Volunteers

We are a small, friendly charity which has been awarded Investing in Volunteers status and we like to put our diversity and equal opportunities policies into practice. We welcome volunteers of all ages and backgrounds.

Current paid vacancies (January 2008) - see below or click for details

Current voluntary vacancy - Outreach Volunteer (January 2008) - click for details

Further information
Contact the Centre Manager on 020 8668 0974 or email

How you can help

There are many different volunteer roles at the Centre – some are listed below. We try hard to find a task that is suitable for you and which will give you satisfaction. We have a flexible approach and sometimes a volunteer starts in one role and changes to another at a later date.

Current Paid Vacancies (January 2008)

Volunteer Co-ordinator and Administrative & Development Officer.
The South East Cancer Help Centre is a highly successful and well established charity with modern premises located in Central Purley, with free car parking and close to the station. Working closely with the public health sector we provide complementary therapies, counselling and group activities to those affected by cancer. The Centre is dependant on the support of around 70 volunteers. We are currently recruiting for the following positions:

Volunteer Co-ordinator

22.5 hours over three days, Salary £15,000 per annum

We are looking for someone with at least two years experience of managing volunteers. You will need to have an understanding of good practice in working with volunteers and be familiar with the Investing in Volunteers programme. You will be expected to recruit new volunteers to the organisation as well as supporting and developing existing volunteers. You will pro-actively contribute to the development of the Centre.

Administrative & Development Officer

15 hours over two days, Salary £7,000 per annum
To apply for this position you will need to be an experienced and effective administrator, familiar with a range of Microsoft applications. Ideally, you will have worked in a voluntary sector organisation and be able to communicate with a diverse range of people. You will need to be creative and be open to working in a small team and contribute to the overall development of the Centre.

For an application pack, contact the Centre Manager on 020 8668 0974 or email Closing date: 25th January 2008. Interviews 5th February 2008

Volunteer Roles

Tuesday evening Reception volunteer
To provide Reception cover on a rota basis on Tuesday evenings from 5pm – 9pm (at the latest, times will vary). Duties include welcoming members coming for complementary therapies, making tea, answering the telephone and helping with administrative work if appropriate. Generally a quiet but vital role.

Drivers
Could you collect members who are unable to use public transport and bring them to the Centre and take them home again? We need people who are happy to drive anywhere in the general Croydon borough eg Thornton Heath, Purley. Sometimes members come in for an appointment which usually takes 45 minutes, sometimes they come in for the social events, arriving in am about 10.30am and then going home 2-3pm.

Drivers need to use their own car and be properly insured.

We do not ask volunteers to commit themselves to a regular day - although some of our drivers like to say that they will only be available on a particular day - but simply ring when there is a need for a lift and see if the volunteer is free.

Publicity
Are you enthusiastic and keen to think up new ideas? We need volunteers to join our Publicity team and promote the Centre. This role does not require regular weekly attendance at the Centre.

Leaflet Distributors
Would you like to help but feel that you only have a little time and cannot be pinned down to a set time? One of the sources of income for the Centre comes from money raised from local residents. We need leaflet distributors who will consult wih the Fund Raiser and then deliver letters in agreed roads within the borough. The hours are very flexible and depend on the time you have available.

Fund Raisers
A vital role! We need more people who are willing to help out with different projects from time-to-time.

What will you gain as a volunteer?
you will:
• meet many different people
• gain satisfaction from using your personal qualities, abilities and skills to help others
• be part of a team helping to support people during difficult times
• gain experience of working in a voluntary organisation

How to apply
Ideally ring and have an initial talk with the Centre Manager about yourself, your aims and our volunteer roles on 020 8668 0974 alternatively, email

Our procedure
Volunteer enquirers fill in an application form and the Volunteer Co-ordinator makes contact, has a short discussion about the appropriateness of the application and arranges an interview. This follows a set procedure so all applicants are treated equally. The interview allows for the applicant to find out about the Centre and the various volunteer roles and for the Volunteer Co-ordinator to discuss the applicant’s skills, interests and suitability. If both sides wish to proceed two referees will be contacted for a written reference. Induction and training will be provided.

When not to apply
If you currently have cancer/have a close friend or family member who has cancer or if you have lost someone with cancer in the last two years we thank you for your interest but regret that we cannot consider you as a volunteer.

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Investing In Volunteers award