Volunteer Roles

Would you like to help tackle loneliness, one conversation at a time?

Loneliness and isolation can have devastating effects on a person’s mental and physical health. We are a registered charity providing a pathway of support to alleviate the hurt and distress, and the impact on mental and physical health, caused by loneliness and social isolation. 

The aim of face-to-face Individual Support is to provide in-person supportive social contact for people who are hurt by loneliness.

Volunteers support Friends (people who use our services) on a one-to-one basis. After completing training, volunteers will be linked with a Friend who they will meet out of the home (usually for a coffee or a walk) or if the Friend is unable to leave their home for physical or mental/emotional health reasons, they will visit them at home. This is arranged at a mutually convenient time and usually takes place around once every two weeks.

We ask volunteers to think of this as a longer term volunteer role due to the training and time we take in order to give our volunteers, and Friends, the very best service. You will also need to consider occasional time spent in training for your role and for continuous development. 

For all our roles:

Enhanced DBS checks for working with vulnerable adults (formerly called criminal records bureau checks)  which we will organise (no cost to this) and two references are required.

For any roles involving driving Archway Friends, we will need to see evidence of insurance and driving license as well as MOT and tax documents for the vehicle to be used.

We will happily cover out of pocket expenses (eg mileage or costs for coffee out with Archway Friend).

We provide training relevant to the roles as well as ongoing supervision, guidance and support for all volunteers.

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!

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.

By appling for this role you are applying for either Fundrasing Officer or Fundrasing Manager. 

The roles: 

Fundraising Officer - you will be bidding for funds and fundraising through various other methods, working across other departments to understand requirements and plans. 

Fundraising Manager - you will be managing fundraising officers, supporting them to fulfill their role effectively and ensuring applications are to a high standard 

Requirements 

• Experience in fundraising or experience in applying for funding / bidding, or experience in reviewing funding applications 

• Ability to communicate effectively

• Competent in IT, emails, online forms, video meetings

• Ability to work with others well and to translate conversation and plans into application 

• For Manager, management experience is required

NOTE - include in your cover letter which role you wish to be considered for. 

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.

Our next training groups are:

September training dates:

Module 1 – Monday 23rd September

Module 2 – Wednesday 25th September

Module 3 – Monday 30th September

Module 4 – Wednesday 2nd October

Module 5 – Monday 7th October

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.

We are lookinfgfor Tin Coordinator in Malvern 

Tin Coordinators are responsible for placing, collecting and replacing collection tins in their local area. This involves going into local businesses (e.g. shops, restaurants, bars) that already have our collection tins approximately every six months to check if the tin is full and replacing it with a new one. Additionally, we would like you to continually be on the look out for new venues who may be willing to have a tin. You know your local area best so are perfectly placed to find new venues! 

How much time will it take?

Being a Collection Tin Coordinator is a flexible role and requires relatively low commitment. You can place tins whilst out and about walking, socialising, and running your regular errands. Each tin can stay at a location for at least six months before it will need replacing, and you will only be asked to work with tins in your local area so there is no travelling time. 

Am I right for the job? 

Responsible? There are forms to be filled in and procedures to be followed when handling money 

Trustworthy? The money collected needs to be safely brought back to Acorns 

Confident? You must be prepared to go into all sorts of establishments to request tin placements 

Friendly? You will be representing Acorns in the local community 

 Why volunteer at Acorns?

 To help a local charity 

To make a difference in your local community 

To connect with likeminded people and make new friends 

Boost your CV

 Opportunities to progress to other roles 

All training will be provided

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!

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 to appoint someone we can commit to developing our public image and who is capable of delivering operational suitability through a supportive yet practical approach to management.

Key Responsibilities:

• To operationally manage all of our marketing functions (this includes; social media, website design and development, certain events, community engagement)

• To work alongside the departmental head to build and develop a team of committed and enthusiastic marketing volunteers 

• To support and provide advice to the marketing team so that they are able to do their role with confidence and to a high standard 

• To line manage marketing volunteers and regularly check in with them

• To set tasks for marketing volunteers and teams and to follow up progress on these tasks

• To contribute to the development of the organization through the marketing functions and by supporting the departmental head in drafting marketing policy 

Requirements:

• To be competent in IT, website design / editing and social media 

• To have experience in a senior marketing role or management 

• To have a passion for volunteering

• To be able to develop a team of less experienced marketing volunteers

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 Carer Support Volunteers to support our Carers Service in Bristol. Ideally, you will be able to commit 3 hours on the first Tuesday of every month, between 4pm-7pm, to volunteering.

Your role will involve interacting and building relationships with carers that are supported by the Rethink Mental Illness Carers Service. You will attend the monthly carers group and engage with the people who attend, making them feel welcome and comfortable. Beforehand, you would be responsible for helping to prepare the space and helping people find their way inside, and then offering hot and cold drinks throughout the event.

You will receive training and 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 service supports adult family members, partners and friends of adults with mental health conditions in Bristol. This includes individual support and group support, via phone calls, online and in person. We run monthly in person support groups, education sessions and social events and walks. The Cares Service is run by a service coordinator and a hospital liaison worker who work within the wider Rethink Bristol Community team.  

What you will be doing as a Carer Support Volunteer

• Helping to prepare the space beforehand
• Welcoming people into the space and helping them feel comfortable
• Making conversation with people

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• Being empathetic and non judgemental
• Understanding the importance of confidentiality
• Being flexible, punctual and reliable

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.

Family Lives operate a free confidential helpline for anyone experiencing difficulties in their family or relationship.

Our volunteers take calls from parents and carers on a wide range of subjects, whether that might be issues around separation and divorce, isolation, depression, bullying and abuse, dealing with behavioural problems, etc. You can find out more about our services on our website.

We are a national service with home-based call takers county wide and we also have a call centre in Old Hatfield Hertfordshire. Once trained volunteers sign up for a weekly 4-hour shift comprising 3 hours ‘online’ followed by a debrief session with your supervisor which can lasts around half to one hour. 

We recruit volunteers with a range of backgrounds and experiences though we ask that volunteers have experience of parenting or working with children and young people, are good listeners and have a willingness to learn. Being remote it will be very important that you have a PC/laptop, plug in headset with microphone, good Wi-Fi and a private place to work from home. 

You need to be a UK resident.

Our training programme is excellent and will give you the opportunity to develop the skills needed to offer empathic support and guidance to callers whatever their circumstances; all shifts are overseen by a regular shift supervisor who provides ongoing remote support. We ask our volunteers to make a commitment of 1 year (with time off for holidays), obviously we understand that circumstances sometimes make that an impossibility but can be helpful to know at the outset that is the general expectation. 

We have call taker training sessions that run over five sessions and is done remotely connecting you via a Microsoft Teams link.

You would need to be able to attend all five sessions from one of these remote training groups and be available on four occasions to listen into calls, this can be organised remotely.

Remote Call Taker Training Dates:

September training dates:

Module 1 – Monday 23rd September

Module 2 – Wednesday 25th September

Module 3 – Monday 30th September

Module 4 – Wednesday 2nd October

Module 5 – Monday 7th October

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.

At Qube, we offer a telephone befriending service for people who may be at risk of loneliness or isolation so they can enjoy chatting with someone over the phone from the comfort of their home.

Many people feel lonely from time to time. Still, some of us are at a greater risk as other factors contribute to this feeling such as old age, social anxiety, living alone, being unemployed or having caring responsibilities, and many more.

As a volunteer, you would befriend someone who may be isolated or lonely. It's a safe and easy way to get to know someone from the comfort of their own home.

Volunteers will be matched with members of the public who have requested telephone befriending, by one of our team to have a weekly telephone chat together.

What's great about becoming a telephone friend?

It's a free, simple way to give something back through a weekly call to a person in need.

Our dedicated team will match you with someone who has shared interests.

Your calls can make a huge difference to the happiness and wellbeing of the other person.

Time commitment is up to an hour each week.

About Qube

Oswestry Community Action, (Qube) is a registered charity and multi-service provider of community facing wellbeing services. Our mission is to support and enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of communities in Shropshire and the bordering Welsh counties. We support people through the provision of community transport, social groups and befriending, volunteer brokering, community health awareness support and arts and culture. Our service offering has developed over time and continues to evolve in response to local need; such as rural poverty and lack of opportunities; particularly for social isolation, education and poor public transport provision.

Additional Information

We offer an initial taster session, following registration, and then a four week trial period which is reviewed for future progression.

Where applicable, travel expenses will be paid at the rate of 45p per mile up to a distance of 10 miles from your home.

Full support from our Volunteer Co-ordinator.

Volunteer with us! - New Volunteer Oppportunity in Acorns Children's Hospice Superstore - opening in Tewkesbury!

At Acorns we provide care and support for life limited or life threatened children and their families. We are a charity, so most of the care that we provide is funded through fundraising and through our shops.

To help us to continue to provide the care that we do, we are looking for fun and enthusiastic volunteers to join us in our brand new Tewkesbury superstore shop. Our shops are exciting and dynamic, with no two days being the same. From our walk-in customers, to receiving donations, and everything in between.

As a Shop Volunteer with us, you will be:

• Engaging with customers
• Accepting and sorting donated stock
• Pricing donations for sale
• Working on the till

Our shops are open Monday to Saturday (some open on Sundays too) 9am to 5pm.  You can volunteer the hours that suit you, but it would be great if you could support in the shop for at least 3 hours a week.

Why Volunteer at Acorns?

• To help a local charity and make a difference in your local community
• Connect with likeminded people and make new friends
• Enhance your CV by learning new skills and gaining experience
• Opportunities to progress to other roles
• Access to free online courses
• Retail discounts
• Invites to social events and participation in our volunteer recognition schemes and rewards

Full training will be provided

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: 

• Oversee developing and implementing HR policies in line with organisational objectives.

• Support, develop and guide the HR team in achieving monthly targets and deliverables.

• Provide end-to-end leadership and support with all people-related activities within the organisation, such as recruitment, retention, well-being, and engagement.

• Serve as a link between management and staff by handling questions, escalating enquiries, and resolving work-related queries.

• Manage a team of HR Managers and Officers

• Produce reports and surveys for C-Level Executives and Trustees.

This role reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer.

You will have:

• At least six months experience in an HR managerial position or over 3 years of experience in an HR role.

• 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 (such as The Equality Act 2010)

• A CIPD qualification would be advantageous but is not essential depending on relevant experience.

You would be perfect for the role if you are:

• A passionate, people-focused individual not afraid of being ambitious to drive a team and the organisation towards success.
• A creative individual ready to ideate projects to benefit the team and wider organisation.
• A self-starter that can work just as well on their own and within a team.
• An individual who can commit to the organisation and understand the work that comes with being part of an early start non-profit
• Based in the UK. We won't accept applications from individuals residing outside of the UK as we operate on the principle of bettering the lives of young people in the UK. Therefore, we require our volunteers to have an understanding of what it is like to live in the UK.

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.

Our Governance and Advisory Volunteers are key to the running of the Trust. There are four main roles here: Our Trustees, our Council, our National Advisory Groups and our Regional Advisory Groups.

We’re looking for people in these roles who bring expertise and experience. the different groups draw from people with a wide range of background.

You’ll have the opportunity to guide policy and practise within the Trust, guiding the people who ensure the sustainability of the waterways on a daily basis.

You’ll get to volunteer alongside a fantastic network of others from across the team.

Location coverage: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Derby, Derbyshire, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Newark, Northampton, Northamptonshire

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!

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 to appoint a person who is able to lead the fundraising efforts of our organization.

Key accountabilities:

• Bidding/applying for funding 
• Sponsorship 
• Generating funding to support the operations of the organization 
• To set fundraising targets 
• To build a strong department and develop fundraising policy 
• Team managment 

Requirements 

• To have experience in senior management 
• To have experience in fundraising
• To have experience in the charity sector 
• To be competent with the use of IT, emails, online systems 
• To be able to support a team of fundraising volunteers

United Nations CSO, Centre for Big Synergy, seeks experienced education sector leaders for an SDGs educational initiative

What will you be doing?

The mission of the project is to ensure "No one is left behind'', including the youngest in the society, to fulfil the UN's 2030 Agenda.

CBS is looking for experienced professionals with a wealth of knowledge and wide network within UK schools, academies and colleges. These advisors could be current and recent head teachers, educational trust leaders (CEO/senior management), governors and trustees, local authority leaders (education), and school/college business leaders and relevant senior-level professionals. This UK initiative is part of concurrent initiatives in over fifty other counties across the world.

Specific requirements include;

• Advice on efficient routes to roll out the educational program across UK institutions (state-funded and independent)
• Provide bird's eye view of challenges and opportunities to ensure maximum participation and inclusion of children and young people in the program
• Offer guidance on practical aspects of implementing the program; schedule, convenience, funding etc.
• Facilitate introductions and referrals to schools and colleges (state-funded and independent), MATs and local authorities

• Voluntary Work– out of pocket expenses paid
• 3-4 hours per week for a minimum of 6 months
• Based in person in Greenwich

South East London Mind is excited to be recruiting for Connecting Communities volunteers based in person at our site in Greenwich.

Our Connecting Communities service is essential to ensuring that people experiencing poor mental health are supported to gain access to local services within the community. Our Connecting Communities volunteers will be pivotal in researching what services are available within the community and helping to raise awareness of the support that South East London Mind can provide by networking with other organisations within the Greenwich borough. Our volunteers will be a listening ear to people experiencing a difficult time and will be able to signpost them to services to gain the support they need.

Connecting Communities Volunteers can volunteer Monday to Friday between the hours of 10:00-16:00.

We ask that our Connecting Communities Volunteers commit to at least 3 hours a week for a minimum of 6 months. We will accept candidates that can commit to volunteering for 3-4 hours every fortnight for a minimum of 6 months

Essential Skills:

• Good listening and communication skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Good IT skills to include: Microsoft Office applications, outlook, ability to navigate websites with ease, and ability to complete online forms
• A patient and compassionate approach, along with the ability to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner

Benefits:

• Regular training and development opportunities
• Ongoing supervision and support
• An opportunity to be part of a team
• An opportunity to help people within the local community
• Volunteering Week celebrations
• In depth induction training which includes active listening skills, administration skills, mental health awareness, and EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion).

South East London Mind is committed to the value of diversity, equity of opportunity and elimination of discrimination in all forms. We are passionate about providing the best opportunities for the people we support.

How to apply:
Read the Role Description and Person Specification attached. Download and complete an application form and send back to us.

For an informal chat about this role please call to speak to Rebekah on 0208 8853 8407