Example volunteer role descriptions

Here are some example role descriptions that you could use to help your volunteers understand what you need from them.

Virtual digital support/befriender

Befriending involves spending time and offering support, guidance, encouragement and in most cases just time to listen.

Core Duties:

  • Establish and build a befriending relationship.
  • Take the time to listen to who they are, what they have done previously and currently do now.
  • Encourage person(s) to express their interests and desires for using technology.
  • Demonstrate how mainstream devices such as smartphones, tablets and PC’s can be adapted to meet their needs and requirements. Support them in performing a range of digital activities across communication, leisure and access to researching using Google (or other search engines)
  • Identify suitable digital activities which can enable them to achieve greater independence and social inclusion. e.g. Using communication tools such as FaceTime, Zoom or skype, email or Facebook to communicate with their Family, Friends, Children or Grandchildren.
  • Provide advice, information and guidance on new and suitable technologies and explain how these may be of benefit to the individual.
  • Guide, teach and train person(s) to use the devices in an appropriate way that can meet their needs and aspirations.
  • Encourage person(s) to perform their chosen digital activities independently and with confidence.

Experience & Qualities needed:

  • Proven understanding and interest in technology such as smartphones. tablets, e-readers, Laptops, PC’s.
  • Confident and is able to interact effectively building rapport and a relationship that will great benefit to those that are isolated or vulnerable
  • Has the ability to communicate potentially complex processes in an easy to understand way with a confident manner
  • Has an approachable nature and has a patient way in order that they are able to support people with varying communication needs and experiences of technology.

Practical support driver

As a Volunteer Support Driver you will be providing an essential range of duties from picking up prescriptions for delivery through too delivering shopping or ensuring that individual/s are able to be taken and picked up from certain locations whether that is for shopping or hospital appoints.

Core Duties

  • Smiling and happy as you might be the only person someone see’s all day
  • If you utilise your own vehicle you must ensure that your vehicle is safe for purpose and insured to undertake transportation.
  • Collect passengers and drive them to/from their destination/s.
  • Ensure any bags, luggage, walking aids, wheelchairs etc… are safely stowed.
  • Maintain contact with the Charity, Voluntary, Community Group with which you are performing as a Practical Support Driver, informing them of any concerns you may have about individuals on the journey or to whom you ae delivering too.
  • Wait for passengers attending appointments or, depending on the length of appointment, to leave them and return later to take them home.
  • Talk to / listen to your passengers (if that’s what they want), making them feel comfortable in your company.
  • Talk to / listen to any individuals that you deliver to (if that’s what they wants)

Experience & Qualities needed

  • You must have up to date vehicle insurance
  • You will have a current and legal driving license
  • You will have an approachable manner and ensure whomever you interact with at any time feels comfortable in and around you.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
  • Be sympathetic to, and be able to the changing circumstances that we all find ourselves in at this present time
  • Adhere to data protection policies and procedures.

Telephone Befriender

This service seeks to reduce social isolation and loneliness for people affected by the current Coronavirus, by providing person centred support or over the telephone.

Core Duties

  • Provide regular, friendly and person-centred conversations with people who are vulnerable or living in isolation
  • You are to help raise the spirits or just listen to whomever you are talking with. Remember you might be the one and only person that they speak with all day, so your support is very much needed
  • You will be matched with people based on their interests and preferences.
  • You will focus on each individual’s strengths, helping them to remain connected, feel valued and more confident

Experience & Qualities needed

  • You will be someone who enjoys quality conversation, is a good listener and who are comfortable making telephone calls from remote location
  • You will be passionate about supporting, enabling and empowering people who are vulnerable or isolated
  • You will adhere to the boundaries, policies and procedures as set out by the Charity, Community or Voluntary Group with which you are working with at that time
  • You will abide to the strictest confidence at all times with regards to the sensitivity of those that you will be talking with.

Pen Pal Befriender

This service seeks to help by simply putting pen to paper and writing to those who are more vulnerable or in social isolation due to the current effects of the Coronavirus.

Core Duties

  • Provide regular, friendly and person-centred letters, creating conversations with people who are vulnerable or living in isolation
  • You are to help raise the spirits to whomever you are writing to, remember that you might be the one and only person that they get to interact with regularly so your support is very much needed
  • You will be matched with people based on their interests and preferences.
  • You will focus on each individual’s strengths, helping them to remain connected, feel valued and more confident

Experience & Qualities needed

  • You will be someone who enjoys writing letters, creating quality conversation for ongoing written communication
  • You will be passionate about supporting, enabling and empowering people who are vulnerable or isolated
  • You will adhere to the boundaries, policies and procedures as set out by the Charity, Community or Voluntary Group with which you are working with at that time
  • You will abide to the strictest confidence at all times with regards to the sensitivity of those that you will be writing to.

Support your local community during COVID-19

VAL is working with Leicester City Council and Leicester County Council to build a bank of volunteers to help during the Coronavirus pandemic. If you need volunteers to support your community, or if you want to volunteer, sign up on our volunteering website.

Visit VAL Volunteering