Volunteer Role Description: Classroom Assistant Volunteer, Crisis
About Crisis
Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. We are determined to end homelessness. We do it person by person and by influencing policies to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
Homelessness is devastating, leaving people vulnerable and isolated.
Crisis offers ground-breaking housing, health, education and employment services. We work with thousands of homeless people across the UK every year. We are determined campaigners. We draw on our research, partnerships and years of experience of working directly with homeless people to deliver change and a vision to end homelessness for good.
Role outline and the difference you will make
We are looking for friendly, reliable and enthusiastic volunteers to support our coordinators and tutors at learning sessions delivered across a range of different learning environments including hostels, drop-in centres and our Liverpool based office. Sessions are wide ranging in content and include arts, technical skills (plastering/tiling/catering) and functional skills (IT/creative writing/lyric writing/magazine) as well as health and wellbeing.
This would be a great opportunity for anyone who would like experience of a classroom support setting, has an interest in working in a client facing role and has patience and an enthusiasm for learning.
Our sessions take place across Merseyside and will require a weekly commitment of around 3 hours (2 hours for the session plus clearing and setting up). We would like an initial commitment of 12 weeks to cover a whole term.
Timings: Ideal time commitment of 3 hours per week, initially for 12 weeks.
Location: Varies across Merseyside
Responsible to: Supervisor
What you will gain
- Gain experience communicating with people from diverse backgrounds through formal training and experience
- Promote Crisis’ work enabling people to get involved in many aspects of the charity and hear how you have personally influenced the groups you meet
- The opportunity to be part of an influential network of volunteers and meet new people
- The opportunity to be one of the first to hear stories about Crisis’ life changing work
- A way to learn more about homelessness and the charity sector through a structured induction
- Travel and lunch expenses reimbursed where appropriate
Core tasks and what you will achieve
- With direction from the tutor, supporting participants to engage with session related activities. This will include both group and one to one work
- Supporting the collection of data and appropriate information
- Supporting evaluation collection
- Supporting the set up and tidy up of each session
- Supporting obtaining resources and teaching related paperwork.
- Feedback any challenges or opportunities that arise during sessions
- There will be the opportunity to support our special events, for example class trips and our end of term event
The skills & experience we are looking for
- Good communication skills and enthusiasm
- Experience of, or a genuine interest in, working with people
- An interest in or experience in the subject of choice (arts, functional skills, technical skills) – though it is more important that you enjoy working with people.
- An interest in working within the homeless sector
Additional information
All Crisis volunteers are asked to:
- Comply with Crisis policies including health and safety, data protection and code of conduct at all times
- To maintain the privacy and confidentiality of all accessible information about members and the organisation
- Be positive, productive and have the passion to help end homelessness
How do I apply?
For more information contact our Merseyside office on 0151 218 7000 or email merseyside.volunteering@crisis.org.uk. Once we receive your application we will acknowledge receipt and explain the next steps to you.