Volunteer volunteer roles in camden town, greater london

ABOUT IRMO

IRMO works to enable the development, agency, and participation of Latin Americans and other Spanish and Portuguese speakers, by responding to both immediate needs and structural inequalities. We do this by offering high-quality information and advice services, opportunities for development and training, and a platform to seek social and systemic change.

Our work is organised across three main operational areas - Advice and Casework; Education, Training and Employment; Children and Young People - and a cross-cutting area -Advocacy, Research, Policy Mapping and Campaigning.

ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM

The Community Support team acts as the main point of contact for the Latin American community and IRMO, where we identify their needs and enquiries, triage the support and services to be allocated and share relevant information. The Welcome Area plays a key role in the daily operations of the organisation; offering a range of support services, which include interpreting, referrals and signposting, broadcast of information and events, amongst others.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Community Interpreter at IRMO, you will be a vital point of contact for our community of Latin American users. You will help users overcome the language barrier to access essential services to build a more integrated life in the UK.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
● You will assist service users with processes such as opening a bank account, reporting hate crime, applying for National Insurance Number, driving license, Oyster card or Freedom Pass and understanding bills and making payment plans.

● You will also help to create informative materials to facilitate the effective delivery of our services. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to understand the challenges faced by our community, gain experience in customer service and use their language skills in a positive and impactful way.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
● Good verbal and written communication skills in English and Portuguese are essential (Spanish desirable).

● Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and with a diverse population of users, staff and partners.

● A caring, sensitive and non-judgemental approach.

● The ability to cope with stressful and emotionally challenging issues.

● Professionalism to handle sensitive and confidential information.

● Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

● Ability to set their own work priorities, take initiatives and work with minimal supervision

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 
● Two references from current/previous employers
● Enhanced DBS Check (completed through IRMO)
● Safeguarding Level 1 (completed through IRMO)
● One month trial period

BENEFITS FROM VOLUNTEERING AT IRMO
● Gives the opportunity of helping others and to give back
● Creates an ideal space to learn new skills in a multicultural, cooperative and inspiring environment
● Get involved with the Latin American Community and increase knowledge of the situation of Latin American migrants in the UK
● Helps to gain experience and strengthen previous skills to face UK’s competitive job market;
● Enhance CV and get references (after a 3-month period) for further impact on the employment status
● Participate in training sessions with high-quality learning outcomes (in-house and external) in areas related to the role
● Receive regular supervision and support.

Islington Bereavement Service offers emotional, social and practical support to bereaved adults living in Islington.

We need volunteers to befriend bereaved people. You don’t need any previous experience, just good communication and listening skills, empathy and flexibility.

• Offer companionship, emotional support & a listening ear

• Accompany people to appointments or on local outings

• Direct people to important services

What commitment will I need to give?

• You must be able to offer 5–6 hours of your time per month

• You will need to attend a 2 day induction training

• We ask for a minimum commitment of 6 months.

• Learn new skills and gain experience

• Receive peer support and attend group supervision

• We provide travel expenses and reference after 6 months

The role in a nutshell: 

Lead volunteers help to keep Age UK charity shops running like clockwork and are an essential part of our retail division. Our charity shops raise vital funds, which aid and support a wide range of services which Age UK delivers. If you have some free time available and have a passion for retail management, we can help you find a new sense of purpose in your life. 

What will you be doing? 

As this is such a key role, the task list for this role is understandably lengthy.
Key activities include but are not limited to the following:
•To assist in the security of the shop and its stock, and bank takings when required. Opening the shop or securing the shop at close of business when required. 
•Ensure cash handling processes and procedures are adhered to and exchanges and refunds actioned promptly. 
•Ensure Health & Safety regulations are understood and complied with; Alcumus (incident reporting and health & safety check recording system) understood and completed.
•Ensure compliance with all organisational policies and procedures.
•Always deliver great customer service.
•Support other volunteers, ensuring gift aid is captured on both donations and sales.
•Provide training and support on the till to other volunteers as required. 
•General retail duties - again not limited to but including- accepting donations (stock or cash), promote gift aid, operate till, take phone calls and deal with enquiries, keeping the shop clean and tidy, pricing, displaying and sale of donated goods and merchandise.  Deal with refunds and customer complaints.
•Live Age UK’s values; follow our code of conduct and our Diversity; Equity and Inclusion policy. 

How would you be supported in this role? 

When you become part of our team, you will receive a mixture of e-learning and ‘on the job practical training,’ to get you started. As you progress in the role, you will receive refresher training and ongoing support. We will also reimburse ‘role-related expenses’ and provide further opportunity to shape the volunteering that you do. To be a Lead Volunteer we do have a specific training plan we would need you to complete. 

Why do we need volunteers in this role? 

Lead volunteers have an important part to play in the ongoing success of our retail division, as they help us raise funds though our shops, to reach and support more older people. Occasionally we find ourselves in a position where no paid staff are available to open the shop which disappoints customers and donors alike; and decreases the funds we can raise to support people in later life. Lead volunteers give an additional layer of flexibility to help us keep our doors open. 

Additional information: 

We offer a wide variety of flexible shifts for volunteers, to fit around your personal circumstances. However for this role there will be times when we do make a specific ask of you. 

What skills, interests or experience might be helpful in this role? 

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. For this role, previous experience of working in retail would be a real advantage; and you would need to show commitment and regular attendance to ensure you are fully up to speed with our policy and procedures; and what’s going on in the shop. If you are looking for a career in retail and looking to gain some crucial experience this could be the ideal role for you-equally if you are retired but keen to keep your hand in; we could really benefit from your experience! Therefore, if you are a team player and open to learning whilst following Age UKs policies, you will be an excellent addition to our ever-growing team of amazing volunteers. Our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities, so we will do our absolute best to find a role that works for you. 

Family Lives was formed over forty years ago by volunteers with the aim of ensuring that all parents had somewhere to turn before they reach crisis point.

Remote Family Support Volunteer – Live Chat

We know that the right support at the right time makes all the difference. Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families who are struggling.

Organisational values:

Mission: We build better family lives together.

Vision: Families should have access to active support and understanding. 

Values: Trustworthy, Compassionate and Collaborative

Purpose of the role: To be part of a flexible team providing empathic, caring and informed support to families, carers and others who use our services.

Live chat: is a free confidential service that is accessed via our website. Service users are offered emotional support, information and advice and guidance on a broad range of family issues.

Supervised by: The Shift Supervisor

 Activities: The volunteer will be fully supervised, supported and trained to provide the following activities:

·Provide emotional support to family members via our live chat service

·Use the Family Lives support model and tools to provide an empathic responses

·Ensure that all service users receive a high quality experience

·Sign post users to other agencies for information and additional support

·Complete conversation data records

·Alert the shift supervisor to any difficult situations

General: Volunteers should be willing to:

·Attend the relevant volunteer training

·Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the other policies and procedures of the organisation

·Participate in regular support, supervision meetings and learning sessions as agreed

For home based volunteers only:

·Volunteers will need a Laptop/PC, plug in headset with microphone, fast broadband and a private place to work from home

·Volunteers need to be IT/PC literate and confident troubleshooting should they have technical difficulties

 Time: We would be looking for volunteers to commit to one four-hour shift per week, plus attending training and supervision.

Location: working remotely from home

 You need to be a UK resident.

Supervision and Support:

·Supervision during shifts

·Debrief after every shift

·1 to 1 supervision every 6 months

·Staff available outside of shift within office hours

·Annual review

The Benefits of Volunteering:

·Satisfaction in making a real and lasting difference to families who are struggling

·An opportunity to develop experience for CV and references. Family Lives is committed to helping volunteers develop their own learning and development, gaining new skills, knowledge or work experience

·Being part of a team of Family Lives volunteers and staff

·Personal development

·Opportunities to meet and interact with a wide range of people

·Out of pocket expenses reimbursed to a maximum of £10 per session if working from a centre

·Flexible hours

Volunteer Person Specification. We are looking for individuals who:

·Have experience of parenting/being in a parenting role or demonstrable experience of working with parents or children e.g. in their work, previous volunteering or a previous role

·Have an ability to respond empathically to emotional content

·Good written and verbal communication

·Have good keyboard skills and IT skills, with a minimum of 45 wpm

·Can demonstrate a willingness to question their own attitudes e.g. toward different forms of parenting

·Have a fluent, descriptive and expressive use of English

·Can remain open minded and non-judgemental

·Willing to commit to work within Family Lives’ policies, in particular our Confidentiality Policy and Risk of Harm Procedures

·Willing to commit to attending regular supervision and support sessions

·Willing to work as part of a team

·Willing to commit to a mutually agreed period or ideally a 12 months commitment to the organisation.

Typing Task Prior to Application for Live Chat

Prior to you submitting your application for a Live Chat Volunteer, we will require you to do a speed test, we ask for a minimum speed of 45 words per minute. 

Please take a screen shot and send it across with your application

You can have up to 3 attempts and decide which result you would like to forward as part of your application

Typing task

Go to the website typingtest

You are required to take the one minute typing test recording all of the results (speed, number of errors and adjusted speed).

We have remote voluntary call taker training groups the dates are below are you would need to be able to attend all 5 Modules from the training group.

Our next training groups are:

Tues 16th Sept = Please note different day

Wed 24th Sept

Weds 1st Oct

Weds 8th Oct

Wed 15th Oct 

 10am - 2pm 

Please note that all roles offered are subject to a satisfactory DBS being obtained, you will receive details of documentation required prior to your training and this must all be in no later than the second session of your training.

Volunteer ESOL Teacher to provide classes for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. You will plan and deliver lessons independently with the assistance of experienced ESOL teachers.  Your students will be from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and ages.

We run classes from Monday to Thursday from 10 am until 12. 

Although previous teaching experience is not compulsory, CELTA and TEFL would be appreciated.

Summary: Driving medical communication and patient-led research agenda for a complex medical condition 

Description: You could make a real difference to the lives of patients and doctors struggling with a rare disease. That's what we do at Mast Cell Action - a charity dedicated to supporting the Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) patient community and improving the evidence base for the disease.

We work hand-in-hand with doctors and patients to develop materials that truly make a difference. And with the help of our medical advisory panel, we're constantly improving our activities to better serve our community.

But we're not done yet. We're looking for someone with a genuine interest in this area, with medical, health, NHS, and research experience to join our team. You'll be responsible for developing and executing our strategy to engage with the medical community, research organisations, NHS policymakers, and our community as a whole.

You'll lead multiple projects, collaborating with doctors to better understand and define our community, as well as initiating and executing new projects. And with your expertise, you'll ensure that all our communications are evidence-based and informative.

So, if you're passionate about making a real difference, come and join us at Mast Cell Action. Together, we can create a brighter future for patients and doctors alike.

You will lead a team of passionate volunteers and interns, working closely with our Operations Director to drive our mission forward. One of your key responsibilities will be to nurture and grow our Medical Advisory Panel, working hand-in-hand with supportive doctors and medical institutions. You'll be the face of the charity, representing us in all our interactions with these key stakeholders.

You’ll report directly to our trustee board, ensuring that all of our activities are aligned with our overall strategy and goals.

We're looking for a dynamic individual who can inspire and motivate their team to achieve great things. If you're passionate about healthcare and have experience working with medical institutions, this is the perfect opportunity for you. So why not join us at Mast Cell Action and help us make a real difference in the lives of patients and doctors?

What impact will they have?

At Mast Cell Action, we know that communicating, engaging, and educating the medical community and policy makers is crucial if we want to improve support for MCAS patients. And that's where you come in.

As our communications expert, you'll play a pivotal role in advancing patient care over time. You'll work closely with doctors, medical institutions, and policy makers to raise awareness of MCAS and advocate for better support for patients.

By effectively communicating the importance of MCAS and engaging with key stakeholders, you'll help improve patient outcomes and quality of life in the long run.

If you're passionate about making a real difference and have experience in healthcare communications, this is the perfect opportunity for you. 

About the volunteer 

What skills should they have

We are looking for a volunteer who has experience in the NHS and medical/research environment. If you're someone who can assess a situation and develop a clear strategy to achieve the desired outcome, we want to hear from you.

As our ideal candidate, you're an effective communicator who can engage with doctors and produce written and visual materials that really make an impact. You're also a team player who can work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Managing projects and team members is second nature to you, and you're able to keep everyone on track and motivated. And with your awareness of the political and economic landscape in the area of complex diseases, you can navigate through any obstacles that come your way.

If you're passionate about making a real difference in the lives of patients with complex diseases and have the experience we're looking for, we want you on our team at Mast Cell Action.

Skills

Medical related background 

Medical writing skills

Project management 

Team management 

Analytical and conversant with research methodologies

Where and when

Work remotely, flexible hours 

Meetings in London 

Trips to medical conferences around uk

Reasonable Expenses covered.

We are recruiting Volunteer Team Leaders to lead and inspire! This is your chance to meet new people, gain new skills and experience and have fun whilst being part of a great cause.

Location: London, working from home 

Recruiting for various Team Leaders for- so please specify.

- West London Sister Team Leader

- North London Brother Team Leader

- Slough Brother Team Leader

- South London Brother Team Leader

- Tower Hamlets Sister Team Leader

- Newham Sister Team Leader

Expenses: This is a voluntary position, but we reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in line with our policy

Main tasks

We need individuals who can manage a group of volunteers within their region and work with Human Appeal staff members to ensure volunteers’ active involvement in events and campaigns.

 Recruit new volunteers and lead current volunteers who will be allocated to your team

 Communicate important campaign-related information to your team

 Organise 2 Fundraising events or community projects with your team within an assigned budget in the year.

 Actively attend and participate in Team Leader meetings and complete any actions allocated to you E.g Recruiting volunteers for online fundraising.

 Work with the Human Appeal staff team to deliver campaigns and 2 in-person events for the year.

 Organise and attend Monthly Meetings with your Volunteers

 Where possible, support with Team Leader recruitment by joining the interviewing panel

Knowledge/Experience/Skills

We will provide you with the tools, training and support you need but here are a few things we are looking for:

 Excellent communication, negotiation, influencing, innovation and interpersonal skills

 Willingness to learn and develop as an individual and accept constructive feedback

 Ability to build and maintain relationships with all levels of people 

 Ability to support and coordinate a diverse group of individuals

 Ability to prioritise workload and work well in a team

Learning and Development

To enable you to take part in this opportunity Human Appeal will provide:

 Leadership training to help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to fulfil the role

 A dedicated member of staff to provide ongoing support and supervision

 Payment of “out of pocket” expenses in line with Human Appeal’s expenses policy

 Webinars to provide you with the information you require for the campaign

 A volunteer handbook that outlines the policies and procedures you need to be aware of whilst volunteering

Benefits of volunteering with us

By volunteering in an international charity, you will gain valuable skills, experience and knowledge. We will also offer:

 Opportunities to take part in Human Appeal events and training programmes

 Opportunity for you and your team run your own event for a Human Appeal project of your choice

 Support from our HR Team in developing your CV and interviewing skills 

 Experience of operating within an international humanitarian charity

 Offer to provide references after 3 months of volunteering 

 Excellent support as part of a friendly team with fun away days

 Develop knowledge and skills in people management, social media, recruitment and project management 

Are you passionate about fitness and would like to make a difference in the community? We are recruiting for an enthusiastic volunteer to facilitate online Chair Exercise sessions. This is an amazing opportunity to promote health, well-being and social interaction amongst others!

What you will be doing

• Facilitating gentle chair exercise sessions for people with mixed abilities
• Encouraging service users to get involved
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Relevant fitness qualification
• 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 - 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

We are seeking a Fundraising Volunteer to join our small, friendly team. In this rewarding role, you’ll play an important part in our busy organisation. You will be helping to strengthen relationships with our valued supporters, assist with a variety of fundraising activities, and contribute directly to our mission: to find a cure for Parkinson’s. Your support will help us raise vital funds and awareness, ensuring every supporter feels appreciated and engaged.

What you’ll be involved in

As a Fundraising Volunteer, you’ll be able to choose activities that match your skills and interests. Your tasks may include:

• Calling donors and fundraisers to thank them for their support
• Sending out fundraising materials and charity updates via post and email
• Processing donations, updating supporter records, and assisting with Gift Aid forms
• Engaging local businesses, schools, sports clubs and community groups to support our fundraising efforts
• Researching new partnership opportunities and potential supporters
• Assisting on the day of events with setting up stalls or cheering on participants Whether you prefer working behind the scenes or being out in the community, there are plenty of ways to get involved and make a difference.

Personal qualities we’re looking for

You don’t need previous fundraising experience just a willingness to get involved! We’re especially looking for someone who is:

• Friendly and approachable
• A confident communicator (verbal and written)
• Reliable, with good initiative
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Comfortable using basic IT systems
• Passionate about making a difference

Volunteer Youth Support Worker 

Location: at our Satellite Session in Mildmay Comunity Centre N16 
Time commitment: Wednesdays in term Time 4:30-7:30pm 
Reports to: Lead Youth Worker

About Us 

At Mary’s Youth Club, we’re more than just a place to hang out. We’re a safe, supportive space where young people aged 10–19 can be themselves, try new things, and feel like they belong. 

From creative arts and music to games, sports, and wellbeing sessions, we run exciting drop-in activities and workshops every weekday. Everything we do is shaped by young people, with a strong focus on inclusion, creativity, and community. 

The Role 

We’re looking for friendly, reliable volunteers to support our team in delivering fun and engaging activities for young people. No experience is needed – just a positive attitude and a willingness to get stuck in! 

This role is for our Wednesday satellite session ‘Craft & Create’ delivered At Mildmay Community Centre (N16 8NA).

This role would particularly suit someone who is interested in, and able to offer, arts and craft, music or other creative sessions 

This is a great opportunity to gain experience in youth work, give back to your community, and help create a safe, welcoming environment for young people to grow and thrive. 

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Supporting young people during drop-in sessions

• Helping set up and run activities with staff 

• Being a friendly and approachable presence for young people 

• Encouraging creativity, teamwork and confidence 

• Assisting with tidying up and ensuring the space stays safe and welcoming 

What We’re Looking For 

You don’t need experience – we’ll provide guidance and support. We’re looking for volunteers who: 

• Enjoy spending time with young people 

• Have an interest in creative, hands-on activities

• Are patient, friendly and good listeners 

• Are reliable and able to work well in a team 

• Are open to learning and receiving feedback 

• Respect diversity and different backgrounds 

• Are committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment 

What You’ll Get 

• Support and supervision from experienced youth workers 

• A warm, friendly team environment 

• Opportunities to learn more about youth work 

• A chance to make a real difference in young people’s lives 

• References and certificates of volunteering (on request) 

Additional Info 

• All volunteers will be asked to complete a basic DBS (criminal record) check – we can help with this 

• We provide safeguarding training and a full induction 

• Volunteers must be 18+ 

Please note that unfortunately, we are not in a financial position to be able to pay sponsorship visa costs for individuals, therefore you will need to have settled status or pre-settled status in the UK in order to be able to apply for this volunteer role

How to Apply 

Interested? We'd love to hear from you! 

Join us in making Mary’s a space where young people feel safe, supported, and inspired – every day. �� 

The role in a nutshell: 

Lead volunteers help to keep Age UK charity shops running like clockwork and are an essential part of our retail division. Our charity shops raise vital funds, which aid and support a wide range of services which Age UK delivers. If you have some free time available and have a passion for retail management, we can help you find a new sense of purpose in your life. 

What will you be doing? 

As this is such a key role, the task list for this role is understandably lengthy.
Key activities include but are not limited to the following:
•To assist in the security of the shop and its stock, and bank takings when required. Opening the shop or securing the shop at close of business when required. 
•Ensure cash handling processes and procedures are adhered to and exchanges and refunds actioned promptly. 
•Ensure Health & Safety regulations are understood and complied with; Alcumus (incident reporting and health & safety check recording system) understood and completed.
•Ensure compliance with all organisational policies and procedures.
•Always deliver great customer service.
•Support other volunteers, ensuring gift aid is captured on both donations and sales.
•Provide training and support on the till to other volunteers as required. 
•General retail duties - again not limited to but including- accepting donations (stock or cash), promote gift aid, operate till, take phone calls and deal with enquiries, keeping the shop clean and tidy, pricing, displaying and sale of donated goods and merchandise.  Deal with refunds and customer complaints.
•Live Age UK’s values; follow our code of conduct and our Diversity; Equity and Inclusion policy. 

How would you be supported in this role? 

When you become part of our team, you will receive a mixture of e-learning and ‘on the job practical training,’ to get you started. As you progress in the role, you will receive refresher training and ongoing support. We will also reimburse ‘role-related expenses’ and provide further opportunity to shape the volunteering that you do. To be a Lead Volunteer we do have a specific training plan we would need you to complete. 

Why do we need volunteers in this role? 

Lead volunteers have an important part to play in the ongoing success of our retail division, as they help us raise funds though our shops, to reach and support more older people. Occasionally we find ourselves in a position where no paid staff are available to open the shop which disappoints customers and donors alike; and decreases the funds we can raise to support people in later life. Lead volunteers give an additional layer of flexibility to help us keep our doors open. 

Additional information: 

We offer a wide variety of flexible shifts for volunteers, to fit around your personal circumstances. However for this role there will be times when we do make a specific ask of you. 

What skills, interests or experience might be helpful in this role? 

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. For this role, previous experience of working in retail would be a real advantage; and you would need to show commitment and regular attendance to ensure you are fully up to speed with our policy and procedures; and what’s going on in the shop. If you are looking for a career in retail and looking to gain some crucial experience this could be the ideal role for you-equally if you are retired but keen to keep your hand in; we could really benefit from your experience! Therefore, if you are a team player and open to learning whilst following Age UKs policies, you will be an excellent addition to our ever-growing team of amazing volunteers. Our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities, so we will do our absolute best to find a role that works for you. 

WANTED: Local Legends. No Cape Required.

Some kids climb trees.
Some build rockets from cardboard boxes.
Some are learning how to light a fire without burning their eyebrows off.
They’re curious, messy, hilarious – and they need YOU.

At 23rd Poplar Scouts, we’ve got a growing bunch of Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers (ages 4 to 18) who are bursting with energy, questions, and potential.

And we’re looking for more grown-ups (yes, you!) to join our crew of volunteers.

Here's the deal - we don’t care if you can’t tie 12 knots or survive a week in the woods with just a spork or whether you're a parent, student, working professional, or retiree.
We do care if you:

• Enjoy seeing young people grow in confidence

• Like a laugh

• Are reliable

• Are up for trying something new (even if it involves glitter, tents, or biscuits)

You could help once a week, once a month, or just whenever you can. We’ll show you the ropes, give you some training, and promise not to make you wear shorts in winter.

This is about community, confidence, and connection – and giving young people a place to feel like they belong.

Sound good?

�� Click on apply and share a few details about yourself.

Join us at 23rd Poplar Scouts and help shape the future, one adventure at a time.

Volunteer roles available in:

• Squirrels (4–6 yrs) – storytelling, play, and first friendships.

• Beavers (6–8 yrs) – crafts, games, and learning new things.

• Cubs (8–10½ yrs) – exploring, teamwork, and outdoor skills.

• Scouts (10½–14 yrs) – adventure, responsibility, and independence.

• Explorers (14–18 yrs) – leadership, community service, and big challenges.

We are recruiting for a volunteer who would like to play a role in helping others to express themselves through writing. Would you like to support others to use their imagination to portray a message?

Creative writing is a great way to express yourself using your own creativity and imagination through story telling or poetry. It is an opportunity to reflect on your own experiences and put it down on paper. Creative writing has been shown to improve emotional and mental well-being. Through creative writing, we can gain insight into our emotions, develop self-expression and communication skills, cultivate empathy and understanding of others, boost our imagination and creativity.

About the service..

We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.

In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.

We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.

What you will be doing

• Lead and facilitate a weekly Creative Writing Group, encouraging participants to explore their thoughts and feelings through writing exercises, prompts, and storytelling.
• Guide a subsequent Feelings Forum where participants can share and discuss emotions sparked by the writing session or current experiences in a respectful and supportive atmosphere
• Foster an inclusive, non-judgmental environment where all voices are heard and valued
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the organisation’s safeguarding and mental health protocols
• Prepare session materials and adapt activities to meet the needs of diverse participants

The skills you need

• Prepare session materials and adapt activities to meet the needs of diverse participants
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with sensitivity to mental health challenges
• Ability to facilitate group discussions and manage diverse emotional responses constructively
• Patience, empathy, and a non-judgmental approach.
• Training or experience in mental health, counselling, social work, or a related field is advantageous but not essential

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.

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors.

An enthusiastic, reliable and compassionate volunteer with good interpersonal skills and a desire to help others. The volunteer needs to hold a professional level diploma in counselling and have training and experience working with individuals with eating disorders.

Activities

• To provide therapeutic support to young women (aged 18-30) with eating disorders
• One-to-One counselling sessions will aim to support the individual to improve self-confidence, identify and resolve negative thought processes, implement constructive coping strategies and empower them to fulfil attainable life goals
• To develop and promote a positive relationship with the women within allocated caseload
• To keep up-to-date with development in the field of counselling and eating disorder therapy
• To manage appropriate professional boundaries in the relationship
• To maintain records for monitoring, evaluation and tracking purposes plus service evaluation
• To take responsibility for own professional development

Requirements

• Hold a professional level diploma in counselling
• Hold professional membership with BACP, UKCP or equivalent
• Have own regular supervision with a qualified supervisor
• Fully trained in eating disorder therapy and previous experience supporting individuals with eating disorders
• This role requires us to carry out a check through the Disclosure and Barring Service for the Enhanced DBS

Commitment 

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of the residents. Ideally weekly one-to-one sessions for a minimum of 3 months.

Support 

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training
•  Reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed
• The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons.