Volunteer roles jobs

Welfare Benefits Advisor

Supporting Leicester South Foodbank

Job Description

Responsible for:

To assist in providing an efficient and effective Welfare Benefits service within the various foodbank hubs to assess eligibility, maximise income and review and appeal decisions as appropriate. Required to provide advice through various service delivery points, including outreach locations.

Responsible to:  Team leader, and Service Delivery Manager

Base Location:

Hours: 20 Hours per week

Term: Fixed Term until October 2026. This may be extended dependant on further funding opportunities

Salary:£13.50ph
Holidays: 25 days p.a. plus 8 days Bank Holidays pro-rated if the role is part time

Main Responsibilities: 

• Uphold the aims and principles of the Helping Hands Community Trust and the Leicester South Foodbank.
• Work within the service’s ethos and values, especially regarding equality and discrimination.
• Work within health and safety guidelines, sharing responsibility for own health and safety and that of colleagues.
• Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training.
• Provide confidential, specialist, advice to clients at our main hub and in consultation with the Operational manager, outreach surgeries and venues across Leicester and Leicestershire
• Present a range of solutions, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages according to the client’s personal situation and make recommendations based on this information
• Ensure that all advice and solutions are presented in accordance with the charity’s policies and procedures and in line with AQS
• Assessing client needs through confidential interviews and hold a personal caseload
• Keeping confidential records, updates and training on our CMS (AdvicePro)
•  Adhere to our Safeguarding, confidentiality and GDPR Policies and procedures
• Keep up to date with changes in legislation, policies and practices in relation to Welfare Benefits, and sharing such information to other members of the team
• Maximise benefit to clients by working closely with Money/Debt Advisors within our team.
• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions/team meetings/staff meetings/annual appraisals as appropriate.
• Work to Key Performance Indicators at AQS quality standards.

 Casework

• Using the AdvicePRO database to maintain electronic case records, for the purpose of continuing casework and information retrieval. These records must be inputted onto the database immediately following the appointment to ensure the records are up to date and accurate
• Act where necessary by calculating, drafting or writing letters and producing written submissions for clients as appropriate
• Provide advice work covering the full range of Welfare Benefits law.
• Negotiate with third parties.
• Ensure income maximisation through the take up of appropriate benefits.
• Prepare paper submissions to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals and courts as appropriate.
• Assist with related problems where they are an integral part of the case and refer to other advisers or specialists as appropriate.
• Make outreach visits, where necessary and subject to resources and risk assessments.
• Provide advice and assistance to staff and volunteers across the whole range of Welfare Benefits issues.
• Ensure that all casework conforms to the AQS quality standard.

Administration:

• Make recommendations for improvements to services.
• Effectively utilise AdvicePRO for statistical recording, case recording & document production.
• Provide 1 Case study/Good news story Monthly to the line manager
• Keep up to date with policies and procedures
• Undertake appropriate training relevant to the role, including CPD Courses.

Essential:

•  English and Maths Grade C/Level 4 or above
• ·Full UK Driving License with business insurance
• Traveling across sites in Leicestershire to see clients in appointments
•  IT Confident
• Proficient in Information, Advice and Guidance to clients
• Understanding of the Welfare Benefits system, and keeping up to date with the change alerts
•  Knowledge and experience of giving competent accurate Welfare Benefits advice casework to AQS Quality Mark standards.
• Understanding the implications of Welfare Reform and the impact on clients and families
• Able to do Benefit checks, to help maximise the client’s income
• Organised and can prioritise own work, to meet targets
•  Being GDPR compliant at all times
• Active Listening skills.
• Flexibility and willingness to work as part of a team.
• Ability to be professional, and considerate at all times
• Empathetic, inclusive and with reassuring attitude
• Ability to cope with stressful and emotionally charged situations.
• Ability to remain patient and calm whilst under pressure
• Have good problem solving skills.
• Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively, and a willingness to challenge

Desirable:

· Previous experience of working with the AdvicePRO CMS data base

· Ability to deliver services using video links via Microsoft Teams, and Zoom

· Ability to deliver services via social media and our interactive website

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Capital Project Manager to play a pivotal role in the transformation and development of our school estate. This is an exciting opportunity to join a dedicated estates team and drive the delivery of our ambitious three-year strategic priorities, ensuring exceptional service and outcomes for our schools.

Reporting  to the Head of Estates and Projects, you will lead the planning, procurement, and execution of capital developments across our estate. Your portfolio will include the delivery of new school buildings, sustainability initiatives, and projects that enhance operational efficiency and environmental performance.

This role offers the chance to make a tangible difference: creating inspiring, future-ready learning environments that support the success of students and staff alike.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Your responsibilities will include

• Project management of the priority, delivery, and budgets of the School Condition Allocation (SCA) projects from inception to end of defects.
• Project management and supporting the management of the condition and maintenance of the school estate, including the asset management processes
• Project management of the capital elements of academy conversion projects
• Planning, implementation, procurement, and delivery of a high-quality service in relation to all estate and projects work
• Managing and monitoring external technical advisors, and third party suppliers and consultants employed directly by Harris Federation
• Managing H&health and safety through the lifecycle of all projects
• Managing the consultations, admissions, branding, marketing, FF&E and uniform of all new schools
• Providing professional services to the individual schools and ensuring the Federation complies with relevant property legislation, regulations and guidance
• Assisting with the development of policies and procedures concerning the Harris Federation estate
• Assisting with the framework for all estates related statutory elements, including oversight of the implementation and reporting of audits

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would welcome your application if you have:

• Qualifications to degree level, or equivalent experience in a project management environment
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Project management experience within Education, Not for Profit or Public Sector industries/organisations
• Experience of coordinating projects in complex and challenging environments
• Demonstrable successful delivery of project outputs to required time, quality and cost
• The ability to interpret and present complex information to inform robust recommendations for evidence-based practice and decision-making
• Proven and well-developed interpersonal skills, including excellent written and spoken communication
• Good administrative, finance and organisational skills
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 applications including strong Excel skills

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.

A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual performance and loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.

Kentown Family Support Worker

£23,000 annual salary plus Company Car (additional benefit of approx. £5K), 5% employers pension contribution and 25 days annual leave.

South Cumbria, Lancaster and Morecombe

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

We are looking to appoint a Kentown Family Support Worker to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of the pilot Kentown Children’s Palliative Care Programme, in collaboration with Kentown Wizard and Together for Short Lives.

Reporting to the Kentown Project Lead out of our Lancaster team base and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care.

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly.

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines.

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator, you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people, and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, this includes.

· Flexible working hours to balance home and working life

· 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)

· Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand

· Company car for front line care posts

· Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts

· Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes, as well as a recommend a friend recruitment bonus

· Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year

· Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%

· The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping

· Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth

We have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees. If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, please visit our website.

We also have a fantastic learning and development programme - the Anne Harris skills development programme - in which we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be the best they can be, and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Workers are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, counselling skills, and Introduction to Play.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs, with all family support workers having a foundation level of skills within their first year.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of their time together, providing expert practical and emotional support where they need, it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

To apply please visit our website via the link and apply online.

Interviews will take place via Teams or in person with a date to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate the team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are a Best Companies One-Star rated organisation.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate, and resilient Night Support Worker to join our Young People service in Maidenhead.

£28,173.60 per annum, working 43 hours per week.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

The shift pattern for this role includes 4 days on, 4 days off with 12 hour shifts.

What you'll do:

Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere
Carrying out holistic assessments of new customers which incorporate relevant statutory referral information
Conducting regular key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
Create support plans for providing appropriate services based on on-going assessment and reflecting the services and resources available to enable customer to progress in their recovery
Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking
Provide support and access to relevant services to enable customers to continue their recovery and empower customers to self-manage their medication regimes through individual re-enablement programmes and informed decision making
Undertake support work in partnership with external stakeholders to compliment their interventions
Developing productive relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes
Demonstrate strong commitment to the functioning of the staff team and to support colleagues in providing a high level of service and safety to customers
Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service
Adhering to lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness in relation to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues
Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are adhered to at all times e.g. fire risk assessments, fire alarm checks etc.
Being responsible for the handover of key information between shifts
Provide structured support and guidance to other front line staff in their area of expertise
To lead groups and activities - offering a range of appropriate therapeutic and recovery focused interactions and activities
Adhering to all other Look Ahead's policies and procedures. Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills
Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader/ Manager
Maintain records in accordance with Look Ahead's Information Management policies, procedures and guidance under the direction of the manager.
Keep a clear desk at all times and assist with archiving and secure disposal of records when required.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
Prefers working as part of a group or team
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

What you'll bring:

NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent with some or equivalent sector work experience

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Glasgow’s Helping Heroes (GHH) is based in the Pearce Institute in Glasgow, and operates as a partnership between SSAFA and Glasgow City Council to be a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need.

About the role

The Peer Support Workers at GHH manage their own caseload and provide advice and advocacy across a range of areas including financial assistance, grant applications via our dedicated system, welfare benefits navigation, priority debt management, mental health pathway navigation, housing, and homelessness. The Peer Support Workers are the main point of contact for those seeking support to reduce homelessness and work closely with our Homeless & Housing team to help beneficiaries maintain their tenancies through proactive support and additionally collaborate with our in-house Citizens Advice Scotland service.

No two days are the same at GHH, which currently runs three beneficiary-focused projects: Glasgow’s Veterans United, a football and wellbeing initiative; MIRRORS, a project for those potentially at risk of dementia which includes various activities across Glasgow and a 10-week language course; There will also be opportunities to co-produce and develop future initiatives for the Armed Forces community.

About the team

GHH provides a single point of contact through a gateway model, enhancing local access to a wide range of services. These include support with financial matters, housing and homelessness, employability, and more. The team currently operates from their office in Govan, with the flexibility to work remotely one day per week. Outreach work is also carried out across the city to ensure wider community engagement.

The GHH team works closely with a broad network of internal and external partners, including local SSAFA branches and the Scottish Support Office, Citizens Advice Scotland, Veterans Housing Scotland, Erskine Veterans Village, Scottish Veterans Residences, and Defence Medical Welfare Services.

About you

As a Peer Support Worker at GHH, you will deliver a high-quality, holistic service to our beneficiaries—members of the Armed Forces community in Glasgow.

This is a dynamic and rewarding position suited to someone who is proactive, compassionate, and committed to making a difference. You’ll need to be motivated, enthusiastic, and creative, with strong organisational skills and the initiative to manage tasks independently. Integrity and a commitment to doing the right thing are essential. You’ll need to be flexible and empathetic, with the ability to anticipate challenges and think creatively about alternative ways to support our beneficiaries.

While an awareness of the Armed Forces community and the wider third sector is desirable, what matters most is your ability to demonstrate the same outstanding qualities as our current team: strong communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and a genuine desire to support others.

You will manage a varied caseload, offering holistic advice and support on complex issues such as financial assistance, education, employment, and wellbeing. Working closely with colleagues and partner organisations, you will ensure clients receive the right practical and emotional support. This will include submitting applications for financial assistance to service charities and other relevant bodies, using your knowledge of charitable and statutory services to advocate effectively on behalf of clients.

You will be available to work either four days per week (Tuesday to Friday) or three days per week (including Friday), starting at 09:30 each day.

About SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need. In 2023 our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 53,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us and in any way they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 20 July 2025. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Interviews: TBC