Volunteer Serving Community Team Volunteering Coordinator

Do you enjoy networking and meeting new people? Are you passionate about volunteering and supporting the serving community? If so, we would love to hear from you. You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with people, and a good level of IT skills.

What is a Serving Community Team Volunteering Coordinator?

There is a SSAFA presence throughout the serving community, both in the UK and overseas. In many areas, SSAFA have Serving Community Teams which offer financial, practical, and emotional support to serving personnel and their families. Each team is formed of a group of trained volunteers who make this possible.

A Volunteering Coordinator is a key role within the Team, supporting with local recruitment, induction, and celebration of volunteers and volunteering. They ensure volunteers are welcomed and supported. This role also has voting rights for the grant giving process.

What difference will you make?

Volunteers are the lifeblood of SSAFA. We have been involving volunteers in supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Our beneficiaries come from all backgrounds and age groups and the number of people contacting us for help rises each year. To continue providing help when it’s needed most, SSAFA must maintain a diverse and committed network of volunteers who are skilled, supported and valued.

What will you be doing?

Although every SSAFA Serving Community Team has different needs, below are the main activities of a Volunteering Coordinator:

• Keeping track and keeping in touch: Maintaining accurate and up-to-date lists of volunteer details, ensuring volunteers complete training, checking in with volunteers about their experience and passing on feedback.
• Monitoring and planning: Working alongside the Chair to monitor volunteer numbers and develop plans to recruit new volunteers as required.
• Creating local links: Taking opportunities to advertise and promote volunteering opportunities locally, including linking with local volunteer centres and community groups. Liaising with the Engagement and Events Coordinator and SSAFA’s Marketing and Communications team for support with branding and publicity materials.
• Welcoming and supporting: Working in partnership with SSAFA Central Office teams to coordinate local volunteer recruitment and induction, supporting new volunteers through these steps. Ensuring every volunteer has access to supervision and support, signposting to support from SSAFA Central Office teams as required.
• Celebrating and saying thank you: Seeking opportunities to celebrate volunteering, engaging in local initiatives and finding ways to say thank you to volunteers for all their efforts.
• Partnership working: building positive relationships and working together with national and regional employees, who are available to offer you support.
• Being a volunteering champion: working with the Regional Operations Support Manager to promote volunteering best practice across the Team and ensure volunteers have the best possible experience with SSAFA.

What about training and support?

• Instructor led training alongside like-minded volunteers will guide you through everything you need to know about volunteering good practice and volunteer management.
• Online, e-learning, training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep people and their personal information safe.
• Local induction and support.
• Access to a range of e-learning courses as well as local opportunities to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
• Support from SSAFA volunteering and operations staff.
• Regular meetings and events to learn and share information.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out their role.

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others.
• Give back to the Armed Forces community.
• Become part of the SSAFA community and build networks across the serving community and local area.
• 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 are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable people with good written and verbal communication skills.
• Some experience of coordinating people is desirable but not essential.
• Empathy regarding the needs and challenges of the serving community
• Good IT skills e.g., ability to use email and Excel – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries.
• A willingness to adhere to all relevant organisational policies and procedures.
• A belief in the impact of volunteering.

Depending on the needs of the team, this role would suit someone who would like to volunteer a few hours each week.

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

Please note this is a volunteer role and does not form part of any contract of employment.

Minimum Age: 18

Are references required? Yes. Two-character references from people who know you well (not family members).

Is a criminal record check required? No

We work to make SSAFA as safe as possible for everyone. Part of this involves volunteers attending an informal interview, providing two suitable references, and completing relevant training for your role.