Volunteer with our homelessness services in Doncaster

In Doncaster, we run a number of supported housing centres helping people transform their lives by breaking out of the cycle of homelessness. We also run a street outreach programme to support people away from sleeping rough at night.

Throughout 2016 we are looking for volunteers to come and work with us across our services. Why should you apply?

We are looking for volunteers to support our outreach services in Doncaster.

Learn or develop a new skill 

Michael Philips, Riverside Volunteering Manager said: “If you’re the kind of person who likes to meet new people and make new friends, who knows that experience of supporting others will look great on a CV, who understands that developing skills in communication makes you more employable and wants to go home knowing you have made have helped make a difference in someone else’s life, then volunteering is for you.”

Motivation to transform your life

Paul, who was homeless for a time himself and had gambling addiction, decided to turn his life around when he began volunteering with us. He had previously faced barriers in securing a job because of his offending background but, for us, Paul had the lived experience required to become a peer mentor to support others who had experienced homelessness and prison to get their lives back on track just like he did.

Paul showed passion and commitment and has now been volunteering with us for six months and applying for a full-time support role with Riverside.

Gain valuable skills and experience to boost your career prospects

Cathy, now a Housing Officer at Riverside, started volunteering at a supported housing scheme for young people before becoming a locum support worker. Cathy said: “It was a great to get a taster of the role as a support worker with Riverside without leaving my previous full-time job. It helped me find out if working with young homeless people would be a good fit for me.”

 Be part of your community

Our supported housing projects in Doncaster are at the heart of the community. Volunteering with us is a chance for you to meet new people from all walks of life with different backgrounds.

 Apply for one of our volunteering positions:

 Peer Mentor Volunteer

As a Peer Mentor you will be improving vulnerable adults’ lives and giving something back. You will be part of an exciting new project, giving you the opportunity to change the way current services are delivered. You will empower individuals with experience of homelessness, helping them to improve their skills, confidence and motivation.

Peer mentors must be able to complete the initial training programme and commit to volunteering over a period of 12 weeks for a minimum of two hours per week. Times and hours are flexible and will be responsive to the needs of the service.

Peer Mentors will work from two of our locations in Doncaster:

You may also be expected to accompany customers to appointments in and around Doncaster town centre.

 No Second Night Out Volunteer

Who better to reach out to entrenched rough sleepers, than people who’ve themselves experienced first-hand rough sleeping and homelessness, and have turned their lives around?

Riverside’s outreach service helping to get entrenched rough sleepers off the streets in Doncaster. Our volunteers, often themselves former rough sleepers, are trained in dealing with substance misuse, mental health issues and professional boundaries.

As someone who has experienced life on the street, you will already be aware that the right person helping at the right time can save a life. You will engage with identified rough sleepers either on the street or in day centres and provide support during the transition from the streets to indoors.

However, this opportunity is not only open to people with experience of homelessness. Anyone can sign up and help make a difference to a rough sleeper’s life.

You must be able to complete the initial training programme and commit to volunteering over a period of 12 weeks for a minimum of two hours per week. Times and hours are flexible and will be responsive to the needs of the service.

The outreach service will operate across Doncaster and surrounding areas, but is initially based in the town centre from Wharf House, Wharf Road.

Street work could be anywhere in the town centre or surrounding areas depending on reports of rough sleepers in the area. Area will be agreed prior to the piece of work, on the day.

For more details and to find out how to apply, or for an informal chat about any of our volunteering opportunities in Doncaster, please contact Zahra Shah, Riverside Volunteer Coordinator on 01302 558010.