Participant Onboarding Coordinator (VOLUNTEER ROLE)

Volunteer Role Description: Participant Onboarding Coordinator

SUNSHINE Charity (London)

We created SUNSHINE to tackle the loneliness problem head-on. Our mission is simple: to bring people together, spread joy and community spirit, and deliver services and support to those living with loneliness. We do this by:

• Fostering Connections: We create safe and welcoming spaces where people can meet, chat, and form genuine friendships.

• Enhancing Wellbeing: Our activities are designed to be fun and engaging, lifting spirits and promoting a positive outlook.

• Transforming Lives: Every interaction, no matter how small, has the power to make a huge difference in someone's day, and ultimately, their life.

Our Vision

A world where everyone feels connected, valued, and a part of a vibrant, compassionate community.

Our Values

• Joy: We believe in the power of happiness to change lives.

• Connection: We create bridges, not walls.

• Community: We are a family, united by a shared mission.

• Empathy: We listen, we understand, and we care.

Commitment: Approximately 4 hours per week (flexible, often during business hours for intake calls).

Location: Primarily remote/home-based.

Reports To: Programme Manager.

Role Purpose

The Participant Onboarding Coordinator serves as the first point of personal contact for all new participants joining SUNSHINE programmes. This role is responsible for ensuring a warm, seamless, and dignified transition from initial enquiry to active participation, ensuring the right people get into the right programmes safely.

Key Responsibilities

1. Intake and Welcome:

• Manage and respond promptly to all participant enquiries received via phone, email, or referral forms.

• Conduct friendly, supportive, and confidential intake calls (approx. 15-20 minutes) with new participants to understand their needs, interests, and potential barriers to participation.

• Clearly and warmly introduce the available SUNSHINE programmes (e.g., Coffee Mornings, Digital Skills, Wellbeing Wednesdays) and guide the participant to the best-fit activity.

2. Administrative and Safety Checks:

• Complete and accurately record the essential intake data for each participant in the designated tracking system, ensuring GDPR compliance.

• Administer the 3-Item Loneliness Survey (baseline measurement) during the initial call.

• Identify and document any potential safety or accessibility needs (e.g., mobility issues, dietary requirements, digital skills level) and relay this vital information discreetly to the Programme Manager.

• Carry out an other Assessment or Induction data needed to ensure the full participation of the participant and their journey with us at SUNSHINE.

3. Programme Handover and Follow-Up:

• Formally link the new participant with the appropriate Programme Manager or specific Volunteer Facilitator for their first session.

• Provide the participant with all necessary joining instructions (location, time, what to expect) in a clear, accessible format.

• Conduct a supportive follow-up call (or send a check-in message) after the participant's first session to gather feedback, confirm they felt welcome, and address any initial concerns.

Skills and Experience Required

• Essential:

  • Exceptional Interpersonal Skills: A naturally empathetic, patient, and warm communication style.

  • Active Listening: Proven ability to listen without judgement and draw out necessary information with sensitivity.

  • Confidentiality: Absolute commitment to maintaining the privacy and dignity of vulnerable participants.

  • Organisational Skills: High degree of accuracy in data entry and managing a list of contacts and follow-ups.

• Desirable:

  • Previous experience in a client-facing role, social care intake, or community advice setting.

  • Familiarity with the geography or community groups within London.

Next Steps to Apply

If you have a genuine talent for making people feel comfortable and cared for, and you believe a warm welcome is the first step toward beating loneliness, please submit your CV and a brief outline of how you would conduct a first intake call with a nervous, first-time participant.

SUNSHINE 

Loneliness Charity in London