Volunteer Branch Secretary

Could you coordinate local SSAFA services in your area? You don’t need a military background, just basic I.T and admin skills, the ability to get on with people and good written and spoken English. If so, we’d love to hear from you.

**What is a Branch Secretary?**

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. These are divided into local areas that we call divisions. Each branch has a secretary to organise day-to-day activities. This is a key role involving administration and coordinating people. As the first point of contact for SSAFA in the area you will play a crucial part in promoting SSAFA locally, organising local events and ensuring the smooth running of SSAFA across the divisions in your branch.

**Why do we need you?**

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and the number of people contacting us for help rises each year. In recognition of their service to the Nation we aim to provide financial, practical and emotional support when it’s needed most. To do this we need local branches and volunteers who can match clients to volunteers and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

**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. You would also need to organise and attend a number of regular meetings each year.

**What would you be doing?**
- Managing the branch office (if applicable) and providing support to all volunteers, especially new ones
- Work with the branch Chairperson, treasurer and others to ensure smooth running of the branch
- Accepting referrals and coordinating SSAFA caseworkers, visitors and helpers accordingly
- Oversee all SSAFA casework across the branch ensuring clients get support that is effective and timely
- Monitor volunteer numbers against the demand for support and recruit new volunteers as needed
- Working with the local training officer to ensure all volunteers are kept up to date with the training and information they need
- Build relationships with regional and central office staff to ensure an effective flow of information
- Maintaining accurate records of volunteers and cases, submit accurate data to Central Office
- Providing administration for an annual programme of meetings including an AGM, recording and implementing decisions
- 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.)

**What can you gain from this volunteering role?**
- Gain 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 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 about training and support?**
- A three-day course for new branch secretaries. Your trainer will guide your group of like-minded volunteers through everything you need to know to run a SSAFA branch.
- On-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families and personal information safe.
- Access to a range of e-learning courses as well as local opportunities to keep your training up to date.
- Support from the Chair of the branch
- Support from the Volunteer Support Manager (per region)
- Access to the Welfare Team and Volunteer Support Team based at our central office
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

**What are we looking for?**
- Friendly and approachable people of any age (18+) 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 training course)
- Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to reporting any safety concerns etc
- Reliable attitude, contact clients and volunteers promptly, keep appointments etc.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely
- Access to public transport or a car to travel to meetings, events etc.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA a