SSAFA - The Armed Forces Charity (Grampian Branch)

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.


Current opportunities

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to listen, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If so, this could be the role for you. -What is a caseworker? Caseworkers work with clients to figure 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. -Why do we need you? Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan. Our trained volunteers listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help people navigate life in and beyond military service. We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us achieve this. -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! -Is a criminal record check required? Yes *A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case by case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered. There is no cost for volunteers for this. -How to find out more? • Visit us/apply on line at https://www.ssafa.org.uk/volunteer or call our friendly central Volunteer Team on 0800 032 5612. They can answer any general questions about volunteering and put you in touch with your local branch.

Could you help to raise vital funds for SSAFA–The Armed Forces Charity 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 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. *What would you be doing? • Developing an ethical fundraising plan based on the needs of the branch and choosing a mix of sources. • Working with the branch secretary and Regional Fundraising Manager, recruit a team of fundraising volunteers to support events, appeals and collections. • Working with the Regional Fundraising Manager, support national fundraising campaigns. • Working with the Branch Publicity Officer, develop opportunities to combine awareness and fundraising. • Planning and running local appeals, collections and events. • Identifying and submitting applications to appropriate trusts and grant funding organisations. • Working with Marketing staff at central office check that all fundraising materials meet SSAFA branding style and current key messages. • Liaise with Regional Fundraising Manager when pursuing opportunities beyond local sources e.g. corporates, • Evaluate fundraising activities and provide reports and information for the branch. • Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA including all sections of the community in awareness raising. • 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? • 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 clients • 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 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) A great opportunity to help. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. If you wish to volunteer/for further details please contact Julie Silva (Branch Secretary, Grampian) at email: Julie.Silva@grampian.ssafa.org.uk or telephone: 07879846200.

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to listen, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If so, this could be the role for you. *What is a caseworker? 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. *Why do we need you? Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan. Our trained volunteers listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help people navigate life in and beyond military service. We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us achieve this. *When would you be needed and where would you be based? The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. *What does this role involve? • Contacting clients and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time • Meeting 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 • 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 • 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). A great opportunity to help. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. If you wish to volunteer/for further details please contact Julie Silva (Branch Secretary, Grampian) at email: Julie.Silva@grampian.ssafa.org.uk or telephone: 07879846200.

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need. As part of this we have great volunteer opportunities for people to help. This includes assisting as a Volunteer Branch Publicity Coordinator for SSAFA Grampian: *Role – Volunteer Branch Publicity Coordinator for SSAFA Grampian Could you raise SSAFA’s profile in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray? 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 so, this role could be for you! *What is a Publicity Coordinator? As Publicity Coordinator you would work with SSAFA Grampian to develop a Publicity Plan. You would be central to delivering this local plan to raise awareness of SSAFA to potential clients, volunteers and funders. *Why do we need you in SSAFA Grampian? We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us. We need to recruit volunteers that reflect our local communities and raise money to fund our work. We need you to help us get the SSAFA message out! *When would you be needed and where would you be based? This role would suit someone looking to give a regular time commitment to SSAFA, although when and where would be flexible to suit you. *What would you be doing? • Working with the Branch Chair to develop a Publicity Plan to keep SSAFA Grampian’s profile high in the local area • Publicising SSAFA events and those where SSAFA will be represented • Work with Marketing/PR staff at central office to develop case studies of clients and volunteers • Developing and maintaining networks with local press, TV and radio outlets through providing press releases, interviews, case studies etc • Working with the Digital Team at Central Office and Grampian’s Digital Marketing Manager to develop and maintain a local on-line presence for the branch via a website and social media channels *What can you gain from this volunteering role? • 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! A great opportunity to help. All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. If you wish to volunteer/for further details please contact Julie Silva (Branch Secretary, Grampian) at email: Julie.Silva@grampian.ssafa.org.uk or telephone: 07879846200.