Christian Volunteer Roles

Are you a minister of the gospel with experience of preaching, teaching or mentoring others in the ways of the Lord? Then you are welcome to join us as volunteer Evangelist.

We are looking for someone with passion for souls and for God's people who will be able to feed them with God's word for their spiritual edification.

If you are a new minister of the gospel and are looking for a place to use your passion of sharing God's word, you are welcome to apply also .

We are based here in Manchester. Ideally, ability to meet in person for some meetings will be great but remote/hybrid will be considered also.

Apply today if this interests you

Providing a confidential non-judgemental listening ear to Residents and Staff. Supporting those wishing to develop their spiritual journey from a Christian perspective. The role will be based across one of our hostels in Watford, Borehamwood, Bishop's Stortford, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield or High Wycombe, 

Activities include:

• Proactively engaging with Residents and staff to build safe relationships and trust
• Offering a ‘listening ear’ to all and giving emotional support
• Sensitively discerning when to offer prayer and support from a Christian perspective, and when to use faith based language
• Be inclusive and welcoming to people of all religious faiths and none, referring people to other faith communities as appropriate
• Working alongside support staff, volunteers & local agencies
• Maintaining records of support and feeding back concerns about Resident welfare to Staff/Line Manager.
• Attend regular volunteer team meetings
• Being proactive in seeking spiritual and emotional support for your own benefit as this is a challenging role.

Additional activities could include:

• Facilitating group work for example: Retreat Programme, Bible Study, prayer or Mental Health Support.
• Welcoming new Residents by phone or in person
• Leading or helping with Chaplaincy lead events: Easter/Christmas activities, Remembrance Services
• Being an ambassador for YMCA’s mission in local Churches

Skills/Qualities/Experience:

• Be a good and active listener who can support others
• Be of a friendly, welcoming and cheerful disposition
• Self-motivated, reliable and punctual
• Sensitivity and courage to care for people experiencing a range of distressing situations including: grief, trauma, poor mental health, substance misuse, suicidal thoughts.
• A commitment to your own spiritual development
• A good understanding of the Christian faith, as well as some understanding of other faith traditions
• Ability to use both faith and non-faith based language, as appropriate
• Good communication skills in English; in person & over the phone
• A willingness to learn new things and get stuck in
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Respect the Christian ethos of the YMCA and uphold its values
• Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have

Training Support:

• A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided
• A one day ‘Chaplaincy Essentials’ training, plus a menu of additional training will be made available
• Online training: Safeguarding (Adults & Young People), Fire Awareness, Manual Handling
• Ongoing support and regular 1:1 meetings with your line-manager
• Team meetings and social events
• Mileage and expenses may be payable

You will need 2 x references and a DBS (we will apply for and fund this). 

Summary

Could you combine nursing skills, compassion and faith to offer care in body, mind and spirit?
Could you support people experiencing homelessness?

Detailed description

You could be part of our exciting pilot project as a volunteer Parish Nurse offering life-transforming whole-person healthcare, working alongside Chaplains, Complex Needs and Housing Support Workers.

 As a YMCA Parish Nurse you would:

• Help service users identify issues and self-manage their wellbeing so they flourish in body, mind and spirit. This might be 1:2:1 or in a group setting.
• Signpost, support, and provide information and reassurance enabling service users to access NHS and other professional or community support as well as internal support from YMCA colleagues and projects.
• Offer spiritual care from a Christian perspective, such as prayer or acts of worship
• Be instrumental in supporting the project develop in this pilot phase

Training for this role is provided by PNMUK as part of their on-going programme of support and personal development for Parish Nursing nationally. The next course is 15-17th November with follow-up online sessions.

This project is being developed and lead by One YMCA’s Chaplaincy Team, together with our Medium Complex Intensive Support Service (MCISS) and supported by Parish Nursing Ministries UK (PNMUK).

The Chaplaincy Team offer life-transforming spiritual care and pastoral support. For us Chaplaincy is about journeying with people, inspired by the life, example and teaching of Jesus. Our vision for Chaplaincy is to see even more of our service users and staff thriving through experiencing the love of God for themselves. Following a re-shaping of our work, Chaplaincy is now part of the newly formed Christian Mission team, which is at the heart of this growing charity. 

YMCA enables people to develop their full potential in mind, body and spirit. Inspired by and faithful to our Christian values, we create supportive, inclusive, and energising communities where young people can truly belong, contribute, and thrive.

What volunteers need�� Disclosure and Barring Service

What we will provide to volunteers

�� Reimbursement of costs�� Extra support

Can you offer your support to a young person via mentoring?

FCCT are looking for volunteers of the Christian faith to play a supportive role by actively mentoring young offenders (aged 15-21 in HMP/YOI Feltham) and to offer support under the ‘7 pathways to Reducing Reoffending’:

FCCT offer support under the seven pathways to reducing reoffending, including signposting to relevant organisations:

• Accommodation
• Education, Training and Employment (ETE)
• Health
• Drug and Alcohol Misuse
• Finance, Benefits and Debts
• Children & Families
• Attitudes, Thinking and Behaviour
• Faith

Our aim is to help young people overcome hardships and make the positive transition back into wider society and to help to reduce reoffending rates.

Scope of Volunteer Main Role and Duties (not exhaustive):

Mentoring Arm:

1. Work through a ‘Discharge List’ systematically, cross referencing with the Operations Manager, so as not to duplicate any work or contact with the young people (primarily of Christian faith).
2. Hand out and (where needed) help complete ‘Questionnaires’ given to young people from the ‘Discharge List’, in order to ascertain what type of job or education sector the young person would be interested in going into. Forms to be given to the Operations Manager afterwards.
3. Follow up with a one-to-one session – register the young person to the FCCT programme and completing relevant paperwork, which will include our ‘Client Profile Form’ and ‘Consent Form’.
4. Update a shared ‘Client Spreadsheet’ which will be used to capture data information, as to the young people that FCCT are engaging with.
5. If required, identify relevant Churches etc for the young people to attend post release and contact said religious establishments, to understand their referral criteria and then make relevant referrals, where required.
6. Collect testimonials from the young people in relation to the support FCCT have offered them.
7. Mentoring of young people 
8. Make or facilitate family contacts for resettlement purposes, in relation to the young people.

We are looking for individuals who demonstrate the following attributes:

• Commitment: Shows commitment to the organisation, its values and its clients, understanding that the building of trust and consistency is key, in terms of the clientele FCCT work with.
• Communication: Communicates well both verbally and in writing. An ability to communicate effectively with young people would also be an added benefit.
• Resilience: Demonstrates patience and understanding in the face of challenges.
• Professionalism: Complies with all FCCT policies and procedures, particularly regarding Safeguarding, GDPR etc.
• Non-judgemental: Demonstrates empathy and openness and does not impose personal values or conscious or unconscious bias.
• Solution focused: Can help to identify issues and meets challenges with optimism and offers solutions, seeing them as an opportunity to learn.

Training and Support

We will provide all the necessary training. Training will be provided on an ongoing basis and volunteers will be given a full induction of the organisation and how the projects run.

Time Required

FCCT ask for a minimum of 8 hours a month. Due to the flexibility of the role, the hours can be distributed over different days between the core hours of 9am - 5pm, including Sundays. We are for a commitment of at least a year with the project, due to the flexibility of the role.

Benefits for Mentors Include

Volunteer Expenses will be paid

Training given, which includes modules such as an Introduction to Mentoring, The Criminal Justice System, Communication Skills etc

FCCT staff can provide references for other job/opportunities

Client front-facing work with people with complex needs

Liaison with statutory agencies within the prison

Liaison with community organisations

Liaison with other volunteers

Student Placements

MissionAssist supports a range of Christian organisations around the globe, without charge. This is achieved by a network of volunteers giving their time and talents freely, for the opportunity to serve world mission without leaving home.

The charity is looking to appoint at least two additional Trustees. Prior experience of being a trustee is not essential as guidance can be provided for first-time trustees. Applications would be particularly welcome from people who can offer one or more of the following: experience of volunteering; remote working; international mission, professional legal or financial knowledge; passion to help others share the gospel and make scripture accessible.

All stages of the application process include opportunities to ask questions and receive support, including during an initial informal chat, a formal interview, then before and after observing a trustees' meeting online.

Note there is no requirement for trustees to relocate and the charity does not sponsor visas.

Orchards is at an exciting point of growth as we expand into new hubs with our support and housing provision. We are looking for new Trustees to strengthen the Board and help position us for sustainable growth in the coming years. We are particularly looking for Trustees with experience in the following areas:

- Safeguarding – a qualified social worker or safeguarding professional with experience of adult safeguarding. This Trustee will work alongside the Safeguarding Lead to ensure best practice and ongoing monitoring of safeguarding strategy within the organisation.

- Church leader or church network leader – an experienced church leader able to work across denominations. This Trustee will help us to develop our church partnerships and to bring local church perspective into the strategy and growth of the charity.

- Housing – an experienced housing professional with knowledge of social and Local Authority housing. This Trustee will help us work strategically with Local Authorities as we expand our housing provision and seek creative ways to provide move-on housing options for women.

Orchards Trustees serve the board with a passion to see women free from sexual exploitation, bringing their relevant career experience and skills and prayerfulness. 

About Us:

At Project Yananai, as a Christian charity, we believe in the transformative power of education and the impact it can have on alleviating poverty on a global scale. As a leading non-profit organization, we are dedicated to creating sustainable solutions that empower communities through education and economic opportunity. We partner with local organizations worldwide to provide accessible resources and develop innovative programs that change lives. Join us on our mission to make a difference!

The Role:

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for building meaningful partnerships that drive social change? We are seeking an exceptional Partnerships Development Lead to join our dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you’ll be responsible for cultivating and nurturing relationships with international educational institutions, governmental bodies, NGOs, and corporate partners to enhance our global initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive partnership strategy aligned with our mission and objectives.
• Identify, engage, and foster relationships with prospective partners across various sectors to expand our network and enhance collaborative opportunities.
• Prepare and present compelling proposals and grant applications to secure funding and resources.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment between partnership initiatives and organizational goals.
• Represent [Your Organization Name] at international conferences, meetings, and events, amplifying our mission and expanding our reach.
• Monitor and evaluate partnership outcomes, providing regular updates and reports to stakeholders.

What You Bring:

• Experience in partnership development, fundraising, or international relations, preferably within the non-profit sector is desirable but not essential.
• Proven track record of successful collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and corporate entities is a bonus.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a variety of audiences.
• Strong understanding of global adult education, poverty alleviation strategies, and the international development landscape.
• Ability to work independently and in multicultural teams, showing flexibility and adaptability in dynamic environments.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a passionate team dedicated to creating lasting change in the lives of individuals and communities around the world.
• Work in a flexible, inclusive, and supportive remote work environment.
• Access to professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and career growth.
• Collaborate with an inspiring network of global partners and stakeholders committed to social impact.

Application Closing Date: 31st January 2024

Join us at Project Yananai and help shape the future of education and poverty alleviation across the globe. Together, we can make a world of difference!

Project Yananai is a UK registered charity number 1209060 and an equal opportunity organisation. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all colleagues. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures.