Volunteer

Project: Poole Foodbank+ & Life Centre
Location: Poole Foodbank+
Time Commitment: Tuesdays – Fridays, 9am – 1pm (volunteers can choose to commit to all or part of these hours)

Role Description: Poole Life Centre is a vibrant community hub offering a range of support services under one roof- including Poole Foodbank, debt management, housing advice and much more.

We are looking for caring, friendly volunteers to connect with visitors – you will listen to their stories, encourage them, and help them access the right support (whether practical, community-based, or spiritual). Your presence could be the first step in someone’s journey toward hope and resilience.

Key Tasks: listening to visitors with empathy and offering encouragement, connecting visitors with appropriate support services and partner organisations, sharing information about community groups, meals, and further support, walking alongside people as they take steps toward hope and resilience.

Key Attributes Needed: a “people’s person”, someone who is a good listener, caring and empathetic, non-judgemental and a team player.

You Will Gain Experience in: working within a Foodbank and support centre, team work, developing listening skills, providing information on further support, identifying next helpful practical steps as well as the types of challenges people face when experiencing poverty in all its forms

For more information please contact Ian by phoning 01202 672694.

Project: Poole Foodbank+
Location: Poole Foodbank+ Store, Dolphin Centre
Time Commitment: Flexible hours, to be discussed

Role Description: Poole Foodbank+ provides emergency food parcels for people in crisis, working in partnership with organisations across the community.

We are looking for a driver and driver’s assistant to help transport emergency supplies to and from our warehouse and other sites in Poole. Drivers play a fundamental role in the running of the Foodbank – collecting food donations from a variety of locations across the local area as well as distributing the sorted donations from the warehouse to the local Foodbank centres.

Key Tasks: transporting sorted food from the warehouse to the local Foodbank+ centres, collecting food donations from local supermarkets and carrying heavy boxes of canned foods.

You will be provided all the training and support needed before starting your role, as well as a main contact for ongoing support.

*Please note that drivers will need a driving licence with less than 3 points on

Key Attributes Needed: the role requires physical fitness and strength to move and lift heavy items, confidence to drive a transit van, adaptable, flexible, personable, committed, efficient, prompt in collecting food donations.

You Will Gain Experience in: serving the community, team work, understanding the process of ‘goods in’ and ‘goods out’ and stock rotation, and understanding the difference between working for a commercial company and supporting a charity that has stewardship responsibilities for managing donations.

For more information please contact Ian by phoning 01202 672694.

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: SMILE (Lone Parent Families)
Location: Parkstone United Reformed Church
Time Commitment: 1st & 3rd Monday of the month, 3/3.30pm – 6.30pm

Role Description: Twice a month SMILE and Parkstone URC host a Community Meal called Regenerate.  We need volunteers to assist with various roles including: sitting with families, helping them to engage with crafts and board games, or helping the children with their homework.

We are looking for volunteers who are eager to work with children, or to help with the practicalities of hosting a community meal – helping in the kitchen, preparing and serving food, and washing up.

Key Attributes Needed: friendly, good at communicating, patient, enjoy working with children, sensitive, caring, encouraging, able to work as part of a team and reliable.

You Will Gain Experience in: supporting lone parent families, helping in the community, working with children, working as part of a team and problem solving.

For more information please contact Tom by phoning 01202 429037 or via the contact form below.
*Please ensure you select “volunteer & fundraise” from the dropdown menu.

Project: SMILE (Lone Parent Families)
Location: various locations across Poole
Time Commitment: Tuesdays, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Role Description: SMILE need volunteers to assist with creche provision during courses attended by the parents including: Child Development, Cookery and Wellbeing and Self-development courses.

Volunteers will help to look after pre-schoolers and babies while Mums attend courses.  Experience with children is desirable.
*Please note that a DBS will need to be completed for this role

Key Attributes Needed: relate well with young children, patient, friendly and reliable.

You Will Gain Experience in: coming alongside young children, being part of  team, understanding some of the challenges that lone parent families face

For more information please contact Tom by phoning 01202 429037 or via the contact form 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: 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: 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 Ainsworth by emailing pooletownpastors@gmail.com or phoning 01202 738615.

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