Disability Volunteer Roles

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 Befrienders to support our Brent Mental Health service in the London Borough of Brent. 

As a Volunteer Befriender, you will be required to travel across Brent to meet with service users and carry out your role. Ideally, you will be able to commit a minimum of 2 hour per week to volunteering. 

You will be supported by Befriending Volunteer Coordinators who will provide regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role. You can read more about the benefits of volunteering on the full advert on our website.

About the service

Our Brent Mental Health service provides support to people aged 18 and above, who live in the Borough of Brent, and who have a mental illness and are known to the local NHS trust Central and North West London (CNWL).

The aim of the Befriending Service is to;

• Reduce social isolation of service users
• Increase the confidence of service users in accessing community resources independently
• Provide meaningful activities and peer support for service users 
• Help service users to live happier, healthier, independent lives
• Provide volunteering opportunities for people with mental health issues
• Reduce stigma and raise mental health awareness

What you will be doing as a Volunteer Befriender:

• Meeting with service users in locations and times which meet their needs (including evenings and weekends)
• Provide befriending support to a maximum of 2 services users at any one time
• Provide emotional support based on your own lived experience
• Support service users to access and build social and community networks and activities
• Act as a community connector to local services

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• You will have good communication skills
• You will be flexible in order to meet the needs of the service users

If would like to express an interest for this opportunity, please complete an application as soon as possible as the advert may close early if we receive a high level of interest.

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.”

We welcome applications from everyone, applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ ), people with a disability, or those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are actively encouraged to apply. We are proud to have also been awarded Disability Confident employer status. We have an ambition of becoming an anti-racist organisation and we recognise there is more to do in ensuring our recruitment is fair and inclusive, which is why we are recruiting new roles in helping us to achieve this.

About The Role

We're looking for someone to help with the vital work of caring for a wide variety of birds, along with their varied wetland habitats. It's a core part of how we restore wetlands and unlock their power. 

The role includes:

• Learning about best practice in bio-security and animal care, keeping up our high standards
• Helping with bird feeding, bird observation tasks, helping with bird catches and movements, and checking the collection is safe and secure.
• Helping out with maintenance and cleaning of exhibits and collection facilities: from vegetation clearing, to repairing pond edging and cobbling works, cleaning nest boxes and winter hides, and painting and maintaining them.
• Keeping up to date with WWT news and talking to visitors about events and activities that might spark their interest.
• Potentially presenting talks to the public (we'll make sure you have the training you need if you want to do this).  

Volunteers are an essential part of the WWT team. You'll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and anything else you need. 

About You

If you want to make a real contribution to WWT's work, in an inspiring environment, this might be the role for you. You'll learn new, transferable skills and be part of a friendly and dedicated team. 

A can-do attitude and willingness to get involved in all weathers are a must. This can be a physically demanding role - you'll be out and about in all weathers.

Having experience in bird keeping and welfare and some practical habitat management would be helpful. The team works closely together, but the willingness to work under your initiative is important. Having, or being happy to develop, the confidence to engage our visitors with the work of WWT is also a key part of this role.

We currently have a volunteering opportunity in the East Finchley area of North London for a Volunteer Befriender. If you have a couple of hours to spare and can commit to volunteering on a weekly basis, we’d love to hear from you.

Are you a warm and chatty person, who’s also a good listener?

Are you looking to help someone gain confidence and engage with the local community? Could you organise and source activities that align with our service-user’s interests, which include comedy and writing poetry?

Can you commit to learning Creative Support’s Safeguarding Procedure and be able to implement this if needed?

We are looking for a reliable, friendly, outgoing and supportive person who can join us as a Volunteer Befriender.

As a volunteer with Creative Support we offer training for your role, access to a volunteer supervisor, an induction, a monthly volunteer newsletter, and an online volunteer’s peer support group. Together we can make a difference.

Suggested time commitment: 2 hours a week.

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.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The role of the Volunteer Barber is an important one to the charity as part of our confidence-building and resettlement efforts.

The role will suit someone who is a trainee or qualified barber or hairdresser, who can commit to 6 hours per month at our Health and Wellbeing days across South West London.

The volunteer will be mindful of how much a new appearance can increase the self-esteem of someone who is experiencing homelessness or is being resettled by SPEAR. They will enjoy developing positive relationships with new people and will be willing to work outside of their own comfort zone providing haircuts at no charge to SPEAR clients.

LOCATION/S: Our Health and Wellbeing days are held across Richmond, Kingston, Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton Boroughs. We hold approximately one Health and Well-being day per month in one of the above locations.

The volunteer must have an enhanced DBS background check (SPEAR will apply for this on your behalf.)

For more information about this volunteering opportunity, please see the role description.

SPEAR welcomes and encourages applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

Thank you for your interest to become a Fundraising Volunteer at Cats Protection!

Our vision is a society where every cat has their best possible life because they are protected, cared for and understood by everyone.

We are a movement of people championing the welfare of cats. We lead society in a richer understanding of all cats and care for those that need our help.

Our Purpose is to to help people see the world through cats’ eyes

Our brand new Community Fundraising Hub is here to support you in this role, so there's never been a better time to get involved!

A bit about this role:

As a charity we can help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations from our supporters. Raising funds is a key role in our charity, helping to raise the vital funds needed to help more cats and kittens in need.

As a fundraising volunteer, we will support you every step of the way to ensure your time at Cats Protection is a positive and rewarding one. Whatever time you can give really does make a big difference We have lots of exciting activities to choose from for example attending a fundraising event, fundraising online, promoting fundraising activities on social media, handling administrative tasks, or contributing to the development of new fundraising ideas. Whatever your skill set, this role could be perfect for you!

What can you expect to be doing?

As a flexible role, you have the choice to be involved in the following:

• face-to-face fundraising – organising or helping with fundraising events, attending supermarket collections and monitoring collection boxes.
• online fundraising – assisting with online appeals, increasing social media engagement to maximise funds raised.
• bringing new ideas! We always love to come up with new ideas to raise funds for cats and we’d love to help bring yours to life.
• engaging with your local branch and Fundraising Hub and feeling like an integral part of the team.

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge though Cats Protection’s learn online system, providing you with the skills to thrive as a fundraiser. You’ll also have the chance to meet new people and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers. Money raised by our volunteers enables us to put cats first. Cats are at the centre of all we do. We care for them, ensure their welfare, and help others to understand and better support them.

We're looking for someone with:

• Sympathetic to cats and our values
• Happy to be part of a team of dedicated volunteers and employees.
• Flexible and adaptable to different events/activities
• Open to new ideas and ways of fundraising

Time expectation

This role is very flexible, often certain times of the year are busier than others. You can choose your level of involvement to suit your schedule.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The well being of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we encounter as part of our activities.

An excellent opportunity has arisen for Qualified CBT Hi, Counselling Hi, CYP CBT HI, CYP and PWP Accredited therapists with a NHS Talking Therapy [Previously IAPT] background. The therapist will be located in our Broad Street office in Birmingham and work face to face with opportunties to do remote work depending on needs.

We are looking for people with energy, enthusiasm and a high level of skills and experience. All freelancers and staff will receive regular clinical supervision and have access to a private 24/7 employee support helpline including personal counselling.

You will work as part of a team and you will also need good administrative, time management and communication skills.

Application Deadline:

Thursday 6th October 2024, applications will be assessed on a rolling basis and thus, the application window maybe closed earlier.

Background

Women’s Consortium aims to bridge the gap between disadvantaged communities and the rest of the city - working to address deprivation in Birmingham. Women’s Consortium is working in towards supporting people in their communities.

We provide:

· a unique service in Primary Care that works on mental health prevention, short term interventions and through our Secondary Care services; long term interventions.

· support to clients through helping them gain the tools and knowledge to overcome root issues causing or that may cause mental health problems or crises.

· signposting for clients to specialist services or advise that we understand are beyond our capacity.

Position Reports to:

Women’s Consortium: Clinical Service Manager

Location: (closest to candidate)

· Broad Street Birmingham

· Possibly Remotely depending on needs

Main purpose of job:

You will be an enthusiastic, motivated volunteer therapist working a minimum of 1 day a week seeing 6 clients or groups.

· Providing mental health and wellbeing support to clients from our NHS/GP, Police, and other referrals including direct referrals sourced by yourself to deliver. You may also contribute to our secondary services and offer further support if needed once discharged from our other non-NHS Taking Therapy services.

· Managing all admin related to seeing clients and ensure trust, privacy and confidentiality for both the clients and the organisation.

· Be responsible for completing required training particularly safeguarding training and ensuring compliance.

· Provide High and Low Intensity support within a Stepped Care Model for adults and/or Children and Young People (if trained/experienced in this area) with common mental health problems, including depression and a range of anxiety disorders.

Benefits:

1. Free Supervision and Case Management

2. Free DBS Enhanced Checks

3. Free Level 3 Safeguarding Training and other professional Training

4. Opportunity to join funded NHS courses with funded salaries

5. Discounts for stores, services and entertainment via our HR portal

6. Access to our 24 hour Employee Support Line with free counselling to manage stress at work and home as well as support with taxes, housing and more

Main tasks of job:

1) Train to carry out triage / assessments if needed.

2) Carry out triaging when you are not able to see clients and if needed.

3) See clients through our Talking Therapies program over 5 weeks depending on the client’s clinical needs.

4) Use the IAPTUS data system in order to manage client caseloads and to enter client data each week. Ensure all data/reporting for clients are entered during sessions or just after completing sessions.

5) Ensure suitable support program for clients to follow and adapt to, offer a range of interventions where needed and support clients throughout their treatment.

6) Assess, plan and implement a treatment plan, evaluation and manage and treat potential withdrawal, detoxification symptoms including emotional, physical and psychological.

7) Signpost clients where they are required to see more specialised services, in emergency situations and for safeguarding purposes, signpost to internal and/or external services based on client need.

8) Provide reports when required for monitoring and statistics and report problems/difficulties/complaints to the line manager and persons responsible.

9) Take required safeguarding training and ensure awareness of safeguarding procedures and important contact lists.

Registrations and Qualifications:

1) BABCP Registered and Accredited

2) Degree/Equivalent in a CBT, CYP, Counselling, PWP NHS Talking Therapies Recognised Qualifications and in particular a requirement to have NHS Talking Therapy experience.

3) At least 2 years of experience post qualification or experience in the field.

4) Demonstrates high standards in oral and written communications.

5) Must have basic IT skills such as using client databases, email, meeting apps and other relevant digital resources.

6) Must have IAPTUS Client Database Experience

How to Apply and Application Assessment:

We will be assessing applications as they come in and may close the application process as soon as we find the right candidates for the positions available

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation.

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday (any day betwen Monday to Friday)

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Birmingham, B1 2HF: reliably commute the birmingham office (required)

Application question(s):

• You must have experience using the IAPTUS client database Yes or No?

Education

• Diploma of Higher Education (preferred)

Language:

• English (required)

Licence/Certification:

• BABCP Accreditation or BACP Accreditation (required)
• CBT or CBT Hi, Counselling, PWP, IPT, CYP, CYP CBT Hi or any otherTalking Therapies recognised qualification (IAPT) (required)

Work Location: In person and hybrid depending on need

Application deadline: 06th October 2024

You can make a difference…Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local, independent charity that has been working with older people in the area since 1963. We rely on your support to keep serving the older residents with in the Wandsworth community. We have a dedicated team of experienced staff and a large network of dedicated local volunteers. Our aim is to enable everyone to age well in Wandsworth. We would love your help to be able to continue to support older Wandsworth residents

Joining our amazing team of volunteers is a fantastic way to give back to the community by providing company and support to an older person in your area.

About the role 

We are looking to find a volunteers for our Memory Lane Project to assist us in providing sessions that will be stimulating, engaging and include a variety of activities that could include word and memory games, paired and group discussions, puzzles and board games, seated exercise and physical activities such as parachute and ball games and target practice.

 You will have fun and enjoy this sessions on a Friday between 11.00am – 1.00pm

About the service 

Gwynneth Morgan Day Centre, where we support older people, adults with dementia, and adults with disabilities between 10am-3pm Monday-Friday. This could include supporting our dementia groups, or providing a hairdressing or nail care service as a treat for our service users.

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• Friendly
• Patient
• Great listening skills

Thank you for your interest to become a Fundraising Team Leader Volunteer at Cats Protection!

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.

 

Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care.

 

We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, employees and supporters.

A bit about this role:

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising team leaders have the exciting and varied role of inspiring our fundraising volunteers to plan and deliver local fundraising events. Using their passion and imagination, they oversee a small team of fundraising volunteers who come together to raise the vital funds needed to cover costs such as veterinary bills and food. Our fundraising team leaders support their team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure our volunteers are happy, confident and supported.

What can you expect to be doing?

· Supporting and encouraging a team of fundraising volunteers

· Planning fundraising events and activities with your team

· Allocating tasks before and during fundraising events

· Keeping financial records from fundraising events

· Encouraging and promoting a professional image of Cats Protection 

· Following policies and guidelines and ensuring licences and permits are obtained for events

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping raise funds and awareness through organising local events. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We're looking for someone with:

· Great people skills and the ability to bring out the best in others

· Excellent organisational skills

· The ability to prioritise and delegate

· An appreciation of the importance of handling money and charity resources responsibly

· Fine-tuned communication skills and a passion for engaging with people within your local community

· Basic IT skills to use Cats Protection systems - training and support can be provided

· Committee volunteers need to be aged 18+

Time expectation

Our fundraising team leaders usually spend three to four hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.

About The Role

This role involves:

• assisting the Reserve team with all seasonal management activities including reedbed, wet grassland, ponds, scrapes and ditches, hides, paths and boardwalks
• ·operating agreed machinery safely in order to carry out management activities e.g. Brushcutter work when required (if appropriate qualification is held).
• helping maintain and clean paths, signs, benches, bins, leaning rails and gates
• working with a variety of hand tools safely and correctly, observing and applying health and safety regulations at all times
• taking due care for the safety, welfare and enjoyment of the visiting public
• you may be asked to undertake related ad hoc tasks
• Engaging with visitors to educate them on the work that we are doing and the tasks in which you are involved

About You

This role will suit you if:

You have a can-do attitude and are happy to help us in all weathers, and are both a practical person and physically fit. Having experience or qualifications in some habitat management would be helpful, particularly brushcutter, experience, but a support of WWTs work and a keenness to learn is more important. It’s a closely-working team, however, the ability to work under your own initiative and being self-motivated is also needed. Having, or being happy to develop, the confidence to engage our visitors with the work of WWT is also a key part of this role. Please note that this role is currently only open to those aged 18+.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you'll love volunteering at WWT

• Feel good knowing you are helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by like-minded wetland lovers
• Hear from the people who inject their energy, passion and expertise into wetlands and wildlife - talks, walks, webinars, tea and cake...
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Volunteer discount on shopping and memberships
• Access to webinars and practical information to help you manage daily life

Domestic Abuse Outreach Worker

Position: Domestic Abuse Outreach Worker – Women  

Location: Outreach base within Mansfield and Ashfield – Office base NIDAS, Suite1B Birch House, Ransom Wood, Southwell Road West, Mansfield NG21 0HJ

Salary:  Starting salary £23,541 (FTE), increasing to £25,039 (FTE) on completion of probation period

Hours: Various part time and fulltime working patterns (to be discussed at interview)

Closing Date: Monday 30th September 2024

Interview Dates:  Wednesday 2nd October 2024

We have an exciting position to join the dedicated team at NIDAS. We pride ourselves on our person centred approach and we are continually striving to improve, develop and create services to improve the lives of families affected by domestic abuse. We are looking for a dynamic individual that will provide a non-judgmental, non-directive, emotional and practical support to women living in the districts of Mansfield and Ashfield who have been impacted by domestic abuse.

NIDAS Nottinghamshire Independent Domestic Abuse Service is a specialist family support service that’s supports women and families that have been affected by Domestic Abuse. We have been working in Mansfield and Ashfield for over thirty years.

Main duties:

• Provide a safe, environment in which to provide support.
• Maintain accurate case files and records of all communication in line with safeguarding and data protection legislation
• Take a person centred approach to provide support to clients addressing their immediate and long term support needs
• Identify risk using the SafeLives DASH assessment toolkit and refer to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) as appropriate.
• Work in a trauma informed way with members of the family.
• Provide emotional and practical support, drawing on strengths within their capacity to meet their potential. 
• Safety planning and referrals to external agencies for support.
• Advocacy for families ensuring their wishes and feelings are heard, and support agencies understand the complexities and impact of domestic abuse
• Support the wider team during annual leave/sickness.
• Engage in regular case reviews with the wider team/management to work through complex cases and offer insights from experience to overcome challenges together.
• Be able manage own caseload and know and communicate limitations.
• To have continual high regard for the use and communication of client and agency data that complies with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• To promote and support equality and empowerment within all areas of work. 

About you:

You will be a dynamic self-starter playing a key role in the development and growth of the Family Service. You will be empathic and ensure that the voice of the survivor is heard and that it feeds into the strategic direction of the organisation to promote a client led vision.

To apply: 

Please contact Leanne 

If you have been shortlisted for interview, you will be informed by email. Regrettably, we are normally unable to acknowledge unsuccessful applicants. We reserve the right to close a recruitment campaign earlier than the advertised closing date if a high volume of responses are received

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You just need the ability to listen, strong IT skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.

What is a Caseworker?

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of support they need. You will listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help those serving, who have served and their families to navigate life in and beyond military service. Some examples of support are securing funding for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical, and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can complete the administration part of the role from home as long as you have access to IT equipment and the internet.

What would you be doing?

• Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time.
• Meeting beneficiaries and completing a form to assess their circumstances, using good communication skills, empathy and understanding.
• Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice.
• Applying for funding on the behalf of the beneficiary through a specific process and system  
• Arranging for the purchase of goods and services
• Keeping the beneficiary informed of their case progress.
• Liaise with the branch and regional office, regarding your availability.
• Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
• Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.  

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support would you receive?

• Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, and caseworker IT system training. The caseworker training takes 3 days and a further half a day for the other training.
• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
• Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
• Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
• Regular opportunities to meet and share best practice with other caseworkers.
• Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.
• Good communication skills both written and verbally.
• Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
• Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and to enter cases on the Casework Management System. Willingness and ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
• Ability to make enquires on behalf of beneficiaries by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms.
• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice
• Reliable, prompt and trustworthy.
• Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)

Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including checks against the children and adults barred list)

*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered. 

Creative Support is a national social care and supported housing provider with charitable status. We offer high quality, personalised care and support services for younger adults and older people with a wide range of needs, including learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and physical disabilities. We also deliver innovative preventative services for people at risk of homelessness and social exclusion. We support people to overcome challenges and live their best lives.

Creative Support is one of the largest not-for-profit providers of social care in the UK. We are proud to have been providing great services since 1991. We currently support over 6,000 people a year in 70 local authorities across England and employ around 5,000 dedicated staff. Creative Support has an annual turnover of over £160 million. We are registered as a provider of social housing, with a supported housing portfolio of over 1,000 homes. We own significant housing assets, all of which are dedicated to providing great homes for the people we support.

We have recently completed an extensive external governance review which concluded that ‘Creative Support is a high performing and effective organisation which is well led by the Board and the Executive.’ We are embarking on a new 3 year strategic plan to build on our success and further develop our activities.

We are now seeking to recruit new trustees to the Board. We are seeking well motivated people who have an enthusiasm for our work and can offer a commitment to our charitable purpose, person-centred values and to co-production with the people we support. We require trustees who can demonstrate vision, knowledge, skills and relevant experience. Prior experience in a trustee or governance role is not essential as we will provide personalised training as required.

We are particularly keen to attract applicants who have senior operational management experience in social care. We are also pleased to receive applications from people from other professional backgrounds or with personal or family experience of using support services and we welcome applications from people with transferable skills and experience gained in the charitable, public or private sectors.

You will contribute to the effective governance and oversight of our organisation and to developing our strategic direction. This will involve attending at least 6 evening Board meetings per annum (held bi-monthly), the Annual General Meeting and occasional planning days.

You will be expected to contribute to a committee relevant to your area of interest and expertise (currently these are Finance & Audit, Housing, People & Performance and Quality & Practice Development). Committee Meetings are also held bi-monthly. Board meetings are held in our Head Office in Stockport, situated close to the mainline train station, whilst committee meetings currently take place on-line.

You will be encouraged to attend events, visit services and to meet with our staff, our tenants and the people we support.

In return for your valuable time and expertise we can offer you the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding role and to contribute to the future success of a thriving national charitable social care organisation with a strong person-centred purpose and ethos.

Creative Support is an Investor in People ‘Gold’ employer and Stonewall Diversity Champion. We are a welcoming and inclusive organisation, committed to increasing the representation on the Board of people from BAME and LGBTQ+ groups and those with a disability. We have zero tolerance for racism and discrimination.

The role of trustee is a voluntary position for which we pay reasonable expenses. We also support trustees with induction and on-going training.

We can send you a copy of our most recent Annual Report & Accounts - available via the FCA Mutuals Website, type in Creative Support and search under ‘documents’. You will find all previous annual reports and accounts listed and these can be viewed or downloaded at no cost. 

Please note that Creative Support is a Community Benefit Society with charitable status registered with the FCA, not a company or registered charity so you will not be able to access information about Creative Support via Companies House or the Charity Commission.

Applications will be considered when they are received.

Our Mission

Creative Support promotes independence, inclusion, and wellbeing. We do this by working with the people we support, their families and others to meet individual needs and aspirations in a person-centred way. We provide high quality homes and support, enabling people to say:

· I live my best life in a place I call home

· I feel listened to, respected and valued

· I enjoy choices and rights and have control over my life

· I am supported to feel safe

· I am doing the things that matter to me

· I enjoy relationships with others

· I am connected to my community

· I am supported with my wellbeing

· I feel able to reach my full potential

 

We Care Values

Our We Care values underpin everything we do at Creative Support. We are:

Welcoming
Empowering

Compassionate

Aspirational

Respectful

Effective

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces?  You don’t need a military background, just the ability to listen, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English.  If so, this could be the role for you.

Our Branch provides lifelong support to anyone who has ever served, in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and their dependants. We also give support to those who has been in the Merchant Navy, Seafarers, Fishermen and their dependants, and British Airways staff past and present. Our main role is seeking welfare benevolent grants on behalf of clients who reside in the 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland. They can arrange anything from household goods, funeral costs, mobility aids or other general needs. Legal fees are not considered. We would advise clients to seek state and local benefits by signposting them to the relevant agencies.

What is a caseworker?

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of help they need, this might be funds for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit.  Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.

Why do we need you?

Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.  Our trained volunteers listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help people navigate life in and beyond military service.  We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us achieve this.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. Our volunteers are based at home with a yearly AGM invite.

What does this role involve?

• Contacting clients and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time

• Meeting clients and completing a form to assess their circumstances

• Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice

• Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability

• Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients

• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser

• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the

Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Support people in your community with a military background and their dependents

• Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others

• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community

• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews

• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support will you receive?

• On-line or face to face instructor led training and e-learning modules, to prepare you for your voluntary role.

• Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.

• Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact. •

• Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.

• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

What skills or experience do you need?

• Good listening and communication skills including written and spoken English

• Respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues

• Willingness and ability to learn basic digital skills.  Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role  

• Ability to make enquires on behalf of clients by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms

• If required, willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the caseworker training course)

• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice

• Reliable attitude, contact clients promptly, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability 

• Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients

• Friendly and approachable with some experience of coordinating people and admin

•       Practice confidentiality and data protection in line with SSAFA policies. 

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18  

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two references, this can be former employers or people that know you well (other than relatives)

Is a criminal record check required?  Yes, Garda Vetting, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer.

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You just need the ability to listen, strong IT skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.

What is a Caseworker?

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of support they need. You will listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help those serving, who have served and their families to navigate life in and beyond military service. Some examples of support are securing funding for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical, and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can complete the administration part of the role from home as long as you have access to IT equipment and the internet.

What would you be doing?

• Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time.
• Meeting beneficiaries and completing a form to assess their circumstances, using good communication skills, empathy and understanding.
• Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice.
• Applying for funding on the behalf of the beneficiary through a specific process and system  
• Arranging for the purchase of goods and services
• Keeping the beneficiary informed of their case progress.
• Liaise with the branch and regional office, regarding your availability.
• Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
• Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.  

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support would you receive?

• Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, and caseworker IT system training. The caseworker training takes 3 days and a further half a day for the other training.
• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
• Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
• Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
• Regular opportunities to meet and share best practice with other caseworkers.
• Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.
• Good communication skills both written and verbally.
• Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
• Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and to enter cases on the Casework Management System. Willingness and ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
• Ability to make enquires on behalf of beneficiaries by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms.
• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice
• Reliable, prompt and trustworthy.
• Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)

Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including checks against the children and adults barred list)

*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered.