Housing Rights Support Volunteer

Housing Rights Support Volunteer

This is a great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people who are experiencing housing issues and to join our fight for home. 

The housing rights support volunteer will provide support non-advice related tasks for the senior housing rights worker. The support tasks will include triaging clients, inputting client data into the system, engaging with casework clients, carrying out support tasks and researching and reporting. 

Volunteers would complete at least 4 hours per week between the hours of 10 and 4, Monday to Friday, with a minimum suggested commitment of 9 months. The days and times the volunteer is available can be flexible as needed.  

Why this role matters to Shelter Scotland: 

Volunteers are essential to Shelter’s mission to end housing injustice. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. The insights and life experiences our volunteers bring to Shelter are valued as much as their contribution through volunteering. 

We aim to provide our volunteers with a positive experience. This is by prioritising accessibility and tailoring the support we provide to the needs of the individual. We make sure our policies and processes are equitable, which means that no-one is unfairly disadvantaged while volunteering because of their background or identity. 

Main Tasks 

You will support one of our Senior Housing Rights Workers to help people who are experiencing housing issues.  

Your tasks will include: 

• Triage clients: You will help the housing rights worker to assess the needs of clients who contact us for help. This will involve listening to their concerns and gathering information about their situation. 
• Input client data: You will help to keep our client database up to date by inputting client data into our CRM system. 
• Engage with casework clients: You will work with the housing rights worker to engage with clients who are receiving casework support at outreach and in the office. This may involve making catch-up calls, helping them to fill out forms, or providing other practical support. 
• Carry out support tasks: You will help the housing rights worker to carry out support tasks such as housing and welfare fund applications. This may involve researching options, filling out forms and calling on behalf of clients.  
• Research and reporting: You will help the housing rights worker to research housing issues and to prepare reports on our work. This may involve gathering data, conducting interviews, or analysing information. 

Benefits of volunteering with us:  

• Volunteering for a charity with a well-known national identity and reputation
• Experience supporting people affected by a range of issues
• Great experience for gaining employment
• Excellent training opportunities – Housing Law Training for Volunteers, Excel, Volunteer Management
• Excellent support as part of a friendly team

Induction, Learning & Development: 

Volunteers will take part in an interactive online or face to face induction session either on their own or with a group of volunteers with the Volunteer Coordinator. You will receive ongoing support from the Volunteer Coordinator and Senior Housing Rights Worker.  

Volunteers will be able to access a range of other excellent learning opportunities. 

Skills and Qualities: 

• Confident in using computer programs such as Word and Excel
• Effective communication skills both in person and over the phone
• Understanding, non-judgmental, patient and empathetic and anti-racist
• Good teamworking skills
• Willingness to follow Shelter Scotland’s policies, including health and safety, equality and diversity, data protection and confidentiality. 

Recruitment and Selection Requirements: 

All potential volunteers will be asked to participate in a recruitment chat so that we can find out more about you and your reasons for wanting to volunteer.  

If following the recruitment chat you are selected for this role, you will be asked to complete a self-declaration of any unspent convictions you might have. However, we recognise that many people with convictions have valuable life skills and experiences to share, and we are

committed to ensuring that our volunteering opportunities are accessible to as many people as possible. As such, having criminal convictions does not necessarily mean that you will be unable to volunteer, and we would encourage anybody to enquire about volunteering with us.   

This role also requires volunteers to complete a Basic Disclosure check. We will support you through this process and you will not be out of pocket as a result.  

Expenses: 

Volunteers are encouraged to claim any out of pocket expenses. We are committed to reimbursing reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for travel and subsistence related to volunteering activity. We will discuss expenses with you during your initial recruitment chat.