Helping you to help others.

OPP OF THE DAY – Volunteer Opportunities with Beacon

Volunteer Roles – Vacancies List

Autumn/Winter 2023

To apply for a role please contact:  people@beaconvision.org or 01902 880111 and ask for a member of the People Team.

Lifestyle Volunteers

Based at our centre in Sedgley, the purpose of this role is to provide assistance to staff in delivering a varied programme of social and leisure activities in small groups and on a one-to-one basis, helping to support the visually impaired people who visit the centre.  Hours available:  10am – 3pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays.  An enhanced DBS check and two references will be required for this role.

Befrienders

We are looking for more Befrienders to provide telephone and/or face to face support to lonely and isolated people living within the local area.  This will involve making weekly phone calls or home visits to offer a listening ear and social contact, keeping a log of phone calls and brief details of conversations. Befriending volunteers must be able to make calls from their own devices that incur no cost to them (unlimited minutes, free landline calls etc).   No experience is needed, however a polite, friendly and empathetic manner is essential. 

It’s preferable that Befrienders, wherever possible, are able to commit to a period of befriending of at least 6 months, though this is not essential. Good communication and listening skills and a friendly, approachable manner are essential, as are reliability and a commitment to confidentiality. Once telephone befriending is established, volunteers can go on to ‘in person’ befriending if required and if agreed by both parties. An enhanced DBS check and two references will be required for this role.

Volunteers to look after Assistance Dogs

We are delighted to be working in partnership with Wolverhampton Grand Theatre to recruit volunteers to look after assistance dogs during performances at the theatre.  Volunteers will be able to look after the dogs in the theatre’s Encore lounge with a complimentary drink, whilst their owners enjoy performances that may not be appropriate for assistance dogs.

If you are a dog lover and would be interested in joining Beacon’s volunteer team for this unique and flexible volunteer opportunity, please do contact us. Volunteers will need to have a basic DBS check and two references.

Collection Box Volunteer

This opportunity is available within our successful Income Generation team. Suitable for one or more volunteers, the role requires a full driving licence and can be flexible with days and hours. You will be required to collect the contents of Beacon branded collection boxes from shops, newsagents, pubs and restaurants, in and around the Wolverhampton, Dudley and Stourbridge areas.  Collection boxes have always been an important source of fundraising for the Beacon Centre and we need help collecting the donations now more than ever.  A basic DBS check and two references will be required.

Bowling Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to assist and support our visually impaired and blind bowlers.  We visit Castlegate, Dudley on a Friday once a month. Volunteers will support bowlers by guiding them to the lanes, help with positioning etc.

An enhanced DBS check and two references will be required for this role.

Walking Volunteers

Volunteers are required to help support visually impaired people to walk round a secure outdoor environment. Some of our members need guides which will be the volunteers main role. We walk once a month on a Friday (usually the fourth Friday of the month) around West Park for an hour at a slow steady pace, stopping at a café for refreshments after the walk.

Must be happy to engage/chat with the members on the walk.  

West Park, 11am – 12 – Connaught Road gate entrance.

An enhanced DBS check and two references will be required for this role.

Swimming volunteers

Volunteers needed to help support our members from the minibus to the Centre, assist them round the changing rooms and to the lockers and guide them to poolside. You have the option whether you want to go into the pool or not. There is always a qualified swimming instructor in the pool. You are not expected to teach anyone to swim. You not expected to help anyone get changed. All members are independent but need support getting round a new environment. We currently swim twice a month on a Monday and a Wednesday.

An enhanced DBS check and two references will be required for this role.

Fishing Volunteers

We currently fish about once a month on a Wednesday (usually the third Wednesday of the month) between 11am and 2pm. Our volunteers need to be confident in handling fish and bait and just generally supporting our members. It is a very relaxed role at Albrighton Fishing Moat. All equipment is provided.

An enhanced DBS check and two references will be required for this role.

Bus Buddy Volunteers

Volunteers to provide a befriending service to members using transport services within Beacon Court and the Lifestyle Centre and local communities, involving accompanying members and support with recreational activities for day trips, shopping outings and general social inclusion and to support and guide member on and off transport (when used for trips etc).

An enhanced DBS check and two references will be required for this role.

Book Club volunteer

Volunteer(s) needed to help support a  Book Club. We meet once a month, on a Thursday at Beacon Centre Sedgley. You will need to have an interest in reading and be comfortable communicating with people and supporting with providing refreshments. It is a very relaxed and enthusiastic group with a great passion for reading.  An enhanced DBS check and two references will be required for this role.

Shop volunteers— Sedgley, Bilston, Bloxwich, Cannock, Penkridge, Wolverhampton Clearance Centre, Halesowen

Volunteering in one of our shops is an opportunity to learn and develop in retail, work as part of a great team and support Beacon at the same time. Tasks will involve arranging window displays, shelves and rails, serving customers on the till,  maintaining the tidiness of the shop and steaming and pricing clothing.  Volunteers will also receive certificated training   

Volunteer Van Drivers/Drivers Mates

Based at our Wolverhampton Warehouse, volunteers will drive around the local community delivering and collecting stock.  The role is best suited to those who are experienced drivers, although there are opportunities to volunteer as a drivers mate as well.

(You would be required to work 9.30am to 12.30pm and/or 12.30pm to 4pm).

Volunteer Minibus Drivers

Volunteer minibus drivers will be required to drive around the local community picking up and dropping off members, also assisting members on and off the minibus.  Some driving experience is preferred and you would need to have a category D1 on your driving licence. An enhanced DBS check and two references will be required for this role.

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