Community volunteer - ad hoc

 Role Description 

Community Volunteer

Responsible to: Community fundraiser

Accountable to: Head of volunteering, learning and inclusion

Hours:                   Ad hoc – we would ask that you participate in around 4-6 activities a year.

Overview

We are the specialist end of life care provider in Swindon and north east Wiltshire, providing quality end of life care for our patients, and supporting their families and loved ones before and after the patient’s death. Our aim is to ensure that everyone affected by a life-limiting illness can access personalised care when and where they need it. Only a third of our running costs are funded from statutory sources; we fundraise for the rest in a number of different ways. Our ongoing success depends upon the wholehearted support of our local community, who contribute by fundraising, advocating and volunteering for us.

As a community volunteer, you will bring your enthusiasm, energy and belief in the work of the hospice to a wider audience by helping us to spread the word about what we do, run events and liaise with the local community. Your activities will help to build on the support we already receive from local people.

Role summary

This role will suit someone who is not looking to volunteer on a regular basis, but would like to commit some time on an ad hoc basis a few times a year to support a very worthy local cause. You will join a small and growing army of volunteers supporting our fundraising, retail and promotional activities, also acting as an ambassador for the hospice within the community. Full training will be given before you start.

We are looking for all-rounders – volunteers with great people and practical skills who can help out across the entire range of activities we carry out. That said, we will try to match the activities we ask you to do with your specific strengths and interests where volunteer numbers allow.  You will need the ability to enthuse members of our local community about the work we do, and you will also have the empathy needed to respond appropriately to those in need of hospice support, who you may encounter in the course of your activities.

You will receive a comprehensive induction before you start, so you understand how we work and the services we offer. In addition, full briefings will take place before you carry out an activity.

Role responsibilities

• To represent the hospice in a friendly, professional manner in the course of any or all of the following:
  • Staffing stalls and pop-up shops
  • Selling raffle tickets
  • Delivering talks and presentations to a range of community groups and corporates
  • Attending cheque presentations and thanking donors on behalf of the hospice
  • Attending our major fundraising events and supporting the required roles to run the event e.g. manning registration desks, serving refreshments, selling raffle tickets, acting as a steward etc.
  • Providing information and signposting services at community fairs etc
  • Dropping off information to community hubs such as GP surgeries, libraries etc
  • Any other fundraising or promotional activities (eg evening fundraising performances etc) as requested
• To participate in a comprehensive induction before you start your role, and attend occasional training and update sessions as required, ensuring you are communicating up-to-date, accurate information about the hospice at all times.
• To speak with confidence and passion to a variety of groups of all ages about the breadth of our services, the costs of running them, and the impact they have on local people. We want people to understand the difference we can make to their friends, neighbours, colleagues – and perhaps to their own lives at some point too.
• To process income, donations or collections from local community groups in accordance with our cash handling policy (training provided).
• To be presentable and appropriately dressed at all engagements, wearing an identification badge at all times.
• To adhere to Prospect Hospice lone working guidelines and out of hours procedures for your own safety. (It is important to note that from time to time you may be lone working. Appropriate training and support will be given.)
• To identify further opportunities where we can raise our profile and work with our clinical teams to help support the local community, sharing this intelligence with the person overseeing your role.
• To work in accordance with hospice policies, eg health and safety, personal safety, confidentiality, and in the spirit of our core values.
• To regularly communicate with the person overseeing your role, so they are aware of your availability.
• To give at least 24 hours’ notice where possible if you will not be able to fulfil a commitment.

Volunteers will be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred upon completion of the appropriate claim form.

Skills and experiences

This role is available to anyone over the age of 18