Volunteer with us
As part of our partnership with local churches, we offer the chance for those in a local congregation to apply to volunteer with us.
There's a whole range of opportunities depending on your skills and experience and on the amount of time you have available.
The therapeutic team will often have volunteers working with them running our group programme in schools. Alongside one of our therapeutic workers, you can help lead a group who need support for the big issues young people sometimes face, like self harm or low self worth. Volunteers can give part of a day or more each week and will always be working with an experienced member of the staff team.
We also need volunteers to help run the b.1 cafe and arts centre, helping with the cafe and kitchen, organising games and activities and simply spending time alongside young people. The centre opens after school for a few hours and on Saturdays. Volunteers can be part of the team working weekly or monthly.
The chaplaincy team also need volunteers to help run regular activities in school like lunchtime groups. Sometimes it is also possible to assist in delivering lessons and assemblies. Volunteers can give part of a day or more each week and will always be working with an experienced member of the staff team.
If regular commitments are difficult, you may find helping out on a weekend away or summer camp is just the opportunity you're looking for. We hold residentials throughout the year and need lots of help in everything from catering to working directly with young people.
How old do I have to be?
Over 18 and under 100! The wider range of ages and experience on the team we have, the more we have to offer young people. Please don’t rule yourself out on grounds of your age.
Do I need experience?
You already have it. If you’ve ever felt low about yourself, struggled in family life or helped a friend through a difficult time, you have something in common with the young people we work with.
Of course, we welcome those with particular youth work or relevant experience, who may be able to benefit our work with their skills and knowledge.
We will provide any other training you will need to volunteer with us. As you'd expect, a detailed induction is given to new volunteers, alongside continuing professional development for everyone. As a volunteer you'll also be expected to attend regular training and sessions and participate in our supervision programme. All volunteers must also complete our safeguarding training.
Do you accept everyone?
No. We have to feel you are appropriate for this kind of work and, of course, there are a series of checks in the application process. You’ll be pleased to know we don’t let just anyone work with young people. We have a formal process involving applications forms and an interview, and we must also carry out an enhanced disclosure for you with the Criminal Records Bureau.
However, please don't be put off by these standard procedures. We see volunteering as a vital way of extending our work and want to make these necessary stages as easy to navigate as possible. We hope you'll find us friendly, helpful and professional.
What do I do next?
You are welcome to contact Jane Malcolm, who oversees our volunteering programme, and have a chat by phone, email, or in person, to find out more.
