Redcar & Cleveland Citizens Advice Bureau – Guidance Advice Volunteer
Redcar & Cleveland CAB offer free, confidential and impartial advice to all, regardless of age, disability, gender, race or sexuality.
They are looking for volunteers to give guidance and advice to clients; the problems that they are most often asked about concern employment, debt, housing or benefits, but they will help people with any enquiry including consumer rights, legal matters, and immigration.
Clients often attend with quite complex problems. CAB help by looking at the different options available to them, provide up to date advice and information, and, if necessary, signpost to appropriate services and agencies.
The role is interesting and rewarding and the main qualities they are looking for in an individual are good listening skills and a non-judgemental attitude.
Volunteers can look forward to the challenging nature of the work and being part of a team providing an essential service to the general public, full training is given for this role.
Skinningrove Link Up – Administrator and General Support
We are a community hub and provide services for local people and visitors. We have a café, garden, computer suite and provide a photocopying service. Our objective is to bring local people together to develop initiatives that improve the quality of life for people living and visiting Skinningrove.
Your role will include welcoming visitors and explaining the services we can offer – Knowledge of the local area would be useful but not essential. I.T skills and a confident telephone manner are preferable, assisting the centre Manager when necessary. Some administration will be required e.g. filing, photocopying, checking room bookings, ensuring that the reception area is tidy and welcoming.
To ensure our visitors enjoy a positive experience you will at times be asked to assist with general tidying/cleaning of all areas, offering light refreshments eg tea, coffee, biscuits, teacakes etc
These are some of the tasks that we need support with, giving our visitors a reason to use our centre again, with a view to recommending SLU to others. You will be fully supported throughout your time with us and relevant training will be given to assist you in your role with SLU. We are confident that you will enjoy your role and that you will feel part of our dedicated team.
This is a role for someone who likes to be busy and is at ease dealing with visitors to the centre.
Skinningrove Link Up – Volunteer Allotment Gardeners
In addition to the above we also need volunteer gardeners to get involved in all aspects of our allotment, according to season priorities, including preparation and maintenance of beds – sowing, weeding, harvesting, clearing plots and maintenance of tools.
No experience is necessary though some knowledge of allotment gardening would be useful.
You will be fully supported throughout your time with us and relevant training will be given to assist you in your role with SLU. We are confident that you will enjoy your role and that you will feel part of our dedicated team.
Blaze Children, Youth and Family Project
Blaze is a charity based on Grangetown inspired by the Christian faith. Blaze exists to love people and the community by journeying with them through the highs and lows of life, helping people love themselves and others. We specialise in educating children, youth and families in building positive relationships, family values and life skills that will ignite brighter futures
We work in Primary and Secondary Schools. We deliver Change Your World Courses for Children, teaching them skills and giving them opportunity to positively change their environment. We deliver UNCUT in secondary school, getting young people to be real, inform them of healthy life choices and inspire them to think positively about their futures.
We have three volunteering opportunities:
- CHILDRENS WORKER
Volunteers are needed to support Blaze staff run our busy children’s club at Grangetown Primary school on Tuesdays between 3 and 5.15 pm. Volunteers help organise play activities, teach life skills in a fun and upbeat environment, encourage the children to participate and build relationships, learning and development through the importance of play.
You will need lots of energy, patience and enthusiasm, a caring and calm nature and most important – a sense of fun! Too get the best out of this role you need to be willing to get fully involved with a hands on attitude. Commitment is essential in order to build a trusting relationship with the children. - FAMILY OUTREACH SUPPORT
Blaze are looking for volunteers who can make a positive difference to children and families in Grangetown. The volunteer will complement the support provided to families by the staff at their monthly Friday night event for local families who come together to eat, socialise and learn some life skills as a family.
Our volunteers will be expected to chat with families and children throughout the evening, gradually building up positive relationships, offering emotional support alongside practical help and an understanding of the challenges some families face. The role also involves organising games/activities for the younger children on the night. - YOUTH OUTREACH
Blaze aims to develop young people’s skills and attitudes rather than remedy “problem behaviours” and our volunteers help us to enhance the level of support we are able to provide.
We need volunteers for our Youth Outreach project which runs on Friday evenings and involves speaking to young people who are out on the streets and local estates. You will be part of a team, engaging and supporting vulnerable and at risk young people, building positive relationships to help create trust, give them a voice, a feeling of inclusion and a belief in themselves. As part of our team you will be listening for and identifying possible support issues that we may be able to help with or signpost to other agencies.
You will need to: have a non-judgemental attitude and an ability to relate to young people and good communication skills, particularly when listening to the young people. We hope to be able to offer information and guidance in a friendly but professional manner, your commitment to this role is important when building the young person’s trust.
If you are interested in any of these volunteering opportunities or would like more information, please contact Trish Waters on trish@rcvda.org.uk or telephone 01642 440571.