Care volunteer roles

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

Join us our Chair of the Board of Trustees

 We are seeking an inspiring Chair who will play a vital role in shaping our future.

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in the community? Do you have a strong desire to contribute your skills to a cause that matters? We invite you to become the new Chair of our Board of Trustees and be a driving force for change!

Who we are

CAYSH is a purpose driven charity, dedicated to making a difference to the lives of young people. We believe in the power of community, collaboration and transparency to create lasting change. We provide supported housing, advice and guidance to more than 100 vulnerable, homeless young people.

Our Community Interest Company has a separate board and exists to provide 24/7 concierge services to young people at CAYSH and externally to vulnerable adults with complex needs.

What we are looking for: An individual who will provide strategic guidance, support our growth and provide governance leadership. You will also support us in making a difference to the lives of young people and vulnerable adults.

While working collaboratively with our CEO, dedicated team of staff, trustees and directors you will support and oversee the activities of our organisation and have oversight of board and committee activity and decision making.

 Why you should join us as our Chair:

Impact: Be part of an organisation making a real difference to the lives of homeless young people. Leadership: Support our strategic decision-making and shape the future direction of the organisation. Fulfilment: Experience the satisfaction of knowing that your efforts contribute to positive change.

We want to work with a Chair who is an experienced trustee or director, with a career background that will raise the work of the CAYSH Group and champion our vision and mission. We endeavour to grow our organisation and particularly welcome applications from anyone who will support our business growth strategy. Commitment to safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults is essential, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities and eliminating discriminatory practice.

Time commitment:

Our Trustees and Directors provide a valuable and positive contribution, building on our strengths and ensuring our results are sustained. There are currently 9 Trustees / Directors within the Group who bring a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to the organisation.

You will attend an average of 4 Board meetings and up to 4 Committee meetings a year, plus Trustee / Director away-days & other events, such as AGM. Meetings are held outside regular business hours and are mostly online. Events (including strategy days, AGM and service user get-togethers) usually take place at our offices in Croydon.

How to Apply: If you are ready to embark on a rewarding journey and to become the Chair of Board of Trustees with CAYSH, we would love to hear from you! Please submit a brief statement outlining your interest and the skills you bring to our organisation.

Apply now and become a catalyst for positive change! Together, let's build a better future.

Letter from Imelda Redmond, our chair of trustees

The current Board is a welcoming, collegiate and energetic group, working hard to make a positive impact on the lives of older people in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Hackney. I joined the organisation a year ago as chair and am enjoying steering the organisation through an exciting period of transformation as we implement our new, and ambitious, five year strategy. AUKEL has sound finances and a strong reputation for its service delivery (Hospital to Home service, community services, digital inclusion and Information and Advice). From this strong base, the organisation has an ambition to amplify the voices of older people within our communities and to create a more collaborative culture which both improves the connectedness of our services and also strengthens our relationships with local voluntary, statutory, community and faith groups. We are looking for someone with the time, passion and expertise we need to work collegiately with trustee colleagues to lead the organisation through this next exciting phase.

Yours,

Imelda Redmond

AUKEL Chair of trustees

About us Age

UK East London (AUKEL) is a local independent charity, which is part of the national Age UK network. We work across Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham to deliver services which support older people to live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives.

Our work

Each year we support around 20,000 older East Londoners by providing flexible practical and emotional support in homes, hospitals and in the community.

Our boroughs have the country’s highest pensioner poverty in the country, further exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis.

How we help

1. We tackle poverty

Each year our advice service supports over 2,000 older people to claim £3.2million in welfare benefits, grants and relief entitlements. During the cost-of-living crisis we distributed £42,000 worth of emergency vouchers for food, helping older people ensure there was food in the fridge.

2. We alleviate loneliness

According to a national model, Tower Hamlets has the highest rates of loneliness in London and in England. Our East End Friends initiative teams housebound older people who’d like a bit more company with a volunteer to visit them at home. 92% of older people said they felt less isolated and lonely and 100% of volunteers would recommend the scheme.

3. We improve health.

Many older people in our boroughs have very poor health. For example, at age 65, women can expect just six more years of good health, which is the lowest in London and almost the lowest in England. This reduces their quality of life and can make it harder to remain independent. As well as increasing income and addressing loneliness (both determinants of health) we offer yoga, walking, and chair-based exercise groups at our community centre in Bow. 87% of participants said they are more independent as a result.

4. We increase independence.

Many older people live alone and struggle to manage around the home. Our home from hospital service supports 3,000 older people to return to a safe and warm home. Just 6% are readmitted to hospital within 28 days compared to 15.3% in areas where there aren’t these services.

The Team

We have an established and talented Senior Management Team, a committed staff team and an extraordinary group of volunteers. Two years ago, the board recruited a new Chief Executive. She is ambitious for the charity, comes with a great track-record of charity leadership, and has worked hard with trustees to develop our new organisational strategy.

Who we are looking for

We want our trustees to understand the community we serve and are therefore specifically looking for applicants who live in and/or have strong connections with Hackney, Tower Hamlets or Newham. Additionally, we are determined to increase the diversity of the current Board in line with our organisational EDI Objectives. For this reason, we are actively seeking candidates from the Global Majority (all non-white ethnic groups, including Black, Asian, and other groups previously labelled as "ethnic minorities" or ‘BAME’).

Previous experience in the voluntary sector, adult social care, NHS, or similar relevant experience to the work of AUKEL would be helpful. As would communications/marketing experience. However, this is potentially a developmental role where you will gain knowledge and experience of charity governance – so the most important thing is your commitment to our organisational aims and your local connection.

You must want to improve the lives of older people across East London and understand the impact disadvantage and discrimination has on the life chances of our local population. You will be curious, collaborative and ambitious and able to commit to an average of one-to two days a quarter (most meetings are in the evenings).

If you're new to being a trustee, we can offer additional training and pair you with a fellow trustee as a ‘buddy’ to help guide you. They’ll be there to walk you through trustee materials, answer any questions, and provide support along the way.

Full role description can be found in appendix 1

What I get out of being on the AUKEL Board

'I continue to be impressed with the extent of the help AUKEL provides in our communities. The need for the service is increasing as the cost-of-living crisis deepens. I see the Trustee role as an enabling role. I enjoy rolling up my sleeves alongside my fellow trustees to tackle some challenging issues with our combined skill sets. I particularly enjoy working on the new People sub-committee and I can sense a renewed enthusiasm for finding ways to optimise the Trustee contribution.' (Teresa, a current trustee)

New Trustees will complete an induction to the organisation and the Board. This will include site visits and meetings with the CEO, Senior Management Team, Chair and Board members. During your induction you’ll have the opportunity to really understand our services and get to know our team. You’ll be able to ask any questions you want and visit any service you wish!

Time commitment

The full Board meets quarterly on Wednesdays from 6.00 – 8.00pm in our Hackney centre.

We hope that all our trustees additionally sit on a sub-committee which reflects their interests and/or expertise. All the Committees meet quarterly the Finance Committee meets on Thursdays from 6.00 – 8.00pm usually face to face in Bethnal Green, the People Committee 5 meets quarterly on Mondays from 6.00-7.30pm online, and the Service Development Committee usually meets from 6.00-7.30pm on Thursdays online.

Travel expenses can be reimbursed.

Board members may be asked to commit additional time to support staff recruitment, review tenders and share expertise.

The agenda and papers for each meeting are usually emailed to Trustees a week in advance.

How to apply

If you are interested in being considered for this role please submit your CV/LinkedIn profile with a covering letter explaining why you wish to join the charity and the skills/experience you will bring to the Board.Please visit our website for the recruitment email address.

Potential candidates are welcome to have an informal conversation about the role. Please visit our website for the recruitment email address.

Closing date is the 30th of June.

Appendix 1

Trustee role description

The Board is responsible for the smooth-running of the organisation and supporting the Chief Executive. You will be supporting our 70+ members of staff and part of our 80+ strong volunteer team. You will also have the opportunity to learn about how to tackle the challenges that our beneficiaries face, and how to deliver appropriate co-produced services that enrich older people’s lives and enhance the whole community of East London.

Main tasks

• Contribute to Board meetings, helping to give firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting policy and targets and evaluating performance.
• Make decisions for the benefit of Age UK East London, exercising independent judgement and declaring any interests, exercising reasonable skill, care and diligence in carrying out activities.
• Be familiar with the rules that govern Age UK East London (Articles of Association) and make sure we follow those, Charity Law, Company Law and all other relevant legislation and regulations.
• Ensure the organisation’s financial stability, overseeing the setting of the budget and monitoring variance against the budget (the Board also has a Finance Sub-Committee to help oversee this).
• Ensure that we use our resources in line with our Articles and the requirements of funders, and that our accounts are a ‘fair and true’ representation of our finances.
• Safeguard the values of Age UK East London a maintain positive reputation for the organisation and its work.

Person specification

We’re looking for someone who:

• Cares about older people and wants to make a positive difference in their lives.
• Is open-minded, fair, and respectful, and values the opinions and experiences of others.
• Understands equity, diversity, and inclusion and its impact on older people and organizational practices
• Is committed to the charity’s mission, values, and social impact.
• Is reliable, committed and can dedicate some time to attending meetings and getting involved in the charity’s work.
• Is willing to learn about the charity’s work, the role of a trustee, and the challenges older people face.
• Can work well with others as part of a team, sharing ideas and supporting the charity’s goals.

It would be helpful (but not essential) if you:

• Have personal or professional experience with older people, or an understanding of the issues they face.
• Have lived experience or a connection to the charity’s mission.

Title: Dementia Support Volunteer

Hours:  Tuesday mornings 10am – 12.30 & Tuesday afternoons 12.30 – 3pm (Mytchett) also Thursday mornings 10am – 12.30 & Tuesday afternoons 12.30 – 3pm (Japonica Court, Ash)

Supported by: Dementia Outreach Worker / Charlotte Lawrence (Manager) and Beverley Caldwell (Coordinator) at both locations.

Tuesdays:  The Mytchett Centre, 140 Mytchett Road, Camberley, GU16 6AA (Ash Vale / Aldershot / Farnborough Area)

Thursdays:  Age UK Surrey office, Japonica Court, Shawfield Road, Ash, GU12 6QX

Main Duties:

Morning - Assisting Dementia Outreach Worker to facilitate a Memory Lane session for people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (sessions to help maintain memory and mental functioning), this could involve helping with a range of activities such as art, music and reminiscence. Making tea & coffee. 

Afternoon – Assisting Dementia Outreach Worker to facilitate group activity attended by people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and their carers – activities could range from quizzes to bingo to arts and crafts. Making tea & coffee. 

Training would be ‘on the job’ learning and specialist Dementia training if necessary; online DBS registration with Age UK Surrey will be provided at no cost. You can choose either location to volunteer.

Personal Qualities:

Patience with older people

Good communication skills

Empathy with older people

Compassionate towards others

Are Reliable and Adaptable

Skills Desirable:

Organised

Resourceful / Creative

Some experience with dementia or older people would be desirable but not essential.

Transport and Expenses

Unless in walking distance then your own transport will be needed for The Mytchett Centre or Japonica Court. Transport costs reimbursed (keep receipts / record mileage).

Music has long been held as an effective and soothing way to help relieve stress and improve mental health. Do you have a passion for playing the guitar and would like to teach others?

Playing a guitar in a group allows for time to focus on the here and now, providing total mindfulness. This enables us to forget about the past or our future worries for a while, providing time without any distractions!

Support others to learn to play chords and push their worries to the back of their mind and an opportunity to engage with people that have a similar interest!

What you will be doing

• To facilitate guitar lessons for beginners on a 1:1 basis
• Plan each session, in collaboration with those you are supporting
• Lead on logistics and organisation of the sessions alongside the staff team
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Experience teaching playing a guitar and the ability to teach at beginner level
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Location: Remote
Availability: Weekends only – especially Sundays
Compensation: Unpaid (Volunteer-based)
Cause: Supporting underprivileged children through education, mentorship & empowerment

Are you passionate about making a real difference in your community?
Unessa Foundation invites compassionate and committed individuals to join us as Weekend Volunteers in Vadodara.

What You'll Do:

• Spend quality time interacting and engaging with underprivileged children

• Support in basic learning activities, fun games, storytelling, and mentorship

• Help organize Sunday educational or creative sessions

Why Volunteer With Us?

• Gain hands-on experience working in the social impact space.

• Gain friendships and build relationships for a lifetime.

• Develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

• Be part of a mission to uplift young lives and give them a brighter future.

Ideal Candidate:

• Available on Sundays (minimum 3 hours commitment)

• Passionate about children’s education and welfare

• Friendly, reliable, and eager to learn

Could you be a star baker, master chef or perhaps you simply enjoy baking or cooking! We are recruiting for a volunteer to join our team supporting individuals to learn new recipes together as a group.

Baking and cooking helps to relax, get creative and indulge in our senses. Often, it can spark nostalgia and helps us to recreate positive experiences or memories. Inspire and motivate people in our services to do something that brings joy, an opportunity to learn new skills whilst connecting with others over sharing baked goods and delicious meals.

What you will be doing

• Research and plan new recipes for cooking/baking sessions in collaboration with the group each week
• Encourage individuals to participate in the sessions and delegate cooking tasks
• Support individuals to shop for ingredients needed for the session
• Support individuals each week in setting up for the sessions and tidying away afterwards
• Encourage individuals to participate in all aspects of the planning and attendance
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Food Safety Certificate/knowledge or willingness to complete relevant training
• Passion and knowledge of healthy eating and cooking
• Ability to engage, encourage and motivate individuals to participate in sessions
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Hope House Children’s Hospices is a charity that gives every local child with a life-threatening condition and their family access to professional care and improves their quality of life from the point of diagnosis.

Our trustees play a vital role as the leaders and ambassadors for our highly regarded and loved regional charity, setting the strategic direction and ensuring the charity delivers its charitable purpose.

Would you like to use your personal and professional skills to make a real difference to a cause that matters to you?

Training and support is provided to develop your skills in other areas so you can confidently contribute to discussions and decisions.

The attached brochure containing stories and words from our team will give you a taste of what we do – but nothing beats seeing our work for yourselves.

If you would like to speak to our Chair, Steve Henly, or Chief Executive, Andy Goldsmith, before applying, please contact the HR Team on 01691   679679.

You are also invited to an Open Morning, as an opportunity to visit the hospice and meet some of our Senior Team and Trustees, this will take place between 10.30 and 12.30 on Saturday, 5th July, if you are able to attend please email or call 01691   679679.

You can also find out about our work, our Purpose, our values and our ambitions on our website.

Closing Date for site – 15th July 2025

RASASC Guildford is a charity that supports survivors of all genders over the age of 13 from across Surrey, who have been raped, sexually abused or have had unwanted sexual experience. 

We are currently recruiting for Support Line Volunteers (usually aged 23 or over) to work on our newly launched Support Line.  Our support line service operates from 6:30pm – 8:30pm Monday to Thursday, and provides a check in, listening and support service for survivors of rape and sexual abuse who have been assessed by RASASC for a 1:1 counselling place and who are currently on the waiting list for one to become available. This service is intended to reassure clients they are not forgotten and provide a safe space to talk about anything they wish. The wait times can be a few months to a few years. We ask that volunteers can commit to one shift every fortnight.

Volunteers are provided with an extensive training programme and are supported by regular supervision and ongoing training. The training programme will be a combination of in person sessions (Guildford) and online sessions.

While most volunteer work is done remotely, we do require quarterly in-person attendance at our Guildford offices for supervision (one evening) as well as occasional in-person training. Volunteers also commit to 1:1 telephone supervision and an online supervision session in addition to the face to face, these occur monthly on a rolling 3-month basis so each month there is a different type of supervision session also always in the evening and normally the second Tuesday of each month.

To find out more, please go to our website where you will find the job description and application form.

If you have any questions about the role please do get in touch as we would love to hear from you.

The closing date is Friday 30th May.

Are you creative? Would you like to support others to express their emotions through arts and crafting?

Art plays a valuable role in mental wellbeing with research showing that crafting, regardless of the medium you use can boost your mood, self-confidence and reduce stress overall. Taking part in art-based activities increases our resilience and engages us in the here and now. You will be supporting people to express their emotions, provide a time for people to relax and feel proud of their final art products! We are recruiting for a volunteer to support and facilitate an art and craft group.

What you will be doing

• To prepare arts and craft sessions, involving individuals in the planning process where possible
• Inspire and motivate individuals to develop their arts and craft skills, assisting them in the creation of their projects and supporting them to brainstorm and use their own initiative
• Encourage individuals to continue independent activities

The skills you need

• Experience of arts and/or crafts either in a professional, educational, or personal level
• Able to collaborate with individuals to plan an art group session and facilitate confidently
• A calm and patient manner
• Ability to provide a trusting, open, kind-hearted atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• An effective communicator with a patient and sympathetic nature

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Swansea Community Workshops

The Board of Trustees are looking to recruit a knowledgeable and experienced individual for the voluntary role of Treasurer (Board of Trustees). The main activity at Swansea Community Workshops (SCW) is to provide facilities for hobbies, recreation, and leisure time occupation in a socially interactive and practical environment, where there are skills sharing, learning of new skills, and helping community-based projects. As we are a charity, these facilities are for public benefit, specifically targeting socially excluded members of the local community in Swansea.

Role Overview

Title: Treasurer (Voluntary) Reports to: Board of Trustees.

Hours: 6-10 hours per month as minimum. Attendance to monthly sub-committee meetings and bimonthly Board of Trustee meetings is expected.

Role and Responsibilities Overall

• Oversee the financial affairs of the organisation and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice.
• Ensure proper records are kept and that effective financial procedures are in place.
• Monitor and report on the financial health of the organisation.
• Oversee the production of necessary financial reports/returns, accounts, and audits.

Specifically 

• Undertake bookkeeping duties and/or oversee the finance volunteer ensuring posting and bookkeeping is kept up-to-date.
• Maintain the petty cash system and regularly process petty cash claims.
• Regularly carry out reconciliations/ oversee regular reconciliations by the Centre Manager.
• Liaise with relevant staff, board members and/or volunteers to ensure the financial viability of the organisation.
• Make fellow board members aware of their financial obligations and take a lead in interpreting financial data to them.
• Regularly report the financial position at Board of Trustees meetings (balance sheet, cash flow, fundraising performance etc) with assistance from the Centre Manager.
• Alongside the Chair and Centre Manager, provide oversight in the production of an annual budget and propose its adoption at the last meeting of the previous financial year.
• Ensure proper records are kept and that effective financial procedures and controls are in place, as laid out in SCW’s Scheme of Delegation and other policies. i.e.:
• Cheque signatories
• Purchasing limits
• Purchasing systems
• Petty cash/ float
• Salary payments
• Pensions
• PAYE and NI payments
• Others as appropriate
• Appraising the financial viability of plans, proposals, and feasibility studies.
• Lead on appointing and liaising with auditors/an independent examiner.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities 

• Friendly and approachable 
• Clear communication skills – both written and verbal. 
• Good attention to detail 
• Happy to volunteer on evenings and weekends when required. 
• Enthusiasm or interest in craft activities 

Education, Experience and Knowledge 

• A Level or equivalent degree required as minimum. 
• Knowledge and experience of current and fundraising finance practice relevant to voluntary and community organisations. 
• Knowledge of bookkeeping and financial management (as necessary). 

Skills 

Essential 

• Good financial analysis skills. 
• Knowledge of appropriate software including: Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat 
• Excellent customer service skills. 
• Excellent organisation skills and an ability to work independently. 

Desirable 

• Knowledge of specific software and systems, such as WordPress, Skedda. 
• Clean and valid UK driving license, personal vehicle, and insurance. 
• Basic Welsh language skills. 

The above Role Description and Person Specification should be considered in addition the SCW’s standard Trustee Role Description and Person Specification, which is available separately to this document.

Additional Information 

Key Dates 

September 2024 - This is an ongoing recruitment with no fixed deadline for registering your interest. 

Could you be a star baker, master chef or perhaps you simply enjoy baking or cooking! We are recruiting for a volunteer to join our team supporting individuals to learn new recipes together as a group.

Baking and cooking helps to relax, get creative and indulge in our senses. Often, it can spark nostalgia and helps us to recreate positive experiences or memories. Inspire and motivate people in our services to do something that brings joy, an opportunity to learn new skills whilst connecting with others over sharing baked goods and delicious meals.

What you will be doing

• Research and plan new recipes for cooking/baking sessions in collaboration with the group each week
• Encourage individuals to participate in the sessions and delegate cooking tasks
• Support individuals to shop for ingredients needed for the session
• Support individuals each week in setting up for the sessions and tidying away afterwards
• Encourage individuals to participate in all aspects of the planning and attendance
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Food Safety Certificate/knowledge or willingness to complete relevant training
• Passion and knowledge of healthy eating and cooking
• Ability to engage, encourage and motivate individuals to participate in sessions
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Swansea Community Workshops

The Board of Trustees are looking to recruit a knowledgeable and experienced individual for the voluntary role of Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees. The main activity at Swansea Community Workshops (SCW) is to provide facilities for hobbies, recreation, and leisure time occupation in a socially interactive and practical environment, where there are skills sharing, learning of new skills, and helping community-based projects. As we are a charity, these facilities are for public benefit, specifically targeting socially excluded members of the local community in Swansea.

Role Overview

Title: Vice-Chair (Voluntary) Reports to: Board of Trustees.

Hours: 6-10 hours per month as minimum. Attendance to monthly sub-committee meetings and bimonthly Board of Trustee meetings is expected.

Role Summary

The Vice-Chair shares responsibility with, and in the absence of, the Chair for board management, support to individual trustees and support to the Centre Manager, facilitating scrutiny of SCW’s strategic direction, values, policies, and operational efficiency. The Vice-Chair also plays an active role in representing the organisation to a range of internal and external stakeholders.

The below Role Description and Person Specification should be considered in addition the SCW’s standard Trustee Role Description and Person Specification, which is available separately to this document.

Role and Responsibilities

Overall 

• Support the Chair in leading the charity to enable it to fulfil its purpose.
• To ensure an effective relationship between:
• the charity and the staff/volunteers
• the charity and the external stakeholders/community
• Acting as a spokesperson and figurehead as appropriate and in the absence of the Chair.
• To supervise and support the Centre Manager as appropriate and in the absence of the Chair..

Specifically 

• Support charity meetings and the AGM with others as appropriate.
• In absence of the Chair, to Chair charity meetings ensuring:
• A balance is struck between time-keeping and space for discussions.
• Business is dealt with and decisions made.
• Decisions, actions, and deliberations are adequately minuted.
• The implementation of decisions is clearly assigned and monitored.
• Ensure adequate support and supervision arrangements are made for the Centre Manager and any other staff/volunteers directly managed or reporting to the charity.
• Ensure that a successor is found before the term of office finishes.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities 

• Friendly and approachable 
• Clear communication skills – both written and verbal. 
• Good attention to detail 
• Happy to volunteer on evenings and weekends when required. 
• Enthusiasm or interest in craft activities 

Education, Experience and Knowledge 

• Secondary education required as minimum. 
• Knowledge and experience of charity law, good governance, and operation relevant to voluntary and community organisations. 
• Knowledge of project management and budgeting/forecasting. 

Skills 

Essential 

• Effective leadership skills. 
• Good delegation skills. 
• Good negotiation, influencing, and meditation skills. 
• Knowledge of appropriate software including: Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat 
• Excellent customer service skills. 
• Excellent organisation skills. 

Desirable 

• Knowledge of specific software and systems, such as WordPress, Skedda. 
• Clean and valid UK driving license, personal vehicle, and insurance. 
• Basic Welsh language skills. 

Additional Information

Key Dates 

September 2024 - This is an ongoing recruitment with no fixed deadline for registering your interest. 

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.

Are you passionate about helping women build their lives beyond crisis? We are recruiting for volunteers to support victims of Domestic Abuse on a 1 to 1 basis. This is a chance to empower other inspirational women by building their confidence and teaching them new life skills in order to achieve their ambitions and goals. You will be supporting women and children to rebuild their lives free from fear!

What you will be doing

• To develop and promote a positive relationship with the service user through regular meetings
• To encourage service users to engage in social activities and supporting them in doing so
• To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
• Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals
• To support and help the service user to get familiar with their new environment/area/community and show them where the local shops, GP, etc are located
• To plan activities with your befriendee, such as a walk, visiting museums
• Manage appropriate boundaries

The skills you need

• Have good listening and communication skills
• Be non-judgmental and motivational in approach
• Willingness to engage in activities in the community
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow operating guidelines
• To be consistent and dependable when working with a service user
• Lived in experience and ability to speak another language such as Hindu, Urdu, Farsi, etc would be desirable but not required

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.