Service Community Volunteer Coordinator

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You don’t need a military background, just patience, and an ability to get on with people from different backgrounds and age groups. If so, please get in touch!

Community Volunteers provide practical help to military personnel and their families. In this role you will be coordinating and supporting a team of Community Volunteers providing the type of support local families tell us they need.

A Disclosure (DBS) Check is required for this role.*

* A DBS 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.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Military life can bring its challenges when a loved one is deployed overseas, or a family has to move to a new town. Some people find themselves facing illness, bereavement or unexpected financial problems. Day-to-day activities can become difficult without a little help. That’s where you come in! Could you spare a few hours a week to support a local team of volunteers lending a helping hand to military families?

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

This role is about coordination and administration so many volunteers are able to do this from home or at their place of work.

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

  • Give back to the military community
  • Support a team of volunteers giving their time to help local families
  • Support and friendship 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 about training and support?

  • Training course for Community Volunteer Coordinators. Your experienced trainer will prepare you for your role and you’ll find out about the support available to you
  • Support from a Volunteer Support Manager (per region)
  • Access to the Welfare Team and Volunteer Support Team based at our central office
  • You’ll also have two short on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families and personal information safe
  • Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

What are we looking for?

  • Friendly and approachable people with good listening skills, patience and a cheerful attitude
  • Good spoken English
  • Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
  • Ability to keep within the boundaries of the role with regards to friendship, finances etc.
  • Experience of organising or coordinating a team would be ideal but not essential • reliable attitude, contact clients promptly, keep appointments
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely (within SSAFA policies)
  • Access to public transport or a car to meet volunteers and clients
  • Ability to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well (other than relatives)

How to find out more?

  • Complete the volunteer application form below
  • Call our friendly central Volunteer Team on 0800 032 5612. They can answer any general questions about volunteering and put you in touch with your local branch

How do we use your information?

The information you provide will be used to create a personal record on our database if your application to become a SSAFA volunteer is successful. It will not be used for any other purpose or shared with any other organisation; all data collected from unsuccessful applicants will be destroyed as soon as it is no longer needed. SSAFA complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.  Please read our privacy policy for more information.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

SSAFA complies with the Equality Act 2010 and welcomes volunteers from all walks of life. For further details see our equality and diversity policy.

What you'll do

Key role responsibilities

  • Accepting referrals and matching volunteers to clients
  • Working with the committee and the Volunteer Support Manager, recruit and induct new CVs as needed
  • Helping new volunteers to complete the Disclosure Check process
  • Supported by the Learning and Development Team in Central Office, ensuring that all volunteers keep their training up to date
  • Keeping in touch with your Community Volunteers (CVs), providing support and guidance, understanding their availability
  • Ensuring that CVs are aware of the expenses policy and submit their claims regularly
  • Overseeing the progress of cases, including maintaining good relationships with any other providers of support to clients
  • Referring any safeguarding concerns or welfare queries to the Welfare Team at Central Office in order to best support clients and the CVs volunteering with them
  • Recognising that military bases can be small communities, ensure that client confidentiality is maintained in accordance with SSAFA policies
  • Keeping appropriate statistical information about the support provided to clients so that this can be shared with the committee and contribute to national evaluation of services
  • Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)

Application form

Address

Please provide us with your address by using our address lookup or by entering your address manually.

Thank you for trusting us with your data. For extra peace of mind about how we keep your data secure and how we manage your personal data, you can read more information in our Privacy Policy.