Volunteer (Freedom)

OTR are looking for several people to join a team of volunteers for a minimum of 6 months to work as part of OTR’s LGBTQ+ project, Freedom, a mental health social movement by and for young people aged 11-25 living in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

The Freedom Volunteer opportunity allows LGBTQ+ people aged 18+ to offer peer support and help to create a safe space for young LGBTQ+ people to build community and get support.

We are looking for friendly, empathetic and supportive volunteers who can commit to 3-4 hours per week/every two weeks as agreed. You will be interested in or have some experience working with LGBTQ+ youth, and be keen to develop skills like group facilitation and peer support. You may have previously worked in, or be keen to develop experience working in a mental health or youth setting. Or, you might just be passionate about creating safety and community for LGBTQ+ young people.

To find out more about the opportunity please download the Opportunity Pack below. If you would like an informal chat about the opportunity, please email Abby Preston (Freedom Team Manager) – abby@otrbristol.org.uk

To apply for this role click the \’Apply now\’ button below

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a team that reflects the diversity of the people we work with

Safeguarding:

OTR is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff, trustees, and volunteers to share this commitment.

As part of our Safer Recruitment practices, all roles involving contact with young people will be subject to robust pre-employment checks, including references, a full employment history, and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Where applicable, overseas criminal record checks will also be required.

We are dedicated to creating a culture of vigilance, transparency, and accountability. Our safeguarding procedures are guided by the principle that the welfare of the child is paramount, and all staff are required to adhere to OTR’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

OTR is a mental health social movement by and for young people. The charity is at an exciting stage of its 59-year history and is proud to be reaching more young people than ever before (around 20,000) across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset with creative and diverse mental health and wellbeing info and support.

Our approach to mental health is grounded in a set of beliefs and values that underpin all of our work. We believe in celebrating diversity, empowering and mobilising young people to make change, and that catering to the unique strengths, interests and circumstances surrounding young people is key. Our approach centres on collaboration and partnership, building relationships between individuals, peers and communities.

Each day is as engaging and fulfilling as the last, and with a network of supportive, community minded people, we hope you’ll feel welcome here. As a thank you, we like to compensate our employees for the important work they do with a range of benefits including a flexible leave policy, healthcare cost and wellbeing assistance with HealthShield, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, enhanced sick pay, parental leave, training and development, social and wellbeing events, and more (subject to contractual terms and conditions).

A Willingness to Work with Difference

At OTR, whatever your role or professional background, you will be expected to work in a way that is anti-oppressive and inclusive. A key focus for OTR is to develop an organisation that is inclusive for all but we do not claim to be experts in this. We are committed to continuous learning and improvement in these areas and invite you to join us on this journey.

OTR recognises the benefits to individual practice and organisational credibility of having a diverse community of staff and volunteers and to this end is continually working towards building and maintaining an environment which values and pursues diversity accordingly.

We recognise that tackling systemic inequality, prejudice, racism and oppressive practice requires each of us to actively engage, self-examine and make changes where necessary, in order to improve access and equitable experience for all in society and all of those who come through our doors at OTR.

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