Social Care / Development Volunteer Roles

We are pleased to invite applications for the following opportunity:

Weekend Service Volunteers

Interested in making a difference in your community? Want to be inspired by other like-minded people? We would like to invite you to volunteer in a unique service user charity working with individuals who have or have had substance use issues. We have more than 10 different locations across London and Sussex, we will make sure to find the best place and role for you.

Build on Belief is keen to encourage applications from people with diverse lives and experiences, including ethnicity, gender, sexuality, social & economic background as well as lived or associated experience of alcohol and other drug problems. 

In return, we do our best to make volunteering fun, worthwhile, and pledge ourselves to treating everyone fairly and as an equally valued member of the team.

There are many ways you can volunteer with us such us helping to set up our space for the day ahead, making food and drinks, supporting staff with registration and contract filling, listening to and socialising with service users, monitoring behaviour in the service, answering phone calls, taking part in games and activities and so on. We will make sure to place you in the best role according to your skills, wishes and availability.

What can you get from volunteering with us?

· Paid travel expenses

· We provide food in our services for all volunteers and services users.

· We offer a wide range of training workshops that are intended to ensure you can undertake your role safely and with confidence. They are fun, informative, free to access and there is no written work! You may attend as many as you want as often as you want.

· We will offer you one-to-one supervision with a paid member of staff.

· We will always place your welfare above the needs of the charity.

· Any concerns you have about your role will be taken seriously and addressed to the best of our ability.

· Opportunity to grow within the organisation.

What do we expect from our volunteers?

· Commitment and Honesty

· Willingness to Learn

· Non-Discriminatory approach towards our service users, staff and other volunteers

· Appropriate behaviour: You will be working with an occasionally difficult and often vulnerable client group. You will have to work hard to maintain your boundaries. We will support you and provide you with training on how to have a healthy, meaningful experience.

· Teamwork: It is important to remember that we work together as a Team, and we will be there every step of the way to help you feel welcome and safe in our brilliant team.

Extra Information

Still in treatment and having the odd binge? We can work with that. Never had a paid job and with no real experience of routine and structure? Not a problem. Little or no education, and find it a struggle to read and write? It doesn't matter. Anxious and lacking in confidence? We can work on that together. The only caveat being that volunteers cannot be under the influence of a non-prescribed mind-altering substance when they turn up to volunteer.

Want to know more?

Get in touch with us and she will support you with the next steps.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Build on Belief, 2024.

Volunteer Opportunity: Country Director – India

Organization: HELPING CHILDREN
Location: India (Flexible)
Type: Volunteer
Closing Date: 31st January 2025

About Us:
HELPING CHILDREN is a nonprofit organization registered in Sri Lanka, committed to improving the lives of underprivileged children through education, healthcare, and community development programs. We are expanding our outreach and activities to India and are looking for a dedicated individual to lead this initiative.

Role Overview:
As the Country Director for India, you will play a crucial role in establishing and managing HELPING CHILDREN’s presence in the country. This volunteer position is ideal for a motivated and passionate individual who can take charge of administrative and operational responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Open a bank account in India for the organization.
• Identify and secure a suitable location for the office.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for HELPING CHILDREN’s activities in India.
• Work with the Sri Lanka team to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Build relationships with local stakeholders, including donors, partners, and community leaders.

Requirements:

• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with legal and administrative procedures in India.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Passion for child welfare and community development.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple responsibilities.

What We Offer:

• An opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children.
• A chance to be part of a growing nonprofit organization with a noble mission.
• Flexible working hours and a collaborative environment.

If you are passionate about helping children and have the skills to establish our operations in India, we would love to hear from you!

How to Apply:
Please send your CV and a brief cover letter explaining your interest in the role with the subject line "Application for Country Director – India" by 31st January 2025.

Note: This is a voluntary position.

Location: Preston, Lancashire

Salary: Un-paid – out of pocket expenses reimbursed

Join Our Board of Trustees at Caritas Care

Caritas Care is a long-standing social care charity supporting children, families, and communities across Lancashire, Cumbria, and Greater Manchester for 90 years. We provide services in Adoption, Foster Care, Learning Disabilities, and community support projects for people of all ages.

Why Join Us?

Our charity is guided by strong values rooted in a caring ethos. Though we started with a Catholic foundation, we are now fully independent, while still inspired by our original values.

We’re based in Preston, employ around 200 staff, and manage an annual budget of approximately £8m. We are looking for four new Trustees to join our Board as three of our long-serving members are retiring.

What We’re Looking For:

We need people who are passionate about making a difference, can think strategically, and are willing to share their views. You’ll help guide Caritas Care’s future, ensuring we stay strong and effective during these challenging times for the charity sector.

We’re especially interested in people with experience in:

· Finance

· Business & Commercial Leadership

· Human Resources (HR)

· Senior Roles in Public or Voluntary Sectors

Time Commitment:

You’ll need to attend Board meetings and dedicate some time outside these meetings.

Diversity Matters:

We value diverse perspectives and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Ready to Make a Difference? If you want to use your skills to support a respected charity and help shape its future, we’d love to hear from you! For an informal discussion about the role of trustee, please contact the Chief Executive, Susan Swarbrick.

We are looking to appoint a trustee to join our Board at a very exciting time of growth and change. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of the charity’s development.

First and foremost, you will have a commitment to improving the lives of children and families and enthusiasm for our work. You will have experience of developing strategies and plans and understand the role of trustees in the governance of charities.

We are particularly seeking applicants who have experience in

• children’s palliative care
• children’s social care
• special educational needs

It is important that you can commit time to read and consider papers and reports, attend meetings and contribute to discussion and decision making. Trustees meet face to face as a Board a minimum of four times a year, plus an annual away day. There may be other meetings and sessions to attend, usually online. You will be asked to join one of Lifelites’ committees and may be asked to work with staff on specific projects, which will give you further opportunities to contribute your skills and knowledge to the Charity.

Purpose of the role

Together with fellow Board members, as a Trustee you will act in the Charity's best interests, set the strategy and policies, make key decisions and oversee the management of the Charity.

Key duties

1. To ensure that Lifelites complies with its Constitution, Charity Law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
2. To ensure that Lifelites pursues its charitable objects as defined in the Constitution.
3. To scrutinise Board papers and contribute to debate and decision making.
4. To ensure Lifelites uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: the organisation must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are.
5. To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees in giving firm strategic direction to Lifelites, setting overall strategy and policies, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
6. To safeguard the reputation and values of Lifelites.
7. To ensure that Lifelites considers and mitigates key risks.
8. To ensure the effective and efficient administration of Lifelites.
9. To ensure the financial stability of Lifelites.
10. To protect and manage Lifelites’ assets and to ensure the proper investment of its funds.
11. To contribute their skills and expertise to Lifelites projects, and to support the Charity’s fundraising.
12. To appoint the Chief Executive Officer and monitor their performance.

 Other duties

 In addition to the above responsibilities, each Trustee is expected to apply their skills, knowledge, experience and best judgement to enable the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions.

This may involve:

• Working on sub-committees.
• Supporting the development of new areas of work.
• Leading on and presenting on key issues.
• Using networks to create new opportunities for the organisation.

 Person Specification

•  A strong commitment to the work of Lifelites.
• Experience of operating at Board or senior level professionally.
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Good, independent judgment.
• Strong strategic thinking.
• Willingness to articulate opinions whilst understanding the importance of collective responsibility.
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability to access and use IT including email, video conferencing and Microsoft Office.

About Lifelites

Lifelites is a charity that passionately believes all children should be able to enjoy a childhood that they and their families can cherish, filled with special moments of fun, happiness and meaningful connection.

By harnessing sensory and assistive technology, children and young people with life-limiting conditions are empowered to play, learn, connect with their families and access the support they need to thrive. Lifelites provides the latest equipment, training and ongoing support, free of charge, for the children’s palliative care sector throughout Britain and Ireland, reaching 13,500 children.

However, there are an estimated 99,000 children and young people in the UK living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, who could benefit from Lifelites’ services. As part of our ambitious 2023-28 Strategy, Lifelites is aiming to improve impact and increase reach so that every child with a life-limiting condition is empowered to experience unforgettable moments of connection and joy with their families.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. These words are engrained in our services and our culture. As an organisation that seeks to empower children and young people with life-limiting conditions and complex disabilities, we are similarly committed to these values in the way we recruit and develop our people, build our teams, work in partnership and cultivate success. We actively welcome, nurture and celebrate the different abilities, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith, and gender of candidates, existing staff, stakeholders and volunteers.

We are a multi award winning charity, and our vision is to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community. Charity trustees play a very important role in making sure that the charity is run in the interests of the people it is there to support.

We are currently looking to expand the board from seven to nine trustees and to enhance our skills and knowledge around fundraising and operations.At FoodCycle the trustees ensure that the charity has a clear strategy, and that its work and goals are in line with its vision. We also safeguard the charity’s assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation. We make sure these are used well and that the charity is run sustainably.

You will be committed, astute and community minded, with the ability to think flexibly, challenge when needed, and be willing to speak your mind. It would be helpful if you have experience in areas such as governance, hospitality or food retail, policy development, income generation, or volunteers, however this is not essential.

As a Trustee you would attend Board meetings, usually held in central London or virtually, four times a year (usually between 4pm and 7pm). You are asked to attend the FoodCycle annual conference held on a weekend in October and a Trustee Away Day held in January.

We currently have three committees: Governance; Audit and Risk; Trading and Fundraising. You would be expected to join one of these committees to facilitate the work of the board. Each committee meets either once or twice for one hour between Board meetings.

Trustees serve three years on the FoodCycle Board with an option to extend. Please note this position is unremunerated. FoodCycle will reimburse reasonable expenses.

How to apply:Please upload a CV of no more than two sides, and a covering note/letter of no more than two sides explaining why you are suitable for the role. Please include your interest and motivation in applying for this position. Please apply via our vacancy website.

Deadline for your application:5pm Friday 31st January 2025

Interviews: planned for week commencing Monday 10th February 2025

Inclusivity: FoodCycle is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

Safeguarding: Safeguarding is everyone’s business – FoodCycle is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare / wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk. This role will therefore require a satisfactory DBS check.​​

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Be the difference on your doorstep.
Compassionate Neighbours are trained volunteers offering friendship, support and listening ear to people living in their local community, sometimes with serious, long-term or terminal illness who often struggle with loneliness.

By popping round for a cup of tea or a friendly chat once a week you can make a world of difference. You will be a good listener, kind and have a genuine interest in other people.

As a Compassionate Neighbour Volunteer you’ll not only gain new skills, confidence, and social networks; you’ll be making a difference in your local community.

Full training and support is provided. Training for our next intake will be held at the Hospice on the following dates:
Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 January 2025, 9.30am – 3.30pm

If you are unable to attend those, we have scheduled training later in the New Year as well:
Saturdays 15 & 22 March 2025, 9.30am – 3.30pm

Would you like to help end food poverty and tackle climate change and CO2 emissions in Greater Manchester, whilst at the same time gaining valuable CV-enhancing experience and skills?

What we offer you

Induction, training and support from the staff of FareShare and its parent charity, EMERGE 3Rs.

Practical experience and transferable skills in warehousing and food redistribution.

Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses up to £5.80 for travel and up to £3 for lunch, upon completion of a 4 hour shift. (We can also provide you with lunch if you don't bring your own).

A reference after 2 months with us.

An understanding of warehousing and logistics, and the importance of food surplus and recycling initiatives.

As a sustainability charity, we take surplus food that's donated to us and redistribute it to people in need. The front line initiatives we support include food banks, schools, community groups and charities who, in turn, help people who are disadvantaged by poverty.

Our vital work supports people experiencing extreme hardship and prevents perfectly good food going to landfill, where it would otherwise contribute to climate warming. 

We need helping hands in our busy warehouse to receive and catalogue supplies, to load and unload vans, and to prepare orders for delivery. In return we offer training and support to help you obtain skills and experience to boost your CV if you are seeking work. If you're not looking for employment, volunteering with us is rewarding in many other ways; offering an opportunity to make friends, keep physically active and support your community.

This role is vital to the work of FareShare, ensuring that the food in our warehouse is correctly sorted, labelled and organised into orders placed by our charities and community groups.

It is perfect for someone who is:

a) Looking for a practical activity.

b) Looking for experience and skills to gain employment in the food industry, warehousing and customer service.

c) Wanting to help their community and/or help tackle global warming.

d) Wanting to make new friends.

e) Wanting to keep busy and/or physically fit.

Our volunteer opportunities are available Monday to Friday, for a whole or half day, with shifts between 8:30-am - 12:30pm and 12:30 - 4:30pm. Volunteers are typically involved for one day a week.

What will I be doing?

Receiving, sorting, cataloguing and storing chilled and ambient surplus food in a warehouse, and preparing orders for delivery. You may also be assisting customers when they pick up their orders.

Ensuring food quality and safety by checking ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates.

Sorting and unpacking deliveries, categorising and recording food.

Assembling food orders placed by charities and community groups.

Assisting our Community Food Members with their food order collections. 

Maintaining health and safety and food hygiene standards. 

Helping with cleaning and other tasks identified by warehouse staff.

Person Specification: 

Must be reasonably physically fit to carry out tasks, including lifting and loading.

Have a good command of English in order to understand and follow instructions and health and safety rules. 

Have basic literacy and numeracy skills to record quantities and types of food donated.

Able to work in a manner that respects Health and Safety standards.

Be happy to complete tasks independently according to instruction.

Be positive, friendly and enthusiastic about tackling food waste and food poverty.

Must be reliable and able to commit to an agreed session/day.

We are located in our brand new depot at Maynard House, New Smithfield Market, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2WJ.

​IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be resident in the UK and living in Greater Manchester, or within easy commuting distance of our base, in order to volunteer with us.
This is because we require volunteers to be able to reliably commit to regular shifts for some of our roles.
We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

Know someone else who might be interested in volunteering with us?
Please pass our details on to them as we always welcome new people on our teams. :)

Join SUNSHINE and Make a BIG Impact!

VOLUNTEER

We are SUNSHINE, an inspiring brand new start-up grassroots social isolation charity with a mission to make a BIG impact. Our aim is to bring people together, spread happiness, and nurture community spirit through initiatives that build relationships, enhance wellbeing, and transform lives. We focus on supporting those at risk and living in social isolation, ensuring they have access to our support when they need it most.

We're at the beginning of our journey as a start-up and currently an unregistered charity, working towards our charity status within the next 2-3 months.

At SUNSHINE, we’re more than a charity; we’re a grassroots movement driven by compassion, dedication, and a shared vision. Our goal? To change the world—one smile at a time—with passionate, dedicated, and inspiring people at the heart of everything we do.

We can’t do this alone—we need you!

We’re seeking a volunteer to take on the essential role of Chair of the Board of Trustees, who will lead our board and ensure our governance and strategic direction align with our mission.

As the Chair of the Board of Trustees, you will play a crucial role in our transformative mission. Your role will involve:

• Leadership: Provide leadership to the board, ensuring effective governance and strategic direction.

• Strategic Vision: Work with the board and leadership team to develop and implement our strategic plan.

• Advocacy: Act as an ambassador for SUNSHINE, promoting our mission and values to stakeholders and the wider community.

• Governance: Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, and uphold the highest standards of governance.

• Collaboration: Foster a collaborative and inclusive board culture, encouraging diverse perspectives and ideas.

Who We’re Looking For:

• Leadership Experience: You have experience in a leadership role, preferably within the charity or non-profit sector.

• Strategic Thinker: You possess strong strategic thinking skills and the ability to see the big picture.

• Passionate Advocate: You resonate with our values and are driven to make a difference in the lives of others.

• Effective Communicator: You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others.

If you’re ready to take on this role and shine with us, please send your CV to apply.

We eagerly await your response and appreciate your interest in joining SUNSHINE!

SUNSHINE

Fostering Connections - Enhancing Wellbeing - Transforming Lives

NEW START-UP CHARITY NEEDS YOU!!!

VOLUNTEER!

Join SUNSHINE and Make a BIG Impact!

We are seeking motivated and enthusiastic volunteers to join our new charity and help us achieve our mission of creating positive change.

We need trustees who are not only reliable and trustworthy but also share our vision and commitment to making a lasting impact. As a trustee, you will play a crucial role in guiding our charity towards success, ensuring we uphold our values and deliver on our promises to the community.

We are SUNSHINE, an inspiring brand new start-up grassroots community-based charity with a mission to make a BIG impact. Our aim is to bring people together, spread happiness, and nurture community spirit through initiatives that build relationships, enhance wellbeing, and transform lives. We focus on supporting those at risk and living in social isolation, ensuring they have access to our support when they need it most.

We're at the beginning of our journey as a start-up and currently an unregistered charity, working towards our charity status within the next 2-3 months.

At SUNSHINE, we’re more than a charity; we’re a grassroots movement driven by compassion, dedication, and a shared vision. Our goal? To change the world—one smile at a time—with passionate, dedicated, and inspiring people at the heart of everything we do.

We are especially interested in people with experience in the following areas;

1. Lived Experience: Trustees who have personal experience with social isolation or loneliness can provide us with valuable insights and empathy and guide us on our journey, especially when making key decisions.

2. Community Engagement and Partnership Building: Experience in community development and engagement would help us  reach the communities we serve and help us build and maintain strong community connections and partnerships.

3. Fundraising and Financial Management: Trustees with skills in fundraising, budgeting, and financial oversight can help ensure the charity’s financial health and sustainability, especially in getting hands on to write funding grant applications to help us generate income or to lead on fundraising events to help us kickstart our charity.

4. Governance and Compliance: Knowledge of charity governance, legal requirements, and compliance would help us ensure the charity operates within the law and follows best practices.

5. Strategic Planning: Trustees should be able to contribute to the strategic direction of the charity, helping to set goals and develop plans to achieve them.

6. Marketing and Communications: Experience in marketing, public relations, and communications can help us to raise awareness of the charity’s mission and attract support, as well as expand our reach to those who need our support.

We also accept applications from people from other backgrounds and experiences who can really help our brand new start-up charity make a real difference.

As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in our transformative mission. Your role will involve:

• Governance Guardian: Oversee the governance of our charity, ensuring we operate within legal and ethical guidelines.
• Strategic Advisor: Provide strategic oversight and guidance to ensure our charity’s objectives are met.
• Fiduciary Steward: Monitor our financial health and ensure resources are used effectively to achieve our mission.
• Advocacy Ambassador: Represent SUNSHINE, advocating for our cause and building relationships with key stakeholders.
• Leadership Mentor: Support and mentor our team, embodying the values of SUNSHINE and fostering a culture of excellence and empathy.

We are looking for those with a Heart of Gold who resonate with our values and are driven to make a difference in the lives of others.

If you’re ready to take on this role and shine with us, please send your CV to apply.

We eagerly await your response and appreciate your interest in joining SUNSHINE!

Join us in this exciting journey and be a part of something truly meaningful. Together, we can make a difference and build a brighter future for those in need. Your passion and dedication can help us lead the way to success!

SUNSHINE

Fostering Connections - Enhancing Wellbeing - Transforming Lives

Help us continue to shape mental health and LGBT+ provision for children and young people by allowing access to preventive support services enabling them to achieve the best possible futures.

What will you be doing?

For 28 years The Centre Place has been providing vital services which relieve the suffering and distress of children and young people across Nottinghamshire. In recent years a combination of the reputation this work has earned the charity, and the increasing challenges faced by the children and young people we support, has led to a rapid expansion in the scale of our work. It is clear that, while the Centre Place is already doing exceptional work, to consolidate this expansion in our services and reach as many children and young people as possible, we need a step change in how the charity operates. This is why we are now inviting applicants to join the board as trustees. We believe every child should have access to preventive support services enabling them to achieve the best possible futures. Please consider joining us to bring this vision closer to reality across Nottinghamshire.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for individuals who meet all of the following core requirements and at least one of the specific requirements.

Core requirements:

•  An active concern for mental health support and LGBT+ and a commitment to increasing the impact of the charity in addressing this 
• Demonstrable appreciation and acknowledgment of the range and complexities of diversity 
• Act as an advocate & ambassador for the charity 
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort 
• Strategic vision, good independent judgement and an ability to think creatively 
• A willingness to speak their mind whilst working effectively as a member of a team 
• A commitment to integrity, honesty, accountability and openness 
• An understanding and acceptance of, or clear willingness to learn, the legal duties and responsibilities of trusteeship 
• Self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers 
• Cultural competence – specifically sensitivity and awareness 
• Demonstrable respect for diversity and value of individual difference 
• Champion for inclusivity and the fair and appropriate treatment of all people regardless of ethnicity, religious belief, gender identity, age, ability, sexual orientation, appearance or position. 
• Proactively seeks to reduce inequalities of disadvantaged groups and acts to raise awareness of the benefits of diversity and build active commitment to ensure equality of opportunity

Specific requirements - experience and expertise in one or more of the following areas: 

• Supporting the mental health of children and young people 
• Supporting the LGBT+ community 
• Growing and developing organisations (private sector/third sector/public sector) 
• Financial management and accounting (preferably chartered accountant) 
• Fundraising (preferably with experience in any of statutory, grant, community, challenge event, digital or campaign fundraising) 
• Communications and marketing 
• Human resource management and development 
• Legal expertise 
• Board experience across a wide range of organisations

What difference will you make?

• Have an opportunity to be a part of our important work with children and young people.
• Have the freedom to make the role your own and be influential in the strategic direction of the organisation. 
• Get to work with a small, friendly and united team.
• Have the space to get up to speed and settle into the role, with funding for the organisation secured into 2023/4. 
• Get the opportunity to join a small organisation that value diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility for all

Over the years we have supported thousands of disadvantaged, vulnerable children, young people and families, making a positive life-changing impact for them and for the wider community.

Ref CVV-241

Are you a dynamic, collaborative and creative individual with a proven record of engaging positively with young people vulnerable groups and families?  Do you have experience of providing support, advice and advocacy and the ability to assess clients’ needs?

If so, join St Giles Trust as a Community Violence Volunteer Mentor working on our CIRV service, supporting young people, adults and families who have been or at high risk of being affected by violence offending and or exploitation.

About St Giles Trust and Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV)

An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others. 

The Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) is a pilot service running across Wolverhampton and Coventry which seeks to engage children, young people and adults at risk who are within the criminal justice system due to criminality and violence and provide them with effective interventions to reduce the risk of reoffending and violence.

CIRV project is run through the Violence Reduction Unit and is a collaboration between West Midlands Police and a variety of agencies, including St Giles Trust. The service is for children and young people aged 14 years and older that are at risk of, or are experiencing, group-based violence and exploitation. St Giles Trust mentors will engage and support these young people and when their risk of violence has reduced, the young person will work with a volunteer mentor before exiting the service

About this key role

Our CIRV Volunteer Mentor will engage and support young people, adults, and families once they have been identified as being involved in a violence-related incident, being at risk of exploitation or gang-affiliated and build positive relationships with the clients and their families, plus work directly with them in order to promote positive change, build resilience, and prevent young people from experiencing significant harm.

As a mentor, you will be non-judgmental, reliable and respectful of the young person’s autonomy. You are not there to tell them what to do, your role is to explore options with them, support them to make good decisions and act as a transfer of trust between the young person and other agencies.  

What we expect from you:

• To strive for the best that you can do and complete your volunteering activities with dedication and commitment
• To attend any briefings and training that we think will help you in your placement
• Be positive about and support the work of St Giles
• Follow and operate within the policies and procedures of the organisation, including Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities
• Act responsibly and within the law
• Maintain confidentiality of St Giles activity, our clients, our team and our procedures
• Value and respect the rights of clients
• Work in partnership with staff and volunteers to make society a better place for our beneficiaries
• Let your volunteer manager know if you are having any problems or if you have any complaints, concerns or feedback
• Meet agreed time commitments and give reasonable notice when you’re not available so that arrangements can be made.

In return you will be introduced to how our organisation works and your role within it. Give information about St Giles work, policies, and procedures. Offer training, group supervision and support. Deliver a Level 2 Mentoring qualification.

Please note this role requires Enhanced Adult and Children DBS with the Child Barred List.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

Please apply early as interviews will be conducted when suitable applications are received.

Role: Welcome volunteer

Team: Tooting Hub – CARAS ESOL (Youth/Adult)

Supervised by: Team Project Coordinator

Location: Tooting Hub site

Activity times: Monday or Wednesday

Time commitment: 2 hour shifts on a rolling basis.

We ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 4 months

About CARAS:

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

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

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

Our values are at the centre of all our work:

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

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

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

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

About the Role:

We are currently recruiting a team of volunteers to join our new Welcome team at Tooting Hub. This is a new role. Welcome volunteers will provide a friendly face to existing community members attending our regular projects. They will also be the important ‘face of CARAS and our welcome at the door’ to people attending projects for the first time, to visitors and to people dropping in unannounced to enquire about CARAS’s service. Volunteers will meet and greet, and ensure all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting. There will be an administrative element to the role (updating registers and emailing enquiries to CARAS staff, for example).

Who will you be?

We work hard to ensure our services feel welcoming and inclusive. It is important that this new team is representative of our diverse local and internal CARAS community. Whether you are new to volunteering with CARAS or are a regular volunteer looking to vary your role or a community member wanting to develop some leadership skills or volunteering experience, this might be the exact project for you.

Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities: 

· Signing up to a shift/s on the Tooting HUB welcome team rota

· Able to be at Tooting Hub in person to complete agreed shifts

· Welcoming staff, volunteers, existing and potential new community members and visitors

· Ensuring all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting

· Ensuring everyone completes the onsite register on arrival to comply with safeguarding, health and safety and fire evacuation policies

· Taking agreed initial intake information for new / drop in visitors wanting to attend a taster activity

· Conducting induction tours of the building and introductions to facilities, key staff, and partners

Requirements (all experience can be from paid or voluntary roles): 

Essential: 

· A calm, friendly, kind, and patient approach

· Happy and confident to meet new people and put them at their ease

· Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English

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

· Confidence in using one’s own judgement to follow agreed policy

· Good IT admin skills in using Microsoft office, outlook, Google search, online forms etc

· A commitment to confidentiality and data protection

· Punctual and reliable

· To be able to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays for a minimum of four months

Desirable:

· Lived experience of seeking sanctuary and/ or the UK immigration system.

· Personal experience of working with people seeking asylum.

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

We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process.

Benefits to Volunteering:

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

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team.

· Develop your skills and competencies.

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

· Obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months’ regular volunteering

· All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. *

· You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.

We are Penderels Trust, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting people with disabilities and long-term health conditions to live independently. Our vision is for a world where disabled individuals can simply get on with their lives. One way we make this possible is by helping people manage the process of purchasing their own care. Based in Coventry, we support over 15,000 individuals across the country, with a team of 200 staff in six offices. Most of our work is delivered under contracts with local authorities or the NHS.

We are looking for someone to join us who has experience of sitting on a Board of Trustees and ideally, someone looking to become Chair within the next 12 months.

What will you be doing?

Are you passionate about making a difference to people with disabilities who live independently? Do you have the skills and dedication to help steer our organisation towards an exciting future? If so, we want to hear from you.

As a trustee, you will: 

• Provide strategic direction and oversight. 
• Ensure the organisation is financially stable and compliant with legal requirements. 
• Support and challenge the executive team to achieve our mission. 
• Act as an ambassador for the organisation, promoting our work and values.

Mostly during office hours. Estimate of time needed: 0-5 hours / month

What are we looking for?

We are seeking individuals who have:

• A strong commitment to our mission and values. 
• An understanding of governance, excellent financial acumen and experience of strong leadership. 
• Vision and be able to inspire others to work towards it. 
• A strategic focus and able to guide the board and management team to set and achieve long-term goals. 
• Integrity and accountability to stakeholders. 
• Experience and knowledge of the health and/or social care sector.

What difference will you make?

We are a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities or long-term health conditions to live independently. As a member of our board you will be helping to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities using our independent living services. 

Before you apply

Please contact us via the Reach platform for an application pack. Or If you are interested in joining our board of trustees, please send us your CV and a cover letter outlining your interest and what you can bring to the role via the Reach platform.

Nova New Opportunities is an educational charity based near Ladbroke Grove. As we ease out of London, we are looking for volunteers to help on day trips in and around London to support families in getting back to normality again.

Trips will include anything from horse riding through to the beach, farms and Kew Gardens. This is an opportunity to help families from marginalised communities while gaining experience of working with a small, friendly and supportive charity.

Volunteers will help the group leader to accompany groups of parents/guardians and their children on a variety of cultural/fun trips, helping to make them feel welcome. 

Suitable volunteers will be reliable and sociable and enjoy working with children. Volunteers must be available for day trips during school holidays, as this is when most of the trips take place.

Volunteers receive a full induction, and support from the Children and Young People Coordinator. Travel expenses on the outings and any entrance fees are covered, and some further expenses can also be claimed.