Volunteer Roles

JOIN OUR NEW ADVENTURE!

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?

Do you believe in the power of human connection and the importance of combating loneliness?

If so, our new community-based charity, SUNSHINE, is seeking a dedicated, committed, and loyal volunteer to join us as a Service Development and Operations Manager. We aim to make a significant impact on the lives of people aged 18 and above who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation in London, with plans to expand beyond the London area.

Role Overview:

As a Service Development and Operations Manager, you will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and managing programmes that make a real difference in the lives of our community members. You will work closely with our passionate and dedicated team to ensure the smooth operation of our initiatives and help us achieve our mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement effective service delivery programmes.

• Oversee daily operations and ensure high standards of service.

• Coordinate with other team members and volunteers to ensure seamless execution of projects.

• Monitor and evaluate the impact of our services and suggest improvements.

• Assist in the creation and management of operational processes and systems.

• Support SUNSHINE in other areas to ensure the smooth running of our new start up charity.

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to be a part of a meaningful and impactful initiative at its very early start-up stage.

• The chance to work with a passionate and diverse team, dedicated to making a difference.

• The ability to make a tangible difference in the lives of those experiencing social isolation.

• The opportunity to get hands on and use your skills, experience and expertise for a good cause.

Who We Are:

We are SUNSHINE, an inspiring brand new start-up grassroots community-based charity with a mission to make a BIG impact. Our aim is to bring people together, spread happiness, and nurture community spirit through initiatives that build relationships, enhance wellbeing, and transform lives. We focus on supporting those at risk and living in social isolation, ensuring they have access to our support when they need it most.

At SUNSHINE, we’re more than a charity; we’re a grassroots movement driven by compassion, dedication, a heart of gold, and a shared vision. Our goal? To change the world—one smile at a time—with passionate, dedicated, and inspiring people at the heart of everything we do.

To Apply:

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you want to volunteer with us. Include your availability.

Let's make a difference, one connection at a time.

SUNSHINE

Fostering Connections - Enhancing Wellbeing - Transforming Lives

JOIN OUR NEW ADVENTURE!

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?

Do you believe in the power of human connection and the importance of combating loneliness?

If so, our new community-based charity, SUNSHINE, is looking for an enthusiastic and creative volunteer to join us as our Marketing and Communications Manager. Our mission is to make a significant impact on the lives of people aged 18 and above who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation in London, with plans to expand beyond the London area.

Role Overview:

As our Marketing and Communications Manager, you will play a key role in creating a real buzz around SUNSHINE. You’ll help us raise awareness of our new charity, lead our social media strategy, and manage all marketing and communications functions. Your work will ensure SUNSHINE becomes a well-known and trusted name in the community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy.

• Create and manage engaging content for social media platforms, email campaigns, and our website.

• Build relationships with local media outlets, councils, organisations and businesses to promote our cause and initiatives.

• Design and execute campaigns to raise awareness of SUNSHINE and its mission.

• Collaborate with the team to ensure consistent branding and messaging.

• Monitor the performance of marketing efforts and adjust strategies as needed.

What We Offer:

• The chance to join and make a meaningful contribution to a grassroots initiative in its start-up phase.

• The opportunity to use your creativity and expertise to support a worthy cause.

• The ability to make a tangible difference in the lives of those experiencing social isolation.

• The opportunity to get hands on and use your skills, experience and expertise for a good cause.

Who We Are:

We are SUNSHINE, a new community-based charity with a mission to make a BIG impact. We aim to bring people together, spread happiness, and nurture community spirit through initiatives that build relationships, enhance wellbeing, and transform lives.

At SUNSHINE, we’re more than a charity; we’re a movement built on compassion, dedication, and a shared vision. Our goal? To change the world—one smile at a time—with passionate people like you at the heart of everything we do.

To Apply:

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you want to volunteer with us. Include your availability.

Let’s make a difference, one connection at a time.

SUNSHINE

Fostering Connections - Enhancing Wellbeing - Transforming Lives

JOIN OUR NEW ADVENTURE!

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?

Do you believe in the power of human connection and the importance of combating loneliness?

If so, our new community-based charity, SUNSHINE, is seeking dedicated and experienced volunteers to join us as Trustees. Our mission is to make a significant impact on the lives of people aged 18 and above who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation in London, with plans to expand beyond the London area.

Role Overview:

As a Trustee, you will play a pivotal role in helping us establish and develop SUNSHINE as a fully operational charity. Your expertise, guidance, and leadership will be vital in setting up our charity, shaping its vision and strategy, and ensuring it runs smoothly to achieve its mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with fellow Trustees and our Founder to define and execute SUNSHINE's strategic objectives.

• Provide governance and oversight to ensure the charity operates effectively and meets its goals.

• Offer advice and expertise in your areas of specialization to support the charity's development.

• Help to establish robust systems, processes, and structures to enable the smooth running of the charity.

• Represent the charity and advocate for its mission within your networks.

What We Offer:

• The chance to join and make a meaningful contribution to a grassroots initiative in its start-up phase.

• The opportunity to shape the future of a charity dedicated to tackling social isolation.

• A chance to collaborate with a passionate and diverse team, committed to making a difference.

• The opportunity to get hands on and use your skills, experience and expertise for a good cause.

Who We Are:

We are SUNSHINE, a new community-based charity with a mission to make a BIG impact. We aim to bring people together, spread happiness, and nurture community spirit through initiatives that build relationships, enhance wellbeing, and transform lives.

At SUNSHINE, we’re more than a charity; we’re a movement built on compassion, dedication, and shared vision. Our goal? To change the world—one smile at a time—with passionate people like you at the heart of everything we do.

To Apply:

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you want to volunteer with us. Include your availability.

Let’s make a difference, one connection at a time.

SUNSHINE

Fostering Connections - Enhancing Wellbeing - Transforming Lives

JOIN OUR NEW ADVENTURE!

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?

Do you believe in the power of design to inspire, engage, and connect people?

If so, our new community-based charity, SUNSHINE, is looking for a talented and creative volunteer to join us as a Graphic Designer. Our mission is to make a significant impact on the lives of people aged 18 and above who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation in London, with plans to expand beyond the London area.

Role Overview:

As our Graphic Designer, you will play a key role in creating visually compelling materials that will help SUNSHINE stand out. Your creative work will help us raise awareness, engage the community, and establish a strong visual presence for our charity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design eye-catching and impactful graphics for social media, campaigns, and promotional materials.

• Develop a consistent brand identity for SUNSHINE, including logos, templates, and design guidelines.

• Collaborate with the team to create engaging content that supports our marketing and communications efforts.

• Assist in designing digital and print materials to promote our initiatives and events.

• Use your skills to communicate SUNSHINE’s mission and vision effectively through design.

What We Offer:

• The chance to join and make a meaningful contribution to a grassroots initiative in its start-up phase.

• The opportunity to showcase your creativity and develop your portfolio for a worthy cause.

• The ability to make a tangible difference in the lives of those experiencing social isolation.

• The opportunity to get hands on and use your skills, experience and expertise for a good cause.

Who We Are:

We are SUNSHINE, a new community-based charity with a mission to make a BIG impact. We aim to bring people together, spread happiness, and nurture community spirit through initiatives that build relationships, enhance wellbeing, and transform lives.

At SUNSHINE, we’re more than a charity; we’re a movement built on compassion, dedication, and a shared vision. Our goal? To change the world—one smile at a time—with passionate people like you at the heart of everything we do.

To Apply:

Please send your CV, a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience, and your portfolio of design work. Let us know your availability.

Let’s make a difference, one connection at a time.

SUNSHINE

Fostering Connections - Enhancing Wellbeing - Transforming Lives

JOIN OUR NEW ADVENTURE!

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?

Do you believe in the power of human connection and the importance of combating loneliness?

If so, our new community-based charity, SUNSHINE, is seeking a dedicated and skilled volunteer to join us as an Experienced Grant Writer. Our mission is to make a significant impact on the lives of people aged 18 and above who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation in London, with plans to expand beyond the London area.

Role Overview:

As an Experienced Grant Writer, you will play a vital role in helping us secure the funding we need to bring our charity to life. Your expertise in sourcing and writing grants will be essential in generating much-needed income to kick-start our operations and drive our mission forward.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research and identify potential grant opportunities suitable for SUNSHINE.

• Write compelling and persuasive grant applications tailored to funders' criteria.

• Develop innovative strategies to secure funding from a range of sources.

• Work closely with the team to understand funding needs and priorities.

• Maintain accurate records of grant applications and outcomes for future reference.

What We Offer:

• The chance to join and make a meaningful contribution to a grassroots initiative in its start-up phase.

• The opportunity to use your expertise to support a cause you’re passionate about.

• The ability to make a tangible difference in the lives of those experiencing social isolation.

• The opportunity to get hands on and use your skills, experience and expertise for a good cause.

Who We Are:

We are SUNSHINE, a new community-based charity with a mission to make a BIG impact. We aim to bring people together, spread happiness, and nurture community spirit through initiatives that build relationships, enhance wellbeing, and transform lives.

At SUNSHINE, we’re more than a charity; we’re a movement built on compassion, dedication, and shared vision. Our goal? To change the world—one smile at a time—with passionate people like you at the heart of everything we do.

To Apply:

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you want to volunteer with us. Include your availability.

Let’s make a difference, one connection at a time.

SUNSHINE

Fostering Connections - Enhancing Wellbeing - Transforming Lives

Our shop in picturesque Bradford on Avon is seeking friendly volunteers to engage with customers on the shop floor and assist with behind the scenes tasks. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to expand and develop your retail skills within a charity environment and gain work experience, transferable to your CV. This voluntary role is a great way to meet new people, be part of a team, gain self-confidence and be a major part of helping unwanted and abandoned animals in need. There are plenty of opportunities here to meet your interests and availability. 

We are particularly interested in hearing from people available to volunteer on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. 

Role Profile

Our shop volunteers play an integral role in the day-to-day running of our charity shops and the maximising of sales to support Bath Cats & Dogs Home. Whether you prefer working behind the scenes or on the shop floor in a customer facing role there are plenty of tasks to get involved with.

Your activities could include:

• Assisting and serving customers on the till
• Providing excellent customer service on the shop floor
• Creating attractive displays and assisting with the visual merchandising of the shop
• Receiving donations from the public and promoting our Gift Aid scheme
• Other daily tasks including cleaning, tidying, dusting and hoovering

About You

You will be an enthusiastic individual with a love for animals and charity shops. You will be well presented, friendly and enjoy meeting new people. It is vital you are reliable and trustworthy and able to offer a regular set of hours each week to fit with shop needs. Previous retail experience is an advantage but is not essential. There is a manual handling element to the role so this should be considered on application.

Full in person training will be provided for donation sorting and retail guidelines, as well as our waste management and recycling processes. 

All staff and volunteers are required to complete online Health & Safety training prior to their start date. Due to insurance restrictions, we can only take on volunteers over the age of 18. 

About Us:
At Tenterden Mindfulness (TM), we are dedicated to supporting the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of our community. We offer a variety of Mindfulness programs designed to promote personal growth, inner peace, and resilience. We are looking for passionate and experienced Mindfulness Teachers to join our team and lead mindfulness sessions for individuals, groups and businesses of all ages and backgrounds.

Role Overview:
As a Mindfulness Teacher at TM, you will facilitate mindfulness sessions, helping participants cultivate a sense of awareness, presence, and balance in their lives. You will guide participants in developing mindfulness practices, including breathing exercises, body scans, and mindful movement, to improve their focus, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead mindfulness sessions for individuals, groups and businesses, both in-person and virtually
• Develop and deliver mindfulness programs that cater to diverse needs and skill levels
• Create a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all participants
• Offer individual guidance and coaching to those who need additional support
• Monitor and evaluate participant progress, adjusting sessions as needed
• Collaborate with other Teachers to integrate mindfulness into broader programs
• Stay current on mindfulness research and practices to ensure the highest quality instruction

Requirements:

• Certification in Mindfulness or similar mindfulness training
• Previous experience teaching mindfulness to diverse groups
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to create a calm, welcoming atmosphere for learners
• A deep personal mindfulness practice and commitment to ongoing professional development
• Flexibility in working hours, including the possibility of evening and weekend sessions

Desirable Skills:

• Experience teaching mindfulness to children, teens, adults or corporate clients
• Strong organizational skills for managing training schedules
• Interest in contributing to the growth of a mindful community

Why Work with Us?

• Be part of a supportive and passionate team dedicated to making a positive impact
• Competitive salary
• Flexible working hours and remote teaching options available

We have a fantastic opportunity for you to expand and develop your retail skills within a charity environment and gain work experience, transferable to your CV. This voluntary role is a great way to meet new people, be part of a team, gain self-confidence and be a major part of helping unwanted and abandoned animals in need. You'll be working in a busy shop in the bustling independent retail hub of Frome. 

Role Profile

Our charity shop in the popular town of Frome is in need of a chatty and personable volunteer to interact with customers and manage transactions as a Retail Assistant. If you're a people person with a passion for animals, this could be the volunteer role for you. There are plenty of four-legged furry visitors to the shop so you will also get to meet lots of canine supporters of Bath Cats & Dogs Home! 

Your activities could include:

• Assisting and serving customers on the till
• Providing excellent customer service on the shop floor
• Creating attractive displays and assisting with the visual merchandising of the shop
• Receiving donations from the public and promoting our Gift Aid scheme
• Other daily tasks including cleaning, tidying, dusting and hoovering

We currently need volunteer support in the Frome shop Monday-Friday between the hours of 10am-4pm, and on weekends between 12-2pm. 

About You

You will be an enthusiastic individual with a love for animals and charity shops. You will be well presented, friendly and enjoy meeting new people. It is vital you are reliable and trustworthy and able to offer a regular set of hours each week to fit with shop needs. Previous retail experience is an advantage but is not essential. There is a manual handling element to the role so this should be considered on application.

Full in person training will be provided for donation sorting and retail guidelines, as well as our waste management and recycling processes. 

All staff and volunteers are required to complete online Health & Safety training prior to their start date. Due to insurance restrictions, we can only take on volunteers over the age of 18. 

We have an exciting opportunity for supporters of Bath Cats & Dogs Home who may not be able to commit to a weekly volunteer slot to get involved in events throughout the year. This varied role offers you the chance to experience different volunteering positions, ranging from street collections and in-store fundraising drives to large events including the Bath Half Marathon and our annual Wag Walk. Each of these events are equally important to raising vital funds for the Home as well as raising our profile in the community.

About the Role 

Volunteering at events offers you the opportunity to meet other volunteers and learn about how you each support the Home. Events volunteering can demonstrate how Bath Cats & Dogs Home has touched so many people's lives. You will meet former residents of Bath Cats & Dogs Home at Wag Walk and hear about their adoption journey, as well hearing from runners at the Bath Half why they are fundraising for us. If you have a relaxed dog that likes meeting people, you are welcome to bring them along with you to street collections and fundraising drives as this is always a conversation starter! 

Booked events for 2025: 

• Street collections in Bath
• Fundraising drives at Pets at Home's Bath and Trowbridge stores

Most events take place during the day on weekends, with the exception of Pets at Home's Santa Paws fundraising drive, which includes some weekdays. 

About You

If you have a love for animals, are outgoing and enjoy meeting new people, this may be the volunteering role for you! You will need to be confident and have an approachable nature as you will be speaking with members of the public about the work that we do. At street collections, the Bath Half Marathon and Wag Walk, you may be required to stand for over an hour at a time, which should be considered upon application. 

All volunteers are required to complete online Health & Safety training prior to their start date. Due to insurance restrictions, all volunteers must be over the age of 18. 

The Together Project

Established in 2018, the Together Project is a community outreach project delivered by a team of volunteer vets and non-clinical volunteers to provide non-judgmental veterinary advice, treatment and care to the pets of vulnerably housed and homeless people in Bath. Working in partnership with local homeless charities Julian House and Genesis Trust, the team understands the strong bond between an owner and a pet, and that for many, a pet can be a lifeline, so they aim to do whatever they can to keep these beloved pets together with their owners.

We are seeking kind, empathetic and understanding volunteers to join our award-winning Together Project team and would love to hear from vets and vet nurses (RVN) interested in joining the project. 

About the Role

Currently the Together Project team run two clinics per month, one at Genesis on the Canal in Widcombe on a Friday morning, and the second on a Saturday afternoon, where they take to the streets to seek out service users who may not have made it to the Friday clinic, as well as raise awareness of the project. During a clinic, the volunteers will:

• Earn trust from people in marginalised communities by demonstrating true care for their pets
• Register new service users and encourage their attendance at monthly clinics, promoting responsible pet ownership regardless of living situation
• Catch up with service users and their pets, building relationships and ensuring consistency of treatment where possible
• Provide preventative treatment such as vaccinations and parasite treatment
• Provide treatment for illness and injury, as well as emergency intervention when necessary
• Act as ambassadors for the project and Bath Cats & Dogs Home

About You

We would love to hear from vets and vet nurses who can give 2 hours per month to support the Together Project. You will need to be outgoing, approachable and have an understanding nature as trust from Together Project service users is hard-won and not guaranteed.

This is an exciting opportunity for vets and vet nurses interested in applying their knowledge and experience to an outreach programme aiming to improve the lives of marginalised people and empowering them to best care for their beloved pets. Taking your clinical knowledge out of the practice and into the community, you will be reaching out to people who love their pets wholeheartedly but may not feel able to ask for help.

Now that spring has sprung, we have an excellent seasonal opportunity for those who love the great outdoors and wish to support the animals in our care. If you love to be outside and enjoy gardening, why not consider joining our team as a Gardening Volunteer, supporting our small but mighty Grounds & Maintenance team who look after our 10 acre site. 

About the Role

Based in bucolic Claverton Down, we are lucky to have several large green spaces in which to excercise our dogs - and a brilliant cat garden for our feline friends! This takes a lot of looking after though and we are keen to hear from potential volunteers who would like to take on a specific area of our site as a project, tending to it on a weekly basis and seeing it flourish throughout the summer. There are several areas to choose from, including our Enrichment Paddock, Behaviour Cabin Garden and Pet Cemetery. There are also general gardening tasks to crack on wtih, such as sweeping the Summer House, mowing and strimming, and tackling weeds in the kennel block paddocks. 

This is a rewarding role as you will be able to see at the end of your shift the results of your hard work! You will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you have directly impacted the lives of the animals in our care by creating a safe outside space for them to enjoy off-lead play time and exploration, keeping their bodies active and their brains engaged. 

About You 

You will be a motivated and enthusiastic individual with a love for animals. This role requires elements of manual handling so you will need to be physically fit and this should be considered upon application. You will be a team player who is able to carefully follow instructions and relevant health and safety requirements for the position, for example the use of appropriate PPE. 

Full in person training will be provided by the maintenance team. Your hours will be flexible in line with current staffing levels, but during the spring and summer a weekly requirement of at least 2 hours is required, weather-dependant. 

We have the opportunity for volunteers who have a passion for retail and animals to join the team at our brand new charity shop on George Street in the city centre. This is an exciting time for us and we are looking forward to growing a friendly team in this new retail hub for the charity. There are plenty of roles available to suit your interests and availability. 

The George Street shop is our retail hub as it is also home to our E-Commerce operation. The friendly team working at George Street are happy for potential volunteers to explore the areas that are of interest to them, so if you love researching books or obscure bands, possibly discovering that a donation could raise hundreds for us by being sold online, then perhaps you'd enjoy working within our E-Commerce team!

We are seeking more volunteers to join our bustling George Street team on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday afternoons and would love to hear from people who are happy to be serve customers on the till.

Role Profile

Our shop volunteers play an integral role in the day-to-day running of our charity shops and the maximising of sales to support Bath Cats & Dogs Home. Whether you prefer working behind the scenes or on the shop floor in a customer facing role there are plenty of tasks to get involved with.

Your activities could include:

• Assisting and serving customers on the till
• Providing excellent customer service on the shop floor
• Creating attractive displays and assisting with the visual merchandising of the shop
• Receiving donations from the public and promoting our Gift Aid scheme
• Assisting with the processing of donated stock, including sorting, steaming and hanging of items
• Other daily tasks including cleaning, tidying, dusting and hoovering 

About You 

You will be a motivated and enthusiastic individual with a love for animals. Good communication and customer care skills are key to a successful charity shop so the ability to work as part of a team and with the general public is desirable. There is a manual handling element to the role so this should be considered on application. The hours are flexible although we ask for a regular commitment of a few hours each week.

Full in person training will be provided for donation sorting and retail guidelines, as well as our waste management and recycling processes.

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You just need the ability to listen, strong IT skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.

What is a Caseworker?

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of support they need. You will listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help those serving, who have served and their families to navigate life in and beyond military service. Some examples of support are securing funding for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical, and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.

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

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can complete the administration part of the role from home as long as you have access to IT equipment and the internet.

What would you be doing?

• Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time.
• Meeting beneficiaries and completing a form to assess their circumstances, using good communication skills, empathy and understanding.
• Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice.
• Applying for funding on the behalf of the beneficiary through a specific process and system  
• Arranging for the purchase of goods and services
• Keeping the beneficiary informed of their case progress.
• Liaise with the branch and regional office, regarding your availability.
• Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
• Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.  

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• 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 training and support would you receive?

• Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, and caseworker IT system training. The caseworker training takes 3 days and a further half a day for the other training.
• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
• Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
• Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
• Regular opportunities to meet and share best practice with other caseworkers.
• Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.
• Good communication skills both written and verbally.
• Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
• Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and to enter cases on the Casework Management System. Willingness and ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
• Ability to make enquires on behalf of beneficiaries by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms.
• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice
• Reliable, prompt and trustworthy.
• Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients.

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.

Minimum Age: 18

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)

Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including checks against the children and adults barred list)

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

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with VoiceAbility.

Volunteer to make a difference with VoiceAbility  

VoiceAbility supports people to have their say in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing.   

Could you give a few hours a week to help people speak up and be heard? We welcome applications from people who have lived experience and from anyone looking to make a positive difference.

We're recruiting for the following voluntary positions in Doncaster:

• Support Session Volunteer
• Hospital Visitor Volunteer

How you can help  

Support Session Volunteer 

Could you help someone file a complaint about their housing or GP? Could you help someone find local services? Could you help someone understand the information they have been given about their care and support? 

You could help improve the quality of someone’s life. 

This role is ideal for social work students, an interest in the care sector or retired professionals. 

Hospital Visitor Volunteer

Hospital Visitor volunteers visit hospital settings to ensure that people detained under the Mental Health Act are aware that they have a legal right to an IMHA qualified advocate.  The volunteers are instrumental in ensuring that clients get access to an advocate and can also support the work that advocates undertake.

As a hospital volunteer, you might: 

• hold drop-in sessions 

• attend events and ward meetings at local facilities 

• share information

• assist people to request advocacy support by completing a form online or calling our contact centre 

Why volunteer?  

Volunteering with VoiceAbility is ideal for people who have or want experience in human rights, health, care and wellbeing - but we care more about your values and empathy than your level of experience.  

Accountant Ben’s priorities changed after a serious illness. “I wanted to give something back. It’s really rewarding as you get to use your knowledge and skills for a really good purpose.”   

You’ll develop skills in communication and confidentiality, add experience and knowledge to your CV, and know you’re making a genuine difference to people’s lives.  

As a volunteer you’ll receive full training, support from the volunteer team and your local advocates, and paid expenses.  

To find out more click “apply now”.