Social Welfare Volunteer Roles
Carers Trust Hillingdon is the leading charity in the London Borough of Hillingdon and we are looking for enthusiastic and caring individuals to provide a warm and friendly welcome to all our visitors and support the staff in a variety of administrative tasks.
Our vision is to be recognised as the gateway to a better life for all unpaid carers in Hillingdon.
Main purpose of volunteering role
To provide a warm and friendly welcome to all our visitors and support the staff with a variety of administrative tasks.
Availability
The role is required on Mondays and/or Wednesdays, 10am – 4pm.
Location
Based at Carers Trust Hillingdon offices on Uxbridge High Street, UB8 1JT.
Key responsibilities
· Work on your own in the Advice Centre welcoming visitors
· Be patient and empathetic to any visitors and call for an appropriate staff member to deal with the concern
· Answer incoming calls and transferring to appropriate member of staff
· Make calls on behalf of the staff, inviting carers to activities etc.
· Various administrative tasks such as photocopying and inputting data
· Input data onto charity log
· Help support outreach activity
· Help support fund raising activities
Specialist skills/training/knowledge
· Good communication and interpersonal skills to be able to talk to clients
· Good telephone and computer skills
· Show high standards of professional behaviour and appearance
· Be able to reach the venue via public transport or own transport (expenses will be paid)
Two references will be required
Our Trustees are the people who lead the charity and decide how it is run. Being a Trustee at Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland means making decisions that will impact on people’s lives.
As a Trustee, you will make a difference to your local community. You’ll have a key role assisting in the overall management and development of Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland ensuring that all organisational and legal requirements are adhered to.
In particular, we are looking for Trustees with professional backgrounds and experience in the following areas:
- Health
- Social Care
- Marketing
- Human Resources
- IT & Technology
Visit website and download job description, person specification and application form and follow how to apply instructions.
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 partnering with the Social Interest Group (‘SIG’) to appoint new Trustees to join their board. SIG brings charities together to work under one umbrella focusing on delivering good quality social and health care services. They support people who are in the criminal justice system, stepping down from hospital recovering from mental ill health and those moving away from periods of homelessness, recovering from substance and alcohol issues.
Their Mission is to create powerful partnerships and solutions that bridge the gaps in local health and social care so people can live happy, healthy, productive and fulfilled lives.
SIG (the parent company), their subsidiaries SIG Penrose, SIG Housing Trust, SIG Equinox, SIG Pathways to Independence and SIG Safe Ground, work to tackle social and health care inequalities and fill gaps in service provision in order to ensure that people in our society have every opportunity to live fulfilled, healthy and constructive lives.
Through their values they are committed to:
- Delivering excellence and innovation
- Promoting equality and mutual respect
- A belief that positive change is possible
- Involving and consulting service users
- Active citizenship and community involvement
- Valuing staff, harnessing their full potential
They are keen to have an inclusive board, therefore backgrounds and experience is less important as the need for the passion, ambition and interest to help SIG fulfil its mission is the primary requirement.
As mentioned, your background is less important but if you are in IT, Public Relations & Marketing, Operations, (maybe you have or are a COO) engaged in the medical profession with an emphasis on mental health, a service user or carer is of interest to the current board.
The successful candidates will demonstrate:
- A clear commitment to the mission and values of the Group
- The capacity to participate actively and from an informed position.
- A willingness to use personal networks and resources of relevance to their charitable purpose.
- A passion for their work, and to promoting SIG and its subsidiaries as an organisation.
- A firm understanding and respect for the Nolan Principles of Public Life
Meetings are held in the evening at their head office in the Angel/Highbury & Islington area or virtually; there are 4 meetings plus one ‘away day’ each year. The total time commitment is in the region of eight hours per month.
For more information, please contact Sandra Smith, Associate Director, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Applications should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.
Closing date for applications: 6 May 2024
Interviews: TBC
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
As a mentor on our young peoples programmes, your support will:
- Empower your mentee to help them achieve and identify goals to get them where they want to be, through encouraging your mentee to consider future options and assist them in developing strategies to attain their goals.
- Develop a trusting, supportive and non-judgemental relationship, to support them through their challenges by providing emotional, social and practical support to boost confidence and independence.
- Support your mentee to make social connections with their local community, services or groups and refer and signpost them to other organisations providing more specialist support if needed.
What impact will this have?
- By becoming a mentor with Unfold, you will be supporting those who often face exclusion, this as, although we are open to everyone, 93% of our service users are from racialised groups, 60% of our referrals come from other supporting service and we have also adapted our services to support Afghan evacuees
- With the opportunity to be a mentor for a young person on our Asylum Seeker programme, you will be a welcoming and reliable person of support in often difficult and challenging times, supporting the navigation of achieving goals in new environment.
- With 89% of the young people we work with saying that having a mentor has improved their life, your skills and experiences are needed and will have a positive impact.
Commitment
- We ask volunteers to commit to delivering mentoring1–2-hour a week, over a period of 24 sessions. Through mentee and mentor testimonies we have seen the positive impact holding sessions in person vs online has, and so we would ask any perspective volunteers to be prepared to be available for all in person session should this be the required need of your mentee.
- Attend monthly online group supervisions held weekday evenings. Supervisions are a great place to meet other mentors, share skills and ideas around mentoring, hear from organisation who can enhance your mentoring experience as well get support with the challenges you may face.
Training
- We provide training based in positive psychology building skills that are transferrable, such as empathic leadership, coaching-style approaches, the growth mindset, mentoring, inclusion and more and an additional 1 hour training for mentors supporting asylum seekers.
- Throughout your mentoring journey, we’re always on hand to help, with ongoing support from a designated Programme Officer, as well as a range of tailored resources.
Background checks
- A DBS check is required.
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!
Mentors for Women provide emotional, social and practical support to women with children aged 5 and up, either online or face to face.
Asa mentor you will
- Empower women to identify changes they wish to make and goals they wish to achieve.
- Over 12 to 24 weekly sessions, offer coaching style support to women to help them achieve their goals and get them where they want to be.
- Provide a listening ear and talk thorough the challenges women face.
- Support women to make social connections with their local community or groups, refer and signpost them to other organisations providing more specialist support if needed.
What impact will this have?
Your mentoring will help women break cycles of social isolation, improve family cohesion, and wellbeing by providing support in a wide range of issues.
By being part of the Unfold mentor family you will be helping us to have greater reach in making a positive impact in the lives of many vulnerable families and young people, living in Westminster.
Commitment
- We ask volunteers to commit to delivering mentoring for 1–2-hours a week, over a period of 24 in person sessions. Although occasionally session are held online, through mentee and mentor testimonies we have seen the positive impact holding sessions in person vs online has, and so we would ask any perspective volunteers to be prepared to be available for all in person session should this be the required need of your mentee.
- Attending monthly group online meetings, which is a great opportunity for all the mentors to come together discuss challenges, successes and further develop mentoring skills.
Training
Through our comprehensive training and ongoing support, you will develop skills in positive psychology and coaching style techniques, cover topics including safeguarding, confidentiality, the person-centred approach and the growth mindset all of which will help you to effectively support someone to making steps towards positive change.
Mentors have a designated Programme Officer, offering 1-2-1 support when you need it.
What else do I need to know?
- A DBS check is required
- Due to the nature of our users of this programme, we are only accepting female volunteers for this role.
- In person session will take place near to where your mentee lives, within Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea boroughs.
- We especially welcome mentors over the age of 50, for our Women2Women: Sharing Wisdom, Sharing Lives sub programme. This is a great opportunity if you are looking to bridge a gap in your CV and get back into work. We provide references and development opportunities through training.
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!
- Mentors for Refugees will empower women to overcome challenging circumstances and help them find ways to connect and integrate with their local community.
- Mentors will support women to make social connections with the local community and groups, refer and signpost them to other organisations providing more specialist support if needed.
- Mentors will provide a safe space to discuss the challenges women face. Through encouragement and active listening, mentors will support their mentees’ mental wellbeing.
What impact will this have?
- Mentors will help women break cycles of social isolation, improve family cohesion and wellbeing.
- By being part of the Unfold mentor family you will be helping us to have greater reach in making a positive impact on the lives of many vulnerable women, living in Westminster.
- By becoming a mentor with Unfold you will be supporting one of the most vulnerable groups in our communities. We aim to break the barriers that keep refugee women excluded from mainstream services.
Training
Through our comprehensive training and ongoing support, you will develop skills in positive psychology and coaching style techniques, cover topics including safeguarding, confidentiality, the person-centred approach and the growth mindset, all of which will help you to effectively support someone to making steps towards positive change.
Commitment
- We ask volunteers to commit to delivering mentoring for 1–2-hours a week, over a period of 24 in person sessions. Although occasionally session are held online, through mentee and mentor testimonies we have seen the positive impact holding sessions in person vs online has, and so we would ask any perspective volunteers to be prepared to be available for all in person session should this be the required need of your mentee.
- Attending monthly group online meetings, which is a great opportunity for all the mentors to come together discuss challenges, successes and further develop mentoring skills.
What else do I need to know?
- A DBS check is required
- Due to the nature of our users of this programme, we are only accepting female volunteers for this role.
- In person session will take place near to where your mentee lives, within Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea boroughs.
- We especially welcome mentors over the age of 50, for our Women2Women: Sharing Wisdom, Sharing Lives sub programme. This is a great opportunity if you are looking to bridge a gap in your CV and get back into work. We provide references and development opportunities through training.
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 the Role
We are looking for a Volunteer to assist in the running of our new Wednesday Evening Service programme of activities at Headway East London. The Evening Service is a new opportunity for people living with brain injury in the East London area to join our community.
Volunteering with us, you’ll get involved in the fun and creative activities going on at our Evening Service. Every week is different: you could help in our art studio, assist in the kitchen or take part in a music session. You’ll be supporting our members one-to-one and in groups. You don’t need any special skills or knowledge, we’ll give you the induction you need, and support is always on hand, with regular volunteer meetings, training sessions and supervision.
Main Duties
- To help Headway staff manage the activity programme for each member by offering one-to-one support or in small groups.
- To assist members with specific activities that prove challenging for them i.e., using computers, cooking, engaging in art activities.
- To initiate discussion, games or activities and encourage members to take part.
- To help floor staff around dinner time (food preps. setting up tables, dishing out and serving food).
- To assist with keeping the Headway centre safe, clean, and tidy all times by taking on tasks such as collecting and washing cups, tidying up resources' shelves, wiping tables before lunch etc…
- To inform floor staff about activities undertaken with members and any significant changes in mood or behaviour. To take members to social events and outings and being able to assist individuals needing to use a wheelchair.
- To undergo training as required and attend volunteer debriefs and supervision. To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required.
Person Specification
- Aged 18 or over.
- Experience working with people clear and sensitive communication.
- Ability to relate well to people on a one-to-one basis and be sympathetic to others’ situations.
- Willing to participate in a variety of activities appropriate for our members.
- Prepared to lead an activity with a small group of members.
- Committed to the values, vision, and objectives of Headway East London.
- Committed to equal opportunity and able to maintain confidentiality.
Commitment
The role requires a minimum commitment of at least 4 months, every Wednesday from 3.30pm to 8.30pm. Volunteers need to sign a volunteer agreement and confidentiality form.
Training/Support
Each volunteer is given an induction which includes information on health & safety, fire precautions, confidentiality, equal opportunities, and a brief outline of the long-term effects of head injury.
As part of this role, you will receive ongoing support and you will have the opportunity to gain experience in Health and Social Care.
- To fully support our volunteers in their role we provide: regular volunteer meetings.
- Training sessions delivered by our specialist staff a regular debrief session.
- One to one supervision starting after the first 4 months and yearly appraisal meetings.
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!
Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You just need the ability to listen, strong IT skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.
What is a Caseworker?
Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of support they need. You will listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help those serving, who have served and their families to navigate life in and beyond military service. Some examples of support are securing funding for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical, and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can complete the administration part of the role from home as long as you have access to IT equipment and the internet.
What would you be doing?
- Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time.
- Meeting beneficiaries and completing a form to assess their circumstances, using good communication skills, empathy and understanding.
- Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice.
- Applying for funding on the behalf of the beneficiary through a specific process and system
- Arranging for the purchase of goods and services
- Keeping the beneficiary informed of their case progress.
- Liaise with the branch and regional office, regarding your availability.
- Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
- Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, and caseworker IT system training. The caseworker training takes 3 days and a further half a day for the other training.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
- Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
- Regular opportunities to meet and share best practice with other caseworkers.
- Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.
- Good communication skills both written and verbally.
- Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
- Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and to enter cases on the Casework Management System. Willingness and ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
- Ability to make enquires on behalf of beneficiaries by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms.
- Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice
- Reliable, prompt and trustworthy.
- Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including checks against the children and adults barred list)
*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered.
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!
Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You just need the ability to listen, strong IT skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear form you.
What is a caseworker?
Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of support they need. You will listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help those serving, who have served and their families to navigate life in and beyond military service. Some examples of support are securing funding for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical, and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can complete the administration part of the role from home as long as you have access to IT equipment and the internet.
What would you be doing?
- Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time.
- Meeting beneficiaries and completing a form to assess their circumstances, using good communication skills, empathy and understanding.
- Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice.
- Applying for funding on the behalf of the beneficiary through a specific process and system
- Arranging for the purchase of goods and services
- Keeping the beneficiary informed of their case progress.
- Liaise with the branch and regional office, regarding your availability.
- Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
- Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, and caseworker IT system training. The caseworker training takes 3 days and a further half a day for the other training.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
- Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
- Regular opportunities to meet and share best practice with other caseworkers.
- Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.
- Good communication skills both written and verbally.
- Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
- Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and to enter cases on the Casework Management System. Willingness and ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
- Ability to make enquires on behalf of beneficiaries by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms.
- Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice
- Reliable, prompt and trustworthy.
- Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including checks against the children and adults barred list)
*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered.
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!
Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You don’t need a military background, just patience, and an ability to get on with people from different backgrounds and age groups. If so, this could be the role for you.
What is a Visitor?
SSAFA Visitors provide support to isolated people living at home or in residential care. Whilst a friendly chat about the old days over a cup of tea is an important aspect of the role you will also be able to recognise any other support needs and explore how to link your client into their local community.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
With the gift of time and a listening ear you can improve someone’s quality of life for far longer than the hour or so you might spend with them. We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us to help more people!
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need a driving licence and access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or elsewhere.
Some volunteers will visit more people than others. Whilst you will visit a client on a regular basis for a period, you will not be developing the kind of relationship where you would provide personal care, handle money or support someone in an emergency. SSAFA can help clients to arrange other types of support if needed.
What would you be doing?
- Contacting clients and arranging to meet them regularly at their home or care home for uninterrupted conversation.
- Letting the divisional secretary know of any concerns for your or the client’s safety.
- Arranging for a SSAFA caseworker to assess the client for other support as required.
- Chatting, making a cup of tea, playing cards, looking at photo albums, military mementos etc
- Helping your client to think about ways to reduce their isolation and support them to put these into practice.
- Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability.
- Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and Data Protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What could you gain from this volunteering role?
- Support people in your community with a military background using your patience, time, and empathy.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression.
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, friendship, and befriending. This training would take approx. 4 hours.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Local Induction
- Access to the Volunteer Support Team based at our central office.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable people with good listening skills, patience, and a cheerful attitude
- Good spoken English
- Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues.
- Ability to keep within the boundaries of the role with regards to friendship, finances etc.
- Reliable attitude, contact clients promptly, keep regular appointments, update the branch regarding your availability.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely (within SSAFA policies)
- Willingness to travel by public transport or car to appointments with clients.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer This role requires an enhanced check.
*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered.
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!
Would you like to support those feeling socially isolated and lonely within the local serving community? Could you spare a few hours a week to organise group activities that bring people together?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
What is a Community Connection Champion?
The aim of the role is to promote connection by developing and facilitating social groups and activities within the local serving community.
Tasks will include planning group activities that are sociable and of interest to the community. It also involves coordinating and delivering sessions. You will receive training and have support from a dedicated project officer as you establish a variety of groups.
What difference will you make?
Armed Forces life can bring its challenges when a loved-one is deployed overseas, or a family must move to a new location. Some people can find themselves feeling lonely or socially isolated, they may struggle to meet and connect with new people due to their confidence, work commitments or because they don’t live in Service Family Accommodation.
Community Connection Champions will play a vital role in tackling these challenges by creating welcoming, engaging group opportunities that bring people together.
What will you be doing?
Although every SSAFA Team has different needs, below are the main activities of a Community Connection Champion:
- Creating and Planning: Working with the Project Officer to plan, develop and organise groups and activities that are best suited to their local serving community.
- Communication and Teamwork: Keeping in touch with the local Community Volunteer Coordinator and attending s meetings.
- Networking and Engagement: Reaching out with those who are interested in attending activities, providing support and encouragement for them to attend, including those who face barriers to attending.
- Facilitating group sessions: Delivering group activities in line with agreed plans, signposting attendees to external support as required and in line with SSAFA’s safeguarding policy and procedures.
- Recording and reporting on activities: Sharing activity plans with the SSAFA Project Team, tracking attendance, and encouraging attendees to complete the relevant paperwork to support Project reporting and development.
What about training and support?
- Volunteers will need to complete E-learning courses covering topics including GDPR and safeguarding plus a 1.5hr webinar which focuses on understanding the impact of loneliness and social isolation, what helps to reduce those feelings and the skills needed to develop and facilitate groups.
- Support from a dedicated Project Officer who will work with you to plan and develop the groups and activities.
- Support from your local Community Volunteer Coordinator and SSAFA’s Regional and Central Volunteer Operations colleagues.
- Access to a range of e-learning courses, resources and local opportunities to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
- Regular meetings and events to learn and share information.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out their role.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Give back to the serving community
- Support people in your local serving community using your patience, time and life experience, helping them to build local connections.
- Support and friendship from your local SSAFA Serving Community Team and the wider SSAFA community
- Gain experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews, such as planning sessions, organising activities and group facilitation.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable people with great communication skills.
- Excellent understanding of the importance of boundaries and confidentiality
- Non-judgemental approach and alignment with SSAFA’s values
- Some experience of delivering groups sessions or team leadership is beneficial but not essential as training will be provided
- A willingness to adhere to all relevant organisational policies and procedures.
This role would suit someone who would like to make a regular weekly commitment of a couple of hours.
As this is a new initiative, we are keen to understand what works to support the local serving community. We expect groups to run in the evenings and weekends, as well as during the week.
A typical group might run once weekly for a 6-week period. Face to face sessions are likely to run in community venues such as community centres but we also want to explore how virtual groups can be used to support those who can’t access face to face sessions.
Please note this is a volunteer role and does not form part of any contract of employment.
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!
Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You don’t need a military background, just some spare time occasionally, and an ability to get on with people from diverse backgrounds and age groups. If so, this could be the role for you.
What is a Helper?
SSAFA Helpers provide support to local SSAFA branches, so that the service to veterans and their families can run smoothly. Perhaps you could help out at an event, take care of some office admin, or give a talk about SSAFA?
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
We have peak times throughout the year when we need extra volunteers. Whether you enjoy organising behind the scenes or being out meeting the public, we need people who can offer some time on a flexible basis.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
This role will suit you if you are looking to volunteer on a flexible basis as and when you are available, and we need extra help. You may be based in an office, at home, or out and about at events.
What would you be doing?
- Helping at public events by staffing stalls, stewarding etc
- Helping to distribute Christmas hampers to clients.
- Giving talks about SSAFA to schools and local groups
- Helping with office tasks like stuffing envelopes, ordering marketing materials
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What could you gain from this volunteering role?
- Support people in your community with a military background
- Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Local induction
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable people with a cheerful attitude
- Good spoken English
- Ability to represent SSAFA and its values to potential clients, their families, other agencies, potential volunteers and potential funders.
- Ability to keep within the boundaries of the role with regards to safeguarding, giving advice etc.
- Reliable attitude, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely.
- Access to transport if needed for your role.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities to have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? No
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!
Would you like to support those feeling socially isolated and lonely within the local serving community? Could you spare a few hours a week to organise group activities that bring people together?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
What is a Community Connection Champion?
The aim of the role is to promote connection by developing and facilitating social groups and activities within the local serving community.
Tasks will include planning group activities that are sociable and of interest to the community. It also involves coordinating and delivering sessions. You will receive training and have support from a dedicated project officer as you establish a variety of groups.
What difference will you make?
Armed Forces life can bring its challenges when a loved-one is deployed overseas, or a family must move to a new location. Some people can find themselves feeling lonely or socially isolated, they may struggle to meet and connect with new people due to their confidence, work commitments or because they don’t live in Service Family Accommodation.
Community Connection Champions will play a vital role in tackling these challenges by creating welcoming, engaging group opportunities that bring people together.
What will you be doing?
Although every SSAFA Team has different needs, below are the main activities of a Community Connection Champion:
- Creating and Planning: Working with the Project Officer to plan, develop and organise groups and activities that are best suited to their local serving community.
- Communication and Teamwork: Keeping in touch with the local Community Volunteer Coordinator and attending s meetings.
- Networking and Engagement: Reaching out with those who are interested in attending activities, providing support and encouragement for them to attend, including those who face barriers to attending.
- Facilitating group sessions: Delivering group activities in line with agreed plans, signposting attendees to external support as required and in line with SSAFA’s safeguarding policy and procedures.
- Recording and reporting on activities: Sharing activity plans with the SSAFA Project Team, tracking attendance, and encouraging attendees to complete the relevant paperwork to support Project reporting and development.
What about training and support?
- Volunteers will need to complete E-learning courses covering topics including GDPR and safeguarding plus a 1.5hr webinar which focuses on understanding the impact of loneliness and social isolation, what helps to reduce those feelings and the skills needed to develop and facilitate groups.
- Support from a dedicated Project Officer who will work with you to plan and develop the groups and activities.
- Support from your local Community Volunteer Coordinator and SSAFA’s Regional and Central Volunteer Operations colleagues.
- Access to a range of e-learning courses, resources and local opportunities to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
- Regular meetings and events to learn and share information.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out their role.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Give back to the serving community
- Support people in your local serving community using your patience, time and life experience, helping them to build local connections.
- Support and friendship from your local SSAFA Serving Community Team and the wider SSAFA community
- Gain experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews, such as planning sessions, organising activities and group facilitation.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable people with great communication skills.
- Excellent understanding of the importance of boundaries and confidentiality
- Non-judgemental approach and alignment with SSAFA’s values
- Some experience of delivering groups sessions or team leadership is beneficial but not essential as training will be provided
- A willingness to adhere to all relevant organisational policies and procedures.
This role would suit someone who would like to make a regular weekly commitment of a couple of hours.
As this is a new initiative, we are keen to understand what works to support the local serving community. We expect groups to run in the evenings and weekends, as well as during the week.
A typical group might run once weekly for a 6-week period. Face to face sessions are likely to run in community venues such as community centres but we also want to explore how virtual groups can be used to support those who can’t access face to face sessions.
Please note this is a volunteer role and does not form part of any contract of employment.
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!
Market Drayton Foodbank is committed to helping those facing food poverty, whilst also seeking to help our clients address some of its underlying causes. The Board of Trustees are looking for someone with accounting experience to join the Board as a Trustee, who will be able to advise on financial matters, ensure we meet our financial obligations and help us build a sound financial strategy as we move forward.
Key Tasks:
All Trustees
- To work alongside the Trustee board to ensure the organisation’s financial dealings are systematically accounted for and on time, independently examined (on income over £25k) and made publicly available when necessary.
- Ensure your charity is accountable, actively complying with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and the law.
- To ensure appropriate financial plans are in place for future budget allocations as well as looking after contractual agreements with external partners that award money for core costs and additional projects.
- To help promote the organisation to a wider audience of potential funders and beneficiaries.
- To ensure the Foodbank has appropriate procedures to: comply with current legislation and good practice; including employment, health and safety, equal opportunities, safeguarding & GDPR compliance/data protection etc.
- Act with reasonable care and skill, giving your time, thought and energy to the role.
- To serve as an additional promoter of the Foodbank in the community.
- To work with and support the Foodbank Manager as required
Finance Lead
- This role involves leading on the financial affairs of the Foodbank and ensuring that they are conducted within the required legal, accounting and good practice conventions.
- It is also the responsibility of the Financial Lead to work in partnership with the Chairperson, Foodbank Manager, Treasurer and other Trustees to ensure the financial viability and development of the organisation.
- Ensure the Trustee board fulfils its financial responsibilities.
- Ensure that the Foodbank has proper systems for budgeting, financial control, insurance, and reporting.
- Work alongside the Market Drayton Foodbank Treasurer to inform the Trustee board members of the finances of the Foodbank by written report, at least on a quarterly basis ensuring that the board have a clear picture of the financial health of the Foodbank.
- Ensure that financial reports:
- Are comprehensible and properly discussed at Trustee board meetings.
- Are provided in the proper format and at the proper time, as required by the relevant charity regulator body (Charity Commission of England & Wales, Charity Commission of Northern Island or OSCR etc).
- Have properly appointed auditors or independent examiners (on income over £25k).
- Are reported on an annual basis at annual general meetings (AGMs).
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!
Could you help to raise vital funds for SSAFA in your local area? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with all kinds of people, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If you already have some fundraising experience that would be great too but it’s not essential.
What is a Fundraising Coordinator?
As Fundraising Coordinator, you would work with your local SSAFA branch to develop a Fundraising Plan. You would be central to delivering this local plan to raise funds through a range of local sources including grants, trusts, appeals, collections, and events.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
SSAFA branches rely on a regular charitable income to fund all the necessities behind our support for clients. This includes volunteer travel expenses, phone bills, publicity, and grants for clients in urgent needs. A varied programme of fundraising also keeps the SSAFA profile high in the local community. We’d love to hear from you if you could help by coordinating this vital aspect of your local SSAFA branch.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. You would also be out and about at events and meetings. This role would suit someone looking to give a regular time commitment to SSAFA although when and where would be flexible to suit you.
What would you be doing?
- Developing an ethical fundraising plan based on the needs of the branch and choosing a mix of sources.
- Working with the branch secretary and Regional Fundraising Manager, recruit a team of fundraising volunteers to support events, appeals and collections.
- Working with the Regional Fundraising Manager, support national fundraising campaigns.
- Working with the Branch Publicity Officer, develop opportunities to combine awareness and fundraising.
- Planning and running local appeals, collections, and events
- Identifying and submitting applications to appropriate trusts and grant funding organisations
- Working with Marketing staff at central office check that all fundraising materials meet SSAFA branding style and current key messages.
- Liaise with Regional Fundraising Manager when pursuing opportunities beyond local sources e.g., corporates.
- Evaluate fundraising activities and provide reports and information for the branch.
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA including all sections of the community in awareness raising
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising funds used directly to support clients.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - Fundraising workshops.
- Access to a range of e-learning courses, fundraising guidance, and marketing materials
- Fundraising Manager (per region)
- Fundraising and Marketing teams based at our central office.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable people with good communication skills including written and spoken English.
- Confident to deal with the public, potential clients, volunteers, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues – face-to-face, by phone, email or via social media.
- Experience of running events and or submitting funding applications would be welcome but not essential.
- Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
- Ability to make enquires about fundraising opportunities by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms
- Reliable attitude, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely.
- Access to public transport or a car to get to meetings and events.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? No
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.