Volunteer

Project: SafeSleep
Location: Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole
Time Commitment: Approximately 2- 4 hours per week (hours will vary)

Role Description: SafeSleep is a community partnership scheme offering those experiencing rough sleeping a safe way to rest, plan and connect. Each community team is made up of 3 volunteer roles: Team Leaders, Responders (providing short-term support) and Connectors (providing long-term support).

Team Leaders will act as a point of contact with Faithworks staff, lead a team as they respond to and connect with guests and ensure guests are safe in emergency accommodation over weekends and bank holidays, oversee the weekend rota for Responder team members, provide back up in the event that no Responders are available, provide team support and act as SafeSleep champion in the local area.

Leaders will also arrange Sunday socials, trips and activities as a community, host formal and social team volunteer events and be available to meet and support other Team Leaders across BCP.

All volunteers will need to attend Volunteers Training which will include safeguarding, lone working, confidentiality as well as finding out more about SafeSleep – please book your free place below.  A DBS check will also be completed for each volunteer.

Key Attributes Needed: a good listener, compassionate, understanding, resilient, enthusiastic, determined and trustworthy, flexible in responding to situations, well-organised and a team player.

You Will Gain Experience in: leading a team of volunteers, being part of a brand new project, understanding the needs of those who were/are at risk of sleeping on the streets, gain a knowledge of homelessness support available across BCP, applying your faith in a practical and caring way.

For more information please contact David Chidwick by phoning 01202 429037.

Project: SafeSleep
Location: Bournemouth or Christchurch
Time Commitment: be available for weekend and bank holiday shifts (5pm – 9am on the next working day) for a minimum of 6 months

Role Description: SafeSleep is a community partnership scheme offering those experiencing rough sleeping a safe way to rest, plan and connect. Each community team is made up of 3 volunteer roles: Team Leaders, Responders (providing short-term support) and Connectors (providing long-term support).

Responders provide short-term emergency support for those who have just come off the streets. The role includes: being available for rotas covering weekends and bank holidays, able to call/text guests hosted in local hotels including at weekends and bank holidays, able to deliver food and supplies to emergency accommodation. This role also requires a local knowledge of where primary/essential services are.

Responders will need access to a mobile, laptop and transport.

All volunteers will need to attend Volunteers Training which will include safeguarding, lone working, confidentiality as well as finding out more about SafeSleep – please book your free place below.  A DBS check will also be completed for each volunteer.

Key Attributes Needed: a good listener, compassionate, understanding, resilient, enthusiastic, determined and trustworthy, flexible in responding to situations and a team player.

You Will Gain Experience in: being part of a brand new project, understanding the needs of those who were/are at risk of sleeping on the street, being part of a team of volunteers, gain a knowledge of homelessness support available across BCP, applying your faith in a practical and caring way.

For more information please contact David Chidwick by phoning 01202 429037.

Project: SafeSleep
Location: Bournemouth or Christchurch
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per week; available to volunteer for a minimum of 6 months on a rota basis

Role Description: SafeSleep is a community partnership scheme offering those experiencing rough sleeping a safe way to rest, plan and connect. Each community team is made up of 3 volunteer roles: Team Leaders, Responders (providing short-term support) and Connectors (providing long-term support).

Connectors provide support and encouragement, for up to 6 months, to someone living in temporary accommodation. The role includes: enabling someone to sustain their move on accommodation and help them to feel safe and at home in the community. This will be done through regular meetings with guests, actively encouraging them. Connectors also need to be available to attend Sunday socials and fun activities organised by local teams.

Connectors will need access to a mobile, laptop and transport.

All volunteers will need to attend Volunteers Training which will include safeguarding, lone working, confidentiality as well as finding out more about SafeSleep – please book your free place below.  A DBS check will also be completed for each volunteer.

Key Attributes Needed: a good listener, compassionate, understanding, resilient, enthusiastic, determined and trustworthy, flexible in responding to situations and a team player.

You Will Gain Experience in: being part of a brand new project, understanding the needs of those who were/are at risk of sleeping on the street, being part of a team of volunteers, gain a knowledge of homelessness support available across BCP, applying your faith in a practical and caring way.

For more information please contact David Chidwick by phoning 01202 429037.

Project: Wimborne Food Bank+
Location: Wimborne Food Bank+
Time Commitment: Wednesday mornings or Friday afternoons – adhoc based on a rota system

Role Description: we are looking for two volunteers to join our vibrant Wimborne Food Bank+ family, volunteering as part of a team, delivering food parcels to those in Wimborne and Ferndown who are unable to get to the Food Bank.

Wimborne Food Bank provides emergency food parcels for people in crisis, working in partnership with organisations across the community.

Key Attributes Needed: drivers license, physically fit in order to pick up parcels of food, work well in a team, personable and committed, desire to help in a Food Bank.

You Will Gain Experience in: serving the community, working as part of a team, communication, making a different to our local community.

For more information please contact Sharon below.
*Please ensure you select “Wimborne Food Bank+” from the dropdown menu.

Project: Wimborne Food Bank+
Location: Wimborne Food Bank+
Time Commitment: Friday, 12pm – 4pm

Role Description: are you fit, strong and organised? We are looking for a volunteer who can help us at our Food Bank – organising stock, moving very heavy crates and helping keep our food store well stocked.

Wimborne Food Bank provides emergency food parcels for people in crisis, working in partnership with organisations across the community.

Key Attributes Needed: strong and fit due to the role requirements, work well in a team, personable and committed, desire to directly help the efficiency of Wimborne Food Bank+

You Will Gain Experience in: serving the community, working as part of a team, understanding stock rotation, communication, making a difference to our local community.

For more information please contact Sharon below.
*Please ensure you select “Wimborne Food Bank+” from the dropdown menu.

Project: Faithworks Arch
Location: out and about across Bournemouth
Time Commitment: Monday and/or Wednesday, 9am – 4pm

Role Description: we provide a trainee scheme where those who are ex-homeless can build up work experience as they look towards getting into paid employment. The Gardening Team is one of those placements, providing a free garden service to vulnerable adults within our local community. Why not join us for a few hours a week, working alongside trainees while providing the garden service, both with practical gardening tasks and encouraging the team?

Key Attributes Needed: enjoys being outdoors, patient, empathetic and non-judgemental, interested in gardening although doesn’t have to be too green fingered!

You Will Gain Experience in: working as part of a team, gardening, communication, problem-solving, working alongside those coming out of homelessness, customer service

For more information please contact Tom below.
*Please ensure you select “volunteer & fundraise” from the dropdown menu.

Project: Carpenters Workshop
Location: Surrey Road, Poole
Time Commitment: Mondays – Wednesdays, 10am – 4pm

Role Description: our workshop exists to work with those overcoming challenges, teaching them woodwork skills to produce wooden items which are sold in our online shop. Perhaps you enjoy being creative or are handy at DIY, would like to learn some carpentry skills, or perhaps you simply want to walk alongside people on their journey out of homelessness. We would love you to join us at the workshop, offering encouragement and a safe space for people to learn and thrive.
*DIY experience is not essential to this role as full training will be provided. All safety footwear and PPE will also be provided. 

Key Attributes Needed: a team player, friendly, patient, kind and compassionate, have the desire to make a difference.

You Will Gain Experience in: you will gain experience in carpentry and DIY, communication, problem solving, working efficiently and you will gain experience in helping those overcoming challenges move forward in their journey.

For more information please contact Tom below.
*Please ensure you select “volunteer & fundraise” from the dropdown menu.

Project: Faithworks Arch – Storehouse
Location: Bournemouth
Time Commitment: Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, 9am – 4pm or 4 hours in the morning or afternoon.

Role Description: volunteer alongside Storehouse staff, assisting in the delivery of furniture and equipment to vulnerable clients who have been recently housed.

Key Attributes Needed: the role requires physical fitness and strength to move, and sometimes lift, heavy items. A driver’s license will be needed for the driver role.

You Will Gain Experience in: working as part of a team, working efficiently, communication, problem solving, working with ex-rough sleepers, making a difference to those who are vulnerable.

For more information please contact Tom below.
*Please ensure you select “volunteer & fundraise” from the dropdown menu.

Project: SMILE lone parent families
Location: various locations across BCP and Dorset
Time Commitment: dependent on the length of the event

Role Description: support our community of lone parent mum and dads by volunteering at our retreats, days out and special events. We want out lone parents to know that they are important people and so our events volunteers are vital in supporting the whole family through preparation on the day, helping children engage with activities and being a listening ear.

Key Attributes Needed: enthusiasm for supporting families, ability to work as part of a team and willingness to take part in activities.

You Will Gain Experience in: community support, teamwork and working with children whilst having fun.

For more information please contact Tom below.
*Please ensure you select “volunteer & fundraise” from the dropdown menu.

Project: Bournemouth Town Pastors
Location: Bournemouth town centre
Time Commitment: Saturday, 8.30pm – Sunday, 12.30am once a month

Role Description: patrol the town centre of Bournemouth on Saturday nights, helping anyone in need out in the night-time economy. You will be part of a team of either 3 or 4 men/women, with a distinctive uniform, carrying a lightweight bag containing supplies such as water, flip flops, foil blankets etc.

Key Attributes Needed: be compassionate and non-judgemental

You Will Gain Experience in: being part of a team and frontline support for those out in the night-time economy.

For further information contact: Chris on 07999 484989 or email chrismcdermott@bournemouthtownpastors.org.uk

Project: Poole Town Pastors
Location: Poole town centre or Upper Parkstone
Time Commitment: 1 or 2 Saturdays a month (Poole town centre), 2.30pm – 4.30pm and occasional festivals, or a weekday afternoon (Upper Parkstone), 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Role Description: you will join a team of Christians from local churches. This team is committed to help calm any tensions, provide practical and emotional support when required.  Town Pastors come alongside young people, the homeless, elderly and lonely, to show our faith and pray with anyone who asks. Training and a uniform is provided.

Key Attributes Needed: be able to listen without being judgemental.

You will gain experience in: listening skills, being part of a team and supporting the general public.

*For further information contact: John and Anne Ainsworth by emailing pooletownpastors@gmail.com or phoning 01202 738615.