CAFOD Middlesbrough has the following volunteer opportunities…

Office volunteers

Office volunteers are key members of our volunteering team, helping to ensure the smooth running of the local volunteer centre. By keeping our records of school, parish and volunteer involvement accurate and up to date, you will play a vital role in helping us build strong partnerships with the local Catholic community.

What will you be doing?

As an office volunteer you will work alongside local staff, carrying out a variety of administrative tasks such as:

• Answering telephone calls and emails and taking messages
• Dealing with queries and contacting schools and parishes
• Collecting and inputting data
• Welcoming visitors
• Calling volunteers, parish priests and teachers to gather feedback, offer CAFOD visits and organise events.

We are looking for people with the following skills:

• You will be friendly and welcoming with good listening and communication skills
• Commitment and passion for CAFOD’s work and values
• Knowledge of the Catholic community at a local level
• Comfortable with using IT especially email and be willing to learn new skills
• Accuracy attention to detail.
• Ability to deal with information in a confidential manner
• Willingness to be flexible and help out with different tasks when needed

How much time will I need?

This role requires a regular commitment. Most of our office volunteers help once a week for between four and seven hours.

School Volunteers

From an early age, children and young people have a keen sense of justice. School volunteers inform and inspire them, helping them turn their passion for justice into real action. With school volunteers’ input, they learn to care for their global sisters and brothers, both now and as they grow up. Full training will be provided and you will need to apply for a DBS certificate.

What will you be doing?

Visiting local schools to deliver assemblies and interactive classroom sessions. The age groups you visit will be agreed locally.

• Building positive relationships with an agreed number of schools, encouraging them to book further visits and to act with CAFOD for a fairer world
• Preparing for visits using materials such as PowerPoint presentations, posters and activity ideas provided by CAFOD
• Completing a short feedback form after every visit, to keep the local CAFOD team up to date with your contact with schools

We are looking for people with the following skills:

• Ability to communicate well with children and young people in large assembly settings and smaller class groups
• Ability to use technology to deliver presentations (digital projector, laptop, PowerPoint) or be willing to learn
• Comfortable using email to communicate and accessing a website to find materials and information

How much time will I need?

• On average, you will make one visit a month (about four hours including preparation and travel), but our programme is busiest around the times of CAFOD Fast Days –late September to early October and during Lent.
• You should be prepared to travel to local schools during school hours.

For further information please email middlesbrough@cafod.org.uk or telephone 01642 822301 or 07999 804243.