Yes! We have a range of opportunities for volunteers, supporting a variety of teams and services within Turning Tides.

As well as supporting those who have experienced homelessness, our volunteers play a vital role is supporting our teams with administration, fundraising, helping at events, housekeeping and raising awareness in our local communities.

Yes! We offer a variety of student placements, if you would like to find out more contact our volunteering team

We are pleased to be able to offer counselling placements. Spaces are limited, so if you would like to find out if we have an opportunity available contact our volunteering team

We also partner with local schools and colleges to provide work experience for students. Over the years we have developed a work experience programme in order to give students an insight into the behind the scenes functions of the charity.

We have a full training programme that supports their volunteering roles.

During your volunteering induction you will receive training in Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Professional Boundaries.

All volunteers will be offered the opportunity to attend a trial session and where possible will be able to shadow an existing volunteer.

All volunteers who handle food, or undertake other duties inside kitchens such as cleaning, must complete food safety training every three years.

Turning Tides reserves the right to request volunteers complete additional mandatory training courses relevant to their roles if deemed necessary. We will endeavour to make this mandatory training as convenient as possible for the volunteer.

For classroom training a range of times and dates will be offered and for online training we will offer the option of the course being completed during volunteering.

Non-compulsory training will be offered on an ad-hoc basis. This will be either in house or from an external provider. Priority will be given to volunteers where the training course is most relevant to their roles. Volunteers should note that non-compulsory training is normally delivered during normal office hours.

We are committed to making your volunteering as accessible as possible and to provide opportunities for everyone to get involved in, for that reason, we do not have a minimum commitment.

We have volunteers who help us 2 days a week and we have volunteers who help us 1 day of the year, it all makes up part of the bigger picture.

For a small selection of our roles, we may recommend that volunteers help on a more regular basis, in order to get the best out of their opportunity.

Yes! Corporate volunteering days are an excellent way for a team of individuals to spend the day supporting Turning Tides and hopefully having an enjoyable day too.

For more information please visit our Corporate Support Page (Link)

That’s great news, we will look forward to welcoming you to our volunteering team!

The first step is to read through our letter for prospective volunteers this sets out the steps for becoming a volunteer.

Once you are happy with this, you will need to complete a Volunteer Information Form:

• Volunteer
• Download PDF Form
• Download Word Form

Once we have received your volunteering application, a member of our Volunteering Team will look over your details.

If we need any further information or need to clarify anything, we will give you a call and arrange time to talk. Otherwise, we will send off for your references. Upon receipt of your references we will invite you along to one of our Volunteering Induction Sessions.

Our Induction Sessions are a chance for us to welcome you to the volunteering team.

During your induction you will get an overview of Turning Tides, what you can expect as a volunteer with us and we will also go through some key policies and procedures. The sessions are interactive with a chance to ask questions. We will also cover some basic training to get you started in your role.

Wherever possible we will place you in the role/ opportunity that you expressed an interest in.

However, occasionally due to the time of processing your enquiry, it may be that your preferred role is no longer available.

We will communicate with you throughout your volunteer journey and do our best to ensure you are placed in your preferred role, or a similar opportunity.  

Some of our roles may require a DBS check.

If your role requires a DBS, we will ask you to disclose any spent and unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or final warnings when we receive your application, except those which are “protected” as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013).

This is due to the vulnerability of our clients, and therefore certain roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from volunteering with Turning Tides, but some convictions may require further discussion.

If you would like to discuss this in more detail before submitting an application contact the Volunteer Team

Yes! Volunteers can do more than one role and can volunteer for more than one project, team or service. 

However, we may suggest starting just one role at a time so you can settle in before adding an additional role.

Yes! Volunteering with Turning Tides is a great way to gain skills and experience to enter further opportunities in the sector.

We have a number of ways to support volunteers to progress within Turning Tides, speak to your Volunteering Team to find out more.

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