Domestic Abuse Volunteer Roles

Are you creative, imaginative and have a passion for drama? If so, we have an exciting role for you! Would you like to facilitate a drama session for people who have experienced crisis? We are recruiting for a volunteer who will create a safe space for a group to enhance their communication skills, self-esteem, confidence whilst providing an element of escapism allowing individuals to take on another character through drama and acting.

What you will be doing

• Coordinate and set up a weekly drama class
• Inspire and motivate individuals to participate in the sessions and take a role in planning/designing upcoming sessions
• Create a safe space for individuals to express themselves
• In group workshops, encourage members of the group to connect and relate to each other through acting and drama

The skills you need

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Calm and patient approach
• Experience of facilitating drama classes desirable but not essential

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Vacancy: Chair of Trustees for Anawim

Are you passionate about issues affecting women and want to work to make a real difference to the community? Anawim – Birmingham’s Centre for Women - is looking for an inspiring and dynamic individual to join us as the Chair of Trustees.

About Anawim:

Anawim is a Birmingham charity committed to working with and for women. We offer gender-responsive and trauma-informed support, to enable women to reach their potential. We do this through wraparound services including long-term specialist provisions alongside other practical resources, both in the community and in prison. Our vision is for a world where women and girls are safe, free, valued, and empowered members of society. We are based in a diverse area and seek to represent the women we work with.

Role: Chair of Trustees

As the Chair of Trustees, you will be pivotal in guiding Anawim’s strategic direction and ensuring we achieve our goals. You will lead our Board of Trustees, working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the senior leadership team to provide strong governance, oversight, and support.

Key Responsibilities:

· Lead and inspire the Board of Trustees to fulfil its governance responsibilities.

· Ensure the charity is compliant with all legal and regulatory requirements.

· Support the CEO and senior management in delivering Anawim’s strategic objectives.

· Foster a collaborative and inclusive board culture.

· Act as an ambassador for Anawim, promoting our work and expanding our network of supporters and partners.

· Oversee the financial health and sustainability of the organisation.

What We Are Looking For:

· Proven experience in a leadership role, ideally within the charitable or public sector.

· Strong understanding of governance, finance, and strategic planning.

· Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

· Passion for women’s rights and social justice.

· Ability to commit time to attend board meetings and events and provide guidance as needed.

Why Join Anawim?

· Be part of a transformative organisation that makes a real impact in women's lives.

· Work with a dedicated and passionate team of staff and volunteers.

· Lead an organisation with a strong reputation and a supportive community.

· Develop and share your expertise while contributing to meaningful change.

Music has long been held as an effective and soothing way to help relieve stress and improve mental health. Do you have a passion for playing the guitar and would like to teach others?

What you will be doing

• To facilitate guitar lessons for beginners on a 1:1 basis for approximately 30 minutes or in a small group
• Plan each session, in collaboration with those you are supporting
• Lead on logistics and organisation of the sessions alongside the staff team
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Experience teaching playing a guitar and the ability to teach at beginner level
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Are you a qualified in hairstyling, including Afro and straight hair? Would like to share your skills with others? We have an exciting opportunity to teach older people the skills needed to style their hair. Hair care is an essential to looking after oneself and providing confidence.

What you will be doing:
Planning hair styling workshops on a 1:1 basis or in a small group

Sharing skills and techniques
Encouraging others to get involved in learning and discussions about hair care

The skills you need:
A skilled and qualified Hair stylist
Calm and patient approach
Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation

What's in it for you:
Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get

Are you an experienced and qualified nutritionist and would like to inspire others by sharing your knowledge? We are looking for a Nutrition and Exercise Volunteer to share with others their knowledge of how to make healthy meals on a budget and simple exercises. Having a healthy diet has shown to have positive effects on mental health and can reduce inflammation as well as alter neurotransmitters to reduce symptoms of depression.

What you will be doing

• Providing nutritional advise on how to prepare quick healthy meals on a budget
• Answering nutrition-based questions and promoting the benefits of eating healthily
• Providing quick and easy exercise sessions to a small group of people

The skills you need

• Qualified nutritionist/ relevant fitness qualification
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

We are looking for a volunteer to support us with collecting food donations from local stores. Do you enjoy being out and about in the community? The role would involve travelling to stores around the local area to collect food donations, and then delivering these to the service.

The donations will be approximately a bin bag full so may be more suitable for someone who drives and has a car but the locations are a few stops on the tube from the service. The locations of the collections are around Victoria and Waterloo and will be delivered back to the service in Lambeth. Please note that all travel expenses will be reimbursed!

What you will be doing

• Making regular visits to collect donations
• Dropping off the donations at the service
• Travelling to different stores to pick up donations

The skills you need

• Good communication
• Calm and patient approach
• To be consistent in attendance

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Are you a qualified Yoga Instructor who would enjoy facilitating weekly sessions to help individuals with their general well-being. This is an opportunity for you to share techniques with others.

Practicing yoga has been shown to increase mindfulness not just in class session, but in other areas of a person's life.

What you will be doing

• Design session plans enabling all group members to increase fitness, suppleness and help them relax
• Teach the group yoga postures and breathing techniques which allow a range of mixed ages and abilities to participate
• Inspire and motivate people to attend and get involved in the group activities where possible and encourage the group to help design future sessions
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Skilled and qualified Yoga Instructor
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Are you an experienced and qualified nutritionist and would like to inspire others by sharing your knowledge? We are looking for a Nutrition Advisor Volunteer to share with others their knowledge of food and healthy eating. Having a healthy diet has shown to have positive affects on mental health and can reduce inflammation as well as alter neurotransmitters to reduce symptoms of depression.

What you will be doing

• Complete research to learn more about a certain area of nutrition
• Provide scientific advice on healthy eating
• Inspire and motivate people using the services to attend

The skills you need

• A qualified Nutritionist
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning
• Sensitive, calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Are you a qualified nail technician and looking for a way to give back to the community? People in our services would benefit from social engagement, relaxation, and joy from learning about simple treatments they could use for themselves such as manicures and pedicures.

What you will be doing
Encourage discussions on nails and aftercare
Inspire and motivate the group to be involved in future planning/designing of the session.
Share basic tips and routines with group members.
Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team.
The skills you need
A skilled and qualified nail technician
Calm and patient approach
Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
What's in it for you
Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events;

 We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun.

Calling all book lovers! We are recruiting for a Book Club Facilitator Volunteer to engage the women and children within our Hackney Refuge. Become a volunteer and inspire children’s creativity and imagination!

This role may also involve travelling to our different refuges within Hackney.

What you will be doing

• Coordinate fortnightly book club sessions within the service for women and children.
• Ensure a safe and respectful atmosphere
• Lead on discussions and encourage the women and children to take part
• Keep record of attendance, provide feedback and report any concerns

The skills you need

• Good communication and listening skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

As a Branch Secretary, you would be in an essential volunteer role as the principal communications trustee managing and maintaining the administrative affairs of our branch. Using your expertise and skills, you will be able to influence how we care for and prevent cruelty to animals and drive the implementation of key initiatives. We rescue and rehome around 200 animals each year and provide community help and support with animal welfare in all DA postcodes plus BR8 postcodes.

As a minimum, trustees would normally be expected to attend a monthly committee meeting lasting some 2 to 3 hours. However, the commitment may vary depending on whether or not the trustee takes on additional duties.

Primary responsibilities of the Branch Secretary:

• To act as the primary contact point for all branch communications with the national Society, the branch committee and the branch membership.
• Arrange branch meetings, ensure accurate minutes are taken and distributed in accordance with branch rules.
• Ensure all branch committee decisions are implemented and actions completed.
• Arrange the branch AGM including the compilation and distribution of the annual report, nominations and agenda in line with the strict timetable laid down in the branch rules.
• Arrange the timely dissemination of the contents of all correspondence and literature received by the branch, ensuring availability to all committee members, and reply to all branch correspondence where necessary.
• Order and distribute RSPCA stationery, leaflets, posters and other fundraising and promotional material.
• Liaise with the Branch support specialist (BSS) and group chief inspector and notify them of all branch meetings.
• Advise the BSS of all changes to branch facilities, services and contact details.
• In the absence of the membership secretary, assume responsibility for the maintenance of the branch membership list.
• Submit recommendations for national Society awards to the BSS, in accordance with the wishes of the committee.

What we are looking for in a volunteer:

• Above all, we are looking for someone who is committed to the RSPCA’s charitable objectives and shares our passion for animal welfare.
• Specific skills such as finance, fundraising, project management, business experience, awareness of employment and/or charity legislation can be useful, but not essential.
• You will need to be able to work with people and have good interpersonal skills. You do not need to be an expert, although commitment, common sense, and the ability to be objective are vital.
• Be able to commit to 4 hours weekly.

Applications are particularly invited from people residing in DA postcodes or BR8 postcodes.

What we can offer you as a volunteer Branch Secretary:

• We will provide you with a comprehensive trustee training course which will provide you with everything you need to carry out the role.
• Ongoing support is also provided by local and national RSPCA staff in addition to any additional training provided by the relevant branch.
• The platform to utilise your skills and experience to oversee the charity and make decisions that have a direct impact on local animal welfare.
• The opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals.
• A way to expand your professional and personal network through working with like-minded people.
• Be a part of a small but friendly team of staff and volunteers.

We hope you are interested in volunteering for our branch!

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.

Are you creative? Would you like to play a part in supporting children in expressing themselves through art? Art plays a valuable role in mental wellbeing with research showing that crafting, regardless of the medium you use can boost your mood, self-confidence and reduce stress overall. Taking part in art-based activities increases our resilience and engages us in the here and now. You will be supporting children to express their emotions, provide a time for them to relax and feel proud of their final art products!

We are recruiting for a volunteer to support and facilitate an art and craft group for children.

What you will be doing

• To prepare arts and craft sessions, involving the children and their ideas where possible
• Inspire and motivate children to develop their arts and craft skills, assisting them in the creation of their projects and supporting them to brainstorm and use their own initiative.
• Encourage individuals to continue independent activities.

The skills you need

• Experience of arts and/or crafts either in a professional, educational, or personal level
• A calm, patient, and friendly manner
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation.
• An effective communicator with a patient and sympathetic nature

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

If you're looking for a chance to join a close-knit board and executive team, where you can play an active role in grant allocation and help shape the charity’s strategic direction, this position could be perfect for you.

• Location: Meetings held in Gloucestershire, Bristol, Swindon or Wiltshire
• Time commitment: The equivalent of up to a day a month
• Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 21st October

Who we are.

The National Benevolent Charity is a grantmaker. We make grants to individuals experiencing poverty and to organisations aiming to relieve poverty.

We are one of only a handful of benevolent charities to which people experiencing poverty can apply directly from anywhere in the UK. Our applicants include refugees, women escaping domestic abuse, people from the travelling community, working families on low incomes, care leavers and pensioners.

Our grants to organisations focused on Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Swindon, and Bristol. Our successful applicants include food banks, housing and homeless shelters, women’s refuges, and money advice organisations.

We ensure our grants are used to help people survive and thrive, live in reasonable comfort, and improve their physical and psychological well-being by providing home essentials, financial, emotional, and practical support, advice, and training.

We collaborate with other funders and referral agencies to offer the widest support possible and aim to be inclusive and equitable in our grant giving. In 2023, we awarded grants to 729  individuals and 42 organisations.

The charity employs three staff members, led by the Chief Executive, Ali Russell. Total income and endowments for the year ending 31 December 2023 were £ 867,742, with expenditures £1,108,271. Assets are just under £24m.

About the role.

To complement the skills and experience of the existing Trustees, we are looking for a new board member with expertise in finance. This board member will be a qualified accountant and hold a senior strategic leadership position as our new Finance and Investment Committee Chair. They will need to attend all Full Board and all Finance Committee meetings.

We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board and demonstrate the following personal skills and qualities.

• They must be willing and able to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and act in the best interests of the organisation.
• Be able to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.

• Be an effective communicator who is willing to participate actively in discussions.
• Have a strong personal commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Have enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
• Be willing to practice our values of collaboration, compassion, and openness.

This board member will Chair the Finance and Investment Committee and will be responsible for ensuring investments and assets are maximised professionally and ethically by:

• Having oversight of the charity’s Investment Managers.
• Ensuring robust and comprehensive investment policies are in place and being implemented.
• Assisting in the presentation of investments to the Board of Trustees.
• Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan.
• Oversight of the Management Accounts and Budget setting.

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 21st October.

Do you use technology on a regular basis for work, study, or daily life? If so, it is likely that you have the needed skills for this role! Help people to stay connected, improve their financial health, employability, and learn how to access much needed services and resources online! You will make a positive difference to bridging the digital divide, empowering others to gain knowledge and confidence in using technology!

What you will be doing

• Supporting older people to gain digital skills and knowledge on a computer, tablet and smart phone via one to one or in small group sessions
• Supporting older people to use digital apps, emails, search the internet, online shopping and set up online accounts
• Supporting older people to learn the skills to keep in touch with family and friends, such a video call and messaging
• Support individuals to agree and aspire on the steps/ goals they would like to achieve in the sessions
• Lead on the logistics and organisation of the sessions alongside the staff team
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Confident using digital skills
• Willingness and interest in facilitating one to one and group session on basic digital skills
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun