenance of the reception area to ensure a welcoming environment for visitors and adequate literature on display.
- Performing admin duties as needed by first contact team.
Skills & attributes
- Confident and Friendly
- Good communication skills
- Excellent time-keeping
- Note-taking skills
- Patient and sensitive to the concerns of older people
- Understanding of the need for objectivity, impartiality and confidentiality
Knowledge, training & qualifications
- IT-literate desirable
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
READY TO CHANGE A LIFE?
Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind is a registered charity providing advice and support to adults with mental health problems in Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale and the Esk Valley since 1962. Our support is designed to help people: Become healthier, lead full independent and rewarding lives, become more involved, included and active in community life and to reach their own potential.
Volunteer Befrienders are a cornerstone of our support, offering social connection and a listening ear to people experiencing or at risk of experiencing mental ill health through becoming isolated from support networks and the community. You will provide a lifeline, meeting someone at home or local community to chat and attend activities or social opportunities, helping your befriendee to rebuild their confidence and self esteem. This could be anything as simple as coffee, cake and chat in a local cafe up to organised activities such as a walking group, craft group or attending the theatre. Once the relationship and trust is established, your role is to help that person begin connecting with others and building friendships naturally. This means that when you step away, they have connections in place to keep maintaining quality of life. Befriending matches can meet during the day, evening or weekend so the oppotunity is open to anyone regardless of working patterns and most matches meet either once a week or once a fortnight for 1-2 hours at a time. We have huge numbers of people needing support and are desperate for new volunteers if you would consider joining us. We cover your expenses, provide training and you have a dedicated co-ordinator to keeps in touch to make sure all is going well. We currently have 2 roles for befrienders- supporting age 18+ in Scarborough who are isolated/lonely (not necessarily experiencing mental illness) and then older people (65+) in Scarborough, Whitby and Hunmanby who are living with long term anxiety or depression and are experiencing isolation/loneliness.
SWR Mind cover a geographical area of more than 1,000 square miles with a population of over 170,000 and are the oldest mental health charity providing community outreach services across the region and one of the few who still do one to one work in people's homes and local community. We run a number of services open to people aged 11 and over living in Scarborough Whitby, Ryedale and the Esk Valley who would like help with their mental health. All our services are provided free of charge at point of need and provided in the community and people’s homes, where it is most needed.
More than ever people are turning to us as they face problems such as unemployment, debt, housing or relationships which can all have a devastating impact on their mental health.
Scarborough Whitby and Ryedale Mind has to raise our own money to support people in the local community and we do not receive money from national Mind or its charity shops, whom we are only affiliated to in name.
We want to ensure nobody ever has to battle with mental illness alone.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Administrative Support Volunteer
You can make a difference…Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local, independent charity that has been working with older people in the area since 1963. We rely on your support to keep serving the older residents within the Wandsworth community. We have a dedicated team of experienced staff and a large network of dedicated local volunteers. Our aim is to enable everyone to age well in Wandsworth. We would love your help to be able to continue to support older Wandsworth residents.
We are looking for reception volunteers to support our first contact staff at our office in Old York Road, Wandsworth. You will play a key role in creating a great first impression, greeting our visitors, answering the telephone and dealing with enquiries. You’ll be part of a friendly and caring team who work together to ensure that older people can ‘Age Well’ in Wandsworth.
About the service
You will have the opportunity to support staff with a wide range of desk-based and administrative and office-based tasks. Through managing and maintaining office systems that are essential to ensuring the smooth experience for all staff and service users. You will need to be confident on the phone and ideally have experience of using Outlook, Excel and Word although we can provide training if necessary. Most importantly, you will need to be reliable, a good timekeeper.
Key Responsibilities:
- Providing general office support, handling telephone/email inquiries, and managing mail.
- Update and maintain accurate client information and data records.
- Scan, copy, organise and maintain physical files.
- Manage office equipment, supplies, and deliveries.
- Handle office phone calls and redirect as appropriate.
Skills required:
- A good communicator, a sense of humour, flexibility, and a team player
- Computer and telephone skills
- A commitment to confidentiality
- An understanding of professional boundaries, safeguarding and health and safety
- Reliability and good time keeping
Knowledge, training & qualifications
- IT-literate desirable
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Digital Inclusion Volunteer
Age UK Wandsworth relies on volunteers to help us offer vital services in the local community. We are looking for Digital Volunteers to support our Digital Inclusion Programme.
You can make a difference…Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local, independent charity that has been working with older people in the area since 1963. We rely on your support to keep serving the older residents within the Wandsworth community. We have a dedicated team of experienced staff and a large network of dedicated local volunteers. Our aim is to enable everyone to age well in Wandsworth. We would love your help to be able to continue to support older Wandsworth residents.
Help us tackle digital exclusion in this rewarding volunteer role by supporting older people to use their devices at our friendly drop-in digital inclusion sessions. From helping someone to make their very first Zoom call, supporting them to write their life story on Microsoft Word or helping them book an appointment online. You don't need to be a tech whiz, just patient and friendly with basic smartphone/tablet/laptop skills.
You will receive training and regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role. You can read more about the benefits of volunteering on the full advert on our website.
About the service
Our service is dedicated to delivering a high-quality service that focuses on supporting older individuals to navigate the ever-changing digital world. We currently run monthly sessions from Tooting, Wandsworth Town, Putney, Southfields, and Battersea Park libraries, as well as a weekly session at the Gwynneth Morgan Day Centre. All sessions are held during the daytime midweek (Tuesday to Thursday) and last for 90 minutes.
What will make you a great fit for this role?
- Knowledge of various social platforms.
- Great listening skills.
- Understanding the importance of confidentiality.
- Can explain clearly and patiently how to use various platforms.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
A Trustee will bring an individual area of expertise to benefit our organisation. Among the many skills they may have relate to business development, financial management; charity governance, staff development, performance management, local government, disability service development and adult social care. The Trustees work closely with the Executive Management Team (EMT) on the strategic direction of the business. They coordinate and attend quarterly board meetings, through which they review the work of the charity and provide advice, support and focus attention onto the areas that the EMT needs to consider and prepare for, to continuously improve what we do and respond to the changing environment in which Bethphage operates. Bethphage is a values-based charitable business, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the community. The charity also needs to make a modest financial surplus to remain viable. The role of a Trustee is to be a critical friend to the management team, lending expertise and experience to help guide the organisation in achieving its aims and sometimes competing objectives. Some of our board members have been a part of Bethphage for many years, you will be joining a supportive, friendly, and collegiate team that will help you develop and grow your role as a Trustee. Trustees generally thoroughly enjoy the role and find that it is a very rewarding experience. The Trustees work on a voluntary capacity for the benefit of the charity, this usually equates to one day per month. All Trustees are requested to undergo a DBS check (Disclosure & Barring service). Currently, we are particularly interested in hearing from people with financial and/or legal experience and expertise.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking people who can enrich the insights brought to our Board of Trustees through their life experiences and understanding of our service users.
We particularly would like to recruit people with an interest in:
- Joining our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group
- Helping us drive our IT strategy forward.
Impact Initiatives is an innovative, respected and long-standing charity which has flexed and developed alongside changing needs over its forty plus years of existence. We currently work with over 10,000 people across Sussex each year, have 90+ staff and a turnover of just over £3,000,000.
We live by and deliver all our services within our values of collaboration, integrity, empowerment, effectiveness, creativity, and accountability.
- Being a trustee is a great way to support a cause you believe in.
- As a respected and responsible role, it is also a brilliant route to develop new skills, gain more experience and enhance your CV.
- Being a trustee can be immensely rewarding, providing both expected and unexpected opportunities for personal development and new challenges.
- Trustee training will be provided alongside support to attend meetings if required.
Requirements
- A commitment to the aims and values of the organisation, and an understanding of some of the issues our service users face.
- An ability to understand and discuss information on the work of the organisation.
- An ability and willingness to discuss ideas and options to help make decisions in the best interests of the organisation and experience of attending and contributing to meetings is helpful but not essential, enthusiasm and commitment to our work and values are more important
- Trustees must be aged 18+
Our Trustees hold four formal in person meetings each year with additional meetings as and when needed. Finance, business development and service delivery reports are circulated before meetings so any queries can be answered prior to the meeting where they are discussed.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
NAPAC are looking for someone who is empathetic and resilient with a real passion for supporting people through their healing journey to join our friendly team in Stockport.
NAPAC (the National Association for People Abused in Childhood) offers support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect. Many adults with a history of childhood abuse continue to suffer – from post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, depression, and other issues. It doesn’t have to be this way – this is the chance for you to change someone’s life for the better.
As a volunteer support line Call Handler, you will be a key member of our dedicated team, providing emotional support and a safe environment for callers with a wide range of complex issues.
NAPAC offers full training and hands-on support for call handlers with every call they receive. Volunteers will receive a 5-week training course (4x3 hour sessions plus a shadowing week) Volunteer recruitment is ongoing with courses running every couple of months. Here you will receive specialist trauma-informed training and be fully equipped with the skills you need to feel confident in supporting survivors. You will use these skills to explore issues relating to childhood abuse and it how it effects adulthood and signpost callers to relevant resources and services that can provide more in-depth support. Calls are caller-led, and you will be there to empower each caller to take back control in their lives.
Volunteers are also invited to attend our twice-yearly training days where we host guest speakers from other relevant organisations.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role Title:
Woodwork Lead - Volunteer
Location:
Basildon Day Opportunities
Day/Time required:
Monday to Friday, 9.15am to 3.30pm (start and finish times can be flexible for parents / carers)
Organisation overview:
Papworth Trust is a leading disability charity. Our vision is a world where disabled people are seen for what they can do, and our mission is for disabled people to have equality, choice and independence.
Service overview:
We offer a rich and diverse programme of recreational, learning and employment opportunities from our centre’s facilities in Basildon and the wider communities of Essex.
Situated close to the town centre, we benefit from excellent links to local transport and neighbouring community projects.
We’re a super friendly and welcoming service with enthusiastic, skilled and experienced staff and volunteers who support individuals to achieve their personal goals and aspirations.
Description of role:
To support customers in one-to-one and group woodworking sessions.
Work alongside our Activities Facilitators to support the delivery of sessions.
Key tasks:
To work at the individual customer’s pace in a group, ensuring they can take part in sessions.
Help the individual customer communicate and interact with the team and their peers.
To help with confidence building by encouraging and empowering customer to engage, be creative and stay safe.
Ensure that the individual is included in various aspects of sessions, and during breaks and lunchtime.
A DBS check will be required as part of this role and will be carried out during the vetting checks of successful applicants.
Personal qualities required:
Within this role you:
- Will have a supportive nature
- Are outgoing and friendly
- Will be polite and respectful
- Are patient and kind
- Take a calm measured approach to tasks
- Are a good communicator
- Are empathetic and resilient
Benefits of volunteering:
- Become part of a passionate and supportive team.
- Help make a real difference to the lives of disabled and disadvantaged people.
- Gain new experiences and develop skills and confidence.
- Meet new people.
- Spend your time doing something that is worthwhile and rewarding
- Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses
- Certificated training provided to prepare you for your role
- Day to day support from a designated member of staff
- Have fun!
Training available:
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
- Child Protection in Health and Social Care
- Equality and Diversity
- Data Protection in Health and Social Care
- Local induction
- Health & Safety
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About CARAS:
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in South West London, and helps them to play their full part in the community. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives.
We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background, providing them the tools they need to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults include currently include: ESOL classes; sports; women’s creative writing; women’s coffee morning, and casework.
About the CARAS Adult Team:
In the post-pandemic environment, CARAS is responding to the role of digital literacies in our programme delivery to learners of asylum-seeking and refugee background. In contrast to the UK essential Digital skills framework, we have built in language inclusion to create a participatory learning course for Essential Digital Literacies for learners who are new to reading and writing in English. The individuals joining CARAS are highly diverse, with different countries of origin, linguistic and educational backgrounds. We have observed over the last year that many CARAS community members have limited digital skills, particularly in regard to using computers. Community members have highlighted that computers are important for many individuals to achieve their educational and employment goals, whilst increasing confidence and independence. We have co-designed a digital skills program in partnership with CARAS community members to improve computer literacy and skills, focusing on basic computer literacy.
About the Role:
We are seeking two volunteers based in London to teach our lively computer classes in Tooting every Monday 9:00-11:00. Volunteers will lead the sessions with guidance from the CARAS ESOL Teacher and will work closely with our community members to build their skills and confidence using computers. The Digital Literacies course at CARAS is built around Pre-entry to Entry 2 levels in English. Volunteers will be supporting individuals with tasks such as: getting to know how to use a computer, using the internet, setting up an email address, and using Microsoft office. We intend to fold employability sessions, including CV writing and job searching, into these sessions.
Volunteer Tasks and responsibilities:
· Lead on the delivery of sessions with support from CARAS’s Essential Digital Skills Teacher.
· Assist with the logistical set up of the sessions, supporting CARAS staff where needed.
· Work collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the project.
· Create class registers and records as required.
· To attend and contribute to volunteer pre- and de-briefs at each session.
· To act as a positive role model and set standards of behaviour when volunteering.
· Support people to develop their knowledge and skills and encourage and inspire participants to reach their full potential.
· To assist participants to both, recognise and celebrate their achievements.
· To challenge negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manor.
· Advocate for the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants with not for them.
· Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements:
· To be non-judgemental, and able and willing to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
· To be female identifying.
· Have a good understanding of how to use a computer.
· To be reliable and punctual.
· Excellent presentation and communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.
· Commitment to support people seeking asylum to take control of their asylum journey.
· Ability to volunteer every Friday for a minimum of three months.
· Current resident in the UK.
· Ability to work in Tooting SW17.
· To provide five years’ worth of addresses and be willing to undergo a DBS check.
· To attend CARAS General and Safeguarding Training sessions.
· To be 18 years or older.
Through volunteering with us you will:
· Meet new members of your local community
· Learn about different cultures
· Learn about issues relating to refugee and asylum seekers
· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team
· Develop your skills and competencies
· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding
To Apply:
To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form from the CARAS website using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.
Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with a member of the CARAS staff team. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.