Community Volunteer Coordinator (Volunteer)

Would you like to support people from within the serving community? You just need a friendly demeanour, and an ability to get on with people from different backgrounds and age groups. If so, please get in touch!

What is a Community Volunteer Coordinator?

Community Volunteers provide practical help to serving personnel and their families. In this role you will be coordinating and supporting a team of Community Volunteers providing the type of support local families tell us they need.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Armed Forces life can bring its challenges when a loved one is deployed overseas, or a family has to move to a new location. Some people find themselves facing illness, bereavement or unexpected financial problems. Day-to-day activities can become difficult without a little help. That’s where you come in! Could you spare a few hours a week to support a local team of volunteers lending a helping hand to military families?

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

This role is about coordination and administration so many volunteers are able to do this from home or at their place of work.

What would you be doing?

• Accepting referrals, matching Community Volunteers with beneficiaries and overseeing the progress of cases.
• Working with the Serving Community Team and a Regional Operations Support Manager, to recruit and induct new Community Volunteers as needed
• Supported by the Learning and Development team and Volunteer Experience team in Central Office, ensuring that all volunteers undertake required training and tasks for their role
• Providing support, supervision and guidance to Community Volunteers
• Collating and sharing reporting information about the support provided to beneficiaries
• Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support volunteers and beneficiaries
• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
• Adhering to SSAFA’s policies and procedures at all times, including SSAFA’s: safeguarding; volunteering policy; equality, diversity and inclusion; health & safety; data protection; confidentiality

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Give back to the serving community
• Support and friendship from the SSAFA Serving Community Team and the wider SSAFA community
• Build networks across your local area and meet new people
• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What about training and support?

• Training course for Community Volunteer Coordinators. Your experienced trainer will prepare you for your role and you’ll find out about the support available to you.
• Online training modules so you know how to keep beneficiaries, their families and personal information safe.
• Access to a range of online training modules to support with continued learning and development.
• Support from SSAFA’s Welfare team, Volunteer Experience team and Regional Operations Support Manager.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out their role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable people with good listening skills, patience and empathy
• Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
• Good IT skills e.g. ability to use Outlook and Excel – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
• An understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries with regards to providing support to beneficiaries
• Experience of organising or coordinating people would be advantageous but not essential
• Ability to travel to meet volunteers and beneficiaries
• A willingness to adhere to all relevant organisational policies and procedures.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Please note this is a volunteer role and does not form part of any contract of employment.

Minimum Age: 18

Are references required? Yes. Two-character references from people who know you well (not family members).

Is a criminal record check required? Yes* (the cost of this check will be covered by SSAFA)

*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands or other information does not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, if required and where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered.

We work to make SSAFA as safe as possible for everyone. Part of this involves volunteers attending an informal interview, providing two suitable references, and completing relevant training and background checks for your role.