Vacancies
Bromley Brighter Beginnings
Within the London Borough of Bromley there are large areas of social deprivation, particularly in areas such as Anerley, Penge, Crystal Palace, the Cray Valley, Orpington, Grove Park, Downham and Mottingham.
Bromley Brighter Beginnings (BBB) was inspired by, and modelled on, a similar project, set up in Staffordshire, to assist parents of young children living in deprived parts of that area.
We are passionate about what we do, working in the very heart of the local community.
Our aims are:
- to provide new and expectant mums, and parents of older children, who are vulnerable and/or living in poverty, with essential items (such as cots, buggies, clothes, nappies and toiletries) for themselves and their children;
- to raise awareness about the level of poverty in the London Borough of Bromley and the impact of this poverty on the lives of children and their parents;
- to inform parents about other local sources of support in relation to various issues relevant to parenting in poverty; to thereby reduce stress, anxiety and depression, which will in turn help the children in these deprived families; and
- to facilitate the recycling of baby- and child-related items that the original owners no longer use.
Since we started in 2012, we’ve made a difference to thousands of families.
Current Vacancies
Volunteering at BBB
- Volunteers will receive training on a range of topics relating to their role including safeguarding training which is obligatory for all roles.
- Support is offered by the General Manager, management team, and other more experienced volunteers.
- All new starters will undergo induction training from the General Manager and will have access to a Team BBB Facebook Group with contact details of all volunteers to seek support from.
- Travel expenses, and all out-of-pocket expenses, are reimbursed.
- While volunteering with BBB, volunteers have full liability insurance cover.
- BBB hold annual appreciation events to recognise the important contribution that volunteers make, as well as regular volunteer forums to share knowledge and best practice.
- New volunteers will have a review with the General Manager after their first 3 months and then at the end of their first year of volunteering.
- References are available after a period of three months’ volunteering.
Your Welfare
Volunteering for BBB is a hugely rewarding experience personally. It can be challenging at times, but no volunteer should feel over-burdened, and should ask for help if they need it. Please contact the General Manager in relation to any welfare issues or concerns that may arise in relation to your volunteering experience with BBB.
Flexibility
Aspects of the job descriptions may well be flexible – if you feel that part of the role does not suit you in terms of the time you can offer or your interests and skills, please talk to the General Manager.
Equal Opportunities
Volunteer Client Support Coordinator
Aims of the volunteering role
The aim of this role is to lead on collating signposting and helpful information for BBB’s clients. and support with client feedback activities.
Main Tasks
With the support of the General Manager and other volunteers, you will:
- Liaise with all Team BBB volunteers to offer signposting advice to families who have highlighted specific needs
- Seek and build connections with organisations who can offer support or services to families living in poverty in the Borough of Bromley.
- Communicate confidently with families and parents about suitable signposting or referral opportunities and pass on information as appropriate
- Obtain and analyse feedback via our survey and client forums from families we have supported
- Attend local events which offer appropriate networking opportunities
Useful skills, attitudes and experience
- Basic IT skills including Facebook, as well as willingness to learn/use Office 365 and Airtable online tools for information sharing
- good organisational skills
- innovative and proactive
- good communication skills
- diplomatic, personable and approachable character
- non-judgemental and objective
- understands the importance of strict confidentiality
- able to maintain professional boundaries with families
- commitment to BBB’s aims and the longer-term value to the community of supporting families living in poverty
- commitment to BBB’s aims and the longer-term value to the community of supporting parents in crisis
Time commitment
The time commitment varies but is likely to be between 3h and 5h a week.
Applications CLOSED
Family Liaison Volunteer
Aims of the volunteering role
The purpose of this role is to support BBB with the collection and delivery of items in order to fulfil referrals. Your role is to source items required from local supporters and deliver to the family in need directly or via the referrer.
Main Tasks
With the support of the General Manager and Referrals Manager, you will:
- undertake induction training and follow all BBB guidelines and policies around safe working and maintaining professional boundaries
- take on responsibility for new referrals (at least three a month)
- contact the referrer to acknowledge receipt of the referral and discuss any specific requirements
- contact the referred family to discuss referral and delivery arrangements
- put out requests on the BBB Facebook group for required items
- assemble Newborn packs from storage if necessary for your referral
- collect or take delivery of items from supporters offering them
- pass on any relevant signposting information to the family
- use the Airtable online database to manage the referral
Please note: for safeguarding and insurance reasons, children are not permitted when volunteers are delivering to clients’ homes or collecting from supporters.
Useful skills, attitudes and experience
- Basic IT skills including Facebook, as well as willingness to learn/use Office 365 and Airtable online tools for information sharing
- diplomatic, personable and approachable character
- non-judgemental and objective
- understands the importance of strict confidentiality
- able to maintain professional boundaries with families
- must have a car, a valid driving licence and a mobile phone
- reasonable level of physical fitness as the role involves lifting and carrying items
- commitment to BBB’s aims and the longer-term value to the community of supporting families living in poverty
Time commitment
The time commitment varies, depending upon how many referrals you choose to take on, but you should allow for a minimum of 4 hours a week.
Applications CLOSED
Fundraising and Communications Volunteer
Aims of the volunteering role
The main aim of this role is to work alongside our Communications team to administer BBB’s social media channels. This role involves posting and replying to messages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. A good knowledge of these platforms is preferred but not essential as training will be given. As Communications volunteer you will be part of the ‘voice’ of BBB, and at the forefront of engaging with our supporters.
Main Tasks
With the support of the General Manager and other volunteers, you will:
- Undertake induction training and follow all BBB guidelines and policies
- Share responsibility for administering the BBB social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), including our Facebook group of over 9,000 supporters.
- Manage supporter enquiries, approve pending posts, and respond to comments (this may involve working in the evenings and at weekends)
- With other communication volunteers, create posts for our social media content (training will be given), and occasionally content for traditional media (eg press releases)
- Take on some responsibilities, alongside other Communications volunteers, for email communications and managing the email distribution list, including involvement in charity news and campaign updates (training will be given).
Other Tasks
As Communications volunteer, you will be a part of BBB’s ‘Communications and Fundraising Team’.
At times you may be asked to support the team in other ways:
- Support the fundraising volunteers with the production of materials (e.g. leaflets, running vests), to include some copywriting and simple design
- Liaise with supporters who are fundraising for BBB to ensure they are well-supported and thanked by the charity (including visiting local businesses who have one of our collection tins)
- Other tasks as required, including general admin – this is a small team and we all muck in as needed!
Useful skills, attitudes and experience
- Experienced in administering and creating content for social media
- Comfortable with writing engaging on-brand copy for online and offline media
- A strong understanding of how to work with social media brand guidelines so that all posts on our channels are appropriate and relevant
- IT skills including social media moderation (Meta Business Suite) and basic design (such as Canva) as well as willingness to learn/use Dropbox and Airtable online tools for information sharing
- Enthusiastic, enjoys engaging with the public, with a positive outlook
- Good communication skills
- Able to use initiative and work alone (with support from Team BBB)
- Commitment to BBB’s aims and the longer-term value to the community of supporting parents living in poverty.
Time commitment
The time commitment varies, but you should allow for a minimum of 5 hours a week.
Applications CLOSED
Volunteer Storage Coordinator (VACANCY CLOSED)
Aims of the volunteering role
The aim of this role is to manage BBB’s storage facility at Big Yellow, Beckenham, which is a new facility aimed at supporting our local volunteers to fulfil referral requests in a timely manner.
Main Tasks
With the support of the General Manager and other volunteers, you will:
- Develop processes to ensure our storage facility is kept in a well-organised state;
- Liaise with all volunteers to ensure they know how to use the storage facility and how they can help keep it in order;
- Source (purchase or request donations) the items included in our newborn packs and ensure there are always packs made up for volunteers to collect;
- Induct new volunteers in the use of the storage facility, including showing them the storage facility, how to access it and how the contents are organised;
- Monitor stock levels and top up stock as required;
- Develop recording systems using Airtable to create an inventory for stock monitoring purposes;
- Arrange PAT testing for certain items as appropriate;
- Liaise with the volunteers as and when they need information about items held in order to fulfil referrals; and
- Keep an inventory of the value of the items held in the storage unit for insurance purposes.
Useful skills, attitudes and experience
- Good organisational skills;
- Good physical health (as the role involves lifting, reaching, bending etc.);
- Experience of developing procedures and setting up recording systems;
- Basic IT skills, including Facebook, Sharepoint and Outlook (experience of use or ability to learn new systems)
- Good communication skills
- Commitment to BBB’s aims and the longer-term value to the community of supporting parents in crisis.
Time commitment
The time commitment varies but is likely to be between 3h and 5h a week.
Applications closed at CLOSED