Support Volunteer Roles

As a Telephone Support volunteer you will contact all new referrals to the MND Association in South Yorkshire, introducing the MND Association's services and support available, and signpost to other organisations over the phone, whilst using your own PC and mobile phone from home

We need your help and will put your skills and experience to good use. 

Please note all applicants will need to provide two referees and participate in e-learning and interactive learning online by Zoom. Applicants must live in South Yorkshire. 

Please get in touch to find out more...

Join our amazing volunteer team to make a real difference to people living with sight loss. You’ll be supporting people to come together in a group setting, to benefit from each other’s company, knowledge and encouragement, leading to reduced isolation, stronger networks of support, and new friendships. You can support with either local and regional telephone groups or face-to-face groups. 

What you’ll be doing: 

• Meeting and greeting group members on arrival or joining virtually. 

• Creating a warm and welcoming environment. 

• Supporting group conversations. 

• Assisting with group activities (if appropriate). 

What you’ll gain from the role:

• An opportunity to give something back. 

• A chance to build a strong community. 

• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.

• A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people 

• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. 

In return for donating your time we will provide: 

• A rewarding experience. 

• A great Induction and training. 

• A supportive manager. 

• Regular updates and catchups. 

• Expenses. 

• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. 

Summary

To support the housing staff team with a range of functions in order to ensure the smooth running of the hostel based in Northgate End, Bishop's Stortford.

Detailed description

·Assisting clients in ad hoc admin tasks such as booking appointments and IT support

·Befriending and mentoring

·Identifying resident training needs and signposting as necessary

·Administrative tasks to support clients when moving in/out as well as calling ex-clients to follow up and discuss outstanding concerns

·Misc. paperwork

·Recording contact on a database

·Escalating any concerns to the line manager 

Skills you will need:

·Be a good listener with the ability to show empathy

·Passionate about working with people from diverse backgrounds

·Willing to work with challenging people and situations

·Good communication skills in English; in person & over the phone

·Reliable, punctual, organised and able to maintain confidentiality

·A willingness to learn new things and get stuck in

·Ability to work as part of a team and attend team meetings

·Working knowledge of local support agencies and IT packages

·Good organisational skills

Full training and an induction will be given as well as ongoing opportunities for your learning and development. We also have an exciting and varied calendar of events for volunteers and staff alike!

Please note you will be required to undergo a DBS check and we will require two references.

Tackle digital isolation by joining us as a Tech Angel in Surrey and use your digital skills to help people step out of digital poverty and into a world of connection. 

Surrey Coalition of Disabled People runs a project called Tech Angels that provides people with access to technology and training. Eligible adults in Surrey are loaned a touchscreen device, if needed, and are then matched to a Tech Angel. Our Tech Angel volunteers around Surrey visit these Tech Members at home and provide face-to-face basic digital support to help them access the internet.

We are looking for volunteers who: 

• are friendly and approachable 

• have excellent people skills 

• are passionate about helping others 

• are confident using touchscreen devices 

• enjoy teaching simple IT skills 

• are happy to visit Tech Members in their homes 

Typical topics that are covered in the Tech Angel sessions include 

• Basics - learning to use touchscreen, connecting to the internet, search engines 

• Staying safe online - scam awareness, password security 

• Accessing healthcare - eg NHS app, ordering prescriptions, booking GP appointments 

• Communication - email, instant messaging, videocalls, social media 

• Financial - shopping online, internet banking 

• Entertainment & hobbies - streaming services, taking photos, searching for interests online 

You will be provided with training and supported each step of the way by our friendly Volunteer Team. Why not get in touch today to find out more? 

REQUIREMENTS: 

DBS Enhanced Check 

No specialist skills required - just a willingness to help others explore and feel confident online 

BENEFITS: 

• Achieve recognised Digital Champion status, with access to further online training 

• Volunteer flexible hours to fit in around you 

• Meet and help people in your local community 

• Reimbursement of travel expenses 

• Opportunity to meet on occasion with other volunteers

• Full support via email or phone 

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

Remote Family Support Volunteer – Live Chat

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

Organisational values:

Mission: We build better family lives together.

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

Values: Trustworthy, Compassionate and Collaborative

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

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

Supervised by: The Shift Supervisor

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

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

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

·Ensure that all service users receive a high quality experience

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

·Complete conversation data records

·Alert the shift supervisor to any difficult situations

General: Volunteers should be willing to:

·Attend the relevant volunteer training

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

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

For home based volunteers only:

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

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

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

Location: working remotely from home

 You need to be a UK resident

Supervision and Support:

·Supervision during shifts

·Debrief after every shift

·1 to 1 supervision every 6 months

·Staff available outside of shift within office hours

·Annual review

The Benefits of Volunteering:

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

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

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

·Personal development

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

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

·Flexible hours

Volunteer Person Specification. We are looking for individuals who:

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

·Have an ability to respond empathically to emotional content

·Good written and verbal communication

·Have good keyboard skills and IT skills, with a minimum of 50 wpm

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

·Have a fluent, descriptive and expressive use of English

·Can remain open minded and non-judgemental

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

·Willing to commit to attending regular supervision and support sessions

·Willing to work as part of a team

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

Typing Task Prior to Application for Live Chat

Prior to you submitting your application for a Live Chat Volunteer, we will require you to do a speed test, we ask for a minimum speed of 50 words per minute. 

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

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

Typing task

Go to the website typingtest

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

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

November training dates:

Module 1 – Monday 4th November

Module 2 – Wednesday 6th November

Module 3 – Monday 11th November

Module 4 – Wednesday 13th November

Module 5 – Monday 18th November

10am to 2pm

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

To support the housing staff team with a range of functions in order to ensure the smooth running of the hostel based in Comet Way, Hatfield.

Tasks could include but are not limited to:

·Supporting with the resident’s café by building a rapport with clients and serving teas and coffees

·Assisting clients in ad hoc admin tasks such as booking appointments

·General befriending 

·Identifying resident training needs and signposting as necessary

·Misc. paperwork

·Recording contact on a database

·Escalating any concerns to the line manager 

Skills you will need:

·Be a good listener with the ability to show empathy

·Passionate about working with people from diverse backgrounds

·Willing to work with challenging people and situations

·Good communication skills in English; in person & over the phone

·Reliable, punctual, organised and able to maintain confidentiality

·A willingness to learn new things and get stuck in

·Ability to work as part of a team and attend team meetings

·Working knowledge of local support agencies and IT packages

·Good organisational skills

Full training and an induction will be given as well as ongoing opportunities for your learning and development. We also have an exciting and varied calendar of events for volunteers and staff alike!

Please note you will be required to undergo a DBS check and we will require two references.

Trustee - Community Support Network South London

CSN was set up in 1993 by people with lived experience of mental health issues. It has been providing Independent Mental Health Advocacy services since 1996 and achieved charitable and company registration in 2000. Since 2000, CSN has developed its range of service delivery to include support for a local user group, community, prison and forensic Independent Mental Health Advocacy Services and Community Advocacy & Befriending Services. 

Join our amazing volunteer team to raise awareness of sight loss and RNIB services at local events. You will give talks in person or virtually, sharing your own story to improve understanding of sight loss to local service providers and community groups. You’ll be making a real difference to people living with sight loss by helping to improve accessibility and inclusivity, creating a world without barriers. What you’ll be doing: • Giving talks to groups of people to raise awareness of sight loss in your local community by sharing your story to audiences, for example, local businesses, community and voluntary groups. • Delivering Talks to raise awareness of RNIB services as a trusted source of support for blind and partially sighted people • Representing RNIB as an Ambassador for the Community Connection service What you’ll gain from the role: • An opportunity to give something back. • A chance to build a strong community. • A sense of achievement through the difference you make. • A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people • An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. In return for donating your time we will provide: • A supportive route to building your confidence in presenting and sharing your story with an audience. • A rewarding experience. • A great Induction and training. • A supportive manager. • Regular updates and catchups. • Expenses. • An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. 

Minimum age

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• • Lived experience of issues affecting blind and partially sighted people • Be comfortable speaking to different audiences to share your story, or a willingness to try with our support. • Able to communicate effectively. • Have an outgoing, friendly approach to meeting new people.

Join our amazing volunteer team to raise awareness of sight loss and RNIB services at local events. You will give talks in person or virtually, sharing your own story to improve understanding of sight loss to local service providers and community groups.  You’ll be making a real difference to people living with sight loss by helping to improve accessibility and inclusivity, creating a world without barriers. 

What you’ll be doing:

• Giving talks to groups of people to raise awareness of sight loss in your local community by sharing your story to audiences, for example, local businesses, community and voluntary groups. 

• Delivering talks to raise awareness of RNIB services as a trusted source of support for blind and partially sighted people

• Representing RNIB as an Ambassador for the Community Connection service 

 What you’ll gain from the role: 

• An opportunity to give something back. 

• A chance to build a strong community. 

• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.

• A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people 

• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. 

In return for donating your time we will provide: 

• A supportive route to building your confidence in presenting and sharing your story with an audience. 

• A rewarding experience. 

• A great Induction and training. 

• A supportive manager. 

• Regular updates and catchups. 

• Expenses. 

• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. 

About The Role

By supporting the Presentations team, you'll be helping us care for our ambassador animals who are an integral to the outreach and education work we do with our visitors on-site. This is a varied role, you may be cleaning out an otter holt and scrubbing ponds one day, and then helping to care for tadpoles the next, doing a spot of weeding along a path before supporting one of our bird displays! You'll also have opportunities to engage directly with our visitors and be a part of the story which helps inspire them to love wetlands and the incredible powers they have!

You will be helping with the daily husbandry of our demonstration birds, mammals and ectotherms. You may also be assisting with pond, enclosure and section maintenance, assisting with the upkeep of hygiene and biosecurity across the department, or creating enrichment to mentally stimulate our animals. Tasks may include:

- Scrubbing/netting or full cleans of ponds

- Assisting with the food-prep and feeding of some animals

- Cleaning enclosures

- Collecting foliage/ browse for the birds and mammals

- Washing up feed bowls and other dirty tools

- Collecting wood for new perches

- Weeding, to help maintain on-show and back of house areas

- Collecting daily temperatures for the amphibian habitats at Toad Hall

- Conducting deep cleans of section spaces; jobs the team on the ground might not always have the time to do thoroughly

- Signposting visitors to seats/exits during busy talks

- Designing or providing enrichment to some of our animals

- Observe animal training sessions

- Collecting or dropping of resources to other areas of the site

In this opportunity, you'll get to work closely with a fantastic and welcoming team and a fabulous bunch of critters; there are a lot of fun personalities to get to know. You'll get to work in the grounds of a stunning wetlands, and you're likely to see plenty of native wildlife as you go about your day too! You'll learn loads of new skills and gain experience working with and around a variety of taxonomic groups, each with their own particular wants and needs. 

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. 

Every year hundreds of people run, abseil, skydive and eat cake, to raise funds to help Rainbows care for babies, children, young people and their families across the East Midlands. Behind them are a team of dedicated Event Volunteers who are vital in ensuring our events run smoothly.

From local concerts and golf days, to daring abseils and firewalks our events are vital in helping to raise not only funds, but awareness of the work Rainbows Hospice does across the East Midlands and they simply wouldn’t be possible without our enthusiastic volunteers helping on the day. Not only is it a great opportunity to connect with a range of different people; it is also one of our most flexible volunteering roles, allowing volunteers to choose events which fit around their schedule and commitments.

We’ll keep you in the loop with our regular newsletter, packed with exciting updates on Rainbows’ activities and a list of upcoming events needing volunteer support. 

Typical tasks the role could involve:

• Be the Welcoming Face: Collect tickets and entrance fees, welcome guests with a smile and help set the tone for an unforgettable event.
• Get Hands-On: Assist in setting up and taking down equipment and stalls.
• Be a Cheerleader: Join a cheer station and support our runners to the finish line •
• Guiding Star: Assist with marshalling duties, from directing car parking to guiding runners along their routes, ensuring the event runs smoothly and safely.
•  Refreshment Hero: Serve refreshments to participants, supporters and staff, keeping everyone energised and ready for action.
• Information Sharer: Actively engage with members of the public and be the go-to person for those seeking information about Rainbows and our important work.
• Entertainment Champion: Run our raffles, tombola’s and other fundraising games engaging participants and members of the public.

Will it suit me?

If you enjoy striking up conversations with new people, working as part of an exciting team, and diving into a variety of hands-on tasks, volunteering at our events can be so much fun! Join us and turn your enthusiasm into unforgettable experiences while making a real impact! Our events, typically held on weekends or evenings, offer flexibility with no fixed commitment throughout the year. Any time you can give helps fund our vital work. 

Link Age Southwark is a vibrant local charity providing support to over 800 older people in Southwark who are feeling lonely or isolated. Our vision is for friendly local communities where older people and those living with a diagnosis of dementia can thrive in their later years.

All our volunteering opportunities are within the London Borough of Southwark, predominantly south of the borough - Camberwell, Peckham, Nunhead, Dulwich and around. 

We run a mixture of social, exercise and activity groups for older people across the borough of Southwark. From singing to yoga, bridge to computer groups, we have something to suit everyone.

Many of our groups are run by professional tutors and our wonderful volunteers who help to set up, welcome group members, serve tea and coffee and tidy up at the end. We are always looking for new faces to join our groups. 

If you have a skill or talent that you would like to share with the group, whether it be arts & crafts, singing, dancing, knowledge of local history or anything in between, we'd love to hear from you!

The role could involve:

• Leading activities
• Setting up and clearing away activities
• Ensuring that appropriate refreshments are available and served and cleared away
• Socialising with group members
• Assisting in completing basic admin tasks to ensure that attendance records are kept
• Assisting in publicising activities within the venue and local community to attract more participants

The role requires:

• a cheerful and friendly personality
• good communication/listening skills
• good physical health
• commitment to supporting a group on either a weekly or fortnightly basis, dependent on the group
• good timekeeping and reliability
• able to work independently
• attendance at a volunteer induction and other relevant training opportunities
• completion of a full Disclosure and Barring Service and character reference check
• a commitment to working within the policies of Link Age Southwark, in particular health and safety, confidentiality, safeguarding and equality and diversity

If you have a skill or talent that you would like to share with the group, whether it is arts & crafts, singing, dancing, knowledge of local history or anything in between, we'd love to hear from you!

Becoming a volunteer with Link Age Southwark is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and get to know more about your local community.

We cover all reasonable expenses and we are happy to provide references for volunteers who have completed 6 months of volunteering with us.

Please note that all our volunteering opportunities are within the London Borough of Southwark, predominantly south of the borough - Camberwell, Peckham, Nunhead, Dulwich and around. 

What is the purpose of this role?

To support the Patients’ Representative by providing advocacy (both in person in a hospital setting as well as over the telephone) to older patients in Lings Bar Hospital (and their family/carers) and following their discharge home, as well as providing crucial administrative support to the service.

What impact does this role have?

Advocacy support and administration assistance will ensure the continued effective and efficient running of the Patients’ Representative Service. It ensures that we can reach and support as many patients and their families/carers as possible during their stay, as well as signposting and referring them on to services to help them remain as independent as possible on discharge.

What activities might you be involved in? 

The following are examples of the type of support you could be asked to provide:

• Undertaking simple advocacy cases or aspects of cases, as identified by the Patients’ Representative.
• Meeting with patients and their families at the hospital to listen to their views and to support them to determine desired outcomes and act according to their wishes.
• Undertaking follow up telephone calls once people have been discharged from hospital for a period of up to 3 months.
• Supporting patients and families by signposting/referring onto other services.
• Documenting interventions and outcomes onto the charity’s client computerised database.
• Documenting interventions and outcomes onto the services Excel spreadsheet which will assist the Patients’ Representative to complete reports for commissioning purposes.
• Alerting the Patients’ Representative or Service Manager to any safeguarding concerns that may arise.

What are we looking for?

Someone who….

• Has a genuine interest in the wellbeing of older people.

· Is honest and reliable with a friendly personality.

· Has the ability to follow instructions and understands the importance of confidentiality.

· Has a good standard of literacy, numeracy, and computer skills (can use Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel for the purpose of data entry).

• Will work closely with the Patients’ Representative to ensure the best outcomes for patients and their families and be able to identify any issues or concerns that will need raising to the Patients’ Representative, demonstrating a willingness to seek advice and support where necessary.
• Can remain independent when advocating for patients and/or their family members whilst remaining professional to members of hospital staff.
• Can use their own initiative and volunteer unsupervised whilst at the same time being a valued member of the wider advocacy team.

· Will undertake training essential to the role.

• Will volunteer within the policies, procedures, and guidelines of Age UK Notts, including the Age UK Notts’ Volunteering Policy.

When would you be needed to volunteer?

Ideally, we would like a minimum of 2 days support a week, at times that meet your availability and our service requirements.  

What training will you be given?

All volunteers receive an introduction to the charity as well as the necessary training you need to fulfil your volunteering role. In addition to this you will also receive ongoing support and access to further training opportunities as they arise, ensuring that your volunteering experience is a fulfilling and positive one.

What can you gain from this opportunity?

• The opportunity to make a difference to a vulnerable person’s life and their family/carers
• Experience to add to your CV.
• The opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Additional Information

Please note an Enhanced (Adults Barred List) DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required for this role which will be undertaken by the Charity at no cost to the volunteer, after being offered the role.

Please note that of pocket expenses are reimbursed as defined in Age UK Notts’ Volunteer Handbook.

***Please note that we don’t offer sponsorship or accept overseas applicants***

Ref: V233 | Support Group Volunteer | Cuckfield

We’re looking for three Support Group Volunteers over the age of 18 years old, based Queens Hall, High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex, RH17 5EL.

You’ll be volunteering for around 3 hours every Wednesday morning as a regular commitment, with occasional outings.

As a support group volunteer, you will help with the running of the group.  The role is designed to suit the needs of the group, and the skills of people offering support. If you enjoy getting to know your community, working with others and making a real difference then this is the role for you.

The volunteer will be

· A people person, with good listening skills

· A great communicator who enjoys meeting new people

· Good at putting people at ease

· Reliable and organised

· Passionate about supporting people affected by stroke

· IT literate, have good administrative and record keeping skills and be able to follow relevant policies

A DBS check is required for this role.

Interested in this role?

Find out more by downloading the role description for the Support Group Volunteer role.

If you are interested in this role please find more details on our website link.

We want to reduce barriers to inclusion. Help us understand who’s applying for and getting roles with us by completing our Equal Opportunities Form. This helps us continue to identify anything that’s getting in the way of people looking to join us. This information does not form part of your application.

About Us

Stroke Association. Rebuilding lives after stroke.

When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. That’s because a stroke happens in the brain, the control centre for who we are and what we can do. It happens every five minutes in the UK and changes lives instantly. Recovery is tough, but with the right specialist support and a ton of courage and determination, the brain can adapt.

We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. And it’s a team effort to get there.

We provide specialist support, fund critical research and campaign to make sure people affected by stroke get the very best care and support to rebuild their lives.

We’re working to improve the diversity of our team.  Because we know that individuality leads to a richer experience for our people and better support for those affected by stroke. 

We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. And we’re particularly looking to increase the number of applications from those with lived experience of stroke and those from under-represented communities. 

Every five minutes, stroke destroys lives. Help us rebuild them and join our team.

In 2019, we developed a bold new corporate strategy so that we can rebuild more lives after stroke and make a bigger difference to people’s lives.  

To help us deliver our strategy and make a real difference, we are looking to recruit talented people to a number of new roles.

If you would like to support stroke survivors to rebuild their lives, we want to hear from you!