Volunteer Support Worker Volunteer Roles
Haringey Refuges provide specialist and safe temporary accommodation for up to six months in the form of 15 units of refuge accommodation across 3 sites for women and their children who are in crisis/risk of harm and have low to medium support needs.
We are looking for reliable and compassionate volunteers to assist our Refuge Workers.
About the Role
The Volunteer Refuge Support Worker will Assisting Refuge Workers with the day to day running of the refuge by providing basic support for women and children affected by domestic/sexual violence.
Tasks will include:
• Accompanying service users to appointments including. appointments concerning Welfare Benefits, GP’s, Bank, Children Centres etc.
• Helping to familiarise women with their new including how to access local services, register with GP etc.
• Undertaking general administrative tasks.
• Assisting with/carrying out Health and Safety checks and Fire Drills as required.
• Assisting with House Meetings/taking and typing up meeting minutes.
• Assisting with running workshops/coffee mornings/groups/group outings.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking volunteers who have:
- An understanding of domestic violence issues and a discretion in handling confidential and/or sensitive information.
- Approachable and empathetic
- Non-judgemental.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Approachable with good interpersonal skills.
- Non-judgemental.
- Reliable, flexible with good time management.
- Self-motivated (able to carry out tasks unsupervised).
- Flexibility regarding variety of tasks associated with the role.
- An interest in or understanding of domestic/sexual violence and its impact on women and children.
- Computer literacy.
What can you gain from this opportunity?
As part of this role, you will have the opportunity to
- Gain experience and understanding of working with children using a trauma-informed approach.
- Contribute and support a busy and diverse team.
- Hands on experience in a dynamic charity working in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Sector.
- Work as part of a feminist organisation.
We offer great volunteer induction training, where you will be fully supported to understand, and carry put every aspect of the role. Training includes CPD accredited courses, and the opportunity to apply to complete the level 3 Understanding Domestic Abuse Award (DAPA), which is recognized by the Home Office.
At Solace we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for our volunteers. The Service Users we support come from all backgrounds and we want to reflect that in our volunteering team. We are happy to consider any adjustments you might need to support you in your role. If you would like to discuss this further with the volunteer team, please let us know. This will not affect your application.
Solace recognises the expertise and perspective that women with lived experience bring to their volunteering roles. We also recognise the potential for re-traumatisation that may occur whilst volunteering. We will therefore consider each volunteer opportunity on a case by case basis, with a focus on the suitability of that individual for that specific role. Suitability for the role will be determined by the Service Manager at the point of interview and will not be solely based on the length of time elapsed since receiving a service. Women cannot volunteer for a service in the same borough as where they received Solace services.
This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
We are looking for individuals with professional or lived experience of working with children in our Haringey Refuges. Our volunteer playworkers are passionate about play and providing a welcoming and safe space for all children.
About the Role
As a volunteer play worker, you will work in partnership with the Sessional Play Worker and Family Support Worker in the planning and delivery of play sessions. Most children will be between the ages of 2-5 years.
Playworker volunteers will lead and assist a variety of activities such as arts and crafts, games, etc. to engage and support the children’s emotional wellbeing and enhance their confidence and resilience. Activity sessions will be carried out in the refuges, supported by the Sessional Play worker.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking volunteers who have:
- Shared vision, mission and values of Solace Women’s Aid
- Professional and/or lived experience of working with children
- Understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people
- Ability to communicate effectively with children aged 0-5, parents and staff
- Basic knowledge of child development
- Organisation and time management skills
Although not essential, we would welcome applications from volunteers who have a formal qualification in working with children, young people and families, or who have knowledge of trauma-informed approaches to working with children and young people.
What can you gain from this opportunity?
Volunteers will gain:
- Experience of facilitating play sessions for children in recovery from domestic abuse
- An insight into the experiences of children in recovery from domestic abuse.
- Experience in working in partnership with Sessional Play Workers in the planning, delivery and evaluation of play sessions in a refuge/community setting.
- Opportunity to attend training and social events with other Solace Women’s Aid volunteers.
- Being part of a supportive team who aim to build on the strengths and skills of all our members.
We offer great volunteer induction training, where you will be fully supported to understand, and carry put every aspect of the role. Training includes CPD accredited courses, and the opportunity to apply to complete the level 3 Understanding Domestic Abuse Award (DAPA), which is recognized by the Home Office.
At Solace we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for our volunteers. The Service Users we support come from all backgrounds and we want to reflect that in our volunteering team. We are happy to consider any adjustments you might need to support you in your role. If you would like to discuss this further with the volunteer team, please let us know. This will not affect your application.
Solace recognises the expertise and perspective that women with lived experience bring to their volunteering roles. We also recognise the potential for re-traumatisation that may occur whilst volunteering. We will therefore consider each volunteer opportunity on a case by case basis, with a focus on the suitability of that individual for that specific role. Suitability for the role will be determined by the Service Manager at the point of interview and will not be solely based on the length of time elapsed since receiving a service. Women cannot volunteer for a service in the same borough as where they received Solace services.
This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
We are looking for individuals with professional or lived experience of working with children. Our volunteer playworkers are passionate about play and providing a welcoming and safe space for all children.
About the Role
As a volunteer play worker, you will work in partnership with the Specialist Family Support Worker in the planning and delivery of play sessions. Most children will be between the ages of 2-5 years.
Play sessions will be child-centered and age-appropriate, and will include arts and crafts, sensory play and free play with toys/resources in the refuge. Working with the Specialist Family Support Worker, you will be able to respond to the individual needs of the children and adapt sessions as needed. You will record your observations on each child at the end of the session and reflect on how the sessions went with Specialist Family Support Worker.
You will be supported by the Specialist Family Support Worker in monthly supervisions. This is a space to discuss your volunteering role, what is going well for you and areas of support you need.
We are looking for volunteers to support one session per week, either:
- Wednesday 10am – 1pm (Islington)
- Friday 12pm – 3pm (Enfield)
You will be expected to participate in setting up and in the evaluation of the session. You may also be asked your availability to attend additional sessions and trips to be held over school half terms.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking volunteers who have:
- Professional and/or lived experience of working with children
- Understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people
- A strengths-focused approach to working with challenging behaviour
- Knowledge of Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Procedures, or who are willing to learn
- Commitment to attend Safeguarding, Health and Safety, and Equality and Diversity training with Solace Women’s Aid
- Ability to communicate effectively with children aged 0-5, parents and staff
- Basic knowledge of child development
- Organisation and time management skills
Although not essential, we would welcome applications from volunteers who have a formal qualification in working with children, young people and families, or who have knowledge of trauma-informed approaches to working with children and young people.
What can you gain from this opportunity?
Volunteers will gain:
- Experience of facilitating play sessions for children in recovery from domestic abuse
- An insight into the experiences of children in recovery from domestic abuse.
- Experience in working in partnership with Specialist Family Support Workers in the planning, delivery and evaluation of play sessions in a refuge/community setting.
- Opportunity to attend training and social events with other Solace Women’s Aid volunteers.
- Trauma-Informed Practice training from the Specialist Family Support Worker team.
- Being part of a supportive team who aim to build on the strengths and skills of all our members.
We offer great volunteer induction training, where you will be fully supported to understand, and carry put every aspect of the role. Training includes CPD accredited courses, and the opportunity to apply to complete the level 3 Understanding Domestic Abuse Award (DAPA), which is recognized by the Home Office.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role title: Peer Navigator Volunteer X 40 posts
Responsible to: Lived Experience and Community Development Manager
Hours: Available 4 - 15 hours per week (flexible)
Team: The Peer Pathway – The City and Hackney Wellbeing Network
Location: Remote working / 8-10 Tudor Road / 15a Homerton Row options available
We are looking for a volunteer with lived experience of Mental health to use their valuable insights to support other. This role aligns with the visions of Mind CHWF, The Wellbeing Network and Peer Pathway.
You will contact residents who have made a referral to the Wellbeing Network but are not eligible for our core service. This means that more people seeking support will be contacted, leaving less people facing their challenges alone. There will be a focus on supporting people most underserved by mainstream mental health services, including BAPOC & LGBTQ+ people.
About Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest:
We are a multi-disciplinary provider of specialist mental health services and a part of the Mind Federation.
We promote both recovery from ill health for people with recurrent and enduring mental health difficulties and early intervention for those at risk of developing mental health issues, or who struggle with common mental health conditions.
We currently support around 5,000 people a year through a variety of services focusing on psychological, social, economic and workplace wellbeing, and support minoritised communities.
Our values are:
Connected: Creating a compassionate and supportive community.
Fair: We strive for equity- no-one's needs should go unmet.
Brave: We walk with people, offering help by doing what works - proven or new
Working with Mind CHWF means you’ll be part of a dedicated, passionate, and professional workforce who cares about the work they do and make a real difference to the lives of the people in the City of London, Hackney, and Waltham Forest.
We are committed to actively becoming anti-racist in everything we do. This is a critical priority for Mind CHWF. We embrace diversity and understand that being an inclusive organisation that recognises different perspectives, will enable us to provide excellent services.
We are committed to ensuring all our employees are treated fairly and equitably at work and promoting equity in physical and mental health for all.
Those with lived experience of Mental Health are encouraged to apply.
Value-based Recruitment:
We know that for various reasons, not everybody who can successfully perform in a role, performs their best under traditional interview/selection procedures. We are therefore seeking ways to breakdown further barriers in our recruitment & selection process.
Shorted-listed candidates will be provided with some questions to help them prepare for the interview.
How to apply:
For more information on the vacancy and how to apply, click the ‘Apply’ button - Please note that we are unable to consider incomplete applications.
The closing date is by 3 April 2024, however, please do not delay applying as this advert may close before the stated deadline if we find a suitable applicant for the role.
Your privacy and the security of your data is our top priority. Please take a moment to read through our applicant’s privacy notice.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.
We are looking to recruit a Support Volunteer for the Lambeth and Southwark Group. As our local group Support Volunteer you’ll help people affected by MS find information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access local information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application. See a video about one of our Support Volunteers here.
In this role you’ll be able to develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services. Most importantly you’ll help people affected by MS to access the help they need.
Time commitment
We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.
This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.
About you
You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.
You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the local area the group to carry out this role.
Apply
1. Read through the role description carefully
2. Please apply online
The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.
We are looking to recruit a Support Volunteer for the Croydon Group. As our local group Support Volunteer you’ll help people affected by MS find information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access local information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application. See a video about one of our Support Volunteers here.
In this role you’ll be able to develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services. Most importantly you’ll help people affected by MS to access the help they need.
Time commitment
We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.
This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.
About you
You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.
You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the local area the group to carry out this role.
Apply
1. Read through the role description carefully
2. Please apply online
The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Creative Support Disco in Stockton is a popular weekly social night for adults with support needs.
We are looking for Volunteers to help us at the weekly Stockton disco held at The Oxbridge. We would like support with selling tickets on the door, running the tuck shop, handing out the refreshments, and helping to set up the room.
The disco has a core group of service users who help out on the night, your role will be to support the service users in completing activities, and helping Creative Support staff to make sure the event runs smoothly.
To support you in your role you will be offered training and regular supervisions with an assigned volunteer supervisor.
Volunteer Duties:
· Help with duties on the night including setting up tables and chairs.
· Selling tickets on the door
· Helping run the tuck shop and handing out refreshments
· To follow Health and Safety guidelines and alert staff to any concerns.
Suggested Time Commitment: Tuesday 6:30pm till 9pm
Creative Support is a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Silver award. We actively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and cultures.
We can only accept applications from candidates who are located in and eligible to work within the UK.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Bereaved by Suicide project provides a rapid response and ongoing support service to those affected by suicide. We are looking for Bereavement Volunteers to join us at Cruse to provide up to 6 support sessions for clients by phone or zoom.
We aim to meet the needs of clients as closely as possible, meaning support sessions may be spread out to ensure support is ongoing throughout an inquest for example, and support can sometimes be extended depending on individual circumstances.
We are keen to hear from anyone with experience of working in the field of mental health support, suicide, or relevant social work. The position could suit a counselling student seeking a placement to complete their counselling hours.
Full bereavement training is provided over a six week period with additional bereaved by suicide training. A DBS check is also required.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Us
We are the only national non-profit supporting people in the UK impacted by borderline personality disorder (BPD). We provide peer support, signposting, information and advice to individuals living with BPD, their families and carers.
About the Role
Our busy support services team is seeking a reliable and organised volunteer to assist the signposting service. You will respond to queries from health and social care professionals and service users. In addition, you will provide administrative support to the team and processing referrals emailed into the service.
Responsibilities in this role include:
- Providing information and advice to health and social professionals and service users
- Processing new referrals
- Navigating and inputting information into our secure database, handling client data and sensitive information
- Explaining confidentiality to health and social care professionals and service users and seeking consent to store or share information where necessary
- Signposting and referring callers to appropriate alternative services as required
Who are we looking for?
The ideal volunteer will have:
- An understanding of the issues faced by people impacted by BPD, or willing to learn about this
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Good administrative and computer skills including proficient use of Microsoft Office
- A solid understanding of the importance of professional boundaries and confidentiality
- The ability to exercise a non-discriminatory, non-judgemental approach to supporting people
- A flexible approach to your work
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise
Please note you will need a DBS check (if you do not have one, we can do that for you)and two references for this role.
What can you gain from this opportunity?
As part of this role you will have the opportunity to:
- Work as part of a national organisation to support people impacted by borderline personality disorder, and their families
- Develop skills in providing signposting, information and advice
- Gain knowledge of the support service options available to people in the UK
- Gain experience of multi-agency partnership working
We offer full volunteer induction and training, where you will be fully supported to understand, and carry out every aspect of the role.
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for our volunteers. The service users we support come from all backgrounds and we want to reflect that in our volunteering team. We are happy to consider any adjustments you might need to support you in your role. If you would like to discuss this further with the volunteer team, please let us know. This will not affect your application.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for active individuals that will engage with parents/carers at our Little Love baby bank in Southend, Your role will support this wonderiful iniaitive available to all families that have a child aged under 4 or who are expecting a baby and reaches the most vulnerable. Duties may require setting up and packing away and sorting of donations, depending on how many hours you can offer on a Thursday, supporting the YourFamily programme which is funded by A Better Start Southend.
City Family CIC will seek an Enhanced DBS check at no cost to the volunteer and will reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses such as public transport fares and car mileage. We ask that you reside no further than 10 miles from Southend. Full induction and training will be provided as well as ongoing support and development.
Your Family is a community-based programme combining peer volunteers and paid staff who provide support, connection and advice to early years families - connecting and enabling them to access local activities, support and clinical services.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Do you have good listening skills?
Are you friendly and caring?
Can you offer 2-4 hrs a month to support people living with and affected by MND?
Then you could become a Support Volunteer (Association Visitor).
We are looking for volunteers who can provide friendship, information and support to people living with and affected by MND.
Volunteers play an important role in the MND Association. They help to ensure that people with MND and their families receive the support and services they need.
This rewarding role is flexible and can fit in around your other commitments. Full training is provided and all out of pocket expenses are reimbursed.
About us
MND is a fatal, rapidly progressive disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It attacks the nerves that control movement so muscles refuse to work. It can leave people locked in a failing body, unable to move, talk and eventually breath. It kills a third of people within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis, and it has no cure.
The MND Association was founded in 1979. Our mission is to improve care and support for people with MND, their families and carers. We also fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments and brings us closer to a cure for MND.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Peer support is about sharing your lived experience of mental health struggles with other people with the hope of providing, support, encouragement, and validation that you understand what they are going through, that they are not alone in their feelings and circumstance.
We believe that peer support is an important part of the recovery journey, as it provides a space for support, shared understanding, helps reduce stigma and fosters motivation and hope.
We run online peer support groups for people living with borderline personality disorder. We run five different types of group each month:
- general peer support group
- women's group
- men's group
- family group
- youth group
We are seeking compassionate and empathetic people to co-facilitate the groups, which are held on Sunday evenings. All groups are facilitated by two peer support workers, and follow a semi-structured pattern.
We are also seeking to start an LGBTQIA+ support group and welcome applications for group facilitators.
As a volunteer, you will receive comprehensive training, accessible online. We also provide ongoing supervision, support to ensure that you can effectively support others while prioritizing your own recovery. The training covers various areas such as peer support, communication, safeguarding, and facilitation skills.
Role description
- to co-facilitate a support group of 10-15 people on a fortnightly/monthly basis
- to provide support in a group peer support setting
- to share own experiences without taking away from the others persons current feelings and situation
- to use active listening and personal experiences to reassure and validate group members
Person specification
- Lived experience of mental health, preferably borderline personality disorder. This includes being affected by someone else’s BPD (such as a partner, friend or family member).
- Access to a reliable internet connection, a computer with webcam, and a confidential space.
Availability and Committment
We ask that you have availability 2-3 hours per month for a minimum of 6 months.
How to apply
Please submit a cover letter with your application, detailing your relevant experience. Please also indicate which specific group you are interested in co-facilitating if you have a preference.
Diversity Statement
We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views. The more inclusive we are, the more people we can support. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Please note that you must be a UK resident with the right to live and work in the UK. This role is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
about the role:
The London Services team are made up of caseworkers who provide support work for young people who are experiencing homelessness. The Youth Engagement Team are a national team of youth workers, who offer a range of opportunities to young people who have accessed akt’s housing service.
Youth Engagement run fortnightly social groups and facilitate internal and external consultations with young people. This volunteer role would be supporting this drop-in session. You would be assisting the caseworkers and youth engagement workers to run the drop-in.
This includes welcoming young people to the space, being open to chatting to young people, making teas, coffees, and snacks, supporting young people to engage in the drop-in, and helping clear up. You will also need to be conscious of any safeguarding concerns and be able to discuss these with your supervisor.
suggested activities:
- Assist the Youth Engagement Team and Caseworkers to engage LGBTQ+ young people in a drop in to support them to engage in admin tasks to support their housing, career, and independent living skills
- Signpost and support young people to access external services
- Support young people by welcoming them into the space, helping sort any practical tasks such as getting them food, snacks and drinks
skills/experience required:
- ability to communicate with young people and members of staff
- willingness to support, encourage and empower others
- non-judgemental
- ability to be creative and flexible
- an understanding of how to maintain boundaries and maintain confidentiality
- an understanding of the issues that LGBTQ+ communities and young people face
- some experience of working or volunteering with young people and/or vulnerable adults would be an advantage but is not essential
- the role will require some heavy lifting to help with setting up and packing down the session.
what you will gain:
- experience working with young people
- access to ongoing training and development opportunities
- increased confidence, knowledge and experience in supporting young people
- we can offer you a reference
- opportunity to be part of the akt team and social opportunities with other volunteers
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Creative Support are looking for a Gardening Volunteer to develop and run sessions for service users with learning disabilities and complex needs in Leicester. Our service users are really keen to make use of our fantastic garden space. We have a very large back garden with several planters for growing.
We are looking for people who have a good knowledge of gardening, in particular growing and looking after plants and would like to pass on that knowledge.
The gardening sessions will run weekly and will also involve our service user families. The volunteer role will also involve an element of fundraising for our gardening project and we would welcome your ideas and support with this.
If you love gardening and have experience of allotments, or planting and growing vegetables in your back garden then this is the volunteering opportunity for you!
We support our volunteers with an Induction, training for the role, a named volunteer supervisor, a monthly newsletter and a monthly online peer support group.
Suggested Time Commitment: 3 hours per week on a Thursday
Volunteer Duties
· Coming up with ideas for gardening sessions
· Sharing knowledge of how to grow plants and look after the garden space
· Helping to fundraise for our garden project
· Clearing away at the end of the session
· Helping to promote the sessions to service users
Creative Support is a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Silver award. We actively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and cultures.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Can you spare up to 3 hours a week visiting a client in their home for a cup of tea and a chat, help them get to an appointment or run an errand, or just be there to listen to them when they need a friendly ear. Companion Volunteers, provide companionship, emotional and practical support, respite for carers and telephone support to those living with a terminal or life limited illness or their carers.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.