We are looking for Community Volunteers to join our Service Committee in RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus.
Community Volunteers provide practical help to serving people and their families. Whilst a friendly chat is an important aspect of the role you will also be providing some hands-on support like a lift to a medical appointment or help with shopping.
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.
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 facilitate Team activities and meetings.
- Give back to the serving community.
- Support people in your local serving community using your patience, time and life experience.
- Support and friendship from your local SSAFA Service Committee 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!
Key role responsibilities
- Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at their home or in a suitable place depending on their needs.
- Providing practical help like lifts to appointments, going to the shops, washing-up, running errands etc.
- Providing time limited, relief care for children (additional training is required for those undertaking this type of support).
- Helping people to think about how to access other support if needed and signposting as required.
- Reporting any safeguarding concerns in line with SSAFA’s safeguarding policy and procedures.
- Keeping a record of your visits.
- Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support beneficiaries.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA and adhering to SSAFA’s policies and procedures at all times.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need a driving licence and access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or elsewhere.
Some volunteers will visit more people than others. Whilst you may visit a client on a regular basis for a period of time you will not be developing the kind of relationship where you would provide personal care, handle money or support someone in an emergency. SSAFA can help clients to arrange other types of support if needed.
What skills or experience 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.
- Understanding of the need to remain within the boundaries of the role with regards to friendship, finances etc.
- Practice confidentiality and data protection in line with SSAFA’s policies.
- Good IT skills - e.g. an ability to use Outlook – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
- Ability to travel to meet beneficiaries.
- A willingness to adhere to all relevant organisational policies and procedures.
What training and support will you receive?
- One day training course for Community Volunteers. The option to pursue this course further and gain an accredited qualification in community volunteering.
- Support from SSAFA’s Welfare Team and Volunteer Experience Team based at our Central Office.
- Online training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date with how to keep clients, their families and personal information safe.
- Refresher training to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out their role.
For more about the role, call our friendly central Volunteer Team on 0800 032 5612.