Volunteer Administration Coordinator Serving Community Team

Do you get a kick out of organising and appreciate a spreadsheet? Are you a multi-tasker with good communication and IT skills? If so, we’d love to hear from you! You don’t need an Armed Forces background, just a desire to support the serving community.

What is a Serving Community Team Administration Coordinator?

There is a SSAFA presence throughout the serving community, both in the UK and overseas. In many areas SSAFA have Serving Community Teams which offer financial, practical, and emotional support to serving personnel and their families. Each team is formed of a group of dedicated volunteers who make this possible.

The Team Administration Coordinator keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes, supporting day-to-day operations. This is a key role involving organising and recording team meetings, supporting with general planning, and helping with events administration. The role also has voting rights for the grant giving process.

What difference will you make?

Volunteers are the lifeblood of SSAFA. We have been involving volunteers in supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Our beneficiaries come from all backgrounds and age groups and the number of people contacting us for help rises each year. To continue providing help when it’s needed most, we need excellent administrators to bring teams together and support activities and operations.

What will you be doing?

Although every SSAFA Serving Community Team has different needs, below are the main activities of a Team Administration Coordinator:

Collaborating and planning: Working with the Chair and wider team to create an annual plan of activity based on local need.

Organising people and meetings: Providing administration for Serving Community Team meetings (at least four per year). This includes sending invites and recording minutes.

Gathering information and reporting: Helping to produce reports for SSAFA’s Central Office, including the team’s Annual Return.

General team support: Supporting members of the team with general administration tasks for example, helping with fundraising events, local engagement and publicity events.

Responding to enquiries: Responding to general enquiries to the team email inbox where needed.

What about training and support?

• Online, e-learning, training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep people and their personal information safe.
• Local induction and support.
• Access to a range of e-learning courses, resources and local opportunities to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
• Ongoing support from SSAFA’s volunteering and operations staff.
• Regular meetings and events to learn and share information.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out their role.

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others.
• Give back to the Armed Forces community.
• Become part of the SSAFA community and build networks across the serving community and local area.
• 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 are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable people with good written and verbal communication skills.
• Empathy regarding the needs and challenges related to serving community
• Good IT skills e.g. ability to use Outlook and Excel – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
• Respectful and non-judgemental approach.
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries.
• A willingness to adhere to all relevant organisational policies and procedures.

Depending on the needs of the team, this role would suit someone who would like to volunteer a few hours each week.

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 to 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? No

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 for your role.