This role description is for use in non-NDP areas.
Role – Community Engagement Volunteer
Are you passionate about supporting the Armed Forces Community? Could you help to raise awareness for SSAFA in your local area? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with all kinds of people and some occasional free time.
What is a Community Engagement Volunteer?
As a community engagement volunteer, you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. We want to ensure that our Armed Forces community knows that SSAFA is here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.
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.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families.
A varied programme of awareness raising also keeps the SSAFA profile high in the local community, so everyone knows who we are and how we can help.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.
Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.
Event Champions
Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
Activity Organisers
Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
Promoting SSAFA Services
Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
SSAFA Storytellers
Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
Community Connectors
Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects
Fundraising Heroes
Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
Administrators
Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
- Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
- 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
- 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 of e-learning courses and marketing materials.
- Access to support from across SSAFA.
- 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 people.
- Confident people who feel happy to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
- Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely.
- Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
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? No
How do I find out more? Visit us online to browse available roles and locations and let us know you’re interested. Read more about training and about some of our wonderful volunteers.
Contact our friendly Community Engagement Team at [email protected]. They can answer any general questions about volunteering and put you in touch with your local Community Engagement Manager.