Branch Volunteering Coordinator

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas, each delivering support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Every branch has a team of volunteers who make this possible.

Volunteering Coordinators are a key role within the team, leading on the local recruitment, induction, and
celebration of volunteers. As the first point of contact for volunteering in the branch they oversee volunteering good practice and ensure volunteers are welcomed and supported.

Do you enjoy networking and meeting new people? Are you passionate about volunteering? If so, we would love to hear from you. You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with people, and a good level of IT skills.

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. To continue providing help when it’s needed most, we need to maintain a diverse and committed network of volunteers who are skilled, supported and valued.

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?

  • Instructor led training alongside like-minded volunteers which will guide you through everything you need to know about casework and volunteer management.
  • On-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep people and their personal information safe.
  • 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 written and verbal communication skills.
  • Some experience of coordinating people.
  • Good IT skills - e.g. ability to use email and Excel – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
  • Respectful and non-judgemental approach.
  • Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries .
  • This role would suit someone who would like to volunteer regularly, 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

  • Keeping track and keeping in touch: maintaining accurate and up to date lists of branch volunteer details, ensuring volunteers to complete training, checking in with volunteers about their volunteer experience and passing on feedback.
  • Monitoring and planning: working alongside the Branch Chair to monitor volunteer numbers and develop plans to recruit new volunteers as needed for example, using online volunteer recruitment platforms.
  • Creating local links: taking opportunities to advertise volunteering opportunities locally, including linking with local volunteer centres and community groups to attract volunteers.
  • Welcoming and supporting: managing the branch volunteer recruitment and induction journey, supporting with interviews and volunteer vetting checks (background checks) where needed, and ensuring every volunteer has an identified volunteer manager.
  • Celebrating and saying thank you: seeking opportunities to celebrate volunteering, engaging in national and local initiatives and seeking out opportunities to say thank you to your branch volunteers for all of their efforts.
  • Partnership working: building positive relationships and working together with national and regional
    employees, who are available to offer you support.
  • Being a volunteering champion: working with the regional Volunteer Development Manager to promote
    volunteering best practice across the branch and ensure volunteers have the best possible experience with SSAFA.

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.