Volunteer Support Officer

Job Introduction

Volunteers make up a key part of Diabetes UK, and every year approximately 7,000 people give their time to help us increase our impact and extend our reach to support people with diabetes, their families and those at high risk of developing diabetes in the future.

The post holder will provide effective support to the Volunteering and Outreach Manager in the delivery of volunteering in the South West Region including taking the lead in coordinating certain areas of work and projects.

Role Responsibility

As Volunteer Support Officer you will enjoy a varied and lively role within the regional team.

You will be responsible for delivering project work and supporting individual volunteers (under the direction of the Volunteering and Outreach Manager) and for supporting our Local groups and Communities.

More specifically you will be responsible for promoting volunteering opportunities across the region and ensuring a coordinated approach to communications with our volunteers.

• You will work with others to develop and recruit to volunteering roles and support the coordination of our volunteers in awareness raising events, risk assessments and other events where appropriate.
• You will act as the key point of contact for volunteers and support them in adhering to our policies, with logistics such as expense claims and training and keeping records up to date.
• You will provide administrative support to our Local groups and communities including support with mailings and e-communications, signposting Diabetes UK resources and helping them to use our website templates. You will help them ensure their activities meet the necessary health and safety, data protection, safeguarding and other relevant policies.
• You will help Local groups to remain sustainable – helping with recruitment to committees or establishing new groups – ensuing they work within the framework of our Local groups agreement and Finance and expenditure guidelines.
• You will also play a key role in supporting the Volunteering and Outreach manager to plan, coordinate and deliver our regional volunteering conference, networking days, volunteer awards ceremony and other training events.
• You will keep our website up to date and coordinate and write engaging communications to our volunteers to keep them abreast of all the important work they are helping us to achieve.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will have a genuine passion for and experience of working with and supporting volunteers to get the most from their experience whilst supporting Diabetes UK to achieve its ambitious strategy.

You will be an excellent communicator with excellent organisational and administrative skills with an ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team.

Package Description

What we can offer you: 

• Generous annual leave starting at 25 days plus bank holidays 
• A Cash Healthcare Plan (giving you up to £1,600 towards a range of out of pocket health expenses like new glasses, dentist, chiropractor or osteopath appointments) 
• Early finish Friday and flexible working 
• Discounts on gym membership and days out 
• Employee assistance programme to give you support on any issues that come up in life  
• Annual season ticket loan 
• Very active social scene including sport teams, gardening and other activities 
• Generous pension provision, life assurance and permanent health insurance 

About the Company

Diabetes is the most potentially devastating – and fastest growing – health crisis of our time, requiring ongoing high-quality care and support. There are currently 4.6 million people in the UK living with diabetes, and 12.3 million more at increased risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Those diagnosed face the risk of life-changing, and life-limiting, complications, unless they are given the very best care and the support they need to manage their condition well. As a society we need to work together now – and take action now – to fund critical research, improve healthcare and treatment, and prevent yet more people developing this potentially life-threatening condition. 

Diabetes UK is a forward thinking and commercially focused organisation, and is the leading charity for the 4.6 million people with the condition in the UK.

As we continue to improve our processes, through continual development and change, this is an exciting time to join us. With established funding streams and following on from the success of our previous five-year plan, we are in a strong position to continue developing and responding to changing environments.

We rely heavily upon the expertise and motivation of our staff in order to work towards our many aims and meet objectives. We aim to be an equal opportunity employer; the organisation recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. We gladly make the adjustments required for people with disabilities to join us. Our diverse functions mean that we can offer you a wide range of rewarding career opportunities.

Under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, as amended in particular by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 this post is subject to pre-employment criminal records checks through the Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS), Disclosure Scotland, Access NI.  

Diabetes UK recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. 

We have a vision of a world where diabetes can do no harm – if you’d like to be part of that, why not join us? 

To learn more about the work we do - Click here

Diabetes UK