Youth Activity Volunteer Volunteer Roles
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Be rewarded and have new experiences, volunteer with us as a Child and Family Support Volunteer.
Key Details
- Based across South Lakeland, Cumbria.
- We are looking for a commitment of about half a day per week. Location, time and day will vary depending on current needs, and we can work with you to match you to appropriate opportunities.
- Currently, many of our groups run between 4-6pm on week days.
Can you:
- Provide motivational support, a listening ear, a friendly face, and a positive attitude to parents, carers, children and young people?
- Build trusting relationships, empathise, and communicate clearly?
- Be reliable?
- Be a positive role model?
- Be non-judgemental and respectful, while not accepting of behaviours that are damaging to others?
- Respect confidentiality?
- Work alongside staff to support families, based on individual need?
- Embody Action for Children’s values, and adhere to our code of conduct?
What you can expect:
- To work with families to support them to make and sustain positive changes through structured group programmes. An example is the very successful Decider Skills programme which teaches CBT techniques in an accessible and interactive way.
- To assist practitioners with running the group, providing a safe and nurturing space for families, and supporting all participants to engage in the activities.
- At times, we may have opportunities to play with children while their parents work with a practitioner on targeted support.
- To receive regular support and supervision from staff.
- To report any safeguarding or wellbeing concerns you may have as soon as possible.
What we can offer:
- Feel the satisfaction of supporting families to lead healthier, happier and safer lives.
- Full induction, training and support package. Ongoing training will be available to expand on your skills and knowledge.
- Gain valuable experience of working with children, young people and their families to provide early help and support.
- Be part of a fun and friendly team.
- Agreed travel expenses paid.
- Improve your confidence, CV, and employability. We can provide references to support your career development.
- Access to Action for Children's wellbeing resources.
- Feel recognised, supported and proud to donate your time and experience to help vulnerable children and young people.
If you would like an informal chat, have any further questions about the role, or need assistance with the application form, then please contact Kay Cheer on ( 015 39 734 456 )
Action for Children is passionate about promoting equality, valuing diversity and working inclusively. We welcome applications from all persons particularly those who identify as Male, people with Disabilities, and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants, as these groups are currently under-represented in our organisation.
Action for Children are Passionate, Ambitious, Collaborative and Inclusive. We aspire for every child and young person in the country to have a safe and happy childhood and the foundations they need to thrive.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The new role of Community Engagement Volunteer (CEV) will be at the centre of Jigsaw South East’s plans for the future.
We want to ensure that we increase our reach across our recently defined catchment and are able to support the children, young people and families who need our vital support.
The role of CEV will therefore assist with the following key areas:
- Presenting to schools, businesses and organisations across our local communities about our work and how we raise funds;
- Building recognition and awareness of our name and what we do;
- Assisting our Support Team to engage with Community Palliative Teams, Clinical Nurse Specialist Teams (particularly Cancer and Neurological Teams) and GP Surgeries to help us increase referrals to our service;
- Engaging with disadvantaged communities across our catchment who may be currently unaware of our support - we would like to focus on two areas (Crawley and Woking) and look to role out and recruit for other areas our service covers in the future (dependent on funding).
Training
We will provide you with all of the information and training you need and you will join a vibrant and committed group of volunteers ensuring that children and young people across our communities will not be alone during their bereavement journey.
Jigsaw South East is committed to the wellbeing of our volunteers and we will provide you with the information and support you need to fulfil your volunteering role. You will have a named member of staff as a central point of contact, access to supervision where relevant and the opportunity to meet other Jigsaw South East volunteers on, at least, a quarterly basis.
Who we need:
Jigsaw South East believes in the value of voluntary activity as an important component of the organisation in supporting children, young people and their families when facing or following the death of a loved one.
Jigsaw South East takes responsibility for ensuring that volunteers within its own organisation are appropriately involved, respected and valued for their contribution.
We are looking for enthusiastic and passionate volunteers over the age of 18 (we will be looking to recruit under 18 Young Ambassadors shortly).
We are looking for volunteers with the following essential/desirable credentials and who can commit to at least one morning/afternoon a month. The volunteer agreement and commitment to Jigsaw SE will be reviewed after 18 months as we know that people’s circumstances change.
Essential:
Ability to adhere to JSE’s policies and protocols for safeguarding and confidentiality
Excellent communication skills
Excellent listening skills
Ability to work in a team participating
in activities
Experience of bereavement (personal and/or professional).
Desirable, but not essential:
Links to the local community
Experience with children
Knowledge of different religious and cultural beliefs around death and dying
Presentation skills
Use of a car or ability to travel to the two focused areas for piloting this role- Crawley and Woking
As an engager of volunteers Jigsaw South East is committed to a policy of equal opportunities. This principle will apply to service delivery, recruitment, promotion, training, facilities, procedures and all terms and conditions.
Volunteers will be expected to adhere to Jigsaw South East’s Equal Opportunities Policy, a copy of which can be found within the Jigsaw South East’s Volunteer Pack.
We will require a clear DBS check and two references.
Please contact our Service Coordinator, Sarah Dodson, for an application form.
For further information or a conversation about this role please do contact our Director, Catherine Hodgson.
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!
This role involves working directly with 11 – 18yr olds through our NEST bereavement support programme which uses craft, activities and group talk to explore grief. Group work volunteers will be part of a team supporting a lead worker to run the programme. There is scope to develop leadership roles, should volunteers like to take this route.
The role includes building trusting relationships with young people and encouraging them to take part in activities. Volunteers will support young people to explore their grief by supporting them to take part in activities themed around memories, feelings, coping strategies and support networks. The role will also include general tasks such as setting up, clearing up, and making refreshments.
This role is within a small team which consists of paid staff, volunteers and trustees all of whom are passionate about the work we do.
This is an exciting opportunity within an expanding charity. Volunteers should have an interest in working with children, young people and families within a group setting and have a deep empathy for the objectives of the charity.
All volunteers are subject to an enhanced DBS check, at the expense of the charity. Reasonable out of pocket expenses can also be paid, for example travel costs. You will need to be at least 18 years old to carry out this role.
Wiltshire Treehouse (registered charity no. 1159719) is a small charity based in Swindon which supports bereaved children and young people. We provide a range of support services including advice and guidance to families and professionals, a family programme (for primary aged children and their parents/guardians), and a group for young people (11-18yrs old).
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!
At Staying Well we run a Telephone Befriending Scheme.
If you have up to an hour free once a week for 6 months then this could be the volunteer role for you!
This is what the Befriending Network say about befriending:
“Everyone needs other people, but not everyone has someone.
Befriending offers supportive, reliable relationships through volunteer befrienders to people who would otherwise be socially isolated. Around the UK, there are befriending projects which organise effective support for children and young people, families, people with mental ill-health, people with learning disabilities and older people, amongst many others.
The results of befriending can be very significant. Befriending often provides people with a new direction in life, opens up a range of activities and leads to increased self-esteem and self confidence. Befriending can also reduce the burden on other services which people may use inappropriately as they seek social contact.”
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!
Become an Independent Visitor to be matched one to one with a young person in care. You will meet once or twice a month to take them out to do fun activities together. This is an opportunity for our young people to develop a healthy relationship with a trusted adult, have fun and share their worries and feelings if they are ready to do so.
We'll provide full training, all your expenses and ongoing support from dedicated staff.
This is an opportunity for you to build skills and knowledge within social care and test yourself with real life experience of a young person in care.
We're looking for enthusiastic, committed people to bring their experience, skills and positivity to the lives of young people who have been through tough times. We will be providing training on the following subjects.
Session 1 Introduction to IV and the Care system
Session 2 Trauma, Attachment and Growth
Session 3 Safeguarding
Session 4 Communications and Boundaries
Session 5 The Role Of The IV
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!
Volunteering opportunity: The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain is seeking new Trustees
Join us as a Trustee at The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain! As a registered charity, we’re seeking dedicated individuals to guide us in fulfilling our mission with integrity and passion.
Responsibilities include shaping strategic direction, safeguarding the organisation’s values, ensuring financial stability, and actively contributing to board decisions. Trustees play a key role in promoting openness, honesty, and leadership.
We’re looking for committed individuals with a love for brass banding and youth music, and expertise in areas like arts management, funding development, audience development, marketing and communication.
We hold four trustee meetings a year - three online (typically 2-3hrs) one in person (full day). Estimated annual time commitment 20hrs per year. You are also encouraged to attend performances and events.
If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact, join us on this exciting journey! We are seeking applications from a broad range of backgrounds and ages. Don't be put off if this is would be your first charity trusteeship - to develop greater youth voice, applications from under 25s are also welcome.
We exist to give the brightest young brass and percussion musicians the opportunity to develop their musicianship, play together and inspire others.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Amazing, giving, inspiring and awesome are just a few of the words we would use to describe our volunteers.
Our volunteers play an integral part in the services we provide and the people we support. If you are looking for a rewarding role where you will really make a difference whilst gaining experience along the way, then join us here at Rethink Mental Illness.
About the role
We are looking for Volunteer Café Assistants to support our John Hall Wellness Gardens in Leek. You will be based at our new Cafe operation and, ideally, you will be able to commit 4 hours per week to volunteering.
You will receive training and regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role.
About the service
John Hall Gardens is a Community Education Garden & Café green space for the community of Leek, local schools, colleges, and social enterprises. With the aim of enabling the local community to work/learn and socialise with people with mental and physical health support needs. This includes adults of all ages and children and young people.
Assisting the Café Supervisor and your fellow volunteers, you will play an integral part of John Hall Wellness Garden’s future, by helping to deliver a café experience for the general public, Friends of the Garden, and guests. If you think you can make a difference and commit some time on a regular on-going basis, we would love to hear from you! This is a real opportunity to develop your current existing skills, learn new skills and network with other volunteers. We welcome anyone wishing to gain experience or have an interest in going into the hospitality sector.
What you will be doing as a Volunteer Café Assistant
You will have the opportunity to assist with food preparation, presentation, cleaning and serving/selling high quality food and beverages.
Under the guidance of the Café Supervisor, you, together with other volunteers will ensure that the Café is compliant with all relevant health and safety legislation and pursuing an outstanding performance and food hygiene rating.
In addition, there will be further opportunities to support activity groups in the café, special events and input into event and menu planning.
The main tasks volunteer café assistants will support with are:
- Support Café staff, other volunteers and trainees in the smooth day to day running of the Café.
- Carry out basic catering tasks including food preparation, cleaning and serving food to customers.
- Operate the coffee machine (full training will be provided).
- Handle cash or card transactions and operate the till.
- Work with the Café Supervisor to ensure relevant paperwork is completed and checks are carried out ensuring compliance against relevant food safety and health and safety policies and procedures.
- Ensure kitchen area and Café are clean and tidy (including equipment, walls, floors, tables, work surfaces), and waste is discarded safely.
- Provide good customer service, dealing with visitors and customers in a friendly and polite manner.
What will make you a great fit for this role?
- Eagerness to learn and train in all aspects of the café catering operation
- Cheerful nature, good interpersonal skills, can communicate confidently with a range of people of all ages
- Good customer care service skills
Although this is not essential - you may also have:
- Basic food safety knowledge or HACCP. Further training, will be provided including allergens
- Experience in food handling and basic preparation of foods
Who are we?
We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Spark! are a growing youth employment charity and are seeking to strengthen our Board through the appointment of 5 new trustees with a passion for supporting young people in to pathways towards meaningful and sustained employment and rewarding careers.
We are particularly looking for trustees who can demonstrate skills or experience in one or more of the following areas to enhance our Governance.
- Finance and accounting
- Local authority
- Education sector
- HR and training
- Central Government and campaigning
We are also seeking Young Trustees (under 25 years old) to represent youth voice on our Board. Ideally this will be someone with relevant lived experience and/or someone who has participated in Spark! programmes.
We also welcome candidates with links to our priority areas of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow, and from those with backgrounds that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
ABOUT THE ROLE
As part of our Community Support team, you will play a key role in ensuring the fulfilment of our users' needs by sharing information about our services, projects, and activities; this takes place in person, through our digital channels and helpline. Additionally, you will be responsible for keeping up to date information about other services and partner organisations. The primary challenge faced by the Latin American community is the language barrier, which hinders their comprehension of the UK system and their entitlements. Taking part in the Community Interpreting service, you will support service users in navigating these obstacles, enabling them to establish a more integrated life in the UK. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to better understand the challenges faced by the Latin American community in London; use their language skills in a positive and impactful way; and develop valuable administrative and customer service skills in a multicultural, fast-paced organisation.
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
● Connecting service users to our services, projects and activities in person or by answering phone calls and emails
● Supporting users with general enquiries, referring them to relevant services within our organisation as well as signposting and referring to external services
● Registering users on our database and keeping accurate records of services offered
● Monitoring internal calendars and appointments
● Sharing useful, up-to-date information with users as instructed by other team members
● Ensuring internal communications, flyers and handouts are up to date
● Interpreting calls for service users and supporting with non-official translations
● Supporting community members with basic application forms
● Liaising with staff in other departments and with external contacts
PERSON SPECIFICATION
● Good verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish and/or Portuguese
● Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and with a diverse population of service users, staff and partners
● A caring, sensitive and non-judgemental approach
● Ability to cope with stressful and emotionally challenging issues
● Professionalism to handle sensitive and confidential information
● Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to multitask
● Ability to set their own work priorities, take initiatives and work with minimal supervision
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!
This role involves working directly with children and their families. Group work volunteers will be part of a team supporting a lead worker to run the group. There is scope to develop leadership roles, should volunteers like to take this route.
The role includes building trusting relationships with children and their parents/carers and encouraging them to take part in activities. Volunteers will support children to explore their grief by supporting them to take part in activities themed around memories, feelings, coping strategies and support networks. The role will also include general tasks such as setting up, clearing up, and making refreshments.
This role is within a small team which consists of paid staff, volunteers and trustees all of whom are passionate about the work we do.
This is an exciting opportunity within an expanding charity. Volunteers should have an interest in working with children, young people and families within a group setting and have a deep empathy for the objectives of the charity. All volunteers are subject to an enhanced DBS check, at the expense of the charity. Reasonable out of pocket expenses can also be paid, for example travel costs. You will need to be at least 18 years old to carry out this role.
Hours required: Family group programme – for primary aged children and their parent(s)/guardian(s). This group uses games, craft and stories to explore grief. The programme is delivered in a number of ways. This includes –
1. Our 4 day programme which takes place over 4 Saturdays at our base Westlea Primary School, Swindon. The time for volunteers is 9am – 2pm on each Saturday. Our aim is to run this 2 – 3 times a year.
2. Our A Day to Remember programme is an intensive 1 day programme which is delivered in venues across Swindon and Wiltshire depending on the needs of our families. The time for volunteers is usually 9am – 4pm. Our aim is to run this 1 – 2 times a year.
In total we expect the commitment for a volunteer to be no more than 4 programmes a year, to include a mix of our 4 day and 1 day intensive programmes. The maximum is likely to be 16 sessions a year. Dates are circulated and volunteers are asked to commit to dates they can attend.
Wiltshire Treehouse is a small charity based in Swindon which supports bereaved children and young people. We provide a range of support services including advice and guidance to families and professionals, a family programme (for primary aged children and their parents/guardians), and a group for young people (11-18yrs old).
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
KEEN London is a small but growing charity. Our vision is that every child has the chance to enjoy games and leisure activities and none are left behind due to disability.
We provide free games and activity sessions with tailored support for children with additional needs and disabilities. We support over 100 children, known as our ‘athletes’, with a wide range of additional needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and global development delay. At KEEN London, we strive to use fun and games to improve young people's wellbeing, personal, social and emotional development as well as broadening experiences to increase skills and confidence.
During a typical KEEN London session, you’ll provide one-to-one support to an athlete, helping them to access all the activities on offer, achieve their personal development goals, and of course have tons of fun! You can expect to get involved with a wide range of playground games, ball games, nature walks, and creative activities. From time to time we also run trips for our athletes, and previous trips have included trampoline parks, high ropes courses, pedalo boating and slime-making classes.
Requirements
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We don’t expect any prior experience for this role - just lots of energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn!
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A commitment to attending 2 sessions per month, for at least 6 months. This is to ensure a level of consistency for our athletes and so that you can gain the experience needed to support our athletes effectively.
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Completion of our application process. After submitting your application, we’ll invite you to attend a training session and complete a DBS check.
What you’ll get in return
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You’ll make a difference to the lives of our athletes, see their progress, and have fun along the way!
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Regular social events, and opportunities to meet other coaches
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Ongoing training! We’ll ensure you feel comfortable in your role and are fully trained.
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Development of skills such as working with children, teamwork and communication
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The chance to progress to becoming a coach team captain
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Long-term volunteers receive t-shirts, badges, and advance sign-up to our popular events
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Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses.
Volunteer applications from people with disabilities/men/LGBTQ+ people/people of colour are especially welcomed.
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!
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.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
KEEN London Volunteer Coach
KEEN London is a small but growing charity. Our vision is that every child has the chance to enjoy games and leisure activities and none are left behind due to disability.
We provide free games and activity sessions with tailored support for children with additional needs and disabilities. We support over 100 children, known as our ‘athletes’, with a wide range of additional needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and global development delay. At KEEN London, we strive to use fun and games to improve young people's wellbeing, and personal, social and emotional development as well as broadening experiences to increase skills and confidence.
During a typical KEEN London session, you’ll provide one-to-one support to an athlete, helping them to access all the activities on offer, achieve their personal development goals, and of course have tons of fun! You can expect to get involved with a wide range of playground games, ball games, nature walks, and creative activities. From time to time we also run trips for our athletes, and previous trips have included trampoline parks, high ropes courses, pedalo boating and slime-making classes.
Our Volunteer Coaches are the backbone of a KEEN London session! If you're free some Saturdays between 10am and 2.30pm, please come and join us.
What we ask of volunteers:
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We don’t expect any prior experience for this role - just lots of energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn!
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A commitment to attending 2 sessions per month, for at least 6 months. This is to ensure a level of consistency for our athletes and so that you can gain the experience needed to support our athletes effectively.
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Completion of our application process. After submitting your application, we’ll invite you to attend a training session and complete a DBS check.
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Help our athletes access the activities and games at our sessions. You’ll support our athletes to engage with the session, and have fun while they’re doing it.
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Support athletes to achieve their goals. You’ll help our Service Coordinators develop goals for our athletes, track their progress, and give them lots of encouragement along the way.
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Work as a team to develop creative ways of engaging with the athletes. You’ll work together to come up with new games, develop resources, and plan activities.
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Get moving. We want our athletes to enjoy being active, making friends, and trying new things - and we want you to join in with them!
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Have fun! Our athletes love working with energetic and enthusiastic people, and we’ll ensure that all your hard work will be rewarded with a great time.
What you’ll get in return:
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You’ll make a difference to the lives of our athletes, see their progress and have fun along the way!
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Regular volunteer social events, and opportunities to meet other coaches
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Ongoing training! We’ll ensure you feel comfortable in your role and are fully trained.
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Development of skills such as working with children, teamwork and communication
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The chance to progress to becoming a coach team captain
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Long-term volunteers receive t-shirts, badges, and advance sign-ups to our popular events
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Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses.
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A reference after a reasonable period of volunteering
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Access to Charity Worker Discounts after 5 sessions of volunteering
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!
Adult Casework Volunteer - Role description
Role: Adult Casework Volunteer
Team: Casework
Supervised by: Adult caseworker
Location: Tooting office on a Thursday afternoon (2-5.30pm)
Time commitment: 3.5 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months
About CARAS :
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.
Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.
We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.
Our values are at the centre of all our work
• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests
• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society
• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes
• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do
About CARAS casework:
CARAS works with adults and young people of a refugee and asylum seeker background to find solutions to their problems. There are two separate sub-teams within the Casework team; young people and adults. We support adults to navigate the asylum system, understand their options, access benefits, connect with services and realise their goals. We are a non-specialist casework and advocacy service, so we work in close partnership with other local organisations to whom we refer people with more complex issues.
Using the empowerment model, our casework service embodies CARAS’ values of ‘with not for’, always striving to ensure people are armed with the information and resources they need to make decisions and take action for themselves.
About the Role:
We are currently recruiting for 2 volunteers to join our Adult Casework team.
The purpose of the Adult Casework volunteer role is to support adults with a refugee or asylum seeking background to understand their rights, access information and services, and ultimately, take control of their own lives. You will work with individuals to address problems they may face relating to, among other issues, asylum support, accessing healthcare and education, access to legal advice and finding activities and opportunities.
You will start from an understanding that individuals are always best placed to solve their own problems, and often need nothing more than to talk out a problem and find the solution themselves. When helpful, you will provide information to clarify and support to take action.
The Adult Casework team hold a support session at our office in Tooting on Thursday afternoons from 2-5.30pm. Volunteer caseworkers have 1:1 appointments, either in person or by phone, with CARAS members. These can be related to a range of topics. Currently our biggest areas of work are around housing for people seeking asylum, access to college, nursery/school places for children, referrals to mental health providers, searches and signposting to activities, finding solicitors and supporting people to apply for bus passes and ID cards. Volunteers also support with administrative tasks such as updating our databases, collating resources and creating information guides.
Adult Casework Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:
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Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting.
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Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements.
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Assisting with filling out forms
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Signposting and referring onto other services and organisations.
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Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner.
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Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations and grants.
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Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required.
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Keeping accurate casenotes
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Supporting to maintain our signposting database
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Researching and collating resources
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Working collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the Adult Casework project.
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Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.
Requirements:
Essential
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Experience of doing 1:1 advice work/casework.
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Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English.
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Confidence in using IT (Microsft office, outlook, zoom, Google search, online forms)
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To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;
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A commitment to confidentiality and data protection
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Thorough with good attention to detail
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Reliable
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A high level of spoken and written English
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Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way
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A calm, friendly, kind and patient approach
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Enjoyment in speaking to new people
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A commitment to working in an empowering way
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Able to maintain boundaries
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Able to work autonomously
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Currently resident in the UK
Desirable
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Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights and entitlements for people seeking asylum
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Experience of working with interpreters
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Direct experience of the UK immigration system.
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Past experience of working with people seeking asylum
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Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu or Vietnamese.
We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process
Benefits to Volunteering:
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Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;
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Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;
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Develop your skills and competencies;
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Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.
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Obtain a reference from us relating to your volunteering
All volunteers must complete a basic DBS check for volunteers working with adults and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.
To Apply:
To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form, using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.
Applicants will have an informal meeting with the Adult caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP.
Successful applicants will undergo training and induction with our team.
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!
Role: Referral volunteer (laptops)
Team: Casework
Supervised by: Adult caseworker
Location: Tooting office on a Thursday afternoon (2-5pm) for period of training/induction. Remote or in person once induction is complete.
Time commitment: 3 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months
About CARAS :
Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.
Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.
We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.
Our values are at the centre of all our work:
• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests
• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society
• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes
• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do
About the Role:
CARAS offers advocacy casework integrated into all of its projects, ensuring that people who attend our groups can access support to address issues in a friendly and timely manner. A key part of the casework service is to help connect people to resources and activities that they need.
A key areas of need is digital access, either by smart phone or laptop.
People living in asylum accommodation receive £9/week making saving for items impossible.
Whilst many activities have returned to face-to-face delivery many have stayed online, not having a laptop impedes people’s ability to join English classes and social activities. People attending college face difficulties in completing college work without access to computers in the evenings, access to a laptop means people are able to take greater control over their independent learning. Smart phones make a huge difference in people’s ability to have contact with family and community across the world.
To meet this need we have built a partnership with a grant giving organisation, Acts435, to support people to get personal laptops.
We are able to refer 5 people at a time for grants to buy new laptops/phones. Once the grant money is received we purchase the devices for community members to collect.
We are looking for a volunteer to do these referrals each month and support people to purchase and receive their laptops and phones. This is an extremely rewarding role, interacting with lots of the CARAS community members and making a very tangible positive impact on people’s lives.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- contacting community members who are on our waiting lists by phone to explain the scheme to them
- complete grant applications with community members
- monitoring the grant platform to see when grants have been made
- purchasing laptops online and liaising with community members to arrange collection
- completing monitoring forms with community members once grants are recieved and uploading to grant platform
- recording all referrals and work done on our case management system (lamplight)
Person specification:
Essential
· Confidence in using IT (online forms, online shopping, google maps, email, DocuSign)
· To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;
· A commitment to confidentiality and data protection
· Thorough with good attention to detail
· Reliable
· A high level of spoken and written English
· Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English;
· Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way
· A calm, friendly, kind and patient approach
· Enjoyment in speaking to new people
· A commitment to working in an empowering way
· Able to maintain boundaries
· Able to work autonomously
· Currently resident in the UK
Desirable
· Experience working with refugees and asylum seekers
· Fluent in one or more of: Pashtu, Farsi, Tigrinya, Somali, Arabic or Dari, Russian, Ukrainian, Albanian, Amharic, Kurdish Sorani, Spanish, French
· Experience of working with interpreters
Benefits to Volunteering:
Through volunteering with us you will:
· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;
· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;
· Develop your skills and competencies;
· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.
All volunteers must complete a DBS check and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.
To Apply:
To Apply To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form, using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.
Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with the Adult caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.