Community Volunteer Coordinator

Please note: The following volunteer role supports serving personnel and families in or around your local military base.

Community Volunteers provide practical help to serving 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.  

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! 

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Armed Forces life can bring its challenges when a loved one is deployed overseas, or a family has to move to a new location. 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 serving community.

  • Support people in your local serving community using your patience, time and life experience.

  • Support and friendship from your local SSAFA Serving Community Team 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 skills and 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.

  • Good IT skills - e.g. ability to use Outlook and Excel – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.

  • An understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries with regards to providing support to beneficiaries.

  • Experience of organising or coordinating people would be advantageous but not essential.

  • Ability to travel to meet volunteers and beneficiaries.

  • A willingness to adhere to all relevant organisational policies and procedures.

What training and support will you receive?

  • 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.

  • Online training modules so you know how to keep beneficiaries, their families and personal information safe.

  • Access to a range of online training modules to support with continued learning and development.

  • Support from SSAFA’s Welfare team, Volunteer Experience team and Regional Operations Support Manager.

  • Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

  • Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out their role.

Are references required?

Yes. Two character references from people who know you well (not family members).   You will be asked to provide references after you complete the initial application form below.

Is a disclosure check required?

Yes (the cost of this will be covered by SSAFA).

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

Is there a minimum age?

Yes, you will need to be 18 or older due to the sensitive nature of the role.

How to find out more?

  • Complete the volunteer application form below.

  • Call our friendly central Volunteer Team on 0800 260 6775. 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

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 disabled volunteers, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as non-disabled volunteers.

For further details see our equality and diversity policy.

What you'll do

Key role responsibilities

  • Accepting referrals, matching Community Volunteers with beneficiaries and overseeing the progress of cases.

  • Working with your local team and a Regional Operations Support Manager, to recruit and induct new Community Volunteers as needed.

  • Ensuring that all volunteers undertake required training and tasks for their role (supported by the Learning and Development team and Volunteer Experience team in Central Office).

  • Providing support, supervision and guidance to Community Volunteers.

  • Collating and sharing reporting information about the support provided to beneficiaries.

  • Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support volunteers and beneficiaries.

  • Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA and adhering to SSAFA’s policies and procedures at all times.

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.