SSAFA - The Armed Forces Charity

Charity registered in Scotland SC038056

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need. Our teams of trained volunteers and employees provide practical, emotional and financial assistance to the Armed Forces community enabling them to thrive.


Current opportunities

Could you look after the finances for the local SSAFA service in your area? You don’t need a military background, just some good I.T and finance skills. If so, this could be the role for you. One of the key ways we help people is by tapping into various sources of funding on their behalf. Monitoring and reconciling this flow of funding into and out of SSAFA accounts is important to ensure clients receive timely support and we are able to account for all charitable funds in our care. What would you be doing? • Maintaining and reconciling local bank accounts and recording transactions • Supporting divisions to manage their local finances. • Making and recording all authorised payments • Preparing year end accounts and financial statements including arranging an independent review • Working with the branch secretary, advise on a local fundraising programme to cover branch running costs. • Identify and manage the return of any surplus monies from grants as appropriate. • Providing reports to the branch committee and to SSAFA’s Central Office • Maintaining accurate records using our on-line finance management system • 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.)

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of help they need. Next, they find the right sources of support and arrange for clients to access it. This might be funds for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc. The essential part of the role is interacting with clients, so you may be visiting clients or doing this virtually. As part of your local branch you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. What does this role involve? • Contacting clients and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time either face-to-face or remotely • Liaising with clients and completing a form to assess their circumstances • Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice • Applying on the client’s behalf to military and non-military sources of charitable funding • Arranging for the purchase of goods and services • Keeping in touch with the client so they know how their case is progressing • Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability • Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients • 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? • Support people in your community with a military background • 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! Minimum Age: 18 Is a criminal record check required? Yes

Could you help SSAFA reach more supporters and raise greater awareness of our services through the magic of social media and digital marketing? You don’t need a military background, just some basic digital skills, the ability to get on with a wide range of people and good written English. If you have I.T or digital marketing experience, that would be great but not essential. We’d love you to get in touch to find out more.

Could you help to raise vital funds for SSAFA in your local area? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with all kinds of people, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If you already have some fundraising experience that would be great too but it’s not essential. As a Fundraising Coordinator, you would work with your local SSAFA branch to develop a Fundraising Plan. You would be central to delivering this local plan to raise funds through a range of local sources including grants, trusts, appeals, collections. As Fundraising Coordinator, you would work with your local SSAFA branch to develop a Fundraising Plan. You would be central to delivering this local plan to raise funds through a range of local sources including grants, trusts, appeals, collections and events Why do we need you? SSAFA branches rely on a regular charitable income to fund all the necessities behind our support for clients. This includes volunteer travel expenses, phone bills, publicity and grants for clients in urgent needs. A varied programme of fundraising also keeps the SSAFA profile high in the local community. We’d love to hear from you if you could help by coordinating this vital aspect of your local SSAFA branch. What can you gain from this volunteering role? Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising funds used directly to support client 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. What are we looking for? Friendly and approachable people with good communication skills including written and spoken English Confident to deal with the public, potential clients, volunteers, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues – face-to-face, by phone, email or via social media Experience of running events and or submitting funding applications would be welcome but not essential Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address Ability to make enquires about fundraising opportunities by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms Reliable attitude, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely Access to public transport or a car to get to meetings and events Able to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well (other than relatives) Referees We have a few restrictions on who can act as a referee for you and your application: The referee must have know you for at least two years - and you must still be in contact now. The referee cannot be a member of your family. The referee cannot live at the same address as you. Equality, diversity and inclusion We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support disabled volunteers, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as non-disabled volunteers.