Mental health 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

Job Overview
We are seeking dedicated and compassionate Volunteers to join our drop in group in Thame, South Oxfordshire that take place on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday afternoon of the month between 2 pm -3.30 pm . This role is ideal for individuals looking to make a meaningful impact in the community while gaining valuable experience.

The Say Aphasia charity provides support groups across the UK for people with aphasia; a language and communication disability caused by a brain injury like a stroke. Aphasia affects over 350,000 people in the UK but is little understood or known about by the public. It is the only aphasia charity set up by people with aphasia for people with aphasia; helping them to adapt to their new way of life and regain their independence and confidence.

Aphasia occurs due to injury to the brain such as a stroke. It affects access to language, resulting in difficulties following conversations, speaking, reading and writing.

Volunteers will support the running of the group with communicating, and will have the opportunity to utilise their communication skills and IT knowledge to take a register of attendance.

Responsibilities

• Provide companionship and support to individuals, particularly those living with asphasia.
• Assist in organising activities that promote social interaction and engagement.
• Communicate effectively with participants, ensuring their needs are understood and met.
• Help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all participants.
• Collaborate with other volunteers to enhance the group.

Qualifications

• An understanding or knowledge in aphasia is desirable.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse groups.
• Proficiency in IT, including familiarity with common software applications.
• A compassionate and patient attitude towards individuals in need of support.

This volunteer position offers a rewarding opportunity to contribute positively to the lives of others while developing personal skills and experiences.

• Language training provided

ABOUT US

The Great Friendship Project is an award-winning organisation tackling loneliness through research-informed community programmes, campaigns, and partnerships.

We design and deliver social interventions that help people build real-world friendships, strengthen social confidence, and rise out of loneliness.

Over the past four years, we have delivered hundreds of community activities, partnered with major brands and public institutions, contributed to national research and policy conversations, and built a highly engaged community of tens of thousands of young adults.

As we look ahead, we are now entering a critical next phase of growth, strengthening our foundations in preparation for wider national expansion.

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OVERVIEW

We’re excited to be recruiting a brand new Social Media & Digital Marketing Intern to play a vital role in amplifying the mission and activities of The Great Friendship Project.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause, gain hands-on experience in social media and digital marketing within a non-profit setting, and make a positive impact on the lives of young people experiencing loneliness.

You’ll support the creation of engaging, on-brand content across our platforms, content planning, trend-led posting, and cross-promotion with partners - while helping to grow and engage our online community around events, campaigns, and impact stories.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

- Content Creation: Create original, engaging, platform-appropriate content that reflects the organisation’s mission and resonates with our audience.

- Photography & Filming: Capture high-quality photo and video content at events and for campaigns, ensuring all visuals align with our brand voice and tone.

- Social Media Strategy: Stay up to date with social media trends, support content planning, and help deliver a consistent posting schedule to grow and engage our following.

- Social Media Management: Support the day-to-day management and growth of the organisation’s social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

- Community Engagement: Actively engage with our online community to promote events, initiatives, and impact stories, and help foster a positive, welcoming digital presence.

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ABOUT YOU

- Passionate: A strong commitment to the mission of reducing loneliness among young adults, with the ability to inspire and lead a team toward shared goal.

- Proactive: Highly organised and proactive mindset, with the ability to manage multiple projects, prioritise effectively, and meet deadlines.

- Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders- Outstanding ability to conceptualise and execute trending content.

- Creative and Technical: Outstanding ability to conceptualise and execute trending content and able to use video editing and design tools like Capcut and Canva.

Share’s trustee team has responsibility for overseeing strategy and performance. Share currently has eight trustees, and is looking to recruit up to three more with the enthusiasm, skills and commitment we need to help guide Share through the next phase of its development. Trustees are supported by Share’s Senior Leadership Team led by the Chief Executive.

The full Board meets six times a year. Meetings are in person and usually take place in the evening, with the exception of an annual away day. In addition, Trustees will usually sit on one of our Board Sub-Committees which meet four times a year with meetings taking place virtually.

Who we are looking for

We strongly believe that diversity of thought and experience directly contributes to better organisational outcomes, and that the composition of the Charity’s leadership should be reflective of the diversity of Share’s student body.

Prospective Trustees must have a commitment to Share’s vision and values, and a passion for making a difference in the lives of disabled people. Share is keen to encourage applications from:

• Individuals with strong financial credentials, ideally a Chartered Accountant, who will sit on our Finance Sub-Committee
• An HR professional, who will sit on our HR and Safety Sub-Committee

We are particularly keen to encourage applications from groups currently under represented on the Board, including people who have lived experience of disability or of caring for someone with a disability, and those from minoritised ethnic backgrounds.

You don’t have to have been a trustee before – we are a welcoming, supportive team and will help you to succeed whether you’re a first-time Trustee or you have extensive experience.

Are you a qualified Yoga Instructor who would enjoy facilitating weekly sessions to help individuals with their general well-being. This is an opportunity for you to share techniques with others.

Practicing yoga has been shown to increase mindfulness not just in class session, but in other areas of a person's life.

What you will be doing

• Design session plans enabling all group members to increase fitness, suppleness and help them relax
• Teach the group yoga postures and breathing techniques which allow a range of mixed ages and abilities to participate
• Inspire and motivate people to attend and get involved in the group activities where possible and encourage the group to help design future sessions
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Skilled and qualified Yoga Instructor
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation

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.

Description

You'll be raising awareness, & improving understanding of sight loss through delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions in your local community. Through these engaging sessions, you'll inspire participants to make small changes to their behaviour that make a massive difference in the day-to-day lives of people with sight loss. As a Community Change Champion, this will involve:

• Talking directly with community leaders, businesses, & local groups about ways they can get involved & inviting them to join an Awareness to Action session.
• Delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions either in person or online, using our resources. You may do this on your own or with a team of other local volunteers, both sighted and with sight loss.
• Sharing RNIB’s information & initiatives so people know we’re here for them.
• If you have a personal link to sight loss, sharing your experience during the session to help give a tangible example of how local people can make a real difference.
• Telling us about any activities you have engaged in via a Microsoft form.

What will you gain from the role?
• First-hand experience in grassroots community engagement & charity outreach.
• The opportunity to develop communication & networking skills.
• Support to learn & or use presentation skills to deliver the Awareness to Action Session in person and virtually.
• If you have lived experience of sight loss, support to tell your story to make the most positive impact.
• Know that your efforts are improving the public’s understanding, perceptions & behaviour towards blind and partially sighted people.

We will provide:
• Induction to the role & organisation.
• Training and support to help you thrive in your role.
• A resource pack/toolkit to help deliver the message.
• Opportunities to connect with other RNIB volunteers across the UK.
• The chance to get involved in other activities that interest you & to apply for our internal-only job vacancies.
• Support from a volunteering manager.

How often will I be needed?

• 4 Hours per Action

Key requirements

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

What skills and experience are needed?

• One reference
• West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, East of England, Greater London
  • You must be at least 18 years old to apply
  • • Positive attitude towards blind and partially sighted people. • Effective communication skills. • An outgoing friendly approach to meeting new people. • A willingness and ability to complete the Microsoft feedback form.

Join us in promoting health and wellness in our community! We are looking for a passionate volunteer to teach Online Karate sessions for individuals with mixed abilities as part of our online groups programme. Your role will be key in supporting to reduce isolation and bringing people together! If you are qualified and would like to get involved, please apply now!

What you will be doing

• Plan and deliver online Karate classes for diverse groups and skill levels
• Create a welcoming environment which encourages participation
• Educating participants on the physical and mental benefits of Karate
• Providing guidance during practice, encouraging participants, and helping them achieve their goals

The skills you need

• Qualified in teaching Karate
• A friendly, approachable, and patient demeanour
• An interest in promoting health, mindfulness, and community well-being
• Excellent communication and listening skills

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

Customer Service / Receptionist Volunteer

We’re looking for a friendly volunteer in our Guildford office on Wednesdays to be the first point of contact for our clients coming in seeking advice.

 What will you do?

• Complete an introduction to Citizens Advice South West Surrey (CASWS)
• Complete required training for your role
• Provide a customer facing reception service to clients who drop in to see us in our Guildford office, including:
  • Ensuring relevant forms are completed
  • Assigning clients to Advisers for more detailed support
  • Booking appointments
  • Monitoring the flow of clients in the drop in
  • Assist clients with form filling
  • Complete day sheets
  • Scan and upload documents to case recording system
  • Write up notes on case recording system
  • When the drop-in service is at full capacity, ensuring that you understand the clients’ issue and support them by providing information, signposting them to another more appropriate organisation or asking them to attend another CASWS drop in.
• Complete administrative duties including:
  • Monitoring emails
  • Processing client enquiries both by email and phone
  • Sending out appointment information
  • Provide Advisers with admin support, where required
  • Other ad hoc tasks to support the day to day running of our service

What’s in it for you?

• gain and build on valuable skills and experience such as communication, IT skills and working in a team
• increase your employability
• contribute to the smooth running of the advice service which makes a real difference to peoples’ lives
• work with a range of different people, independently and in a team.

And we’ll reimburse expenses too.

What do you need to have?

You don’t need specific qualifications or skills, but you’ll need to:

• be friendly and approachable
• be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
• have good IT skills
• be calm under pressure
• be able to demonstrate resilience with challenging clients
• be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
• be willing to undertake training in your role

How much time do you need to give?

We're looking for someone who can volunteer on Wednesdays, ideally between 9am and 4pm, though we are happy to discuss volunteering between 9.30am and 3.30pm as well.

Valuing inclusion

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from racially minoritised people/people of colour, disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people.

Interested?

If you are interested in becoming a customer service volunteer / reception volunteer and would like to discuss ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you, please get in touch. To express interest and for an Application Pack, please email us. You can find more information on our website - just follow the link from here.

We are looking for a creative and enthusiastic Social Media Marketing Volunteer to help raise our digital profile and share the story of life at FFPG. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys filming, editing and creating simple, engaging content for platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

You’ll help us launch our TikTok presence, establish a regular posting rhythm and showcase the impact of our ecotherapy and community activities. One key focus over the next few months will be supporting our recruitment of “buddy volunteers” who assist participants during gardening sessions.

This role combines occasional on-site visits with remote flexible work. You can shape your own schedule, with a minimum of one post per month (ideally weekly).

Key Responsibilities

• Visit the garden semi-regularly to film short clips, interviews or “day in the garden” moments

• Edit and produce simple videos and posts for TikTok, Instagram and Facebook

• Help establish a consistent posting rhythm (minimum one post per month)

• Highlight garden activities, seasonal work, volunteer opportunities and upcoming events

• Support digital promotion for specific campaigns, such as buddy volunteer recruitment and events

• Post content on our social media platforms

• Collaborate with the Director and staff team to ensure content aligns with FFPG’s mission and tone.

What You’ll Bring

• Enthusiasm for social media and storytelling

• Willingness to visit the garden to collect content

• Ability to film and edit short videos using your own device

• Confidence using TikTok, Instagram or Facebook (keen beginners welcome; experience an advantage)

• An interest in nature, gardening, community work or mental wellbeing (not required but helpful)

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience creating social media content for a community-based charity

• A chance to develop your filming, editing and digital communication skills

• Flexibility to shape the content style and creative direction

• Insight into ecotherapy and community gardening

• The satisfaction of helping more people discover and benefit from FFPG

Practical Details

• This role is flexible and can be shaped around your schedule

• Travel to the garden can be reimbursed

• Volunteers must use their own phone/camera for filming and editing

About Forest Farm Peace Garden

Forest Farm Peace Garden (FFPG) is a therapeutic community garden in Hainault supporting people’s wellbeing through ecotherapy, food growing and nature-based activities. We work with adults experiencing mental health challenges and social isolation, offering a safe, supportive environment to connect with nature, learn new skills and build confidence. Volunteers, staff and community members help care for our two-acre site, keeping the garden thriving throughout the seasons.

Ready to arm our team with the tools to change lives?

At MINDSET, we’re not interested in ticking boxes or sitting through boring PowerPoints. We are a brand-new start-up shaking up men’s mental wellbeing across England and Wales—and we need a Training Lead who knows how to turn potential into performance.

We’re looking for someone who can take our volunteers, induct them into the MINDSET way, and give them the genuine skills and confidence they need to be world-class in their roles.

The Mission:

• The Deep Dive: Lead the induction process, ensuring every volunteer "gets" our mission and culture from hour one.
• The Toolkit: Design and deliver training that provides practical, real-world skills—not just theory.
• The Edge: Provide the ongoing tools and support that help our team stay sharp and be the best at what they do.

The Vibe:
We’re non-clinical, non-therapeutic, and 100% focused on growth. This is your chance to build a training programme from the ground up in a high-energy, zero-fluff environment.

Sound like you?
If you’re a natural coach with the experience to empower others and a passion for men’s personal growth, we need you on the ground floor.

Apply to lead our Training

Ready to tell the story that changes the narrative?

At MINDSET, we’re not just another charity; we’re a brand-new movement for men’s mental wellbeing and personal growth across England and Wales. We’re tired of the clinical, "waiting room" energy. We need a Communications Lead to help us cut through the noise with bold, impactful content that finally speaks a language men actually respond to.

We’re looking for a creative storyteller who can capture the grit, the growth, and the real-world impact of what we do, turning our mission into a profile that gets recognised nationwide.

The Mission:

• The Narrative: Create powerful content that tells the authentic stories of the men we support—focusing on strength, resilience, and action rather than just hardship.
• The Megaphone: Lead our social media and digital presence (think Instagram for visuals, LinkedIn for partnerships, and TikTok for authentic, raw updates) to raise our profile.
• The Identity: Ensure MINDSET is seen as the go-to space for non-clinical growth, building a brand that feels like a community, not a service.

The Vibe:
We’re action-first and zero-fluff. You’ll have total creative freedom to ditch the "sad face" charity clichés and build a high-impact communication strategy from the ground up.

Sound like you?
If you’re a content pro who knows how to move an audience and wants to use those skills to spark a national conversation about men’s growth, let’s talk.

Tell the MINDSET Story

Befriender Volunteers play a key role in supporting individuals as they move on from our services and begin to live more independently. This role helps individuals stay connected, build stability, and feel confident in their next steps. Volunteers provide emotional support, practical assistance, and companionship to help people achieve their personal goals and stay engaged with their community.

What you will be doing

• Carry out regular check-ins—via phone, online, or in person—to help service users feel supported after leaving the service. Provide friendly visits where appropriate, offering a listening ear and encouragement during the transition to independent living
• Support individuals to build links within their local community, such as identifying clubs, social groups, local activities, or places of interest based on their personal goals.
• Encourage service users to take part in community events and build social connections that promote long-term wellbeing.
• Accompany service users to view potential properties where needed. Provide assistance exploring practical items or resources they may need after moving on, such as furniture options, budgeting tools, or local amenities.
• support service users to attend GP or other health appointments, helping reduce anxiety and build confidence in navigating services.
• Help individuals develop social skills, communication skills, and confidence through positive interactions and gentle encouragement. Providing motivation and reassurance as they work towards independent living goals.
• Support service users to access and participate in our online activities, helping them build digital confidence and stay connected. Assist with basic digital navigation, where needed (e.g., joining online groups, using communication platforms, accessing resources).

The skills you need

• Good communication skills
• Friendly and calm nature
• Mental health experience who feels strong enough to help others
• Willingness to listen to people with a genuine enthusiasm to support others
• Confident, sympathetic and can inspire trust and able to maintain boundaries in a non-judgemental way

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

Are you passionate about social media and can lead a small team? We're looking to recruit a Lead Volunteer for our Social Media Team. We’re looking for someone who has a passion for promoting a small charity supporting a rare condition and has the ability to support a volunteering team as well as plan and use platforms and tools for social media including Canva, Google Drive and other digital platforms.

The Social Media Team develops and promotes Burning Nights CRPS Support’s communications online, using social media platforms as widely as possible, in order to maximise our impact and to inspire actions in the public, healthcare professionals, communities and businesses. The promotion of our activities will raise awareness of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and provide support and empowerment to the CRPS community. Communications will also run in line with Burning Nights CRPS Support's campaigns strategy/plan.

This is a flexible volunteering opportunity, which means your commitment can be balanced around your lifestyle - being part of a team to ensure that communications to our community and supporters are up to date and timely.
You will provide leadership for your team and support the development of a communications plan for the charity.

Key Tasks and Objectives
You will lead and support the development and implementation of a communications strategy, direction and plans for Burning Nights CRPS Support's Social Media/online communications, create engaging content, supervise the team and encourage high standards.
Tasks may include:

• Managing the Social Media campaigns across social media, which includes overseeing and creating engaging content, writing and editorial, design and artwork from The Social Media Team.
• Scheduling and posting regular social media content.
• Help develop social media campaigns and day-to-day activities.
• Prepare graphics for sharing across channels.
• Monitor the impact of social media campaigns; Analyse, review and report on effectiveness of campaigns in an effort to maximize the charity’s reach.
• Capture and report on monthly data from across all social media platform.
• Lead on Social Media meetings or the social media section of Comms meetings.
• Work with the whole Comms & Marketing Team including the Lead Communications & Marketing Volunteer to provide relevant content for their teams to use on social media, providing training/coaching where appropriate.
• Develop, manage content and maintain social media objectives and targets.
• Supporting the Social Media Team to ensure our social media platforms are regularly updated.
• Supporting with the development, preparation and implementation of Burning Nights CRPS Support's Social Media strategy in conjunction with the overall Comms strategy.
• Encouraging others to comment on our posts and share them with others, to ensure that our communications reach a wide range of stakeholders and diverse audience.
• Increasing the numbers of followers and engagement across our social media channels - Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok and X, using appropriate tools and utilising relevant channels to reach diverse audiences.
• Monitor, analyse and report on the performance of social media channels/activities using tools like Metricool, Buffer and Google Analytics, feeding back monthly to the Lead Comms Volunteer and the trustees, using the data to inform future activities.
• Keep up to date with the charity and healthcare sectors, events and news, and suggest content to promote through our social media feeds.
• Support new volunteer Social Media Team members ensuring they understand their role or assign them their role.
• Act responsibly with data held by Burning Nights CRPS Support that you may access as part of your role, adhering to guidelines and policies and reporting any concerns or possible breaches to Burning Nights CRPS Support's Data Protection Officer/Lead.

Key Skills or Qualifications

• Experience of using social media platforms, other online tools and Communications to generate interest in a charity, business or project.
• Experience of managing a team and projects.
• The ability to inspire people to act and get involved internally and externally.
• Ability to transform small snippets of information into interesting and engaging stories suitable for social media platforms.
• Good IT skills, including Google Drive, Canva, Buffer, Word and Excel.
• Experience of managing multiple campaigns, with excellent organisational and time management skills, delivering effective targeted outcomes.
• Be proactive and show initiative, with the ability to volunteer unsupervised.
• Genuine interest in supporting a small charity and a passion for campaigning for a healthcare charity.
• Be motivated and enthusiastic with proven experience and is passionate about social media and marketing, and producing tangible results.
• Good interpersonal skills dealing with people sensitively and respectfully from a wide range of backgrounds
• Strong strategic development, project management and articulate communication skills.
• Good attention to detail and accuracy, with succinct writing and proof-reading skills
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other volunteers and staff.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise and structure work schedules.
• Ability to be innovative and creative.
• Ability to be flexible and have a 'can do' approach.
• Friendly, approachable manner - able to build rapport with a range of partners and staff, and provide a collaborative team environment.
• Confidence in communicating on Zoom or by email.

Key Benefits

• Voluntary Experience: Gain practical real-world experience working in social media management.
• Supportive Team: Collaborate with a passionate team working on projects.
• Personal Development: Develop your skills in social media marketing, content creation, and community engagement.
• Portfolio content for future job applications.
• Opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause.

Training and Support

• Full induction to our organisation, as well as check-ins, ongoing training, supervision and support from the Communications & Marketing Lead Volunteer, Volunteer Co-ordinators, Trustees and the Volunteer Team.
• Relevant and ongoing training for your volunteer role.
• Regular updates on charity activities.
• Support, advice and guidance from Charity team.
• After 3 months volunteering, all volunteers are eligible for additional training courses (reasonable cost).
• Out-of-pocket expenses, approved in advance will be reimbursed.

Providing a confidential non-judgemental listening ear to Residents and Staff. Supporting those wishing to develop their spiritual journey from a Christian perspective. The role will be based across one of our hostels in Watford, Borehamwood, Bishop's Stortford, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield or High Wycombe, 

Activities include:

• Proactively engaging with Residents and staff to build safe relationships and trust
• Offering a ‘listening ear’ to all and giving emotional support
• Sensitively discerning when to offer prayer and support from a Christian perspective, and when to use faith based language
• Be inclusive and welcoming to people of all religious faiths and none, referring people to other faith communities as appropriate
• Working alongside support staff, volunteers & local agencies
• Maintaining records of support and feeding back concerns about Resident welfare to Staff/Line Manager.
• Attend regular volunteer team meetings
• Being proactive in seeking spiritual and emotional support for your own benefit as this is a challenging role.

Additional activities could include:

• Facilitating group work for example: Retreat Programme, Bible Study, prayer or Mental Health Support.
• Welcoming new Residents by phone or in person
• Leading or helping with Chaplaincy lead events: Easter/Christmas activities, Remembrance Services
• Being an ambassador for YMCA’s mission in local Churches

Skills/Qualities/Experience:

• Be a good and active listener who can support others
• Be of a friendly, welcoming and cheerful disposition
• Self-motivated, reliable and punctual
• Sensitivity and courage to care for people experiencing a range of distressing situations including: grief, trauma, poor mental health, substance misuse, suicidal thoughts.
• A commitment to your own spiritual development
• A good understanding of the Christian faith, as well as some understanding of other faith traditions
• Ability to use both faith and non-faith based language, as appropriate
• Good communication skills in English; in person & over the phone
• A willingness to learn new things and get stuck in
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Respect the Christian ethos of the YMCA and uphold its values
• Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have

Training Support:

• A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided
• A one day ‘Chaplaincy Essentials’ training, plus a menu of additional training will be made available
• Online training: Safeguarding (Adults & Young People), Fire Awareness, Manual Handling
• Ongoing support and regular 1:1 meetings with your line-manager
• Team meetings and social events
• Mileage and expenses may be payable

You will need 2 x references and a DBS (we will apply for and fund this).