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This role includes Stock the Care van with cups, lids, flasks and food. Serve food and drinks to guests. Distribute any donations of clothing. Speak to clients; offer advice where appropriate. Report any incidents, feedback or training needs in the report folders. Clean the van on return to the Centre. Drivers: Check the Care Van for damage or issues before leaving the Centre. The same should be done on return. Drive the Van, following the usual route & stay close to the Van at all times.

Every Thursday, in partnership with Stenhouse Baptist Church, we run a free weekly community lunch called Lunchtime Plug-in. We are looking for volunteers to help us set up and prepare the room, welcome, chat & get to know our guests who come for lunch, serve food and help with tidying up. It takes place every Thursday from 12pm to 2pm. It is a safe and welcoming space for people to get to know one another in a relaxed environment. We also have a number of laptops for use while people are here and we offer budgeting and debt advice to anyone who might need it.

Volunteers should; Foster a supportive and encouraging environment; welcoming people to the group, facilitating social interactions through discussions and offering a listening ear. Offer digital support to those attending the group, as well as offering advice and support on issues such as CV writing, health and well-being, filling out online forms etc. Help with the set-up and clean-up of the group, arriving on time in order to do so. Alert staff of any concerns. Tuesdays from 10.30 to 12.30pm.

Befriending can make a huge impact in the lives of people who are at risk of homelessness or moving into new settled accommodation. You can help an individual in Edinburgh reconnect back into the community by taking them out and introducing them to social groups and activities in their area.

What will the volunteering role look like? Assisting customers in the shop in a friendly and professional manner, whether that be answering enquiries or just having a chat. Sorting donated goods. This a large part of every retail role. Pricing donated goods Replenishing and changing the stock on display. Operating the till. Talking to customers. Making our displays and window look their best!

Retail volunteers are the backbone of our shops. A day can include sorting donations, operating the till or pricing stock – every day, and every shop, is different! Each volunteer brings their own skills, experience and character to a role.

Could you lead the local SSAFA services in your area? You don’t need a military background for this role, but you should be empathic to the needs of the armed forces community, have some experience of managing people and possess good I.T. skills. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. What is a Branch Chair? There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. Each branch has a Chair to oversee all aspects of the branch. Ultimately accountable to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, through the National Chairman your role is to ensure that the branch is running in line with SSAFA’s Royal Charter Rules, Regulations and policies. Also, to ensure that clients and volunteers are safe, all services provided are appropriate and effective and that the branch is financially sound. You will be the public face of SSAFA in your branch area. Why do we need you? We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and more people than ever are contacting SSAFA for financial, practical and emotional support. To do this we need local branches and volunteers who can coordinate people, ensure the local population know about SSAFA and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. When would you be needed and where would you be based? This role is about leadership, coordination and administration. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role requires an ongoing time commitment, usually about 2-3 days per month. In addition, you would need to organise and attend regular meetings throughout the year. What would you be doing? • Providing leadership to the Branch and ensuring that all activities comply with SSAFA regulations both directly, and through the Branch Secretary, other Branch Officers and Divisional Officers. • Providing support and guidance to volunteers in office holder roles, and support with recruitment of volunteers into these positions to ensure the sustainability of the branch • Ensuring the financial integrity of the Branch, including the appointment of Treasurers and a local fundraising programme to meet branch running costs • Ensuring that all data is processed and held in accordance with SSAFA’s data management policies • Monitoring volunteer numbers against the demand for support and working with other volunteers, regional and central office staff to attract and recruit new volunteers as required • Ensuring that all volunteers are recruited, inducted, supported and managed in line with SSAFA policies, such as the Volunteering Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct, Data Protection Policy, and Safeguarding Policy. • Building relationships with regional and central office staff, local voluntary organisations and, if applicable, SSAFA Service committees, local military establishments, prisons etc. • Overseeing an appropriate programme of awareness raising so that potential clients, volunteers and supporters know how to contact the branch • Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s Central Office • Overseeing a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc. • Supporting any salaried branch staff and ensuring that their line management arrangements are working appropriately • Resolve any complaints that are suitable for local resolution in accordance with SSAFA’s Complaints Policy and procedures, referring upwards any that are not suitable for local resolution

Assisting with the development of our social enterprise which will allow us to support more victims and survivors of human trafficking. A range of opportunities: -marketing new merchandise lines -uploading and managing online shop -preparing items for sale at market/craft fayres and shops -planning new ideas for sales More roles available on discussion.

StreetReads gives away free books to homeless readers. We collect and catalogue new, donated books and carefully choose a selection to take out to spaces and services used by homeless people. We also attend services in a Street Reads capacity and represent the project to other organisations,set up book stands and chat to people who use it,build and maintain relationships with partner agents,adhering to Streetwork’s policies/procedures and Code of Practice at all times.

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to listen, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If so, this could be the role for you. What is a caseworker? Caseworkers work with clients to figure out what type of help they need. Next, they find the right sources of support and arrange for clients to access it. This might be funds for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc. Why do we need you? Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan. Our trained volunteers listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help people navigate life in and beyond military service. We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us achieve this.