Direct Employer Volunteer Roles

Do you want to be inspired by the impact of education? Do you have the skills to lead an established board of governors? A school near to Bournemouth is looking for a skilled volunteer to drive school improvement by becoming a chair of governors.

What will you be doing?

Governing bodies are responsible for the strategic management of a school and will make decisions about a wide range of issues

The core responsibilities involved are:

· Ensuring accountability

· Providing support and challenge to the schools senior leadership team

· Monitoring and evaluating the school’s progress

· Budgetary allocation and control

· Shaping plans for school improvement and overseeing their implementation

· Setting the school’s aims and values

· Appointing senior members of staff including the Head Teacher

A school governing body is made up of representatives from the school, the parents, and the local community.

What are we looking for?

This vacancy is for a Middle C of E School (ages 9-13). They are ideally looking for someone with experience of strategic- level leadership and/or change management in any industry but please do apply if your skills and experience lie in different areas.

You must be over 18, but you don’t need to be a parent or have children of school age. Often, it’s the outside perspective you can bring that a school needs. Professional experience in areas such as safe guarding, change management, and leadership skills are all useful to a school. Soft skills such as communication and problem solving are also great additions.

What difference will you make?

Governors make decisions that affect schools for years to come. Chair of Governors work in partnership with Head Teachers and the Senior Management Team to help deliver the best possible education, and help children realise their expectations and aspirations.

Our recent impact survey found that our volunteers bring £9.9 million worth of value to schools each year, and 9/10 volunteers would recommend being a governor to a friend.

As a chair of governors, you will be encouraged to visit the school to gain an understanding of the culture and ethos and to get the most out of the role. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet children, parents, and teachers, and see the impact of your work first-hand.

What's in it for the volunteer?

Volunteering as a chair of governors is a challenging but rewarding role. As part of the governing board, you’ll:

· Have support from the vice chair(s) and the clerk, to ensure the effective functioning of the board by keeping it focused on its core functions. You will also encourage the board to work together as an effective team, building its skills, knowledge and experience.

· help schools overcome challenges to ensure a bright future for children in your community

· work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds, challenging your own perspective and broadening your network

· gain experience outside of your job description and skills you can bring back to work

Before you apply

You will need to complete an application form and will have an interview with the school. DBS checks will be taken up.

About Governors for Schools

Objectives

Governors for Schools exists to improve educational standards so that children and young people have the chance to realise their full potential.

We believe the key to improving school performance is effective governance. By finding, nurturing and supporting a committed network of governors we help to drive systematic change in how schools operate. We have been connecting schools across England for over 20 years, and expanded our service into Wales in 2020, with skilled and committed volunteers, supported by our business and university partnerships.

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

RoadPeace is seeking a Treasurer to work with the Board and oversee all financial aspects of the charity’s operation to help secure its financial stability and future sustainability of the organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual with financial or accountancy experience and an understanding of the not-for-profit sector.

Who we are

RoadPeace was established in 1992 by Brigitte Chaudry, a mother whose son was violently killed by a van driver who ignored red traffic lights. We are a membership organisation whose work is informed by the needs and experiences of road crash victims. RoadPeace is governed by a Board of Trustees and has a small staff team, who work in partnership with a vibrant network of members and volunteers. RoadPeace provides information and support services to people bereaved or seriously injured in road crashes and engages in campaigning work to fight for justice for victims and reduce road danger.

The role

RoadPeace has a vision for a world where road danger is not tolerated and where road crash victims receive justice and compassion.

We exist to support and empower those bereaved and injured by road crashes and their families; to improve the justice system’s post-crash response and to spare future generations from preventable death and injury. As a membership charity, we put victims at the heart of our work, equipping them to support themselves and others, campaign for change and shape RoadPeace’s work.

Following its 30th anniversary, Roadpeace is looking towards the next chapter and after reviewing how to develop and strengthen the charity, is in the process of creating a new strategy.

We are seeking to appoint a dynamic and compassionate Treasurer to provide financial insight and leadership to the Board, assist with the new strategy and ensure that the organisation has long-term sustainability and delivers its charitable objectives in close cooperation with the Board of Trustees, Chair and CEO.

We would like to work with a Treasurer who has strong empathy with the organisation’s objectives and has some understanding or interest in what it means to be bereaved or seriously injured in a road crash.

We would like to hear from you if you have the financial skills or expertise for this role, whether in the public or private sectors. Fundraising experience is desirable.

Applications should include a cover letter and CV, as well as two references.

Do you want to be inspired by the impact of education? Do you have the skills to lead an established board of governors? A school in Bridport is looking for a skilled volunteer to drive school improvement by becoming a chair of governors.

What will you be doing?

Governing bodies are responsible for the strategic management of a school and will make decisions about a wide range of issues

The core responsibilities involved are:

· Ensuring accountability

· Providing support and challenge to the schools senior leadership team

· Monitoring and evaluating the school’s progress

· Budgetary allocation and control

· Shaping plans for school improvement and overseeing their implementation

· Setting the school’s aims and values

· Appointing senior members of staff including the Head Teacher

A school governing body is made up of representatives from the school, the parents, and the local community.

What are we looking for?

This vacancy is for a Secondary School (ages 11-18). They are ideally looking for someone with experience of strategic- level leadership and/or change management in any industry but please do apply if your skills and experience lie in different areas.

You must be over 18, but you don’t need to be a parent or have children of school age. Often, it’s the outside perspective you can bring that a school needs. Professional experience in areas such as safe guarding, change management, and leadership skills are all useful to a school. Soft skills such as communication and problem solving are also great additions.

What difference will you make?

Governors make decisions that affect schools for years to come. Chair of Governors work in partnership with Head Teachers and the Senior Management Team to help deliver the best possible education, and help children realise their expectations and aspirations.

Our recent impact survey found that our volunteers bring £9.9 million worth of value to schools each year, and 9/10 volunteers would recommend being a governor to a friend.

As a chair of governors, you will be encouraged to visit the school to gain an understanding of the culture and ethos and to get the most out of the role. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet children, parents, and teachers, and see the impact of your work first-hand.

What's in it for the volunteer?

Volunteering as a chair of governors is a challenging but rewarding role. As part of the governing board, you’ll:

· Have support from the vice chair(s) and the clerk, to ensure the effective functioning of the board by keeping it focused on its core functions. You will also encourage the board to work together as an effective team, building its skills, knowledge and experience.

· help schools overcome challenges to ensure a bright future for children in your community

· work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds, challenging your own perspective and broadening your network

· gain experience outside of your job description and skills you can bring back to work

Before you apply

You will need to complete an application form and will have an interview with the school. DBS checks will be taken up.

About Governors for Schools

Objectives

Governors for Schools exists to improve educational standards so that children and young people have the chance to realise their full potential.

We believe the key to improving school performance is effective governance. By finding, nurturing and supporting a committed network of governors we help to drive systematic change in how schools operate. We have been connecting schools across England for over 20 years, and expanded our service into Wales in 2020, with skilled and committed volunteers, supported by our business and university partnerships.

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

Skills required

• Good communication and IT skills

• Excellent people skills to enable you to work with a range of individuals with complex backgrounds

• An understanding of the challenges faced by those unemployed

• Cultural Awareness

• Reliable and trustworthy

• Ability to inspire and motivate others

• Respect Confidentiality

• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team

• Ability to operate within Connection Support’s policies and procedures

Are you interested in marketing? Have you got experience of using Mailchimp? Help us engage our charity's audience by creating compelling email and newsletter content so that we can support more people affected by a complex, debilitating chronic condition as well as raise awareness of this rare disease. This is a great opportunity to assist a small but mighty charity.

Description

Our small charity delivers awareness campaigns and a range of support services to patients, relatives, partners and carers who have been affected by a debilitating chronic condition; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). We are urgently looking for 2 experienced email marketing experts to join our communications team.

You will be a big link to our charity's clients who are vulnerable and isolated, to them learning more about events, our latest articles, fundraising events as well as ensuring they are aware of the services that we offer that be of help to them. You will also be helping us to raise awareness of this devastating chronic condition.

Even though we are a small organisation we have big ideas and having regular contact through emails and newsletters will show consistency and know they can rely on us to be there for them.

We would like the volunteer to help with:

• Email strategy: Help us plan and articulate how we can use emails and newsletters to strengthen our organisation, motivate our supporters and communicate with our sponsors;
• Email content: Develop our communication & marketing content calendar, write compelling regular email content, including calls for donations & support, that is relevant and has clear a call-to-action and high click through rates;
• Email content (membership): Create a regular email newsletter for our membership scheme
• Create automated email series 
• Design and implement campaigns and promotional activity

What are you looking for in a volunteer?

We are looking for 2 volunteers who have:

• Strong writing and editing skills
• Good computer skills and a willingness to be contacted via email and/or video chat
• Experience using email marketing software - specifically Mailchimp
• Marketing skills
• Experience of working on marketing strategies
• Ability to quickly understand the needs of our team, organisation and our services users (we are not expecting you to know about the condition we support)
• Can ask key questions to enable us to clarify requirements
• Understands the resource constraints of a small charity and is able to work with these
• Open to feedback
• A passion for marketing and email marketing
• Ability to work flexibly on your own or as part of a team with enthusiasm and commitment
• Ability to create email campaigns with little supervision (after initial support)

Skills

• Digital: Email Marketing
• Marketing and communications: Copywriting/Journalism

Making a difference

What impact will the opportunity have?

You will be joining a small charity during a challenging period and your expert knowledge and experience will be invaluable to our success. You will have a key role in ensuring we reach the patients, relatives, partners and carers who are in need of our support and inclusion on a regular basis. With your help we will expand our readership to ensure more people are aware of this condition, which will help those affected by it when they see a health professional.

What's in it for the volunteer?

You would be a part of our small, friendly, forward-thinking charity team, focused on reaching more people affected by this rare condition who may not know that we exist to support them. You would have a key role in developing a strategy to complement our awareness campaigns. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a real difference in someone’s life which is already isolated and painful, but who may not know there is support out there and to then realise they’re not alone.

About the location

Where will the volunteer be working?

The volunteer will be working remotely, online and entirely from your own home.

Travel Limit

This role will be completely remote.

When will the volunteer be working?

Volunteer availability

• Either in or office hours - however we are flexible

Estimate the time commitment

• 3-6 hours / week - but this is flexible however ideally it would be 4 hours or over to ensure email campaigns are going out at the right time

To apply for the email marketing volunteer please send by email your CV together with a covering letter saying why you think you would be a good candidate for this position, via the Charity Job 'Apply Online' 

ABOUT THE ROLE

Marie Curie and University Hospital of Wales have joined together to offer a companion service to support people at the end of life. Spending time with patients and/or their relatives, we’re looking for volunteers to provide emotional support, a listening ear, and to simply be there for people at a very difficult time.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING.

Your role will include some of, but is not restricted to, the following duties: 

Spending time with patients of University Hospital of Wales who have been identified as nearing the end of their life and providing support for them and their loved ones. 
Sitting with a patient when their loved ones need a break. 
Liaising with hospital staff and keeping the companions volunteer coordinator updated with any significant updates with the patient by telephone or in person. 
Writing and submitting a brief report after each patient or family you support. 
Explaining clearly the Companions Volunteer role and making sure that families are aware of the services provided by the hospital to families of dying patients. 
Covering a regular 3 hour weekly shift. 
Understand the need for boundaries and work within the boundaries set out. 
Attending ongoing mandatory training sessions and reflective meetings.

THE SKILLS/EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEED.

A compassionate and sensitive nature.
The confidence to communicate effectively with all staff, patients and visitors.
Respect confidentiality
Are aware of their own emotions and manage them with the support available
Are physically fit enough to walk the length and breadth of the hospital site
Are able to use their initiative and work in a sensible, safe and appropriate manner.
Are good time keepers, providing regular volunteering shifts, and producing clear feedback
forms after each visit to a patient.
Communicate effectively with the Companions Volunteer Coordinator
Have the ability and inclination to work as part of a team, or on their own.
Attend pre-arranged meetings and ongoing training sessions, some of which are mandatory.

WHAT YOU CAN GAIN FROM THIS OPPORTUNITY.

An excellent opportunity to build on your skills in a charity environment
An induction, training, support and supervision in your role
Agreed reasonable out-of-pocket expenses

WHAT WE ASK OF YOU.

To provide two references from non-family members and other relevant documents related to the role
To keep to all the charity’s policies and guidelines 
To complete an induction and any training related to the role

Marie Curie is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of patients and their families and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  Marie Curie will treat all volunteers fairly and with respect.  We will not discriminate on the basis of disability, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, sex (i.e. gender), sexual orientation, religion or faith, or gender reassignment.  We will not discriminate on the basis of age, unless the responsibilities of a role require us to do so in order to safeguard our volunteers and/or service users.

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.

We are The Children’s Book Project and we are just establishing our operations in Birmingham. We passionately believe that every child should have the opportunity to own a book and have, in the last year, celebrated gifting our 1 millionth book! We are looking for some wonderful volunteers to help us in managing book sorting and packing with a range of amazing corporate volunteers.

What we do:

We gift beautiful pre-loved and new books to schools and we gift within prison settings in order to reach children who may not otherwise have access to book ownership. We are on a mission to grow and develop our operations in Birmingham.

We operate in term time only so if could spare 2 days every half term to help our amazing Regional Coordinator – we would love to hear from you!

The role: We work with a range of amazing corporate volunteer teams who come to our Birmingham site (currently in Minworth) to clean, sort and then pack our books in preparation for delivery. These corporate days are always full of energy and fun and we need 2- 4 energetic and passionate people to become team leaders - making sure that there is a warm welcome, a clear plan for the day and fulfilling the workload with care, attention and inclusivity.

What is required:

On average, a commitment to 2 days per half term 

Flexibility to travel to Minworth for sorting and corporate volunteering days

*There is real opportunity to do more - some volunteering can be done from home as our Regional Coordinator needs a little help with contacting local schools who are hosting book drives for us; sharing information and helping with planning and scheduling - full training and support will be given

In return, you’ll get to be part of an extraordinary family of volunteers as we make a real and lasting difference to young lives – there is almost an immeasurable benefit to empowering a child to read for pleasure and we believe that no child should be denied access to a book through poverty. We would love your support!

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