At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals using substances in a harm reduction café, promoting safety and education.
- Company: Change Grow Live, dedicated to empowering individuals through support and community.
- Benefits: Gain valuable experience, training opportunities, and make a real difference in people's lives.
- Other info: Volunteering every Monday evening, with potential for additional opportunities.
- Why this job: Use your lived experience to help others while building connections and skills.
- Qualifications: Must be 18+, with personal experience of substance use and a desire to support others.
At Change Grow Live you will be supporting people who use alcohol/substances to help them change the direction of their life, grow as an individual and live life to its full potential. In this role as a Harm Reduction Volunteer, you will support the smooth running of our Harm Reduction café. You will play a key role in supporting the service and the people who use our services. This role is ideal for someone with their own lived experience of substances, who is now stable and can offer that peer support to help others.
As a harm reduction volunteer, you will be volunteering in a harm reduction café, which is designed for individuals who continue to use alcohol and drugs, without any pressure or requirement to stop or change their usage. Its primary purpose is to provide support for substance users by educating them on harm reduction strategies and ensuring that their choices are as safe as possible. Additionally, the café will offer attendees access to training, educational opportunities, and meaningful social connections. Unlike a recovery café, this initiative does not emphasize transitioning away from substance use toward recovery but rather keeping you safe with harm reduction advice.
Volunteers will play a crucial role in promoting harm reduction techniques, with a particular focus on training and distributing Naloxone. You will be required to complete mandatory training prior to undertaking the role and will receive further training in injecting equipment provision (IEP), sexual health, and blood-borne viruses (BBV), and may then be involved in dry blood spot testing. The café runs every Monday, on an evening from 5pm to 7pm. There may also be other opportunities in our other harm reduction café. This is a great volunteering opportunity for someone who has approximately 3 hours once a week to offer their time to support the opening, running and closing of the harm reduction café.
Please note that we require you to be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this volunteering role. This post is subject to a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme check level 2 disclosure with PVG.
Volunteer Harm Reduction Support employer: Change Grow Live
Change Grow Live is an exceptional employer that fosters a supportive and inclusive work culture, where volunteers can make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals using substances. By joining our Harm Reduction café, you will not only gain valuable training and experience but also become part of a community dedicated to promoting safety and well-being. We prioritise personal growth and offer unique opportunities for peer support, making this role both rewarding and fulfilling.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Volunteer Harm Reduction Support
✨Get Involved with Local Causes
Start connecting with local nonprofits or social impact projects in your area. Attend their events, offer to help out with community initiatives, or just drop by to chat about their mission. This way, you’ll not only learn about the work they do but also make meaningful connections that could lead to volunteer opportunities.
✨Leverage Social Media for Social Impact
Platforms like Twitter and Instagram are goldmines for discovering volunteer opportunities in the nonprofit sector. Follow organisations you’re passionate about, engage with their posts, and keep an eye out for their volunteer calls. It’s a great way to show your interest and dedication!
✨Utilise Volunteer Matching Platforms
Sites like VolunteerMatch or local community boards are perfect for finding short-term and long-term volunteer roles. These platforms can connect you with causes that align with your passions and skills, and often allow you to browse opportunities tailored to your interests.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
When you spot an organisation you like, don't hesitate to visit their website and check out their volunteer section. Many nonprofits have dedicated pages for volunteers where you can apply directly – and we’ve found that this route often leads to quicker responses and more personalised interactions!
We think you need these skills to ace Volunteer Harm Reduction Support
Some tips for your application 🫡
Share Your Passion for Social Impact:When you're applying for a volunteer role at a nonprofit like Change Grow Live, don’t just list your skills. Show us why you're passionate about social impact! Use your cover letter to tell a story about what drives you and how you've been involved in similar initiatives. Personal connections to the cause can really make your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to showcase any previous volunteer work or projects that demonstrate your commitment to social impact. Whether it’s fundraising, community outreach, or project management, detail your contributions and the results achieved. This kind of experience is invaluable in the nonprofit sector and can help us see your potential!
Get Creative with Your CV:In the world of nonprofits, a standard CV might not cut it. Consider using a more creative format that showcases your personality while maintaining professionalism. Use headings like 'Community Engagement' or 'Social Impact Projects' to highlight your experiences related to the role. Remember, we want to see what makes you unique!
Keep It Community-Focused:Make sure your application emphasises collaboration and community. Volunteer roles are about working well with others and contributing collectively towards a common goal. In your cover letter, mention any teamwork experiences or community projects you've been part of, and how you contributed to their success. This shows that you’re ready to jump into the collaborative spirit here at Change Grow Live.
How to prepare for a job interview at Change Grow Live
✨Know Your Passion
Dive deep into the mission of Change Grow Live and understand the issues they tackle. When they ask about your motivation to volunteer, share specific experiences that link your passion to their cause—whether it’s local community work or a broader social impact.
✨Bring Your Skills to the Table
Highlight any relevant skills that can aid in their projects, such as fundraising, project management, or community organising. Be prepared to share examples of how you’ve used these skills in past volunteer roles or relevant experiences.
✨Get Ready for Scenario Questions
In non-profit interviews, especially for volunteer roles, you might get scenario-based questions. Think about times when you've encountered challenges in team work or community engagement, and how you resolved them—this shows your problem-solving abilities.
✨Show Your Commitment
Since this is a volunteer role, they’ll likely want to see your commitment to the cause over an extended period. Be ready to discuss how much time you can dedicate, any special skills you can bring, and your eagerness to learn and grow with the organisation—this excites them to have you on board!
