Support Worker Volunteer Roles

Bus travel can be a lifeline for blind and partially sighted people. Many rely on buses to go about their day to day business. Buses help people with sight loss to maintain their independence as they are unable to drive, and taxis can be expensive for everyday journeys.
That is why RNIB Scotland has been working with bus companies to ensure that drivers are aware of what makes a good journey from the perspective of someone who is blind or partially sighted. The sessions are called ‘Swap with Me’ and discussion is led by members of the blind and partially sighted community. There is also a practical element to the sessions with drivers and RNIB Scotland participants getting a chance to experience what a bus journey is like from each other’s point of view.

RNIB is currently working with Lothian Buses in Edinburgh and volunteers are needed to make sure the sessions run smoothly and provide sighted guiding to facilitators. 

Volunteers will help guide the discussions and when required offer guided support to the participants. Training and support will be offered as part of RNIB’s volunteer induction process. Reasonable expenses will be available to fulfil the role.

VOLUNTEER MAN/WOMAN WITH A VAN

Connection Support has a range of services providing support to people at risk of homelessness or on the edge of needing social care. We work with people made vulnerable through debt, family circumstances, mental health issues, substance misuse, care leavers, learning disability, age, and physical disabilities.

Volunteers play a key role in the provision of vital services to our clients.

Can you be the link between us and our clients, dropping of food and furniture where it’s needed?

• Do you have 1-2 hours a week to give to vulnerable clients needing food, help with a move or furniture picked up, loaded, and dropped off?

• Can we rely and depend on you to commit to a period of up to 12 weeks?

• Can you create and maintain positive, professional, and trusting relationships with a non-judgmental approach?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

• Drivers will need be able to take apart large items of furniture for packing and removal, loading them into your vehicle, securing them safely and driving to a new location to unload them

• Collecting food from food banks and dropping to clients’ homes

• Collecting furniture for clients and dropping to their accommodation

Connection Support has a range of services providing support to people at risk of homelessness or on the edge of needing social care. We work with people made vulnerable through debt, mental health issues, substance misuse, learning disability, and physical disabilities.

Volunteers play a key role in the provision of vital services to our clients.

Could you prevent loneliness and isolation in your community and become a befriender?

• Do you have 2-3 hours a week to give to a client suffering from loneliness or mental health? (For a mutual agreement of time and locations that meet clients’ needs)
• Can you offer support, through a listening ear and be a positive influence in a client’s life to help build self-esteem and confidence?
• Will you enable our clients to benefit from knowing someone is there to listen, be a friend, and check in on their wellbeing?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Key responsibilities

Your role will include, but is not restricted to the following tasks:

• Carry out weekly checks with the clients you are supporting. This can be in a variety of settings, e.g., family home, support home, or in the community (via face-to-face meetings, phone or video calls)
• Have fun, take clients on outings, and maybe share a hobby, sport, or an interest
• Collect prescriptions for clients and assist with their weekly shop
• Help clients rediscover social skills and confidence by building up and maintaining a close relationship
• Report any concerns to the Volunteer Coordinator

Skills required

No qualifications or volunteering experience is required; however, the below skills are essential:

• A non-judgemental approach
• Good listening and communication skills
• Reliable and trustworthy
• Respect confidentiality
• Be able to work on own initiative
• Ability to build effective working relationships with clients in a non-patronising way

VOLUNTEER MAN/WOMAN WITH A VAN

Connection Support has a range of services providing support to people at risk of homelessness or on the edge of needing social care. We work with people made vulnerable through debt, family circumstances, mental health issues, substance misuse, care leavers, learning disability, age, and physical disabilities.

Volunteers play a key role in the provision of vital services to our clients.

Can you be the link between us and our clients, dropping of food and furniture where it’s needed?

• Do you have 1-2 hours a week to give to vulnerable clients needing food, help with a move or furniture picked up, loaded, and dropped off?

• Can we rely and depend on you to commit to a period of up to 12 weeks?

• Can you create and maintain positive, professional, and trusting relationships with a non-judgmental approach?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

• Drivers will need be able to take apart large items of furniture for packing and removal, loading them into your vehicle, securing them safely and driving to a new location to unload them

• Collecting food from food banks and dropping to clients’ homes

• Collecting furniture for clients and dropping to their accommodation

Volunteer Role Description

Connection Support provides a breadth of specialist support services to a range of people facing complex life challenges.  The support covers housing support, homelessness, isolation, money management, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse. Often service users have multiple issues which means our work with them is all encompassing.

Volunteer Befriender/supporter

Role Summary:  To provide continuation of support for a defined period following closure of clients from our mental health services in Oxfordshire. This is where the client has expressed a need for ongoing support but the planned tasks with the support worker have been completed.  Volunteers will provide a range of support including an agreed programme of telephone contact, support and attending appointments with clients, and other tasks relevant to that individual’s needs.  This may include helping to develop and maintain social networks which for many were negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Outline of Duties:

1. To assist clients to meet their support needs, including:

• Supporting clients for a period of time and regularity based on mutual agreement, at times and locations that meet clients’ needs
• Providing information and assistance to clients to enable them to develop their social network and participate in the community
• To provide company and friendship, assist with shopping, go for a walk, and share activities of common interest – anything which makes life more enjoyable.
• Support to manage appointments including attendance with clients where appropriate.
• Other tasks relevant to the client’s needs as agreed with Connection Support.

Volunteer Role Description

Connection Support provides a breadth of specialist support services to a range of people facing complex life challenges.  The support covers housing support, homelessness, isolation, money management, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse. Often service users have multiple issues which means our work with them is all encompassing.

Volunteer Befriender/supporter

Role Summary:  To provide continuation of support for a defined period following closure of clients from our mental health services in Oxfordshire. This is where the client has expressed a need for ongoing support but the planned tasks with the support worker have been completed.  Volunteers will provide a range of support including an agreed programme of telephone contact, support and attending appointments with clients, and other tasks relevant to that individual’s needs.  This may include helping to develop and maintain social networks which for many were negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Outline of Duties:

1. To assist clients to meet their support needs, including:

• Supporting clients for a period of time and regularity based on mutual agreement, at times and locations that meet clients’ needs
• Providing information and assistance to clients to enable them to develop their social network and participate in the community
• To provide company and friendship, assist with shopping, go for a walk, and share activities of common interest – anything which makes life more enjoyable.
• Support to manage appointments including attendance with clients where appropriate.
• Other tasks relevant to the client’s needs as agreed with Connection Support.

The Forward Trust 

Probation D&R Peer Mentor Volunteer - South London (Onsite & Remote - Hybrid)

Role Overview

We are looking for Probation Dependency & Recovery Peer Mentor volunteers to join and be part of our new exciting team of Lived Experienced Peer Mentors. You will have specific lived experience (recovery / offending  / prisoners on probation / homelessness), relevant to the mentoring service we are providing, who will act as a role model to prisoners on probation and support them to achieve positive outcomes.

As a volunteer peer mentor volunteer, you will be building motivation/confidence and empowerment to your assigned mentee, by sharing your lived experiences, empowering mentees to overcome their challenges of recovery, whilst giving advice on relapse prevention strategies, providing advocacy/advice on treatment interventions, signposting to community support/activities offering a ‘listening ear’ to your mentee from someone who understands.  As a peer mentor your mentee will have the confidence in knowing they are being supported by someone who has gone through similar experiences and has faced similar challenges to the ones they face today. You will be supported by your Lived Experienced Co-ordinator who will guide and support you through the onboarding and training process and throughout your mentoring journey.

Your Co-ordinator will provide regular 1.1 / team meetings / activities that will enhance your mentoring skills, as well as development for future education/employment. Most importantly, you will feel that you are part of a dynamic team that will help to change lives and making a difference. You will be providing essential additional support, information and guidance to Forward Trust prisoners on probation, you have been allocated to. You will help your mentee/s to formulate their goals, support them, review their achievements and overcome their barriers, in a holistic/person centred manner.

You will work closely with Recovery Navigators & Co-ordinators, supporting mentee/s who will meet their Recovery Navigators on a regular basis. Recovery Navigators will develop an action plan designed for their specific needs, and will sign post them to additional services where necessary. You will offer additional support in conjunction with their Recovery Navigator in delivering their action plan, meeting once/twice a week, 1.1/group sessions/activities, that will help them in achieving their goals for recovery. You will also be involved in the meet & greet at the gate service where you will help/advise and promote the next stages of their probation and our Dependency and Recovery service.

To be successful in this role you will have excellent communication skills, a good understanding of the issues faced by the client group and a true commitment and passion to support vulnerable people to enable them to fulfil their full potential.

You will have successfully completed/graduated from your recovery program – discharged from treatment and will be stable, 6 months in recovery / since prison release.

Time Commitment

• A minimum commitment of 2 hours a week for 6 months is required for this role.
• Depending on your specific mentoring opportunity there may be additional time commitment requirements and/or flexibility, please refer to the specific opportunity for details on time commitment.

Checks required for this role

• Reference (this may be from a keyworker, volunteer supervisor, tutor or sponsor if you are not able to provide a work reference)
• Enhanced DBS Check

How to Apply

Please register an account with us first, login and then apply. You will not be able to apply unless you have registered and have logged in.

EMPLOYMENT COACH

Connection Support has a range of services providing support to people at risk of homelessness or on the edge of needing social care. We work with people made vulnerable through debt, family circumstances, mental health issues, substance misuse, care leavers, learning disability, age, and physical disabilities.

Volunteers play a key role in the provision of vital services to our clients f

Would you like the opportunity to apply your experience in a meaningful role to help vulnerable clients?

· Do you have 1 hour a week to give to a vulnerable client

· Can we rely and depend on you to commit to a period of up to 12 weeks?

· Can you create and maintain positive, professional, and trusting relationships with a non-judgmental approach?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Role summary:

To encourage and support clients on a one-to-one basis to find suitable employment or volunteering.

To assess each individual and help prepare them for meaningful and suitable employment.

Key Responsibilities

· To support clients to identify their skills and readiness for employment and training

· To communicate with clients to understand their strengths and assisting with personal barriers

· To research and match suitable employment, work placements, volunteering or training opportunities based on client preferences

· To identify any initial support needs/adjustments that the service user may need to work successfully

· To assist with CV’s, applications and support for interviews

VOLUNTEER HANDYPERSON

Connection Support has a range of services providing support to people at risk of homelessness or on the edge of needing social care. We work with people made vulnerable through debt, mental health issues, substance misuse, learning disability, and physical disabilities.

Volunteers play a key role in the provision of vital services to our clients.

Are you a reliable handyperson who can undertake, upkeep, and repair a range of tasks for our housing support clients?

• Do you have 1-2 hours a week to make basic home improvements to client’s accommodation?
• Are you a dab hand at DIY and want to put your handyperson skills to good use?
• Do you have an interest in motivating people to make positive changes in their lives through acquiring new skills?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Key responsibilities

Your role will include carrying out basic household repairs and alterations such as:

• Gardening work
• Flat pack furniture assembly
• Putting up curtain rails/blinds
• Hanging pictures and shelves

Skills required

No volunteering experience is required however the below skills are essential:

• Practical skills in DIY and/or gardening
• Good listening and communication skills
• Excellent people skills to enable you to work with a range of individuals with complex backgrounds

• Reliable and trustworthy
• Respect confidentiality
• Ability to build effective working relationships with clients in a non-patronising way

VOLUNTEER HANDYPERSON

Connection Support has a range of services providing support to people at risk of homelessness or on the edge of needing social care. We work with people made vulnerable through debt, mental health issues, substance misuse, learning disability, and physical disabilities.

Volunteers play a key role in the provision of vital services to our clients.

Are you a reliable handyperson who can undertake, upkeep, and repair a range of tasks for our housing support clients?

• Do you have 1-2 hours a week to make basic home improvements to client’s accommodation?
• Are you a dab hand at DIY and want to put your handyperson skills to good use?
• Do you have an interest in motivating people to make positive changes in their lives through acquiring new skills?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Key responsibilities

Your role will include carrying out basic household repairs and alterations such as:

• Gardening work
• Flat pack furniture assembly
• Putting up curtain rails/blinds
• Hanging pictures and shelves

Skills required

No volunteering experience is required however the below skills are essential:

• Practical skills in DIY and/or gardening
• Good listening and communication skills
• Excellent people skills to enable you to work with a range of individuals with complex backgrounds

• Reliable and trustworthy
• Respect confidentiality
• Ability to build effective working relationships with clients in a non-patronising way

The Forward Trust 

Probation D&R Peer Mentor Volunteer - North London (Onsite & Hybrid)

Role Overview

We are looking for Probation Dependency & Recovery Peer Mentor volunteers to join and be part of our new exciting team of Lived Experienced Peer Mentors. You will have specific lived experience (recovery / offending  / prisoners on probation / homelessness), relevant to the mentoring service we are providing, who will act as a role model to prisoners on probation and support them to achieve positive outcomes.

As a volunteer peer mentor volunteer, you will be building motivation/confidence and empowerment to your assigned mentee, by sharing your lived experiences, empowering mentees to overcome their challenges of recovery, whilst giving advice on relapse prevention strategies, providing advocacy/advice on treatment interventions, signposting to community support/activities offering a ‘listening ear’ to your mentee from someone who understands.  As a peer mentor your mentee will have the confidence in knowing they are being supported by someone who has gone through similar experiences and has faced similar challenges to the ones they face today. You will be supported by your Lived Experienced Co-ordinator who will guide and support you through the onboarding and training process and throughout your mentoring journey.

Your Co-ordinator will provide regular 1.1 / team meetings / activities that will enhance your mentoring skills, as well as development for future education/employment. Most importantly, you will feel that you are part of a dynamic team that will help to change lives and making a difference. You will be providing essential additional support, information and guidance to Forward Trust prisoners on probation, you have been allocated to. You will help your mentee/s to formulate their goals, support them, review their achievements and overcome their barriers, in a holistic/person centred manner.

You will work closely with Recovery Navigators & Co-ordinators, supporting mentee/s who will meet their Recovery Navigators on a regular basis. Recovery Navigators will develop an action plan designed for their specific needs, and will sign post them to additional services where necessary. You will offer additional support in conjunction with their Recovery Navigator in delivering their action plan, meeting once/twice a week, 1.1/group sessions/activities, that will help them in achieving their goals for recovery. You will also be involved in the meet & greet at the gate service where you will help/advise and promote the next stages of their probation and our Dependency and Recovery service.

To be successful in this role you will have excellent communication skills, a good understanding of the issues faced by the client group and a true commitment and passion to support vulnerable people to enable them to fulfil their full potential.

You will have successfully completed/graduated from your recovery program – discharged from treatment and will be stable, 6 months in recovery / since prison release.

Time Commitment

• A minimum commitment of 2 hours a week for 6 months is required for this role.
• Depending on your specific mentoring opportunity there may be additional time commitment requirements and/or flexibility, please refer to the specific opportunity for details on time commitment.

Expenses

• Travel expenses (within 20 miles of the service), with some flexibility

• Up to £6.50 lunch expenses
• Any additional expenses will need to be pre-agreed with placement supervisor

Checks required for this role

• Reference (this may be from a keyworker, volunteer supervisor, tutor or sponsor if you are not able to provide a work reference)
• Enhanced DBS Check

How to apply:

You will be re-directed to Forward Trust's Volunteering site, where you will first need to register an account with us and then login to apply for the role. 

VOLUNTEER HANDYPERSON

Connection Support has a range of services providing support to people at risk of homelessness or on the edge of needing social care. We work with people made vulnerable through debt, mental health issues, substance misuse, learning disability, and physical disabilities.

Volunteers play a key role in the provision of vital services to our clients.

Are you a reliable handyperson who can undertake, upkeep, and repair a range of tasks for our housing support clients?

• Do you have 1-2 hours a week to make basic home improvements to client’s accommodation?
• Are you a dab hand at DIY and want to put your handyperson skills to good use?
• Do you have an interest in motivating people to make positive changes in their lives through acquiring new skills?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Key responsibilities

Your role will include carrying out basic household repairs and alterations such as:

• Gardening work
• Flat pack furniture assembly
• Putting up curtain rails/blinds
• Hanging pictures and shelves

Skills required

No volunteering experience is required however the below skills are essential:

• Practical skills in DIY and/or gardening
• Good listening and communication skills
• Excellent people skills to enable you to work with a range of individuals with complex backgrounds

• Reliable and trustworthy
• Respect confidentiality
• Ability to build effective working relationships with clients in a non-patronising way

VOLUNTEER HANDYPERSON

Connection Support has a range of services providing support to people at risk of homelessness or on the edge of needing social care. We work with people made vulnerable through debt, mental health issues, substance misuse, learning disability, and physical disabilities.

Volunteers play a key role in the provision of vital services to our clients.

Are you a reliable handyperson who can undertake, upkeep, and repair a range of tasks for our housing support clients?

• Do you have 1-2 hours a week to make basic home improvements to client’s accommodation?
• Are you a dab hand at DIY and want to put your handyperson skills to good use?
• Do you have an interest in motivating people to make positive changes in their lives through acquiring new skills?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Key responsibilities

Your role will include carrying out basic household repairs and alterations such as:

• Gardening work
• Flat pack furniture assembly
• Putting up curtain rails/blinds
• Hanging pictures and shelves

Skills required

No volunteering experience is required however the below skills are essential:

• Practical skills in DIY and/or gardening
• Good listening and communication skills
• Excellent people skills to enable you to work with a range of individuals with complex backgrounds

• Reliable and trustworthy
• Respect confidentiality
• Ability to build effective working relationships with clients in a non-patronising way

Daring Diadems is a charity that cares for children and young people, ensuring and supporting physical, educational, emotional  and mental well being. We organise a variety of activities such as outdoor / indoor games, career events, community service, competitions and much more.

We need two vibrant Team Members to join us in planning and carrying out our mission. This will involve (but not limited to) attending team meetings, reaching out to young people and families, supervising weekly activities, mentoring (if you are able) a small group of young people and generally being a part of everything we do.

We are a lively bunch and you will be joining a family. We will look out for you, provide training in areas you need it and pay your expenses. Above all, you get to make a difference!

A DBS check and good references are a must for this role; your commitment can be flexible – we will discuss this in detail.

Please apply with a cv and cover letter stating why you want to do this and what kind of commitment you are able to make. 

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.