Help the Homeless is a small grant-giving trust offering funding to registered charities which help homeless people return to society. Since its inception in 1975 it has donated almost £3m towards eliminating a serious problem in the U.K. The current pandemic has made our support more necessary than ever.

There are currently six Trustees with backgrounds in several different sectors and we now seek to strengthen the Board by the appointment of two individuals: one with knowledge and experience of public relations and the other experienced in finance, either still in practice or recently retired. Fundraising is not involved as the charity does not appeal directly to the public for funds.

The Trustees meet quarterly in London and the time commitment required is around three to four hours per quarter.

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Futures, providing supported living accommodation for young women in recovery and receiving support with drug and alcohol issues.

With training in alternative therapies such as Reiki and Sound Healing, you will support young women to improve their physical and emotional well-being in a group setting or on an individual basis.

Main activities:

Delivering Sound Healing session in a 1-2-1 or group basis.
Provide a safe, relaxing, therapeutic environment for the activity to take place.

Prevent isolation in your community become a befriender

We all need a helping hand or listening ear – sometimes more so due to health, isolation or recovery following an operation.

Connection Support is a local charity and we are looking for volunteer befrienders to support their Prevention Matters clients to build a more fulfilling life in Buckinghamshire.

Prevention Matters help adults regain confidence, maintain independence and help them get out and about. The Community Support Workers support clients by finding help, signposting to other services, connect with others in the local community and provide encouragement to get involved in social events.

How you can make a difference to people’s lives as a Prevention Matters volunteer

• Increase or maintain social links such as attend local events, transport to coffee mornings

• Accompany clients on GP or hospital appointments

• Teach clients new digital skills such as email, Skype or how to search the web.

• Practical support in the garden or a spot of DIY in their home

• Assistance with hoarding disorder

• Support to a carer who is feeling isolated.

Connection Support feel that nobody can do everything but everyone can do something so volunteering is flexible to suit you.

For a chat about becoming a volunteer befriender with Connection Support please contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator in Buckinghamshire

Support Worker

Are you interested in a career where you will make a real difference in young people’s lives? Do you understand the challenges which young people face in daily life? Is a career as a Support Worker the next step in life for you?

They are looking for a kind, caring and friendly person to join their professional team as a Support Worker. Experience is not essential and full training will be provided but understanding the issues young people face in their daily life will really help to make a difference.

You will be based within their Residential Home based in Hessay, York, working shifts over a 37.5 hour working week, consisting of earlies, lates and occasional sleep ins & nights when required so flexibility is required.

Company Benefits

- Competitive pay (£9.54 p/h + £100 bonus after completing 6-month probation)
- 22 days holiday + 8 bank holidays
- Excellent Learning and Development opportunities (NVQ Level 3 in Adult Health & Social Care)
- Enhanced company pension
- Life Assurance (2 x annual salary)
- Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
- Paid Induction (Running over 3 days)
- Free on-site parking
- Paid Enhanced DBS check
- Employee Assistance Programme / 24-hour Counselling Service
- Online shopping discounts, free eye tests and various other benefits
- The opportunity for internal promotions & progression
- Refer a Friend Scheme (Up to £500 per referral)
- Regular social events and recognition schemes (‘Employee of the year awards’, Summer & Christmas parties)

Your role as a Support Worker

- To carry out direct and indirect care of young people with complex mental health needs
- To work in a team, giving the highest standard of care possible to the young people.
- To closely follow individual care plans and support young people with education, shopping, and social and leisure activities.
- To carry out multiple interventions involving the delivery of care to young people
- To promote independence amongst the young people
- To provide support, advice and information to the young people, parents and other carers
- To carry out further duties as per our attached document (Writing reports, general office admin etc)

Requirements of a Support Worker

- Flexibility - Your role will involve working shifts including sleep ins/weekends/Bank Holidays
- Good verbal communication skills and the ability to listen to others
- Good written skills and the ability to write basic reports and record information accurately
- IT Literate (Able to write emails and use Microsoft Office)
- An understanding of the issues around confidentiality
- An understanding of safeguarding
- Professional working boundaries between staff and service users
- Ability to remain calm in emergencies, supporting others during difficult situations

Desirable Criteria

- Full UK Driving License
- NVQ Level 2 qualification or equivalent in Care
- Previous experience of working with young people who have mental health needs

If you are interested in joining an enthusiastic, motivated business who thrive in developing and rebuilding young people and young adults with complex difficulties then please submit your application by Monday 16th November.

To support their commitment as a COVID-19 Secure employer, all of their interviews will be held over Microsoft Teams as a video interview.

Our client operates a safer recruitment process and as part of this process the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

They are an equal opportunities employer who values diversity and positively encourages applications of all ages from all sections of the community.

They reserve the right to close the advert early, should they appoint a suitable candidate.

If you enjoy being out and about on the road, are happy to get stuck in with loading and unloading items on the van and want to learn more about how van schedules are organised then this is the role for you!

Every weekday our vans are out around the North Staffs area collecting donations and delivering items purchased from Emmaus Furniture Mine. Vital to the smooth running of the vans is a team of volunteers who support the drivers.

In house training in heavy lifting techniques and all PPE required for this role are supplied.

Time commitment

We are ideally looking for at least a half day commitment a week, however we are aware that this is not always possible so are happy to discuss timings that suit you. If you’re interested in combining several of our volunteer roles then we can discuss how this could work – all role descriptions are provided for guidance only, so we can tailor volunteering opportunities to suit you.

We're looking for an enthusiastic, positive, flexible & friendly person(s) to manage our pop-up shop.

All abilities are welcome as everyone has training and lots of support!

Job sharing a possibility.

If you're someone who thrives in a busy, adaptive & social setting this could be a great opportunity for you. Our shops are buzzing with Christmas spirit, do-gooding & tills ringing...

The role involves setting up, opening & closing the shop. You will manage a team of mostly experienced volunteers as well as raising awareness in the local community.

This year more than ever before our charities need your help.

Contract length: 2-3 months

Part-time hours: 12-30 per week

Streetwise Opera, the award-winning performing arts charity and opera company for people affected by homelessness, is looking for a new Chair of Trustees to help lead the organisation as it embarks on its new long-term strategic plan.

Singing and creativity can inspire, energise and empower people affected by homelessness. We run singing and creative workshops in homeless centres and arts venues across England and stage critically-acclaimed productions where we work in partnership with professional artists and leading arts organisations. Our robust evaluation framework has consistently shown that participation in our work leads to improved wellbeing and social inclusion.

With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Streetwise Opera has seized the opportunity to experiment with new ways of collaborative working, introducing our participants to artists, directors, composers and other instrumentalists via well-attended daily workshops online.

This new way of working has laid the foundations for innovative digital projects which will complement our face-to-face workshops in the future.

“At the time that I have nothing, I still have my artistry. I still have my creativity. I still have my talent. And if that’s going to get me from homelessness to where I need to be, then I’m going to hone that, and Streetwise Opera is the perfect place for that.”
— Streetwise Opera performer

Our annual budget varies between £650K and £850K. We are an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (2018-23) and we receive income from performance fees and box office; and the majority of our income (c. 80%) is fundraised from philanthropic sources.

Streetwise Opera is looking for someone who has:

• Experience and a successful track record as a leader in business, charity/homelessness/social impact sectors, fundraising or grant-giving, education, local or national government, arts, broadcasting or media organisations;

and who can demonstrate:

• An understanding of and commitment to the vision and values of Streetwise Opera and its contribution to the arts and homelessness movement;
• Inter-personal skills and the ability to communicate with third parties on an impromptu basis on any matter relevant to Streetwise Opera;
• An understanding of funding and grants environment in the UK;
• A willingness to work closely with the Executive and fundraising team to introduce new networks to support fundraising success, and contribute to the charity’s fundraising efforts, for example by attending supporter events, meetings with donors, etc.
• The ability to listen to all voices with differing experience and opinions and guide the Board to the best decision that can be accepted by all;
• An experience of engaging with high net worth donors and key UK funders;

 and who will:

• Support and contribute to the charity’s long-term strategy and business plans.

Streetwise Opera is an equal opportunity employer. Our organisation champions diversity and gives an equal platform to underrepresented groups. We believe that, when we bring together different voices from diverse backgrounds, we create a unique and rich experience. This is more powerful artistically and socially, and more empowering individually and collectively. We seek applications from all ages and backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the arts and homelessness sectors. 

This is an unpaid role but reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be paid.

Trustee meetings take place four times a year in central London (in 2020 on Zoom), usually in the early evening. A strategic planning evening also takes place annually.

Recruitment Process

Expressions of interest, consisting of a CV together with a short supporting statement (150 words maximum) and names of two referees whom we may approach, should be sent to the email on our website.

The closing date for applications is Friday 20 November 2020. Interviews for candidates will take place in December.

The Centre was set up in 2018, in response to the need for an independent voice to champion the better use of rigorous evidence in preventing and tackling homelessness in its widest sense, going well beyond rough sleeping. The work therefore involves both policy and practice, and working with a range of other organisations and perspectives: we will only achieve our goals by drawing on the expertise both of academics and of people with lived experience of homelessness themselves, and by securing change in both policy and practice across a range of services, i.e. not just the “homelessness sector” itself.

The main role of the board is the classic one of governance: to set the strategy for the organisation, to monitor progress in delivering this, to oversee financial management and risk management, to make sure that the Centre complies with all legal and ethical standards, and to oversee accountability to the wide range of stakeholders. 

To complement the skills and experience already on the board, we are looking particularly for members with the following attributes: 

• For one role, we want to appoint a current senior leader in work related to homelessness in a local authority – this could be a role in the prevention and addressing of homelessness itself, or in housing or social care or a related service, as a commissioner or in delivery. 
• For the other role, we are more open about the background. We want to ensure we are strong at assessing how our activity translates into impact on the ground. So someone with experience of looking constructively and rigorously at performance and impact would be valuable – this might be someone with a background in finance or analysis or operations, but technical skills matter less than mindset. 

In addition, we are keen to strengthen the diversity of the board in a number of ways, to ensure we have as wide a range of perspectives as possible to make for better decisions: 

• We encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented on the board; 
• The same applies to people who have experience of housing insecurity; 
• We would like to extend the geographical reach: we would welcome applications from people based in Scotland, where we do quite a bit of work, and within England are particularly interested in people who aren’t London-based. 

Please see the attached recruitment pack for full details of the role, including how to apply, or visit the jobs pages of our website.

Inclusive Boards are delighted to be supporting Amber Housing in the search and selection of 3 new Board Members.

Amber Housing is a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of Ambient Support. They have been providing quality housing management, property development and other housing related services for over a decade.

Their mission is to provide a full range of property management services, along with quality housing that enables individuals to lead valued and independent lives in their community.

Amber Housing offers a comprehensive range of services for our tenants and other vulnerable people who receive support from their partner accredited support providers. Services are designed to be tailored to individual needs helping them to lead independent lives.

By 2025 Amber Housing will increase its range of services, partner with more support providers and significantly increase its property development activity in order to offer a greater range the housing options for vulnerable individuals. In line with these aims we they are looking to expand the number of Board Members and to
enrich the Board with the additional skills.

Amber Housing are seeking applications from individuals who have senior management operational/strategic experience from the private, charitable or voluntary sector, preferably within a business with a turnover of c£2M or above covering one or more of the following areas:

• Social / Private Sector Housing Management
• Property Development
• Financial Management / Capital Funding
• Quality / Compliance

For more information, please visit our website and download the candidate pack.

Inclusive Boards are delighted to be supporting The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields in their search for 3 new Trustees.

The Connection has been providing help for homeless people for over 100 years and now supports around 2750 people a year through a range of services for vulnerable people affected by homelessness. These include: street outreach, practical services such as food, showers, triage, emergency accommodation, in depth housing and benefits advice, a programme of activities to support recovery from crisis and help to get a job. The Connection also runs a supported housing service in Clapham for 15 ex-rough sleepers.

The Connection's board is responsible for supporting and holding to account the Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team. This includes ensuring appropriate governance of the organisation, overseeing overall strategy, managing strategic risk, monitoring financial performance and interrogating the big strategic choices and high-level decisions about the running of The Connection.
The Connection has a passionate and committed Board. They are looking for new board members to strengthen the overall mix of skills across the board, to add to the deep experience and knowledge of the existing board members.

They are looking for 3 new trustees with skills in any one of the following areas:

1. Fundraising
2. Social Enterprise
3. Human Resources
4. Public Policy / Advocacy experience in homelessness or addiction

For more information, please visit our website and/or download the candidate pack attached.

New Outlook Housing Association are looking for a new Board Chair and new Board Members.

We are a housing association specialising in supporting people with visual impairment and complex needs in a range of services including Care Homes, Sheltered Accommodation and Supported Living.

Role summary

As a member of the Board, you will play a vital role in steering and supporting New Outlook. The Board is responsible for providing strategic direction; ensuring we meet regulatory requirements; and overseeing the work of the staff team, thus ensuring New Outlook’s effective, efficient administration and financial stability. 

Person description

We are seeking to appoint people who can demonstrate a commitment to a high level of engagement and possess a range of experience ideally in finance and treasury, housing management and development or Marketing and PR.

We are seeking a new Board Chair to replace the current Chair whose term of office will shortly be ending. The successful volunteer will need to provide strategic leadership and direction in order to inform the current and future needs of the organisation so that the Board fulfils its responsibilities for the overall governance of the organisation. The Board Chair serves for three terms and is eligible for re-election.

For the role of Board Member, the successful volunteer will need to use their expertise and experience in agreeing the strategic objectives and supporting the organisation with its plans for future development. Board Members serve for three terms and is eligible for re-election.

There is no need to have trustee experience to apply as long as you are committed to our values. We wish to have a wide range of people on the Board and seek to be representative of the diverse population in the West Midlands.

How to apply

Please apply via Reach Volunteering.

Short-listed applicants will be invited to an interview, which will take place at our Halesowen office. However, if it is not possible to hold interviews at our office, due to safety concerns, then interviews will take place via video calls instead.

LHA London has been providing high quality accommodation in London since 1940 and now have thirteen large hostels providing affordable accommodation for nearly 2000 people in the capital. COVID-19 has presented us the opportunity to do more to support people faced with the prospect of homelessness over the winter 2020/21. We will be repurposing two of our properties in partnership with a homeless charity to accommodate guests who would otherwise be forced to sleep on the streets of London and require a team of volunteers to support the operation.

Role details
As a catering volunteer you’ll be at the forefront of our operations as part of the catering team, you’ll help to maintain the highest possible standards of cleanliness and service for our residents in our dining-rooms and kitchen.
The types of duties which form part of your volunteer role vary from House to House and can change from day to day but will usually involve the following:
1. To help set up the dining room, serve meals, clear away at all meal times, e.g. breakfast, evening meals and lunch at the weekends.
2. Keep the kitchen, dining room and other catering areas clean, this includes pot washing, cleaning of appliances and operating dishwasher machine.
3. Help the Cook in basic food preparation, put away deliveries and keep the kitchen and cooking utensils clean and tidy. Adhere to Health & Safety food & hygiene regulations.
From time to time you may be required to help in other areas.

What’s in it for you?
- You’ll get fully trained in a key industry skill
- Have opportunity to be part of a team working environment
- Develop your language skills
- For many volunteers it’s an opportunity to develop confidence and self esteem whilst experiencing new cultures
- Not to mention you’ll be living in the heart of London

Details of the Arrangement
As a volunteer we recommend you carry out a minimum of 20 hours volunteering a week to get the most from this opportunity but of course if you have more time available more help is always welcome. Times are flexible with three main shift times mornings, afternoons and evenings. For this opportunity accommodation is provided free of charge, and in catered sites breakfast & dinner is provided, please note this is a volunteer role and no wage is payable.

Accommodation & Hostel Facilities
Accommodation in a single sex shared room and meals are provided at the House where you are placed – or the nearest catered site for meals. In self-catering sites kitchen facilities are provided for your use. A deposit of £30 will be required by the hostel to ensure the safe keeping of keys and uniforms. Bed linen is provided but not towels. There are laundry facilities and vending machines available.

Hygiene
Protective clothing is issued and MUST BE WORN in the interest of catering hygiene and Health & Safety Regulations. Sensible foot wear must also be worn. Full training will be provided for all roles.

Note
If you wish to be considered for a volunteer role with LHA you should complete the application form. Please note - It is the applicant’s responsibility to check if you are eligible to volunteer in the UK and apply for any visa’s as required. You will be asked to provide a copy of your passport as proof of ID prior to commencing and volunteering opportunity. Your application form will then be filed according to the date you wish to start your volunteer role. We guarantee to dispose of personal data when we no longer need to keep it for business purposes in line with our data protection policy

LHA London has been providing high quality accommodation in London since 1940 and now have thirteen large hostels providing affordable accommodation for nearly 2000 people in the capital. COVID-19 has presented us the opportunity to do more to support people faced with the prospect of homelessness over the winter 2020/21. We will be repurposing two of our properties in partnership with a homeless charity to accommodate guests who would otherwise be forced to sleep on the streets of London and require a team of volunteers to support the operation.

Role details
As a housekeeping volunteer you’ll be at the forefront of our operations as part of the housekeeping team you’ll help to maintain the highest possible standards of cleanliness for our residents.
The types of duties which form part of your volunteer role vary from House to House and can change from day to day but will usually involve the following:
1. Everyday general cleaning and portering duties covering all areas and to include; the cleaning of showers, toilets, bedrooms, public & communal areas, immediate external areas, kitchens and dining room.
2. Occasional special cleaning, e.g. carpet cleaning, deep cleaning areas, oven cleaning, washing down walls, laundry, cleaning vents and inside of windows.
3. Changing bed linen, counting and preparing laundry for collection.
From time to time you may be required to help in other areas.

What’s in it for you?
- You’ll get fully trained a in key industry skill
- Have opportunity to be part of a team working environment
- Develop your language skills
- For many volunteers it’s an opportunity to develop confidence and self esteem whilst experiencing new cultures
- Not to mention you’ll be living in the heart of London

Details of the Arrangement
As a volunteer we recommend you carry out a minimum of 20 hours volunteering a week to get the most from this opportunity but of course if you have more time available more help is always welcome. Times are flexible with three main shift times mornings, afternoons and evenings. For this opportunity accommodation is provided free of charge, and in catered sites breakfast & dinner is provided, please note this is a volunteer role and no wage is payable.

Accommodation & Hostel Facilities
Accommodation in a single sex shared room and meals are provided at the House where you are placed – or the nearest catered site for meals. In self-catering sites kitchen facilities are provided for your use. A deposit of £30 will be required by the hostel to ensure the safe keeping of keys and uniforms. Bed linen is provided but not towels. There are laundry facilities and vending machines available. All hostels have WIFI, a TV room and sometimes a study room & Gym.

Hygiene
Protective clothing is issued and MUST BE WORN in the interest of catering hygiene and Health & Safety Regulations. Sensible foot wear must also be worn. Full training will be provided for all roles.

Note
If you wish to be considered for a volunteer role with LHA you should complete the application form. Please note - It is the applicant’s responsibility to check if you are eligible to volunteer in the UK and apply for any visa’s as required. You will be asked to provide a copy of your passport as proof of ID prior to commencing and volunteering opportunity. Your application form will then be filed according to the date you wish to start your volunteer role. We guarantee to dispose of personal data when we no longer need to keep it for business purposes in line with our data protection policy.
You will hear from us again (usually by telephone or email) as soon as we have a volunteer role to offer you. Being able to offer you a volunteer role depends on availability. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

LHA London has been providing high quality accommodation in London since 1940 and now have thirteen large hostels providing affordable accommodation for nearly 2000 people in the capital. COVID-19 has presented us the opportunity to do more to support people faced with the prospect of homelessness over the winter 2020/21. We will be repurposing two of our properties in partnership with a homeless charity to accommodate guests who would otherwise be forced to sleep on the streets of London and require a team of volunteers to support the operation.

Role details
As a housekeeping volunteer you’ll be at the forefront of our operations as part of the housekeeping team you’ll help to maintain the highest possible standards of cleanliness for our residents.
The types of duties which form part of your volunteer role vary from House to House and can change from day to day but will usually involve the following:
1. Everyday general cleaning and portering duties covering all areas and to include; the cleaning of showers, toilets, bedrooms, public & communal areas, immediate external areas, kitchens and dining room.
2. Occasional special cleaning, e.g. carpet cleaning, deep cleaning areas, oven cleaning, washing down walls, laundry, cleaning vents and inside of windows.
3. Changing bed linen, counting and preparing laundry for collection.
From time to time you may be required to help in other areas.

What’s in it for you?
- You’ll get fully trained a in key industry skill
- Have opportunity to be part of a team working environment
- Develop your language skills
- For many volunteers it’s an opportunity to develop confidence and self esteem whilst experiencing new cultures
- Not to mention you’ll be living in the heart of London

Details of the Arrangement
As a volunteer we recommend you carry out a minimum of 20 hours volunteering a week to get the most from this opportunity but of course if you have more time available more help is always welcome. Times are flexible with three main shift times mornings, afternoons and evenings. For this opportunity accommodation is provided free of charge, and in catered sites breakfast & dinner is provided, please note this is a volunteer role and no wage is payable.

Accommodation & Hostel Facilities
Accommodation in a single sex shared room and meals are provided at the House where you are placed – or the nearest catered site for meals. In self-catering sites kitchen facilities are provided for your use. A deposit of £30 will be required by the hostel to ensure the safe keeping of keys and uniforms. Bed linen is provided but not towels. There are laundry facilities and vending machines available. All hostels have WIFI, a TV room and sometimes a study room & Gym.

Hygiene
Protective clothing is issued and MUST BE WORN in the interest of catering hygiene and Health & Safety Regulations. Sensible foot wear must also be worn. Full training will be provided for all roles.

Note
If you wish to be considered for a volunteer role with LHA you should complete the application form. Please note - It is the applicant’s responsibility to check if you are eligible to volunteer in the UK and apply for any visa’s as required. You will be asked to provide a copy of your passport as proof of ID prior to commencing and volunteering opportunity. Your application form will then be filed according to the date you wish to start your volunteer role. We guarantee to dispose of personal data when we no longer need to keep it for business purposes in line with our data protection policy.
You will hear from us again (usually by telephone or email) as soon as we have a volunteer role to offer you. Being able to offer you a volunteer role depends on availability. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.