Volunteer Project Support Roles

We are an anti-racist queer collective for working class disabled and marginalised people. All are welcome (and please be aware of the privilege you hold). We are based in Brighton and surrounding areas.

We craft, We cook, We Garden, We create community!

We try to solve the problems we’re struggling with in life from the big things to the everyday mundane challenges. We try to solve our problems individually and also as a collective community, tackling the problems in alternative and creative ways. We aim to be an intergenerational project - all ages and all kinds from families’ welcome. 

We have a number of volunteer roles to join our committee and to support our projects. We are seeking people who can offer around  1-5 hours a week commitment (in person, online or both). If you would like a more substantial role such as 1 or 2 days a week, we’d also love to hear from you! We are keen to be flexible and happy to explore your capacity to see how it fits with our project needs. 

If you’re interested in any of the roles listed below, please get in touch.

If you have a CV please do share it but we don't want this to be a barrier. No experience is necessary, but if you do have any skills or experience in the areas listed below, this would be very welcome. And we are keen to support people to develop in these roles.

Current sessions 

• The project is developing - information below are our current session times but this remains flexible.
• Monday evenings 6-9.30pm - session delivery - creative problem solving, crafts
• Wednesday - monthly admin time (5-7pm)

Benefits of getting involved:

• Free meals
• Travel support costs
• Confidence building
• CV development
• Community building / friendship 
• Supporting the development of alternative ways of living and surviving
• Support and supervision

Volunteer Committee Roles:

• Co-chair x 2 minimum
• Secretary (admin support) x 2
• Treasurer (finances) x 2 
• Fundraising Lead - Bid writer
• Fundraising Lead - Event organiser 
• Volunteer lead. 
• Outreach and Community Building Lead
• Media and communication lead
• Diversity lead - Anti racist and decolonial lead
• Diversity lead - Working class lead.
• Project Lead (overview) - Community Fridge 
• Cooking Lead 
• Cooking crew (chop and chat)
• Project Lead (overview) - Community Garden
• Garden crew (Plant and peaceful party)
• Project Lead (overview) - Craft /creative solution-focused activities
• Creative craft crew (crafting ideas to help support solving life problems)
• Project Lead (overview) - Session administration
• Action crew (Organise, plan & make things happen!)
• Life Admin Lead
• Children’s Lead (overview) 
• Designated Safeguarding leads for children and vulnerable adults x 2

See below for details of individual roles:

Co-Chairs - 2 roles 

The Co-Chairs will act as a figurehead for Grow Your Life and represent us at meetings and public events. The Chairs will lead the committee in setting strategies and ensure that the committee fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the group.

Other duties include;

• leading meetings
• setting and approving agendas
• signing cheques and legal documents

Secretary - 2 roles

The Secretary’s role is to support the Chairs by ensuring the smooth administrational running of the group’s board.

The Secretaries will be responsible for (or delegate the task of);

• taking, writing, and circulating minutes.
• preparing and circulating agendas as agreed by the chair.
• booking rooms and arranging meetings.
• keeping the organisation’s constitution, a copy of minutes and other records in a safe place.

Treasurer - 2 roles

The Treasurer’s role is to oversee the financial affairs of the group.

The Treasurers will work with the board and any paid staff or volunteers to carry out the following tasks:

• keep accurate, up-to-date financial records.
• produce end-of-year accounts – or arrange for these to be completed and externally examined.
• check bank statements and reconcile them with the cash book/ current account book on a regular basis.
• ensure that understandable systems are in place for petty cash claims.
• ensure that bills are paid promptly, and all income is banked on a regular basis.
• report regularly to the committee on the financial situation.
• report to the Annual General Meeting on the end-of-year accounts.
• prepare an annual budget for the committee, working with the Chair.

Fundraising: 

Funding Bids Lead:

• Identifying funders and completing funding applications 

Fundraising Event Lead

• Events organisation (run funs etc)

Both Leads would link with the Treasurer and group to identify funding needs.

Volunteer Lead 

• Recruitment of volunteers including DBS checks etc.
• Liaising with all project leads and outreach lead.

Outreach and Community Building Lead 

• Contacting and attending local groups to encourage collaborations. 
• Outreach to recruit potential groups participants and volunteers. 
• Supporting potential group participants to engage (for example supporting someone on their first visit).

Media and Communication Lead

• WhatsApp - Sending out messages to keep people updated on our activities.
• Facebook - Posting events & helping grow our audience and develop our image.
• Instagram - Posting events & helping grow our audience and develop our image.
• Email / MailChimp - Newsletter updates.

 Diversity Leads:

Anti racist and decolonial lead

Working class lead

• Reviewing our activities to ensure we avoid discriminatory practices.
• Proactively seeking positive and creative ways to embed inclusivity and diversity as this is essential to the core of our group.

 Project Lead (overview) - Community Fridge 

• Linking with local food sources.
• Linking with local food community groups to develop. relationships.
• Maintaining food hygiene standards.

Cooking Lead 

• Food hygiene / Health & Safety training offered.
• Cooking for group activities (usually between 5 and 20 meals).
• Organising group participants to get involved.
• Helping to make the cooking activities accessible.

Volunteers to support delivery:

• Cooking crew (chop and chat) 
• Come along and get involved - help prepare food, learn some cooking skills (if you want to)

 Project Lead (overview) - Community Garden 

• Organise gardening materials.
• Interest in a sustainable and holistic approach - bringing together people & nature.
• Interest in growing food to support the community fridge and participants.
• Interest in sharing gardening skills & knowledge. 

Volunteers to support delivery:

• Garden crew (Plant and peaceful party)

Project Lead (overview) - Crafts and creative solution-focused activities

Recent activities include: Sign language, poetry, creative writing, collaging, clay, felting, sewing, colouring, self-care, nail and face art, cooking, planting etc

• Finding and organising materials and resources
• Developing systems to capture plans for future delivery.

Volunteers to support delivery:

• Creative craft crew 
• Crafting ideas to help support solving life problems.

Project Lead - Administration (overview) 

• Administration for planning sessions that are held every first and third Wednesday (occasionally flexible) 
• Liaise with event hosts, facilitators and participants.

Volunteers to support delivery:

• Action crew (Organise, plan & make things happen!)

Life admin Lead

• Support with benefit forms / life admin support for members.
• Running an admin and benefits support group.

Children’s Lead (overview) 

• Organising rotas 
• Supporting volunteer team
• Preparing resources and activities ready for the kids
• Creative support / individual action plans (with boundaries to ensure parents take responsibility for toileting, food etc)
• Designated Safeguarding lead for children and vulnerable adults x 2

All project leads to link with fundraising team - two-way communications. 

 

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.