Outreach Volunteer

The Hope Hub is looking for a friendly, approachable and reliable volunteer to support our St Martin's Outreach Pop-Up Advice Centre, based at St Martin's Church in Old Dean. The pop-up provides a welcoming and accessible place for local people to come along and access practical advice, support and signposting from our experienced caseworker.

People may come for support with a range of issues, including debt management, housing concerns, benefits and welfare advice, financial difficulties, accessing local services and other challenges they may be facing.

As a volunteer, you will work alongside the caseworker to help create a warm, welcoming and supportive environment for everyone who comes through the door.

Your role may include:

• Welcoming and greeting people as they arrive.
• Making tea, coffee and other refreshments for visitors and the team.
• Supporting the caseworker with basic paperwork and administration.
• Helping people complete forms or organise information where appropriate.
• Helping to manage the flow of visitors and supporting the general running of the drop-in.
• Providing a friendly listening ear and directing people to the caseworker when they need advice or support.
• Helping with signposting people to appropriate local services, where directed by the caseworker.
• Entertaining and engaging with children who may accompany their parents or carers while they access advice.
• Keeping the space tidy, welcoming and organised.
• Helping with any other practical tasks that allow the advice centre to run smoothly.

What Kind of Support Do We Provide?

Our caseworker may support people with issues such as:

• Debt and money management
• Housing and homelessness
• Benefits and welfare advice
• Financial hardship
• Accessing local community services and support
• Signposting to specialist organisations and services
• Other practical issues that may be affecting an individual's wellbeing or circumstances

Volunteers are not expected to provide specialist advice. You will work alongside the caseworker and help people access the appropriate support, while providing a friendly and welcoming first point of contact.

This role would suit someone who is friendly, patient, approachable and community-minded.

You don't need previous advice or casework experience — you'll be working alongside an experienced caseworker, who will lead on the advice and support provided.

We're looking for someone who:

• Enjoys meeting and helping people.
• Is comfortable working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Can maintain confidentiality and respect people's circumstances.
• Is organised and happy to help with practical tasks.
• Is comfortable around children and able to engage them in age-appropriate activities.
• Can work as part of a small team.
• Understands the importance of treating everyone with dignity, kindness and without judgement.

Why Volunteer With Us?

For someone facing debt, housing problems, benefit difficulties or financial hardship, knowing where to turn can be overwhelming. Our pop-up advice centre provides a local, approachable and non-judgemental place where people can take that first step towards getting help.

As a volunteer, you'll help make sure that people who walk through the door feel welcomed, listened to and supported from the moment they arrive.

Sometimes it's the small things — a warm welcome, a cup of tea, helping someone with paperwork, or keeping a child occupied while their parent speaks privately with the caseworker — that make it possible for someone to access the help they need.

If you have a few hours to spare on a Thursday and would like to make a positive difference in your local community, we'd love to hear from you.

About The Hope Hub

The Hope Hub is a community-focused service supporting people who are experiencing homelessness, hardship, crisis, or social isolation. We provide a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space where people can access practical support, food, companionship and signposting to services that can help them move forward.

Our crisis area is an important part of what we do. It provides a warm and supportive environment where service users can have something to eat, access essential supplies, talk to someone, and receive practical support during difficult times.