Jobs & Volunteering

From April 25^th, we are running a Baby and Toddler Group to provide a safe space for families to build connections and community. The main role of this volunteering opportunity is playing with and caring for the children (0-4 years old), as well as providing a listening ear for parents and caregivers.

General responsibilities:

• Setting out the room, including choosing appropriate toys and games for free play.
• Preparing teas and coffees.
• Supporting the Community Builder with simple activities for the children and discussion topics for the adults.
• Adhering to training and guidelines given to ensure the safety and well-being of all who attend.

Important pre-requisites for the role:

• One of the most important characteristics we are looking for in volunteers is an enthusiasm and passion for children, and an interest in wanting to positively impact their lives.
• Working with toddlers can be frustrating at times. Volunteers should be patient and able to deal with potentially stressful situations in a calm, professional manner.
• Great communication skills are needed in order to effectively listen and talk to the children.
• Volunteers should be creative and flexible and able to adapt when things don’t go to plan.
• Be 18 years old or over.
• Adhere to child safeguarding policies.
• Though the role does not require the volunteer to be a Christian, they must be aware and respectful of the Christian ethos upon which Bethany Christian Trust is founded.

Location:

Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre

5 Moredunvale Pl, Edinburgh

EH17 7LB

Pattern of hours:

The group runs on a Monday from 9.30-11.30am. Volunteers should arrive by 9am and may be required to stay until 12pm to help clear away.

This group runs year round with a few weeks off throughout the year for holidays.

Bethany provides a suite of services which support people struggling with issues of homelessness helping them to: find suitable accommodation and furnish their homes, tackle addictions, learn new skills and gain employment, develop positive social networks and become active members of their local communities. This role is part of Crisis Intervention.

Anne Hope House is a twelve bed residential unit for females coming out of a situation of homelessness. It is a therapeutic community environment in which women are safe, supported and loved. The goal of Anne Hope House is that women will experience freedom and healing from past issues whilst resident here and build on skills and make use of opportunities to move forwards with their lives. There is a range of support offered to these women including groupwork, one to one keyworks, links with external agencies, a programme to build on practical skills and opportunities for recreation. A volunteer is required to support the staff in the delivery of these services.

General responsibilities:

• To support the staff team in giving quality support to residents within Anne Hope House. This includes;
  • Participating in recreational activities with residents and staff.
  • Cleaning and/ or cooking duties as required
  • Recording & updating contact files and other relevant documentation as appropriate.
  • General administrative duties, including answering phones and taking messages.
  • Organising and record medication, finances, and various unit Health & Safety requirements as delegated within the team
• The volunteer will never be ultimately responsible and is there to support the team. They should, however, respond with care, sensitivity and understanding to the issues, concerns and complex situations that residents experience and share.
• Volunteers should also ensure the safety of the community by adhering to visiting procedures and reporting concerns regarding residents’ wellbeing to the appropriate staff member. Personal disclosures by residents should be referred to the wider team as Bethany makes use of additional professional services, particularly in very sensitive matters.
• The volunteer should consult with their supervisor regarding training needs and receive monthly supervision where they should engage fully. There is mandatory training that the volunteer must complete at induction, and additional training may become necessary going forward.

Important pre-requisites for the role:

• Experience of providing general support to vulnerable people.
• This role is emotionally strenuous and the volunteer should be aware of this. The volunteer should be mindful of personal wellbeing, appropriate boundaries and the limitations of the role, remembering that emotional and physical safety is of paramount importance.
• They should be able to develop strong, healthy and appropriate relationships with colleagues, so the ability to work as part of a team is essential.
• An interest and some understanding of homelessness, mental health issues, addiction problems and chaotic behaviour is desirable.
• An ability to maintain clear & accurate records and paperwork and to be organised is vital.
• The volunteer must participate in all necessary training and guidance and be willing and able to do so.
• A volunteer should be flexible in response to a changing environment
• Please note that volunteers in this role are required to have an active Christian faith, to participate in Christian worship, discussion and prayer, and to respond to questions about the Christian faith from personal experience, in order to contextualise Bethany’s Vision of working with vulnerable people as an expression of Christian love in action. This post is restricted to female applicants in order to reduce barriers of access for the all-female residents. As part of the recruitment process for this role, an interview is required

Location

The unit is on the North side of Edinburgh. To maintain a safe environment for the women we accommodate the exact location is confidential until any role is confirmed.

Pattern of hours

• 6pm to 9am. Starting no later than 9pm, spending time with the residents until later in the evening and sleeping accommodation provided overnight. Leaving after 9am.
• The volunteer would be on shift with an employed member of staff who will be awake overnight.
• We ask that volunteers do not volunteer more than 16 hours a week.

Context of the role:

Bethany provides a suite of services which support people struggling with issues of homelessness helping them to: find suitable accommodation and furnish their homes, tackle addictions, learn new skills and gain employment, develop positive social networks and become active members of their local communities. This role is part of Homelessness Prevention and looks to work with vulnerable people in the local community.

Summary of the role:

Click and Connect is a computer drop-in held at Bethany Christian Trust’s Learning Centre. The group is for those who have suffered from poor mental health, those who are experiencing, or have experienced homelessness or inadequate housing. Volunteers are required to help participants learn new digital skills and to help signpost people to health and wellbeing support.

General responsibilities:

• Foster a supportive and encouraging environment through welcoming people to the group, facilitating social interactions through discussions and offering a listening ear
• Offer digital support to those attending the group, as well as offering advice and support on issues such as CV writing, health and well-being, filling out online forms etc.
• Help with the set-up and clean-up of the group, arriving on time in order to do so
• Alert staff of any concerns regarding an individual or situation within the group

 Important pre-requisites for the role:

• Be 18 years old or over
• Have an an understanding of appropriate boundaries and of confidentiality issues which may arise regarding any individual
• Be sociable and have an approachable manner, listening sympathetically and communicating effectively
• Have good time management and organisational skills
• Willing to work as part of the team, but also confident working on a more individual basis
• Have good digital literacy
• Though the role does not require the volunteer to be a Christian, they must be aware and respectful of the Christian ethos upon which Bethany Christian Trust is founded

Location

• Bethany Christian Trust’s Learning Centre – 65 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh, EH6 5JQ

Pattern of hours

• 2 hours per drop-in, plus time either side for set-up and clearing away; the group runs from 10:30 am – 12:30 am every Tuesday.
• Due to current Covid restrictions, we can only accommodate one volunteer per drop-in due to social distancing capacity. Volunteers will be expected to help at the drop-in on a rota basis every 3-4 or weeks, as well as to help cover weeks when other volunteers are unavailable.

Bethany provides a suite of services which support people struggling with issues of homelessness helping them to: find suitable accommodation and furnish their homes, tackle addictions, learn new skills and gain employment, develop positive social networks and become active members of their local communities. This role is part of Homelessness Prevention and looks to work with vulnerable people in the local community.

Summary of the role:

Bethany Christian Trust hosts a weekly group at the outdoor café area at Bridge8Hub. A volunteer is required to support the CDW in creating a supportive, sociable and welcoming environment.

General responsibilities:

• Welcoming and greeting attendees
• Engaging attendees in positive and appropriate conversation
• Ensuring that attendees have hot drinks when desired
• Supporting the CDW by helping plan and facilitate activities, e.g. thinking of discussion topics

Important pre-requisites for the role:

• Volunteers must be confident and able to encourage conversation.
• The volunteer must also be kind, empathetic and considerate. The individuals who attend the group live in the local community and may be struggling with addiction, mental health problem, isolation and financial issues.
• Volunteers must be sensitive to this, and supportive of attendees, whilst also being aware of appropriate boundaries
• At times, attendees at the group can become frustrated, and so the volunteer must be able to remain calm in stressful situations.
• The role is subject to membership in the PVG scheme
• Though the role does not require the volunteer to be a Christian, they must be aware and respectful of the Christian ethos upon which Bethany Christian Trust is founded.

Location:

• Bridge8Hub, Sighthill. Eh11 2Ne, Edinburgh EH11 4NE

Pattern of hours

• Thursdays, 11am-12.30pm

Bethany provides a suite of services which support people struggling with issues of homelessness helping them to: find suitable accommodation and furnish their homes, tackle addictions, learn new skills and gain employment, develop positive social networks and become active members of their local communities. This role is part of Crisis Intervention; specifically the Bethany Christian Centre.

General responsibilities:

• To support the staff team in giving quality support to residents within Bethany Christian Centre. This includes;
• • Participating in recreational activities with residents and staff.
  • Cleaning and/ or cooking duties as required
  • Recording & updating contact files and other relevant documentation as appropriate.
  • General administrative duties, including answering phones and taking messages.
  • Organising and record medication, finances, and various unit Health & Safety requirements as delegated within the team
• The volunteer will never be ultimately responsible and is there to support the team. They should, however, respond with care, sensitivity and understanding to the issues, concerns and complex situations that residents experience and share.
• Volunteers should also ensure the safety of the community by adhering to visiting procedures and reporting concerns regarding residents’ wellbeing to the appropriate staff member. Personal disclosures by residents should be referred to the wider team as Bethany makes use of additional professional services, particularly in very sensitive matters
• The volunteer should consult with their supervisor regarding training needs and receive monthly supervision where they should engage fully. There is mandatory training that the volunteer must complete at induction, and additional training may become necessary going forward.

Important pre-requisites for the role:

• Experience of providing general support to vulnerable people.
• This role is emotionally strenuous and the volunteer should be aware of this. The volunteer should mindful of personal wellbeing, appropriate boundaries and the limitations of the role, remembering that emotional and physical safety is of paramount importance.
• They should be able to develop strong, healthy and appropriate relationships with colleagues, so the ability to work as part of a team is essential.
• An interest and some understanding of homelessness, mental health issues, addiction problems and chaotic behaviour is desirable.
• An ability to maintain clear & accurate records and paperwork and to be organised is vital.
• The volunteer must participate in all necessary training and guidance and be willing and able to do so.
• A volunteer should be flexible in response to a changing environment
• Volunteers should be of Christian faith, in agreement with the vision and values of Bethany and able to show God’s love in action as an outworking of personal Christian faith.

Location:

Bethany Christian Centre

6 Casselbank Street,

Edinburgh

EH6 5HA

Pattern of hours:

5pm to 9am. Starting no later than 9pm, spending time with the residents until later in the evening and sleeping accommodation provided overnight. Leaving after 9am.

General responsibilities:

• The Café is a space for people to learn valuable, employable skills. Volunteers should be mindful of this, and be helpful and supportive, without taking over. If there are no trainees in that day, volunteers are required to run the café in their absence.
• We are particularly keen to find volunteers who are available on Fridays.

Front of House/ Barista

• Supporting and guiding trainees as they learn to use the coffee machine and prepare coffee and other hot drinks
• Assisting the trainees as they learn how to interact with and serve customers
• Taking orders from customers, preparing and serving coffee and other hot drinks
• Maintaining an orderly and clean working area

Kitchen

• Preparing cakes, soups and other foods
• Ensuring that the kitchen remains clean and tidy

General responsibilities:

All volunteers–

• Stock the van with cups, lids, flasks and all food needed before leaving the Centre.
• Serve food and drinks
• Distribute any donations of clothing.
• Speak to clients and offer advice where appropriate.
• Report any incidents, feedback or training needs in the report folders.
• Clean the van on return to the Bethany Christian Centre.

Drivers–

• Check the Care Van for damage or problems before leaving the Centre.
• Drive the Care Van, following the usual route.
• Stay close to the Van at all times in case it needs moved in a hurry.
• Report any incidents or damage to the Van. 

Important pre-requisites for the role:

• To listen and communicate clearly
• To be able to work as part of a team
• To remain patient and calm when under pressure
• A desire to enrich the lives of vulnerable members of society
• An understanding of appropriate boundaries and a willingness to work within these
• Be sympathetic with the aims of Bethany Christian Trust as expressed in its mission and values statements

Volunteers are to meet at the Care Van located behind Bethany Christian Centre, at Jane Street

Please email your application to carevan@bethanychristiantrust.com

Bethany House is a 28 person Emergency Resettlement Unit that, through Christian love in action, works to eradicate homelessness and empower vulnerable people to live independently in society.

Every year, we ask three volunteers to join us for an 11 month, full time placement. Individuals are provided with a shared, self-catered flat to live in and a weekly food allowance.

What would you be doing?

Volunteers are given valuable experience of working in a social care environment, and in an-depth, hands-on experience that can provide a valuable basis for a future career in this area.

Alongside full time staff, volunteers ensure the smooth daily running of Bethany House, creating a safe, supportive, caring and empowering environment for the individuals living in the emergency resettlement hostel.

Further information can be found in the Full Time Volunteer Role Description.

We need volunteers to;

• Change bedding;
• Clean the bathroom including the floor;
• Clean the surfaces in the room.  Include all areas that are touched regularly;
• Vacuum;
• Bag up any left belongings.  People often leave items in their rooms and these should be put into a bin bag and labelled with the room number.  The staff will add the person’s name and log it for safe-keeping.

You will be provided will all the equipment you need and PPE will be available too.

Volunteers must be at least 21. We are looking for volunteers on a weekday evening or midday on a weekend.

Summary of the role:

A trustworthy and compassionate individual, willing to befriend a person who is socially isolated and may also struggle with addiction, homelessness and mental health issues; creating a healthy, meaningful relationship; encouraging and practically helping them to make at least 2 community connections with the support of Passing the Baton staff.

General responsibilities:

• Develop a companionship level relationship with their befriendee (we match male-male and female-female)
• Accompany the befriendee to social activities and community groups. Befrienders do not go into the befriendee’s home
• Participate in induction and on-going training as appropriate and adhere to all procedures and policies
• Send number of hours you spend with the befriendee, on a monthly basis, to Passing the Baton staff.

Important pre-requisites for the role:

• Be 18 years old or over
• A person of Christian faith, rooted in a Christian community
• A befriender should have integrity, be reliable and non-judgemental and be aware of confidentiality issues which may arise regarding the individual. We work with people of all faith and no faith
• Be able to operate under the guidance and support of Passing the Baton staff
• Be sociable and have an approachable manner
• Have good time management and organisational skills

Location

• We operate within Edinburgh.
• As far as possible, we will try and match you to a befriendee who is geographically close to you.

Pattern of hours

• It may be necessary, for the first 2-3 months, to meet up with the befriendee for 1.5 – 2 hours every 1-2 weeks to build a relationship before taking them to a group.
• We recommend, in the early stages, staying with the befriendee when visiting a new community group for the whole time, then gradually reducing your time.
• Where possible, we encourage you to meet during Bethany office hours (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) to ensure a staff member is available in case of emergency.

Training and support available

• All befrienders will receive the necessary Passing the Baton training before becoming a befriender
• Befrienders are encouraged to come to additional training and support evenings
• Passing the Baton staff will contact befrienders to offer help and support as and when required.
• Befrienders are encouraged to contact Passing the Baton staff if they have any problems or if staff can be of assistance to the befriender or befriendee.
• Passing the Baton staff can provide befriending cover, such as when befrienders go on holiday or are ill.
• Expenses can be reimbursed in accordance with Bethany’s volunteer policy.