Supporter engagement manager volunteer roles in ilkley, west yorkshire

A Little About Us!
Youth Advantage UK is a research-led, un incorporated un registered charitable organisation. We use a research-led approach to protect the rights and interests of young people through positive action such as projects, policy work, research, services, events. We promote and empower change.

Why we need you!
Youth Advantage UK are in our early stages but are growing and looking for volunteers to help achieve our aims to become a registered charitable organisation. Your skills and expertise are what we need to continue to grow. Without our volunteers we cannot grow and appreciate those who apply with us!

Responsibilities:

Actively contribute to the development and implementation of HR strategy in collaboration with the Chief People Officer, ensuring alignment with the charity’s mission and organisational goals.

Design and implement people-centric solutions to address key HR challenges, driving both strategic initiatives and practical, operational results.

Lead the development and execution of HR policies, ensuring they are in line with the organisation's objectives and reflect best practices in a volunteer-driven environment.

Manage and mentor a team of HR Managers and HR Business Partners, fostering their growth and ensuring they meet key deliverables.

Provide both high-level strategic support and hands-on, operational assistance when required, including driving recruitment, retention, L&D and engagement initiatives.

Serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief People Officer, offering strategic insights and designing solutions to resolve HR challenges and enhance organisational effectiveness.

Act as a key liaison between management and volunteers, addressing inquiries, escalating issues, and resolving work-related concerns with a solution-focused approach.

Produce and present insightful reports, surveys, and analytics to C-level Executives, delivering key HR metrics and analysis to inform decision-making.

The Head of HR reports directly to the Chief People Officer, working closely to set HR strategies, design solutions, and ensure the effective delivery of people initiatives across the charity.

You will have:

• At least 3 years' experience in an HR managerial position.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Though we do not require you to be a native English speaker, you must be Fluent in English.
• Ability to work within organisational targets.
• IT Literacy, including Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• An understanding of HR-related processes and legislation.
• A CIPD qualification would be advantageous but is not essential depending on relevant experience.

Benefits:

• This is a UK based, 100% Fully remote and flexible role
• Supportive Team and Management to enhance your skills and build on your experience.
• Your work will help transform and empower many young people’s lives, rights and interests and assist in promoting equality for all young people.

What we offer!
Anybody who wishes to help and contribute to a good cause are welcome to apply for one of our volunteering positions. We will speak to you about what your aims are to ensure that the volunteering position you are applying for is suitable. By volunteering you have the chance to learn something new and contribute to a successful organisation who is looking to help young people in the UK.

"We are looking for 3 candidates to join our volunteer enhanced professional development programme and gain real world experience in your chosen field). While we only have 3 vacancies available through this programme, other options are available if your skills match our criteria".

About the Role

The Enhanced Professional Development Programme (ePDP) Liaison plays a pivotal role in driving the success of our flagship professional development initiative. This position is responsible for managing the end-to-end execution of the ePDP, ensuring seamless coordination between participants, Heads of Department (HoDs), and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will combine exceptional organizational skills with a passion for fostering professional growth, ensuring participants remain engaged and supported throughout their development journey.

Key Responsibilities

1. Programme Management

   • Oversee the effective implementation of the ePDP, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.

   • Welcome participants to the programme, providing orientation materials and clarifying expectations.

2. Participant Support & Progress Tracking

   • Conduct initial skills assessments to identify individual development needs.

   • Monitor and document participant progress, providing regular updates to stakeholders.

   • Schedule and coordinate meetings between participants and their respective Heads of Department (HoDs).

3. Coordination & Communication

   • Manage day-to-day operations, including scheduling sessions, sending reminders, and maintaining programme documentation.

   • Serve as the primary point of contact for participants, addressing queries and resolving issues promptly.

4. Engagement & Feedback

   • Design and organise feedback sessions to gather insights from participants and HoDs, using data to refine the programme.

   • Develop strategies to ensure active engagement (e.g., interactive workshops, milestone celebrations).

5. Reporting

   • Prepare progress reports for senior leadership, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

Required Skills

• Keen Eye for Detail: Ability to manage complex schedules, track progress meticulously, and maintain accurate records.

• Excellent Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication to liaise effectively with participants, HoDs, and stakeholders.

• Relationship Building & Networking: Proven ability to foster trust and collaboration across departments.

• Organizational Agility: Skilled in multitasking, prioritization, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Problem-Solving: Proactive approach to addressing challenges and improving programme delivery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in coordinating professional development programmes or similar initiatives.

• Familiarity with data analysis to assess programme effectiveness.

About Bank.Green

Since the Paris Agreement, global banks have poured a staggering $6.9t into the fossil fuel industry. At Bank.Green, our mission is to lower this vast carbon footprint via technology and consumer action. We empower bank customers with the tools and insights they need to influence their banks towards sustainable lending, or switch to greener alternatives. To date, our bank-checking tool has been used over 500,000 times by bank customers worldwide, while we have shifted a at least £40m towards bank who are financing a greener future. Through transparency, engagement, and innovation, we aim to redefine the role of banks in the fight against climate change.

Role Overview

As our fundraising specialist, you'll play a pivotal role in garnering the resources that drive our mission forward. Success in this position means effectively tapping into funding opportunities and strengthening our engagement with donors and supporters. Through this role, you will gain significant experience about the entire fundraising process, both for nonprofits and private entities, as well as learn about the world of sustainable finance and how technology can positively contribute to it.

Commitment

• This role is currently volunteer-based.
• We are seeking a commitment of 5-10 hours per week.
• We are looking for somebody to come on long-term, but are open to shorter-term applicants.

Key Responsibilities

• Vet new funding opportunities for suitability using our CRM and provided training resources.
• Apply for existing funding opportunities from foundations and/or investors.
• Assist in grant-writing and the grant application process.
• Collaborate on developing and executing crowdfunding initiatives.
• Occasionally draft compelling fundraising emails for our newsletter subscribers, articulating our mission and needs.

Desired Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.
• Proactive initiative in a remote work environment.
• Passion for environmental issues.
• Experience or willingness to learn about grant applications, crowdfunding strategies, and donor communications.

Volunteer Benefits

As a volunteer-driven organisation, we are very focused on making all of our opportunities as valuable as possible for our volunteers. In this spirit, we will offer you:

• Opportunities to gain insights into sustainable banking practices and advancements in environmental advocacy through continuous learning.
• The chance to network with other sustainability professionals and advocates, enhancing your professional connections.
• Valuable experience in a critical climate-focused role, which will enhance your resume and skill set.
• Recognition for positive performance with supportive references and recommendations for your future career growth.
• A significant role in driving impactful changes in the banking sector to accelerate a sustainable future.

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 volunteers use their passion for cats and people to raise the vital funds needed to help more cats and kittens in need. As a fundraising volunteer we want to support you to fundraise in whatever way suits you best – whether that’s organising a fundraising event, fundraising online, promoting fundraising activities on social media, completing administration or supporting the development of new fundraising ideas! Whatever your skill set, this could be the role for you!

What can you expect to be doing?

This is a really flexible role – you can choose what you’d like to get involved with:

• Face-to-face fundraising – organising or helping with fundraising events, running supermarket collections and fundraising stands, monitoring collection tins
• Online fundraising – setting up online appeals, increasing social media engagement to maximise funds raised
• Marketing – spreading the word about our fundraising activities, for example on social media and with the local press  
• Championing our work – getting involved with developing new fundraising ideas and increasing community engagement

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 vital funds through fundraising activities. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated group of volunteers. Whether you’d rather be out and about, or volunteering from your own home, there are so many ways to fundraise.

We’re looking for someone with

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to be part of a team
• Good organisational skills
• Flexible approach
• Knowledge of local community networks (would be an advantage)

Time expectation

This is a flexible role that can fit around your other commitments. You’ll be part of a team all working together to raise vital funds while having fun in the process!

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.

Job description

"We are looking for 10 candidates to join our volunteer enhanced professional development programme and gain real world experience in your chosen field). While we only have 10 vacancies available through this programme, other options are available if your skills match our criteria".

About the Role

The Enhanced Professional Development Programme (ePDP) Coordinator plays a pivotal role in driving the success of our flagship professional development initiative. This position is responsible for managing the end-to-end execution of the ePDP, ensuring seamless coordination between participants, Heads of Department (HoDs), and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will combine exceptional organizational skills with a passion for fostering professional growth, ensuring participants remain engaged and supported throughout their development journey.

Key Responsibilities

• Programme Management
• Oversee the effective implementation of the ePDP, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
• Welcome participants to the programme, providing orientation materials and clarifying expectations.
• Participant Support & Progress Tracking
• Conduct initial skills assessments to identify individual development needs.
• Monitor and document participant progress, providing regular updates to stakeholders.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings between participants and their respective Heads of Department (HoDs).
• Coordination & Communication
• Manage day-to-day operations, including scheduling sessions, sending reminders, and maintaining programme documentation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for participants, addressing queries and resolving issues promptly.
• Engagement & Feedback
• Design and organise feedback sessions to gather insights from participants and HoDs, using data to refine the programme.
• Develop strategies to ensure active engagement (e.g., interactive workshops, milestone celebrations).
• Reporting
• Prepare progress reports for senior leadership, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

Required Skills

• Keen Eye for Detail: Ability to manage complex schedules, track progress meticulously, and maintain accurate records.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication to liaise effectively with participants, HoDs, and stakeholders.
• Relationship Building & Networking: Proven ability to foster trust and collaboration across departments.
• Organizational Agility: Skilled in multitasking, prioritization, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Problem-Solving: Proactive approach to addressing challenges and improving programme delivery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in coordinating professional development programmes or similar initiatives.
• Familiarity with data analysis to assess programme effectiveness.

Job Types: Part-time, Volunteer

Benefits:

• Work from home

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Work Location: Remote

About Access Academia

Access Academia is the charitable umbrella which was created out of the creation of the student-led publication, the Journal of Intersectional Social Justice. When Journal of Intersectional Social Justice (JISJ) was created, there were not any expectations for the project to be any more than that: a student-led academic publication. However, as it rolled on, attention for the project widened and it began to cover other topics and get involved in other realms of knowledge sharing, activism, and content creation. The creation of the seminal Access Series on the Intersections blog springboarded the idea for the JISJ to turn into something much more than a simple academic publication. Now as we have restructured the JISJ into Access Academia, we are finalising our official registration as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) in the UK. 

Our core purpose is to Make Academia More Accessible. We plan to accomplish this by many different avenues, as obviously it is a very wide-ranging goal! The main ways we plan to do this are through encouraging Open Access academia and knowledge sharing through the Access Series, expanding the themes covered on Intersections with additions such as Mental Health Mondays and Colonialism in Subject, creating accessible content across our social media platforms which encourages truthful and accurate knowledge sharing and activism, running research events to encourage students to publish and interact with academia, covering inside stories of academia, running student engagement programmes to try and make academia less of an Ivory Tower, and much more!

What is a Volunteership?

A volunteership is a unique hybrid opportunity that combines elements of volunteering and interning. Participants commit to working with a charity or nonprofit organization for a specified period of time, fulfilling a set of responsibilities and expectations. In return, they gain valuable experience, receive a letter of recommendation, and are offered LinkedIn endorsements. Additionally, they may have the chance to continue working with the charity through future hiring cycles as long as they remain a student. This experience provides both personal fulfillment through giving back to the community and professional development for future career opportunities.

Volunteership: Content Designer
Duration: May to August 2025
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled as a student

Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program.

• Strong interest in content creation, design, and digital communication.

• Proficiency in design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, etc.).

• Excellent written and visual communication skills.

• Strong attention to detail and creative problem-solving abilities.

• Ability to produce high-quality content under deadlines.

• A portfolio or examples of previous work (e.g., social media graphics, posters, digital campaigns) is a plus.

• Familiarity with social media platforms and trends (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).

• Passion for contributing to social impact and supporting charitable causes.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Content Creation & Design:

  • Design and produce a minimum of 2 social media posts per month, ensuring they are aligned with the charity's voice and branding.

  • Create engaging visual content for various platforms, including social media, newsletters, and website updates.

  • Work with the marketing team to develop creative concepts for campaigns and initiatives.

• Content Strategy & Planning:

  • Assist in developing content strategies that resonate with the charity’s target audience.

  • Ensure content is on-brand, consistent in style, and optimized for different digital platforms.

  • Help create and maintain a content calendar, ensuring timely delivery of posts and materials.

• Brand Consistency:

  • Maintain a consistent visual and written tone across all digital platforms.

  • Stay updated on design trends and digital marketing strategies to ensure content is fresh and engaging.

• Collaboration & Teamwork:

  • Collaborate with internal teams and volunteers to ensure a consistent post schedule.

  • Contribute and attend all meetings for the Content Creation Team and directions from the Director of Content Creation.

  • Meet all given deadlines on time and consistently.

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience in content design and digital marketing.

• Opportunities to build and expand your design portfolio with real-world projects.

• A letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the volunteership.

• Certification of participation at the end of the volunteership.

• LinkedIn endorsements and the chance to be considered for future hiring cycles with the charity.

"Be the Change, Fill the Bucket!"

About Access Academia

Access Academia is the charitable umbrella which was created out of the creation of the student-led publication, the Journal of Intersectional Social Justice. When Journal of Intersectional Social Justice (JISJ) was created, there were not any expectations for the project to be any more than that: a student-led academic publication. However, as it rolled on, attention for the project widened and it began to cover other topics and get involved in other realms of knowledge sharing, activism, and content creation. The creation of the seminal Access Series on the Intersections blog springboarded the idea for the JISJ to turn into something much more than a simple academic publication. Now as we have restructured the JISJ into Access Academia, we are finalising our official registration as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) in the UK. 

Our core purpose is to Make Academia More Accessible. We plan to accomplish this by many different avenues, as obviously it is a very wide-ranging goal! The main ways we plan to do this are through encouraging Open Access academia and knowledge sharing through the Access Series, expanding the themes covered on Intersections with additions such as Mental Health Mondays and Colonialism in Subject, creating accessible content across our social media platforms which encourages truthful and accurate knowledge sharing and activism, running research events to encourage students to publish and interact with academia, covering inside stories of academia, running student engagement programmes to try and make academia less of an Ivory Tower, and much more!

What is a Volunteership?

A volunteership is a unique hybrid opportunity that combines elements of volunteering and interning. Participants commit to working with a charity or nonprofit organization for a specified period of time, fulfilling a set of responsibilities and expectations. In return, they gain valuable experience, receive a letter of recommendation, and are offered LinkedIn endorsements. Additionally, they may have the chance to continue working with the charity through future hiring cycles as long as they remain a student. This experience provides both personal fulfillment through giving back to the community and professional development for future career opportunities.

Volunteership: Content Writer
Duration: May to August 2025
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled as a student

Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program.

• Strong interest in writing, critical analysis, and reserach.

• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills with attention to detail.

• Ability to write clear, engaging, and well-researched articles for various audiences.

• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple writing assignments.

• Passion for contributing to social impact and supporting charitable initiatives.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Content Creation:

  • Write a minimum of 2 written articles per month for the charity’s blog, Intersections, newsletter, or other communication channels.

  • Research and produce content on topics that align with the charity’s mission and goals.

  • Produce a minimum of 1 Access Series article per month.

  • Ensure that all written materials are on-brand, consistent in tone, and relevant to the target audience.

• SEO & Optimization:

  • Apply SEO best practices to all written content to maximize reach and engagement.

  • Optimize articles for readability, clarity, and search engine visibility.

• Editing & Proofreading:

  • Review and revise your own content, as well as provide feedback on content produced by others.

  • Ensure all content is grammatically correct, coherent, and polished before publication.

• Collaboration & Teamwork:

  • Collaborate with internal teams and volunteers to ensure a consistent upload schedule.

  • Contribute and attend all meetings for the Content Creation Team and directions from the Director of Content Creation.

  • Meet all given deadlines on time and consistently.

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience in content writing, storytelling, and digital marketing.

• Opportunities to build your research portfolio with real-world projects that align with a meaningful cause.

• Certification of participation at the end of the volunteership.

• A letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the volunteership.

• LinkedIn endorsements and the chance to be considered for future hiring cycles with the charity.

We are seeking a volunteer with experience in Salesforce (backend/database support). This to aid in queries and requests when necessary from the team at Paintings in Hosptials.

Please apply for the role if you match the following criteria: 

• Proficient in Salesforce administration and backend configuration
• Comfortable working with Salesforce Data Loader or similar tools
• Attention to detail 
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Salesforce Admin certification (a plus, not required)

About Paintings in Hospitals:

Paintings in Hospitals supports the health and wellbeing of people who need it the most, through the life-enriching power of art. Every day we witness the significant physical, mental, and emotional impact of our work on the lives of people in need around the UK. 

Established in 1959, our charity is now the UK’s leading arts in health organisation. Six decades of experience and expertise have enabled us to develop a unique art collection of over 3,000 original works, alongside art projects and engagement activities that transform the experiences of patients, service users, and staff.

We know that art reduces length of hospital stays, whilst also improving people’s mental health and physical symptoms. We continually evaluate our work across a range of settings, including hospitals, hospices, care homes, GP surgeries, and community spaces. 

Paintings in Hospitals is recognised by the Department of Health, NHS England, and Arts Council England as a leading provider of arts in health services. We have previously worked with national museums and galleries, such as the V&A, The National Gallery, and The Wallace Collection. 

The Historic Towns and Villages Forum (HTVF) is seeking new trustees to help the Board make the most of a transformative stage in its history. HTVF became a registered charity in 2024, and over the last year has undertaken a review of its mission, vision and strategy, with two new Executive Co-Directors.

About us: The Historic Towns and Villages Forum (HTVF) is an independent charity with a mission to promote the prosperity, sustainability and heritage of historic cities, towns and villages for the benefit of all.

We provide support, training and information to organisations (including local authorities, town and parish councils, civic and amenity societies, and consultancies) as well as individual professionals, students, and members of the public engaged in the planning and management of historic cities, towns and villages. We aim to help them conserve the character and significance of historic places, while realising their full social, environmental and economic potential. We do this through events, research projects, publications, and partnerships.

What we’re looking for: We are seeking a minimum of three individuals with experience in one or more of the following areas to join our Board of Trustees:

• Senior professional leadership in a Local Authority
• Placemaking and urban regeneration expertise
• Marketing and fundraising
• Financial management
• Community and political engagement
• Research programme development and management

For these roles we also value:

• Innovative Thinking: HTVF is entering a new phase of development. A creative and forward-thinking approach to challenges and opportunities is sought from our new intake of trustees.  The ability to facilitate the Forum’s engagement with other organisations and groups would be helpful too.
• Geographical Spread: We aim for a wide geographical representation and welcome applications from across the UK, bearing in mind some meetings will be face-to-face in either London or Oxford.
• Inclusivity: We also aim to reflect the diversity of the communities with which we engage, and welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds who can bring the skills and experience identified above.

In this round of recruitment, we are looking in particular for an Honorary Treasurer. All new trustees will receive a comprehensive induction to the role and the work of the Charity.

Created by a team of passionate dog lovers from the animal welfare group IAPWA, the I Love Hiking & Dogs UK Facebook community is a space to explore new walking routes, connect with like-minded dog owners, and take part in dog-friendly hiking meet-ups across the UK.

While our group is designed for dog lovers, you don’t need to own a dog to get involved, everyone is welcome to join our community, share experiences, and participate in discussions and events.

We are now looking for dedicated and proactive Facebook Group Admins to help manage and grow our community.

About the Role

Group admins are the backbone of the I Love Hiking & Dogs UK community. This volunteer role is perfect for someone who is passionate about dogs, hiking, and community-building and wants to help shape the conversations and activities within the group.

As a Facebook Group Admin, you will be responsible for:

1. Content Management

• Create and schedule engaging posts based on the monthly content plan.
• Curate and share useful content, including dog-friendly walking routes, hiking tips, and safety advice.
• Organise fun interactive activities such as polls, contests, or themed challenges to encourage engagement.

2. Group Moderation

• Approve or decline member posts and comments to ensure they align with group rules.
• Address inappropriate content, spam, or disruptive behavior in a fair and diplomatic way.
• Ensure that community guidelines are upheld and that discussions remain positive and welcoming.

3. Community Engagement

• Actively comment on posts to keep discussions going and encourage participation.
• Highlight and celebrate member contributions through shoutouts and featured posts.
• Welcome new members with personalized messages or pinned posts to help them feel part of the group.

4. Event Promotion

• Help share updates about Wag & Walks and other group initiatives.
• Pin event details and encourage members to RSVP or participate.
• Support and promote fundraising initiatives such as the Walk For Paws.

5. Gathering Feedback

• Listen to group members and gather feedback to help improve activities and engagement.
• Share insights with other admins to refine content and community-building efforts.

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Are active on Facebook and comfortable managing group posts, comments, and content.
• Are passionate about dogs, hiking, and building a friendly online community.
• Have good communication and organisational skills.
• Enjoy engaging with others, fostering discussions, and creating a positive space.
• Can dedicate a few hours a week to posting, moderating, and interacting with members.
• Have previous experience managing social media or online communities (not essential, but a plus!).

Why Get Involved?

• Be part of a growing community that connects dog lovers across the UK.
• Help shape the conversation in a fun, interactive, and supportive environment.
• Develop social media management and community-building skills.
• Meet like-minded people who share your love for hiking and dogs.
• Contribute to a cause that supports dog welfare.

How to Apply

Please click on the 'Apply' button for details of how to apply for this volunteer role.

Befriending Volunteer

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 Wamdsworth 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.

Our Be-a-Friend service is one of our longest running services, matching people over 65, who live alone and have limited social contact, with a friendly local volunteer with similar hobbies and interests. The volunteer and their new friend set up a suitable time for them to meet each week for a chat and a cup of tea, which could be during the day, in the evening on the way home from work or even on the weekends . If you would prefer to volunteer from home, you can also be matched with an older person for telephone befriending. For many of our matched pairs, this is the beginning of a firm friendship. 

Befriending Plus

Befriending Plus is an extended version of the Be-a-Friend programme, for individulas needing help with life admin and small tasks as well as companionship. For Befriending Plus pairs, time spent together can include helping to use a phone or tablet, helping the client to organise their file, going out for a coffee or popping to the post office together. This support can help older people to stay independent at home for longer, as well as increasing their confidence to do these tasks when the volunteer is not there.

About Us

My Black Dog is a charity that offers anonymous, peer to peer mental health support through our web-chat service. We are committed to making a positive impact on mental health in the UK as we tackle an epidemic that millions of people face.

We were founded on the motto "talk to someone who gets it". We want to connect people who share lived experiences to provide an empathetic, non-judgmental space where everybody understands how it feels to experience mental health struggles.

Position Overview

Our web-chat service is run by our Volunteer Pack, each of whom have their own lived experience of mental health challenges. In addition, each shift has a 'Leader' and a 'Mentor'. These are Volunteers who carry out specific roles during the shift and, together, ensure its success:

• Leaders - Managers of the shift. There to ensure the shift runs as it should. They support and guide Volunteers through chats and follow safeguarding processes when an alert is raised. They are also the first point of contact for the shift’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Mentors - There to support and guide Volunteers through chats. Will take over from the Leader if there are safeguarding issues that need the Leader's attention and/or if the Leader needs a break.

As My Black Dog looks to expand our opening hours, we are looking to recruit additional Leaders and Mentors who can run shifts and cover additional shifts as necessary.

Leaders and Mentors will be assigned a shift based on your availability and preference. The expectation is that Leaders and Mentors will form a ‘pair’ and, together, will do one shift at the same time each week. This is to provide stability, predictability and to encourage community-building between Volunteers. Shifts are usually 3 hours long. We may ask you to cover another shift when we are short, but you will never do more than 6 hours per week.

Training will be provided and you will be supported on shift by a Designated Safeguarding Lead, who will manage all safeguarding issues.

The work you will do as Leaders and Mentors will ensure we provide the best possible service to our Guests. You will also be helping our Volunteer Pack to do what we do best: helping those in need by speaking to someone who 'gets it'.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for people who have experienced their own journey with mental health and are in a strong position to support others. We ask that our Leaders and Mentors:

• Are strongly committed to helping others
• Have experienced mental health issues in order to relate to those seeking help
• Are collaborative and enjoy working with others
• Are encouraging and supportive
• Are organised and can monitor several things at once
• Can remain calm and focused during busy times and when safeguarding alerts are raised
• Are 18 years and over 
• Can commit the time to a regular weekly shift

We are particularly interested in hearing from people who are available during the following hours:

• Monday to Sunday, 5pm-7pm
• Friday and Saturday, 7pm-10pm

Role Responsibilities

1. Supervise and support Volunteers whilst on shift with general enquiries, positive feedback and signposting.
2. Assist with general volunteering enquiries whilst on shift. Provide time for guidance, instruction and de-briefing for Volunteers if required.
3. Follow Leaders & Mentors processes including unexpected absence reporting, Volunteer check-in and check-out, and completing Shift Handovers.
4. Monitor web-chat conversations and ensure all chats are tagged.
5. Maintain ability to listen, remain calm and provide intervention if necessary.
6. Be able to have difficult and often complex conversations about mental health, including Guests experiencing crisis and first-stage intervention support.
7. If a Leader, work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) when safeguarding risks are identified and, if a Mentor, take over responsibility for shifts when Leader and DSL have to address a safeguarding crisis.
8. Exercise discretion in handling confidential situations and information, conveying sensitive information in a timely manner to necessary individuals.
9. Provide written follow up of shifts via handover, ensuring all necessary information is handed over at the end of the shift.
10. Adhere to all standards, policies and procedures of My Black Dog.

Please note: An Enhanced DBS Certificate is required for this role. If you do not have one, My Black Dog will arrange the DBS Check for you.

Volunteer Officers are a key part of our team, working with young people and the local community at Skelton Grange Environment Centre. You will be trained and supported by experienced project staff and work as part of a team with paid staff, trainees and Volunteer Officers.

Typical activities for a Volunteer Officer include:
- Running environmental education, play and engagement activities for groups of children and young people on the Skelton Grange Environment Centre site.
- Leading or assisting groups of volunteers on practical conservation tasks, including preparing and organising activities, supporting and training volunteers (including some with additional support needs), looking after tools, refreshments and group welfare.
- Assisting with public events and related activities.
- Working to develop and maintain the wildlife area as an exciting and inspiring location for visitors to get a hands on experience with nature. This will include both development work and routine maintenance.
- Helping with the general running of the centre and the project.

Benefits to you:
We will aim to train Volunteer Officers in:
- Running a range of outdoor education and play activities and events with schools and community groups on the Skelton Grange Environment Centre site.
- All the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to run the sessions, from bushcraft skills to plant identification to working with children.
- Leading a range of practical tasks and events with volunteers on the Skelton Grange Environment Centre site.
- Practical development and maintenance of the wildlife area at Skelton Grange - including habitat management, practical conservation and surveying skills.
-Planning, risk assessing and running safe and engaging activities outside.

The role will give you real responsibility in a supportive environment and aims to support you into being able to run activities and lead groups independently.
As well as valuable practical experience with an organisation recognised for its quality by employers in the environmental field, we will provide you with a range of useful training courses, job opportunity information, interview guidance and references. It's also a chance to do something very satisfying and worthwhile and have lots of fun with some great people!

We will provide expenses to cover volunteer travel costs.

What you need:
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are keen to work with young people and to connect people with green spaces.
People volunteer with us for all sorts of reasons: you might be wanting to launch a career in the environment sector, or you may have lots of skills that you are keen to share, or you might be looking for something worthwhile to do with your time.