Childrens Hospices Across Scotland

Charity registered in Scotland SC019724

CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides vital hospice services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions. We offer care for the whole family in our two children's hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch. We also run a homecare service called CHAS at Home helping families in their own homes across Scotland when they need it most.

We are currently supporting over 300 families, as well as significant number of families who receive bereavement support. Our services are funded mainly through the generousity of our many supporters who help us to raise over £9million needed each year to provide these hospice services.


Current opportunities

CHAS Collecting Can Representatives are responsible for emptying, counting and banking the contents of our fundraising cans across a range of sites including pubs, shops and cafes. They also identify potential new sites and approach businesses to ask if they will “host” a can. People donate to CHAS every day through our network of collecting cans across Scotland. It’s vital that we collect this money, count and bank it promptly so we can then spend the funds on developing our services for children and families. Every pound raised makes a difference to the children and families we support. What activities will I be involved in? - Maintaining our existing network of cans in Pitlochry and the surrounding area - Identifying suitable locations for additional cans and approaching businesses - Servicing collecting cans (this involves checking that cans are clearly labelled, numbered and sealed plus). - Emptying cans, counting money and issuing receipts - Banking money and keeping accurate records - Maintaining a record of all can locations CHAS is committed to providing a quality volunteering experience to all volunteers free from discrimination and prejudice. Ensuring that CHAS is an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation improve the quality of care we provide, help us reach more families and children, and maximise a wide variety of knowledge, experience and expertise. We welcome volunteer applications from those who are refugees, asylum seekers, benefit claimants and those with a disability. We can provide more information on if you are allowed to volunteer and what adjustments we can put in place to ensure your volunteering experience is a positive one.

We are looking for volunteers in Perth, St Andrews, Leven or Kirkcaldy. This role gives you the chance to be a real ambassador for CHAS; you’ll be raising awareness of CHAS in local communities and encouraging your audiences to get involved in supporting us, by donating money or time. CHAS speakers identify opportunities to engage new audiences in the work of CHAS by arranging and delivering talks to schools, local businesses, rotary clubs or similar groups. Your local Community Fundraiser may also ask you to fulfil speaking engagements. This role gives you the chance to be a real ambassador for CHAS; you’ll be raising awareness of CHAS in local communities and encouraging your audiences to get involved in supporting us, by donating money or time. What activities will I be involved in? - Identifying opportunities to speak to new groups through local research and your existing knowledge - Making approaches and arranging talks - Creating and delivering short talks about CHAS, as appropriate for each audience What ongoing learning/support/guidance will I receive?  It’s important to us that you feel happy, safe and confident in your role. You will be invited to complete a short core learning package that is tailored to your volunteer role. You will also be given training that is specific to your speaker role and the content of your talks, focusing on key messages about our services.  Your local Community Fundraiser will be your Volunteer Manager and will provide ongoing support and guidance to you in your role. We have also partnered with the Skills Network to offer all our volunteers the chance to develop new skills and explore further learning opportunities. What are the benefits to me? - Getting more involved and making a real difference to the families of children with a life-shortening condition - Meeting new people - Gaining experience and adding to your CV - What are the benefits to the children and families supported by CHAS?  By talking about CHAS to new audiences, you will raise awareness of what we do which will lead more people to fundraise and volunteer with CHAS. This helps us to fund and develop the support we offer to children with a life-shortening condition and their families. As a visible presence and genuine ambassador in the community, you will be the public face of CHAS, improving awareness of our services so that even more families will know about and access our services What else should I know? You should be aged 18 or over to apply for this role. We will pay your out of pocket expenses in line with the CHAS volunteer expenses policy. CHAS is committed to providing a quality volunteering experience to all volunteers free from discrimination and prejudice. Ensuring that CHAS is an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation improve the quality of care we provide, help us reach more families and children, and maximise a wide variety of knowledge, experience and expertise. We welcome volunteer applications from those who are refugees, asylum seekers, benefit claimants and those with a disability. We can provide more information on if you are allowed to volunteer and what adjustments we can put in place to ensure your volunteering experience is a positive one. What’s the next step? If you’re interested in the role you can apply online or if you have any questions please contact the Volunteering Team at volunteering@chas.org.uk or 01577 866065.

As a member of CHASfest, the CHAS Fundraising Events Support Team, you can help us out in lots of ways - you just pick the events that suit you and your diary. You can volunteer as often as you like and choose to do the things you like, or to try something completely new. Whether that's cheering on runners and walkers at events like the Edinburgh Marathon or one of the Kiltwalks, taking on a short shift at a community stall to raise awareness, shaking a bucket at a public collection or even helping out at a pop-up shop, we’re sure you’ll find something to suit you. You just choose your event from the opportunities listed in your regular CHASfest email and sign up online to choose your shift. And you can even bring a friend. How much time should I offer? Flexibility is what CHASfest is all about - now and again, as and when - it's entirely up to you. You might prefer to help out at one big annual event or you might like to look for something once a month. We don't mind at all. What's important is that you choose to give your time in a way, and at a time, that suits you. We welcome existing volunteers and staff from across CHAS to join CHASfest too. It's a great way to meet other volunteers and staff from other parts of the charity and find out more about their teams, and what they do to make a difference to the lives of the families we support. Where is the opportunity based? We have opportunities all over Scotland but predominantly in the central belt, Glasgow and Edinburgh. You can still get involved if you live further afield and can't make it to some events: we are always looking for volunteers to help us raise awareness of the needs of the families we support. CHASfest volunteers can also help us with quick online activities like signing petitions, liking and sharing social media content or emailing MSPs. What support and guidance will I receive? Every event will be led by a member of staff or an experienced senior volunteer and you will receive a full briefing by email beforehand so that you know where you need to be and when, exactly what you'll be doing, who your contact is on the day and how to reach them. We'll provide you with a CHAS branded top before your first event which will be yours to keep and all the kit you need for each event will be supplied when you get there - buckets, banners, etc. What are the benefits to me? - Being part of a team of CHAS staff and volunteers raising awareness and funds - in lots of different ways - to provide unwavering care to the families of children with a life-shortening condition - Meeting new people  - Having fun! What are the benefits to the children and families supported by CHAS? We support families in each of our hospices and in local communities too. Our busy Community Fundraising Team couldn't do the amazing work they do to raise the money to fund these services without the incredible support of volunteers just like you. What else should I know? The role is for those age 18+.We will pay your out-of-pocket expenses in line with the CHAS volunteer expenses policy. CHAS is committed to providing a quality volunteering experience to all volunteers free from discrimination and prejudice. Ensuring that CHAS is an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation will improve the quality of care we provide, will help us reach more families and children and allows us to maximise a wide variety of knowledge, experience and expertise. We welcome volunteer applications from those who are refugees, asylum seekers, benefit claimants and those with a disability. We can provide more information on volunteering eligibility and any adjustments we can put in place to ensure your volunteering experience is a positive one. What’s the next step? If you’re interested in the role you can  apply online or if you have any questions please contact the Volunteering Team at  volunteering@chas.org.uk or 01577 866065. 

CHAS has five key income streams and engagement volunteers help fundraisers raise more money by using their own interests, contacts and networks. Whatever your background, knowledge and interests you can help by volunteering in your own community raising money, building relationships and raising the profile of CHAS. What activities will I be involved in? • Researching potential fundraising opportunities within the West Dunbartonshire community. • use your personal networks and local connections to promote CHAS both as a place to volunteer and worthwhile cause to raise funds for • Utilising your unique local knowledge and interests to enhance fundraising efforts. • Establish and nurture relationships with local businesses and residents to develop fundraising leads and promote volunteer opportunities. • Attend regular catch-up meeting with your volunteer lead/manager • Updating CHAS's fundraising database with relevant information • Representing CHAS enthusiastically and appropriately in the West Dunbartonshire community. Where is the opportunity based? In your own community and supporting your local fundraiser at their office. This role will be based out of Robin House and there will be a requirement to meet your volunteer manager at least once a month at Robin House. What ongoing learning/support/guidance will I receive? It’s important to us that you feel happy, safe and confident in your role. As a CHAS volunteer you will be invited to complete a short core learning package that is tailored to your role – your learning will include representing CHAS and basic health and safety. You can choose to learn as part of a group or complete the learning online. The learning won’t take up much time and will equip you with the skills you need to undertake your role safely and confidently. We are always developing new opportunities for volunteers to learn and offer a range of options for volunteers. All volunteers are assigned a supervisor – this person will be your point of contact and will meet with you on a regular basis to provide you with support and guidance. What are the benefits to me? - An opportunity to use your own skills to help raise money awareness of CHAS - Getting more involved and making a real difference to the families of children with a life-shortening condition in your local community - Gaining experience to add to your CV - Create new contacts and network - Having fun! What are the benefits to the children and families supported by CHAS? By helping CHAS to fundraise you are helping the charity develop our services for children and young people with a life-shortening condition. A visible presence in the community, you are the public face of CHAS and help to raise awareness of our vital services in the community. This improved awareness means that more children and families will know about and access our services. The income streams are Colleges and Universities, Company and Business, Community Events, Schools and Youth Groups and Community Groups which gives volunteers plenty of scope to get involved. If you have an idea to fundraise or knowledge of one of these areas you are ideal as a Community Engagement Volunteer. CHAS is committed to providing a quality volunteering experience to all volunteers free from discrimination and prejudice. Ensuring that CHAS is an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation improve the quality of care we provide, help us reach more families and children, and maximise a wide variety of knowledge, experience and expertise. We welcome volunteer applications from those who are refugees, asylum seekers, benefit claimants and those with a disability. We can provide more information on if you are allowed to volunteer and what adjustments we can put in place to ensure your volunteering experience is a positive one. What’s the next step? If you’re interested in the role you can apply online or if you have any questions please contact the Volunteering Team at volunteering@chas.org.uk or 01577 866065.