Serving Community Team Chair/Co-Chair

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

The Chair (sometimes supported by a Co-Chair or Deputy Chair) is at the heart of the Team, communicating and realising SSAFA’s vision for providing excellent support to the serving community. Reporting to a Regional Chair, the Chair oversees all Team functions, ensuring that services provided are effective and safe, there is financial stability, and that processes and practices align with SSAFA’s values and policies.

Could you lead and grow SSAFA’s presence in your local Armed Forces serving community? Could you manage a team of volunteers and build networks? Do you share our values of Understanding, Commitment, Fairness and Courage? If so, we’d love to hear from you! You don’t need an Armed Forces background, just a desire to support the serving community.

Why do we need you?

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. SSAFA needs a diverse Team of volunteers and excellent, values-led leaders to continue providing quality support now and into the future. In this role there is potential to make a real impact and positive change.

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

  • Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others
  • Give back to the Armed Forces community
  • Become part of the SSAFA community and build networks across your local area
  • 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 will you receive?

  • On-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep people and their personal information safe.
  • Orientation day (online) learning about SSAFA’s operations and meeting key staff and volunteers.
  • Local induction and support, from other branch volunteers.
  • Access to a range of e-learning courses as well as local opportunities to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
  • Support from regional volunteering and operations staff.
  • Regular meetings and events to learn and share information 
  • Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Volunteers will be covered by SSAFA's Public Liability insurance while carrying out their role.

What skills or experience are we looking for?

  • Friendly and approachable people with good leadership, written and verbal communication skills.

  • Experience of leading or managing people.

  • Empathy regarding the needs and challenges related to serving community.

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

  • Be an effective listener, respectful and non-judgemental approach.

  • Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries.

  • A belief in the positive impact of volunteering.

  • Depending on the needs of the team, this role would suit someone who would like to volunteer a few hours each week.

Is a disclosure check required?

No.

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.

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 there a minimum age?

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

What you'll do

Key role responsibilities

  • Planning: overseeing the development and implementation of an annual plan, and events and fundraising programme to meet local needs. Holding regular committee meetings, at least four per year.

  • Overseeing and supporting service provision: overseeing all community volunteering activity, ensuring beneficiaries get support that is effective and timely.

  • Support and leadership: ensuring that all volunteers in the Team are supported and have a named volunteer manager. Leading by example, embed SSAFA’s values into Team culture and practices, and ensure that SSAFA’s policies and standards are upheld for example, ensuring all volunteers complete any training and vetting requirements for their role.

  • Networking: building positive relationships with the senior management team on the base, the local SSAFA Branch and other local stakeholders. Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA, remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential beneficiary, volunteer or fundraiser.

  • Monitoring Team resources: monitoring volunteer numbers and supporting the work of the Volunteering Coordinator to ensure enough volunteers to deliver services.

  • Grant giving: overseeing the Grant Giving Co-ordinator role and the grant giving process to ensure that all requests for grants are reviewed by the Team in line with SSAFA’s Terms of Reference.

  • Reporting: providing reports and feedback as required to the local SSAFA Branch and to SSAFA’s Central Office.

Application form

Address

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

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