We have 116 volunteer-led branches across the UK, covering almost three quarters of the country. We also have online branches for autistic people with a shared interest, identity or experience. Our hard-working volunteers run support, information and social activities for autistic adults, children and their families in their local area. They also organise and join in with fundraising and campaigning.
Our branches run a huge range of activities. These groups and activities provide a friendly and safe space for parents and families seeking support. Branches always need more helping hands, so as an Ad Hoc Volunteer you can help the branch continue to provide this valuable support.
Do you have a few hours a month to give to volunteering? This role can fit around your responsibilities, and you can decide when and how you would like to volunteer. There is flexibility on the amount of the time you give too. We know our volunteers have busy lives and we do our best to fit around you.
The role is fully supported by the regional Senior Branch Engagement Officer and the other branch volunteers. You will receive full guidance and training for everything you’ll need to do.
How you’ll hear about your application
Once you’ve applied, you’ll receive notifications to the email address you apply with. Sometimes the emails we send about your application go into junk folders. We will keep in touch with you through an email address ending in @NAS.goassemble.com, do check your junk folder for confirmation of your application and other messages from us.
When and where
Flexible, role is on an ad hoc basis and will be as and when required for branch events.
Home based (plus travel to branch activities).
Support
Written guidance on a range of branch activities.
You must complete any requested eLearning training modules before you start volunteering.
Insurance cover for all branch activities.
What you will be doing
Assisting at in person branch activities such as bucket collections, fundraising activities, etc. Where extra volunteers are required on the day of an event.
The skills you need
Knowledge and experience of the autism spectrum is an advantage but not essential as we can provide training.
Good organisational skills.
Confident in speaking to members of public.
What's in it for you
Improve support to autistic people and their families in your local area.
Build up an understanding of autism by volunteering with autistic people.
Access free training and learn new skills.
Meet new people.
A worthwhile achievement to add to your CV.
Having fun whilst carrying out a valuable role.
This is a rewarding and fulfilling opportunity and will allow you to make a difference to those you are supporting and their families.
Would you like to support people with learning disabilities to socialise and make friends? We are looking for Volunteer Event Supporters to help at and lead social events.
Dates-n-mates is a friendship and dating agency for adults with learning disabilities offering social events to enable people to socialise, make friends and form meaningful relationships. Our work is underpinned by a human rights-based approach. We believe it is people’s right to live life free of discrimination and to develop friendships and relationships of their choosing, to love and be loved.
Our events include going to restaurants, pubs, cinema, tenpin bowling, day trips and walks. Events take place afternoons and evenings and usually last 2 hours.
As an Events Supporter, you will attend the event and help the members to interact while they’re together. It’s all about helping them to have a safe, enjoyable and friendly time. It’s sociable, great fun and very rewarding!
A large number of people with learning disabilities feel lonely and socially isolated. Your support will help to change this.
We ask for a minimum of 1 event per month.
Dates-n-Mates offer a variety of training and support to our volunteers.
Would you like to help children engage with play activities to build their skills and confidence? We are currently looking for volunteers to help improve the health and social wellbeing of children through fun activities.
Aberlour works with children and young people who have experienced disadvantage, trauma or have disabilities. We pride ourselves on our child centred focus and strong commitment to the individual development of each child emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually. We work with whole families as well as children on their own. If you have a genuine interest in the wellbeing of children and young people and live in the Dundee area we would love to hear from you.
What will I be doing?
Volunteers can make a make a difference to a child, young person or family’s life by:
Assisting children with activities that can vary from music, storytelling and dance
Helping children with their emotional and physical wellbeing through activities such as arts and crafts
Supporting staff to undertake new activities
Helping children to have fun
Building young children’s confidence and self esteem
Supporting staff at outings
Welcoming families into the group and making them feel comfortable
Being a positive role model
By volunteering with Aberlour, you can gain:
A sense of satisfaction in helping young people build their confidence and selfesteem
to achieve their full potential
Experience of supporting young people to flourish.
Practical experience of working with young people
Have fun!
Could you spend time with a child, sharing a hobby or activity on a regular basis?
Aberlour works with children and young people who have experienced disadvantage, trauma or have disabilities. We pride ourselves on our child centred focus and strong commitment to the individual development of each child emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually. We work with whole families as well as children on their own. We are recruiting volunteer Befrienders to build relationships with children, young people or families. If you have a genuine interest in in the wellbeing of children and young people and live in the Dundee area we would love to hear from you.
What will I be doing?
Volunteers can make a make a difference to a child, young person or family’s life by:
Spending regular time with a Befriendee (child, young person or parent)
Spending time sharing in an activity or hobby with Befriendee
Encouraging Befriendee to attend groups and try new activities
Giving Befriendee someone to trust and talk to
Helping to support families who are experiences difficulties and being there for families when difficulties arise
By volunteering with Aberlour, you can gain:
A sense of satisfaction in helping young people build their confidence and self esteem to achieve their full potential
Experience of supporting young people to flourish.
Practical experience of working with young people
Have fun!
Ayrshire Tigers Powerchair Football Club (South Ayrshire)
We are currently looking for a coach to help our head coach run our weekly Friday training session for the first team at Queen Margaret Academy between 7pm and 9pm. The role will be part time and is a volunteer position. Previous coaching experience would be helpful but not essential.
This role is ideal for graduates of sports degrees or those that are still currently studying and want to earn money on the side of their degree.
Powerchair football is an adaptation of football and no previous coaching experience is required; only an enthusiastic approach, commitment, and a willingness to learn. There will also be opportunities to gain coaching qualifications, through the Club’s affiliation with SPFA and the Scottish Para-Football, as part of the individual’s continued professional development.
The Club is committed to increasing opportunities available to participants with a disability and therefore would like to offer inspiring coaches the chance to learn how to coach Powerchair Football. You will be supported to develop your ‘personal’ coaching skills (communication, organisation, adaptability, and compassion) and your ‘how to’ coaching skills (instruction, demonstration, observation, analysis, feedback and questioning).
A full UK driving licence is desirable but not essential.
In return for your time, the club will assist with you gaining SFA coaching qualifications, First Aid training and put you through your PVG.
We are interested in speaking with people that have a background as/or worked in:
Sports Coaching
Football Coaching
PE Teachers and Teachers with a love for Sport
Teaching assistants with a love for Sport
Primary Teachers with a love for Sport
Experience of working with disabled children/adults
Opportunities:
Opportunities will include:
Observation and the chance to deliver Powerchair coaching sessions.
Coach observation and feedback.
Mentoring opportunities.
Opportunity to gain coaching and refereeing qualifications
Coaching at SPFA match days.
Our aim is to support your understanding, knowledge and experience of coaching to support the long term sustainability of powerchair football in Ayrshire.
Requirements to be a Football Coach at Ayrshire Tigers:
You must be reliable, honest and trustworthy.
Have a full UK driving licence.
You must be a people person and enjoy interacting with others.
Motivate players and be motivated themselves
Prior coaching experience within football (all sports) desirable but not essential
Prior experience working with children and/or adults with disabilities desirable but not essential.
Be well organised and forward plan.
Have a willingness to develop personally and learn new skills.
Communicate effectively.
Make things FUN.
Use time efficiently and effectively.
Develop an appropriate level of technical knowledge.
Observe and analyse players’ skills and make improvements.
Main Duties:
Assisting/leading small group or whole team drills and games.
Laying out equipment ahead of the session.
Dynamic risk assessment of powerchairs and equipment before and after sessions.
Equip players as required e.g. attaching ‘Strikers’ to powerchairs.
Organise players with consideration to ability and individual needs.
Consult with the Head Coach about the aims of the sessions.
Plan, deliver, evaluate and progress the coaching sessions.
Brief all players on the aims of the session and the purpose of each activity.
Undertake organisational jobs e.g. register, equipment checks, delegate to parents and carers.
Ensure that you are well briefed about any special needs of the participant involved i.e. medical condition/disabilities etc
Give constructive feedback to all players.
Abide by and promote sound ethics, club policy, code of conduct, child protection, health and safety, equal opportunities to all members.
Further Opportunities:
Coach at league and cup matches. Offering touchline support and coaching to players.
Attend any meetings with fellow coaches, players, parents and children where appropriate.
Develop your own skills by attending SFA coach education courses and any training that is organised by the club.
Over The Wall is a UK based charity for children and young people with health challenges and disabilities, and their families, to discover a world of mischief and magic. A place where they can be brave and have fun with others.
These amazing places are in-person – at residential camps and also available online – with Camp in the Cloud and Camp 365. And what’s more, it’s all free!
Join their activity team to run some fantastic sessions that have been planned by the activity team and will be taught to you so that you can confidently run them and help bring some fun and excitement to the sessions.
Over the Wall are looking for some amazing people to take on a role as Activity Leader at their Camps in 2023. Do you have a secret talent you’d love to run as an activity? E.g. Arts and Crafts, drama or sports? They’ve previously had origami sessions and woodwork that they could not have run without their amazing volunteers coming forward to provide.
Camp is 2 - 5 days long and you will be required to arrive one day early for training. They will give you all the necessary training and support and provide your accommodation and food for the duration of camp.
Visit www.otw.org.uk to find out more and to start your application.
Over The Wall is a UK based charity for children and young people with health challenges and disabilities, and their families, to discover a world of mischief and magic. A place where they can be brave and have fun with others.
These amazing places are in-person – at residential camps and also available online – with Camp in the Cloud and Camp 365. And what’s more, it’s all free!
If you are looking for an amazing and rewarding experience where you can make a real difference in young people’s lives, whilst developing your skills in communication, team work and creativity, then apply to be a Team Mate now!
Over The Wall is a charity that helps children, young people and their families, living in the UK, reach beyond the boundaries of their health challenges to discover a world of mischief, magic and new possibilities. They do this by providing free of charge, transformative activity camps throughout the UK.
Their Health Challenge & Siblings Camps are magical places where campers take part in fun activities including Sports and Games, Drama, Arts and Crafts and Discovery. Campers will be divided into teams based on their age groups of 8-10, 11-13, 13-15 and 15-17 years of age. Team mates help create a fun, safe and supportive environment for children with health challenges and their siblings to try new things, have amazing impactful experiences, build confidence and time for reflection on all their achievements. You will be part of a team of other incredible volunteers and will need a sense of fun with an energetic, enthusiastic and positive approach.
Camp is 2 - 4 days long and you will be required to arrive one day early for training. Over The Wall will give you all the necessary training and support and provide your accommodation and food for the duration of camp.
To find out more and to start your application, please visit www.otw.org.uk
Over The Wall is a UK based charity for children and young people with health challenges and disabilities, and their families, to discover a world of mischief and magic. A place where they can be brave and have fun with others.
These amazing places are in-person – at residential camps and also available online – with Camp in the Cloud and Camp 365. And what’s more, it’s all free!
Their Health Challenge & Siblings Camps are magical places where campers take part in fun activities including Sports and Games, Drama, Arts and Crafts and Discovery. Campers will be divided into teams based on their age groups of 8-10, 11-13, 13-15 and 15-17 years of age.
Participate in daily camper life to provide nursing/medical care. Facilitate a medically sound and safe camp experience for children with chronic and life threatening illnesses by contributing to a 24/7 provision of residential medical care. Clinical volunteers will work under the supervision of the Director of Nursing and Nursing Coordinators.
You will also be part of a team of other incredible volunteers and will need a sense of fun with an energetic, enthusiastic and positive approach. If you are looking for an amazing and rewarding experience where you can make a difference in young people’s lives and see these young people out of a hospital setting, the sign up to be a clinical volunteer today!
Camp is four days long and you will be required to arrive one day early for training. We will give you all the necessary training and support and provide your accommodation and food for the duration of camp.
Requirements:
NURSE
- Registered Children’s, Adult or Learning Disabilities nurse.
- Qualified for 18 months (Children’s nurse), 2 years (Adult/ Learning Disabilities nurse) or 12 months if previously a student nurse with Over The Wall
- Registered with NMC
- Holds professional indemnity insurance
- Holds valid, current life support training.
DOCTOR
- ST2 or above (or equivalent) Pediatrics, GP or A&E or have recent Pediatric experience Registered with the GMC
- Holds professional indemnity insurance
- Holds valid, current life support training.
PARAMEDIC
- Qualified Paramedic
- Post registration experience: 2 years
- Registered with HCPC
- Holds professional indemnity insurance with College of Paramedics
- Holds valid, current life support training.
This is a wonderful opportunity to work with and befriend adults with additional support needs.
The PHAB Club is a registered charity and offers a range of activities in a social setting. Volunteers offer friendship and help facilitate members to engage in craftwork, computing, music and cooking. The club also organises social events such as a meal out, Christmas party and panto nights.
The club takes place during school term time only
Would you like to help people with learning disabilities to socialise in their local community and make friends?
Dates-n-Mates is a friendship and dating agency for adults with learning disabilities. We run lots of social events and activities, helping people to meet others and to build friendships and relationships.
As an Events Volunteer, your role is to help our members enjoy socialising in safe and friendly environments. Our events include going to restaurants, pubs, cinema, tenpin bowling, day trips and walks. The events are sociable, great fun and your role is very rewarding. You will initially shadow a volunteer or member of staff to help you get to know everyone and see what is involved.
Events take place afternoons and evenings and usually last 2 hours. We ask our volunteers to commit to a minimum of 1 event per month.
Dates-n-Mates offer a variety of training and support to our volunteers. We require our volunteers to join the PVG scheme but there is no cost to yourself. All expenses including travel will also be covered.
For further information or to apply please contact Raynor McCulloch, Volunteer Co-ordinator at E Mail: volunteering@c-change.org.uk or tel. 07720 591229.
Organisation aims and objectives
Our work is underpinned by a human rights-based approach. We believe it is people’s right to live life free of discrimination and to develop friendships and relationships of their choosing, to love and be loved. Dates-n-Mates empower our members to live their life to its fullest potential whilst being active citizens within their community.