Volunteer Divisional Secretary

This role covers Gateshead and surrounding areas.

Would you like to coordinate the local SSAFA service in your area? Do you enjoy working as part of a team? You don’t need a military background, just good communication and I.T. skills. If so, this could be the role for you

**What is a Divisional Secretary?**

The is a key role involving administration and coordinating people. As the first point of contact for the division you will play a key part in promoting SSAFA locally, matching clients to volunteer caseworkers and supporting volunteers to get the best outcomes for their clients.

**Why do we need you?**

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

We aim to provide financial, practical, and emotional support when it’s needed most. More people than ever before are coming to us for help, and you will be one of the people contacting new clients and getting them the support, they need.

**When would you be needed and where would you be based?**

This role is about coordination and administration. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role would suit someone looking to offer a regular time commitment each week.

**What would you be doing?**
- Acting as the first point of contact for SSAFA in the local area
- Taking enquiries from potential clients and potential volunteers
- Matching new clients to available caseworkers
- Supporting caseworkers, particularly new volunteers
- Working with the local publicity officer to promote SSAFA locally.
- Providing reports to the local SSAFA branch and to SSAFA’s Central Office
- Maintaining accurate records on our on-line case management system
- Coordinating SSAFA Visitors and Helpers (if applicable)
- Organising local meetings to keep all volunteers up to date with the latest training and information.
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)

SSAFA is embarking on a programme of review and change to ensure that the beneficiary is at the heart of all that we do and that volunteers are fully supported in their roles. The remit of this role is likely to change over the next 12-18 months, away from supporting caseworkers to focus on fundraising and ambassadorial activities. This will help us to raise the profile of SSAFA and of the services we offer to the Armed Forces family. By joining us now, you will be part of that transition and can help shape the future of SSAFA.

**What can you gain from this volunteering role?**
- Experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health - studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression

**What training and support would you receive?**
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker course, caseworker IT system training, volunteer management - case management and quality. The caseworker course takes 3 days and please allow a further day for the other training.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Access to a range of e-learning courses
- Local induction
- Support from the branch secretary.
- Access to the Welfare Team and Volunteer Support Team based at our central office.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

**What are we looking for?**
- Friendly and approachable people with some experience of coordinating people and admin
- Good written and spoken English.
- Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues.
- Ability to coordinate a team of people volunteering.
- Willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the tr