Community Focus Volunteer

Would you like to support someone to overcome obstacles they currently face and help them to live a better life?  

Volunteering at our Burnley Hub

Our Hub is there to help people to understand the range of services available to them, and to support people to live as happily and as independently as possible. Our Community Focus volunteer role is for anyone that wants to support people who drop into our Burnley Hub, to overcome barriers and help them with a range of issues that may include:

• health and social care;
• social isolation;
• benefits;
• finances;
• housing;
• employment and training.

Our Community Focus Team helps people to live the life they want to live.  

If yes…

Then our Volunteer Community Advocacy opportunities may be right for you!

You could be part of a community focus advocacy team that offers:

• To create trusting relationships with adults who are having trouble in navigating and accessing services
• To ensure people are listened too and actively involved in the decisions that affect their lives
• To support people to attend meetings/appointments with (but not limited to) GP’s, hospital appointments, the Jobcentre/benefit office, colleges, and or housing organisations
• To accompany our qualified Independent Advocates to client visits and appointments
• To support to our ‘pop-up’ advocacy outreach provision and raise awareness of our service within the community and at our Community focus hub.
• To support people in need of services and make them aware of their rights to statutory advocacy
• To help
• To support people to make a complaint regarding a negative experience when using services

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for reliable, compassionate, caring, respectful and understanding people who are good communicators to join our volunteer team.

You do not need to be an advocacy expert; empathy matters more than academic qualifications or experience and we are keen to hear from people of all ages and walks of life.

All we ask is that you are keen and able to:

• Complete and submit the relevant paperwork and forms
• Keep up to date with relevant legislation
• Be computer literate and have access to emails and Microsoft Teams on a device
• Adhere to our volunteer policies and procedures
• Maintain strict confidentiality
• To commit to 3 or 4 hours a week for a minimum of 6 months
• Work as part of a team
• Travel using public transport or your own vehicle for which you should have a full UK driving licence

What you will receive in return:

• Training opportunities
• An opportunity to develop your skills and experience
• Support and encouragement from our volunteer management team and the community advocacy team
• Out of pocket expenses
• Testimonials or a reference to support your career progression
• And most of all … a rewarding experience

OUR VALUES

Quality: We deliver high quality advocacy – we have over 20 years’ experience of providing expert, person-led advocacy.

People: We put people at the heart of everything we do and want to enable them to make positive change in their lives.

Respectful: We are a respectful team – we treat everyone equally and make sure everyone feels valued, respected and listened to.

Trust: You can trust us and know that we will keep your information confidential and safe.

Independent: We are independent of councils and health services and we are on your side.

Learning:  We never stop learning – we learn from the people we support, our partners and each other. 

You can download the role description and Privacy Notice below. The application form including equal opportunities monitoring opens up as an online form.

• Community Focus Volunteer – Role Description
• Community Focus Volunteer – Application Form
• Advocacy Focus Privacy Notice
• Criminal Convictions Declaration Form

To apply, please click the Applications form above and type into the form, including equal opportunities. When filled in, simply click submit to send.

Advocacy Focus, Saturn House, Mercury Rise, Altham Business Park, BB5 5BY

Although we would like to acknowledge each returned application, as a registered charity, we would prefer to avoid the costs this would incur. Therefore if you have not received a response, please assume you have not been short-listed for an interview.

Thank you for your interest.