Volunteer Roles in South East

We have 250 local groups which play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS across the UK. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Group Coordinator for our Horsham, Crawley and District group. As our local Group Coordinator you’ll take the lead in making sure your local group works as effectively as possible. You’ll recruit, induct and support other group volunteers to make sure your group’s activities meet the needs of your local MS community. You can see a video about one of our Group Coordinators here.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your leadership, management, communication, organisation and motivation skills. 

Time Commitment

We estimate this role will need around 5 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

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

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the Horsham, Crawley and District area to carry out this role.

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

A bit about this role

If you enjoy driving and would love to use those skills to help our cats, this could be the role for you. Our transport volunteers provide vital assistance to our teams and volunteer groups in the local area by transporting equipment, litter, food– and even cats! They have the essential role of connecting our network of volunteers, sites, vets and supporters.

Without the passionate and committed teams of volunteers across Cats Protection, we wouldn’t be able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us for help.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Arranging and transporting equipment, litter and cat food
• Transporting cats to and from vets, foster homes and centres
• Transporting equipment to and from events

BCHA is a dynamic, charitable housing association providing housing, support and employability & skills services to people who are experiencing homeless or other forms of social need. We manage around 1400 short-stay and long-stay homes in Plymouth, Exeter, Yeovil, Wiltshire, Dorset and Bournemouth-Christchurch-Poole with a strong mission to provide accommodation and services for those most in need.

We have just launched our new 5-year Strategic Plan and welcome you to join us work towards our exciting new vision that everyone has a home nd the opportunity to thrive.

We are currently seeking to recruit non-executive board members to fill current and future vacancies. These roles are unpaid.

Along with a passion to make a difference, we are especially looking to attract candidates who have strong experience of any or all of the following:

· Charity/not-for-profit governance

· managing growing organisations

· health and social care commissioning

If have the right motivation and skills to offer and want to join us on our journey in delivering our new Strategic Plan, BCHA would love to hear from you!

Aim: 

To support applicants with writing their applications. 

Brief:

We need a volunteer to help some applicants write their applications. 

An important distinction is to be made here - your role is to help someone write a clear application. You are not here to help them develop their idea or to turn it into something it’s not.

Applicants answer these questions:

1. What is their Grand Plan? (300 words)

2. Why is now the right time to do it? (100 words)

3. What is your budget? 

These answers are then marked against these criteria:

Why you? Is there a clear idea of who you are and why you’re doing what you’re doing? This might be different from other application forms but we want Grand Plan to be as human as possible, so don’t be afraid to be a human in your writing! Give us a sense of your background, where you are coming from, and what you are passionate about. This will help us know why now is the right time, and why you are the right person to make it happen. This doesn’t have to be very long, conceptual, or include lots of fancy accolades. It might be more relevant to tell us a story about why you are where you are at with your creative work, or who or what has shaped or inspired you.

Why now? Why is this the right time for you to grow your creative project? Tell us what you have done so far to bring this project to life, and how the money would give you a significant boost. Is there an urgent need that this grant will address or have you pushed your work as far as you can? Or tell us how you haven't been able to have this R&D time before, what a difference it would make for your work long term to be able to do so.

Is it realistic to make your project happen for £1,000 or at least cover the majority of costs, and have you given a rough breakdown of how you’d spend the money? For the judges to be able to understand what you need the £1,000 for, it is important to give even a very brief indication of how the money would be spent, broken down into ballpark figures i.e. £200 mentoring, £300 equipment, £400 to pay myself, £100 for materials - or whatever makes sense for your Grand Plan! We don’t need a detailed budget and this can of course change, but give us a rough idea so we can see if your idea is doable with the grant, and why £1,000 will make a difference for you.

And lastly, is it likely that you could get the money elsewhere? We want to fund those projects we feel are not as likely to find support from major funders. 

Process: 

We will ask applicants to come to you with bullet points for ideas of what their project is. This is the minimum; some may come with a written application that needs tweaking. 

You will then read through what they have and help write clearer sentence structures. While we try not to judge on things like grammar and spelling, this does often help clarify the project’s ambitions. 

The aim is to work in a collaborative Google Doc, but if that is not possible, we will explore other options. 

To keep this collaborative and not overwhelm the applicants, I suggest you use ‘suggestion’ mode in Google Docs to track any changes made to their work. This way, they can only accept edits they are happy with. 

Keep sentences simple and to the point. We need to be sold on your vision, but it doesn’t need to be overwritten. Using simple and straightforward language helps give us clarity on your project.

We will allow applicants up to two rounds of feedback - meaning you can work on the application a maximum of three times. We ask applicants to group their feedback. 

Applicants

This will be open to applicants who are disabled, including those with dyslexia or dyspraxia. So it’s important to be patient and anticipate that they may not have the clearest written communication. 

Are you passionate about law, policy, and effective communications? Statewatch, a small team dedicated to promoting civil liberties and human rights through research, reporting and analysis, is seeking a motivated volunteer to assist in our efforts to make legal and political information accessible to all.

Terms

Time commitment: Approximately 2-3 hours per week, including a 1/2 hour check-in with the communications worker, for a 3-month period (with the possibility of extension). 

Starting date: Immediately. 

Compensation: This is an unpaid volunteer position.

Location: Remote

About Statewatch 

Statewatch produces and promotes critical research, policy analysis and investigative journalism to inform debates, movements and campaigns on civil liberties, human rights and democratic standards. We began operating in 1991 and are based in London.

Our vision: An open Europe of democracy, civil liberties, personal and political rights, free movement, freedom of information, equality and diversity.

Our mission: To monitor, analyse and expose state activity that threatens civil liberties, human rights and democratic standards in order to inform and enable a culture of diversity, debate and dissent.

About the position: 

In this role, you will work closely with the communications specialist to conduct the following.

1. Archive review and cataloguing: 

• Review Statewatch's archive of work, including reports, articles, and publications.

• Identify content with continued relevance based on ongoing policies or contemporary issues.

• Catalogue relevant content by both topic/context and type of relevance (e.g., policy implications, historical insights).

• Organise the catalogued content for easy reference and retrieval.

1. Social media messaging: 

• Draft ideas for social-ready messaging in various length by distilling relevant information from the catalogued content.

• Assist with translating legal and political language into accessible and accurate information suitable for social media platforms.

• Ensure messaging aligns with Statewatch's mission and messaging guidelines.

1. Language guide development: 

• Identify key terms and phrases commonly used in Statewatch's external messaging.

• Research and provide guidance on the relevance and appropriateness of certain statements or terminology.

• Assist with developing a language guide for discussing specific topics, including examples and explanations.

• Collaborate with Statewatch team members to ensure consistency and accuracy in messaging.

Key results

1. Catalogued archive of relevant content, organised by topic/context and type of relevance.

2. Social media messaging templates and content suitable for various platforms.

3. Comprehensive language guide for discussing specific topics, including examples and explanations.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Has an understanding of legal and political language, with an interest in translating complex concepts into accessible information.

• Research and analytical skills.

• Is proficient in written communications in the English language

• Interest in the political and social context in which Statewatch operates

Benefits:

• Gain hands-on experience in legal research, policy analysis, and accessible communications.

• Work closely with a dedicated team passionate about civil liberties and human rights.

• Make a meaningful contribution to Statewatch's mission of promoting transparency, accountability, and democratic standards.

• Develop valuable skills in communication, research, and advocacy.

A bit about this role

At Cats Protection we help thousands of cats and kittens each year thanks to our dedicated and passionate volunteer groups. We have over 250 branches across the UK, all of which help our feline friends in different ways. Branches take in stray and abandoned cats and ensure they receive the veterinary care and attention they deserve, help raise funds, promote neutering and help spread cat welfare messages. Our branch team leader volunteers lead their local team by supporting and managing volunteers within their group, maintaining communications with both volunteers and staff, and helping promote a positive and professional image of Cats Protection.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Supporting your team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure volunteers are happy and confident
• Making sure the team observes charity best practice and compliance
• Collaborating with your Branch Development Manager (BDM) to plan volunteer activity
• Leading the team to follow Cats Protection policies, procedures and guidelines
• Monitoring expenditure and helping ensure long term financial stability of the volunteer group
• Organising and chairing team meetings
• Acting as an ambassador for Cats Protection

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.

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.

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

We are looking for self-motivated and compassionate individuals to help facilitate our support groups and make a difference to the lives of people affected by cancer.

Support Groups offer those with cancer a chance to share their feelings and experiences in a safe and welcoming environment. Support Group Facilitators listen, provide emotional support and share approved cancer related information.

No special qualifications are needed for this role, but being able to devote time to setting up and maintaining a group is essential.

Could you coordinate local SSAFA services in your area? You don’t need a military background, just basic I.T and admin skills, the ability to get on with people and good written and spoken English. If so, we’d love to hear from you.

What is a Branch Secretary?

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. These are divided into local areas that we call divisions. Each branch has a secretary to organise day-to-day activities. This is a key role involving administration and coordinating people. As the first point of contact for SSAFA in the area you will play a crucial part in promoting SSAFA locally, organising local events and ensuring the smooth running of SSAFA across the divisions in your branch.

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.

In recognition of our clients’ service to the Nation we aim to provide financial, practical and emotional support when it’s needed most. To do this we need local branches and volunteers who can match clients to volunteers and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

This role is about coordination and administration. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role would suit someone looking to offer a regular time commitment each week. You would also need to organise and attend a number of regular meetings each year.

What would you be doing?

• Managing the branch office (if applicable) and providing support to all volunteers, especially new ones
• Work with the branch Chairperson, treasurer, and others to ensure smooth running of the branch.
• Accepting referrals and coordinating SSAFA caseworkers, visitors, and helpers accordingly
• Oversee all SSAFA casework across the branch ensuring clients get support that is effective and timely.
• Monitor volunteer numbers against the demand for support and recruit new volunteers as needed
• Working with the local training officer to ensure all volunteers are kept up to date with the training and information they need.
• Build relationships with regional and central office staff to ensure an effective flow of information.
• Maintaining accurate records of volunteers and cases, submit accurate data to Central Office
• Providing administration for an annual programme of meetings including an AGM, recording, and implementing decisions
• 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 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?

• Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area
• 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, caseworker IT system training, volunteer management – attracting, recruiting, and inducting volunteers, volunteer management – case management and quality. This training would take approx. 4 days.
• 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 of e-learning courses as well as local opportunities to keep your training up to date.
• Support from the Chair of the branch
• Access to the Welfare Team and 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 of any age (18+) with some experience of coordinating people and admin
• Good written and spoken English.
• Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues.
• Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
• Ability to coordinate a team of people volunteering.
• Willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the training course)
• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to reporting any safety concerns etc
• Reliable attitude, contact clients and volunteers promptly, keep appointments etc.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely.
• Access to public transport or a car to travel to meetings, events etc.

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

Family Lives was formed over forty years ago by volunteers with the aim of ensuring that all parents had somewhere to turn before they reach crisis point.

Remote Family Support Volunteer – Live Chat

We know that the right support at the right time makes all the difference. Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families who are struggling.

Organisational values:

Mission: We build better family lives together.

Vision: Families should have access to active support and understanding. 

Values: Trustworthy, Compassionate and Collaborative

Purpose of the role: To be part of a flexible team providing empathic, caring and informed support to families, carers and others who use our services.

Live chat: is a free confidential service that is accessed via our website. Service users are offered emotional support, information and advice and guidance on a broad range of family issues.

Supervised by: The Shift Supervisor

 Activities: The volunteer will be fully supervised, supported and trained to provide the following activities:

·Provide emotional support to family members via our live chat service

·Use the Family Lives support model and tools to provide an empathic responses

·Ensure that all service users receive a high quality experience

·Sign post users to other agencies for information and additional support

·Complete conversation data records

·Alert the shift supervisor to any difficult situations

 

General: Volunteers should be willing to:

·Attend the relevant volunteer training

·Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the other policies and procedures of the organisation

·Participate in regular support, supervision meetings and learning sessions as agreed

For home based volunteers only:

·Volunteers will need a Laptop/PC, plug in headset with microphone, fast broadband and a private place to work from home

·Volunteers need to be IT/PC literate and confident troubleshooting should they have technical difficulties

 Time: We would be looking for volunteers to commit to one four-hour shift per week, plus attending training and supervision.

Location: working remotely from home

 You need to be a UK resident

Supervision and Support:

·Supervision during shifts

·Debrief after every shift

·1 to 1 supervision every 6 months

·Staff available outside of shift within office hours

·Annual review

 

The Benefits of Volunteering:

·Satisfaction in making a real and lasting difference to families who are struggling

·An opportunity to develop experience for CV and references. Family Lives is committed to helping volunteers develop their own learning and development, gaining new skills, knowledge or work experience

·Being part of a team of Family Lives volunteers and staff

·Personal development

·Opportunities to meet and interact with a wide range of people

·Out of pocket expenses reimbursed to a maximum of £10 per session if working from a centre

·Flexible hours

 

Volunteer Person Specification. We are looking for individuals who:

·Have experience of parenting/being in a parenting role or demonstrable experience of working with parents or children e.g. in their work, previous volunteering or a previous role

·Have an ability to respond empathically to emotional content

·Good written and verbal communication

·Have good keyboard skills and IT skills, with a minimum of 50 wpm

·Can demonstrate a willingness to question their own attitudes e.g. toward different forms of parenting

·Have a fluent, descriptive and expressive use of English

·Can remain open minded and non-judgemental

·Willing to commit to work within Family Lives’ policies, in particular our Confidentiality Policy and Risk of Harm Procedures

·Willing to commit to attending regular supervision and support sessions

·Willing to work as part of a team

·Willing to commit to a mutually agreed period or ideally a 12 months commitment to the organisation.

Typing Task Prior to Application for Live Chat

Prior to you submitting your application for a Live Chat Volunteer, we will require you to do a speed test, we ask for a minimum speed of 50 words per minute. 

Please take a screen shot and send it across with your application

You can have up to 3 attempts and decide which result you would like to forward as part of your application

Typing task

Go to the website typingtest

You are required to take the one minute typing test recording all of the results (speed, number of errors and adjusted speed).

We have remote voluntary call taker training groups the dates are below are you would need to be able to attend all 5 Modules from the training group.

Our next training groups are:

June Saturday training dates:

Module 1 – Saturday 8th June

Module 2 - Saturday 15th June

Module 3 – Saturday 22nd June

Module 4 – Saturday 29th June

Module 5 – Saturday 6th July

10am to 2pm

Please note that all roles offered are subject to a satisfactory DBS being obtained, you will receive details of documentation required prior to your training and this must all be in no later than the second session of your training.

We are recruiting volunteers who enjoy volunteering in their community to help raise the charity’s profile at a local level. Everyone has their own community and we would love to work with people who can share their passion, interest and enthusiasm for Yes to Life with people in their communities who could benefit from our work. The role descritption provides a list of ways you can do this but we are very happy to listen to your suggestions and ideas too. The role is flexible and you can choose how many hours you dedicate to the role.

African Development Choices (ADC) is a UK-based Social Enterprise on a mission to reduce poverty by empowering communities to make informed development choices in the management of public finances and resources.

ADC’s purpose is to enable communities to independently meet their needs for essential services, such as clean water and safe sanitation and improve lives in Africa.

At ADC we encourage a working culture of seeking and giving input, showing and taking initiative, and commitment to the organisation and its purpose.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a volunteer Head of Policy & Research (Remote) to join ADC.

Main Purpose of Job: Lead the development of policy positions through research to strengthen our evidence base and help ADC act as a thought leader in shaping debate and dialogue around key policy issues relevant to ADC’s work

Division: Operations

Department: Policy & Research

Position Reports to: Chief Impact Officer

Who Reports to this Position: TBC

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop policy positions and commission new research and policy outputs and harness the data and stories from across ADC’s work to strengthen our evidence base
   
• Develop a stakeholder outreach strategy aimed at building key relationships with local and international stakeholders in parliament, civil service, think tanks, peer organisations, universities/colleges and research community
   
• Analyse data and put together detailed research reports, executive summaries, briefings, factsheets, white papers and policy papers for internal and external audiences
   
• Put together emotive case studies and stories which demonstrate positive impact on communities and ensure project data is gathered for impact reporting and creating infographics for business development
   
• Set up externally funded research projects and apply for funding
   
• Recruit additional volunteers for the Policy & Research team when needed

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
 

Essential

• At least 5 years of experience in senior policy and research management
   
• Experience of strengthening evidence and influencing policy agendas
   
• Significant senior policy and research development experience, ideally in international development
   
• Background in policy and stakeholder relations with a good general understanding of the workings of government, parliament and civil service
   
• Significant experience in developing and implementing policy and research strategies
   
• A creative and strategic thinker, with the ability to develop innovative policy solutions to complex challenges
   
• Ability to actively take initiative and help set things up in a start-up environment
   
• Ability to actively seek and give input in a collaborative team environment  
   
• A committed team player with good communication skills  
  ​
• Available to volunteer at least 7-10 hours a week

Desirable
 

• Experience of influencing the formation or revision of international development policy at an institutional, national, or inter-governmental level
   
• Experience working in an early stage start-up and gone through a scaling phase
   
• Passion for the start-up life and comfortable in a role with a little ambiguity

What ADC Offers You

This is a volunteer, remote and unpaid position with the following benefits:

• Professional learning and career development opportunities
   
• An opportunity to build on your work experience within your profession
   
• An opportunity to be part of a diverse team representing different parts of the world that is helping to deliver systemic social change in Africa
   
• An opportunity to help shape a start-up social enterprise
   
• We provide work reference

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Here at African Development Choices, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our teams are made up of people from all over the world and we welcome all applications. If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, and you require any reasonable adjustments for your application with us, please let us know by contacting recruitmentatafricandevelopmentchoicesdotorg