Thank you for taking the time to consider joining us as a volunteer. We aim to provide you with all the information you need to decide if Skills Hub is right for you and how you can best use your skills and experience to support families and individuals.

Location of Skills Hub

Skills Hub currently works with children’s centres, youth clubs, primary and secondary schools and other organisations in Central London. With all current volunteer posts, you will need to be within travelling distance to a school or a project site to attend training courses, supervision and staff support.

Volunteer Roles

Administration
All offices sometimes need administration support- whether it’s helping to minute meetings, photocopying, filing or database work. Administration volunteers help keep the office running smoothly. If the office is well organised and supported, the organisation can focus on supporting families. This role suits people who want to start a career in office work or the charity sector or who simply want to spend some time each week working to support a friendly team.

Fundraising
All the work that Skills Hub does to support families costs money and has to be funded by schools, organisations and charities. We need your help to fundraise – whether that’s by collecting money at local events, organising raffles or being sponsored to run a marathon. This role would suit anyone with a good imagination and a sense of creativity and fun.

Programme facilitator
This role provides an empathic, caring and informed response to parents seeking advice.
We provide confidential support, guidance and information about different family issues.
This is a diverse and challenging role – no two families are the same. However, you will receive full support from a staff supervisor and all our volunteers find the work rewarding, inspiring and fulfilling.

Immigration adviser
We work with:

1. People with refugee or humanitarian status (with a few having acquired British citizenship), Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Limited Leave to Remain (LLR), and established migrants needing various support services, e.g. benefit or employment advice.
2. People, who have a legal right to be in the UK, including the ones in the process of regularising their immigration status, who needs support including accommodation, financial assistance and more.
3. People, who are overstayers with no pending immigration application, but who have basic human rights and need support to survive.

You should be an OISC-registered adviser to volunteer for this role.

Employment adviser
You will support people, who need help to find and maintain employment, providing them with necessary skills, assisting with CV and job applications, and more.

Business adviser
You will give advice and support to help new businesses. You will be advising on a range of business areas from finances to business plans. You will need to have good analytical skills and excellent communication for this role.

Outreach
Do you enjoy getting out into the community and meeting new people? This role includes being part of a team that goes to events, tells people about our services, gives out information at community venues such as schools and GP surgeries and generally spreads our message that seeking family support is a strength, not a weakness.

Internships- all areas
We offer structured unpaid internships covering a wide range of topics such as Policy and Communications, Administration, Digital Media, Fundraising and Project Work.

Training and Experience

All our volunteers receive appropriate training ranging from a short induction to 25 hours of professional workshops.
Areas covered in our training programme include:
The ethos and work of Skills Hub
Listening skills
Empathy
Equality
Personal Safety
Group working skills Communication skills
Child Protection and Safeguarding
Supporting families
Dealing with difficult situations
Relationship building

As well as formal training, volunteers can benefit from:
Increased experience in listening and supporting families
Working as part of a passionate team
Experience in the voluntary/ social care sector
Increased confidence
Increased skills and experience for future employment
Motivation
Sense of achievement
New experiences
Working with a diverse range of people
Sense of fulfilment from helping people

Expenses and benefits

Volunteers bring their time, commitment and enthusiasm to Skills Hub and in return we are committed to making sure that volunteers are never out of pocket.
We pay expenses against receipts for the use of public transport and 30p per mile for volunteers who use their cars. Where appropriate we may also provide expenses for lunch and childcare.
For those claiming benefits, volunteering will not affect the money you get, and you can volunteer for as many hours as you like. You should, however, tell your benefits advisor that you are volunteering.

Disclosures and pre-registration checks

We work with vulnerable adults and some volunteers will come into contact with children. Because of this, we ask all volunteers to:
Informally disclose any criminal proceedings or convictions at the application stage.
Discuss these issues at the interview stage if appropriate
Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check

However, having a conviction does not automatically prevent you from volunteering with Skills Hub. We will look at each individual’s circumstances and make an informed decision as to whether applicants are appropriate.

Recruitment processes

Recruitment processes differ for each role but you can expect some or all of the following steps as part of the recruitment procedure:

1. Informal information morning
2. Application Form
3. Interview
4. DBS check
5. Training
6. Probation period (up to 6 months)

How to Apply

If you are interested in volunteering for Skills Hub please fill out our Volunteer Application form and email it to hello@skillshub.org.uk