We have volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and communities fulfilling various different roles. We wouldn’t be able to deliver our services without the help of these amazing volunteers who generously give their time, energy and skills to enable us to provide our clients with the services, care and support they deserve.
Our volunteers form a vital and integral part of the work we do at CHEER. Like you, they’re people who want to make an impact on a local level, in their community. By joining us you’ll discover new friends, new skills and be able to share your passion and experience to support local people. No matter how much time you can commit, we can help you find a role that works for you.
What’s in it for you?
- Make a real difference: Bring friendship, comfort, and connection to older people who may be isolated or lonely — your time and kindness can truly change lives.
- Develop valuable skills: Gain experience in communication, empathy, and active listening, as well as practical skills in community engagement and support.
- Boost confidence and wellbeing: Enjoy the personal satisfaction and sense of purpose that comes from helping others and being part of something meaningful.
- Connect with your community: Meet like-minded volunteers, build lasting friendships, and feel more involved in your local area.
- Enhance your future opportunities: Volunteering experience looks great on a CV, providing real-life examples of teamwork, reliability, and compassion.
How could you help?
Befriender: For a commitment of just one hour a week to visit an elderly person in their home for a cup of tea and chat, you can help put an end to isolation and loneliness.
Home Assessment volunteer: Could you help to combat loneliness and ensure that our clients receive the benefits they are entitled to? You will accompany a member of CHEER staff to carry out assessments for older people in their own homes.
Events volunteer: Our community events provide a welcome and much needed opportunity for older people to get out and socialise. You will be involved with helping out at ad hoc events and potentially driving clients to and from events.
Become a Trustee: Play an essential role in the success of our charity using your skills and experience to help set our strategic direction and ensure the good governance of the organisation.
Volunteer vacancies
Home Assessment Volunteers
We have an exciting voluntary opportunity in the CHEER team to help ensure that older people receive the benefits they are entitled to and help combat loneliness. Home Assessment Volunteers will accompany a member of the CHEER staff while they carry out assessments (benefits and befriending) for older people in their own homes.
We are looking for volunteers with excellent communication skills who will enjoy working with the elderly. This role requires patience and the ability to ensure that clients feel at ease to speak about the difficulties they are encountering. The volunteer may be required to photograph documents and therefore needs to be comfortable using a smart phone as well as email. Previous experience with older people would be beneficial.
You will need to be a car driver as travel within Elmbridge will be required. A mileage allowance can be claimed of 45p per mile. Ideally, you will be available for a minimum of either 2 Tuesdays or Wednesdays per month, between 10am and 2.30pm. CHEER will arrange a DBS check and safeguarding training for you.
For an informal discussion about the above post or an application form, please contact Charlotte via email on [email protected].
If this of interest, please complete a volunteer application form.
Befrienders
One of the important services that CHEER offers to our clients is the opportunity to have a regular home visit from a volunteer. A commitment of one hour a week to visit an elderly person in their home for a cup of tea and a chat can put an end to isolation and loneliness. Many of our volunteers build up a friendship that is rewarding and sees both parties benefiting from the experience.
Skills/Qualifications
You must have the ability to empathise with older people together with good listening skills.
If you think you might be interested in this role please contact one of our friendly team for an initial without commitment discussion.
Telephone: 07716 854838 or e-mail [email protected].
If this of interest, please complete a volunteer application form.
Trustee vacancies
Trustee
We are currently looking for Trustees who can bring extra skills and experience to our Board, together with commitment and enthusiasm.
As a Trustee you will be part of a small and friendly team who are collectively responsible for making decisions about the strategic direction of the charity and its activities. A Trustee would normally take the lead on a particular aspect of our responsibilities, and you will have opportunities to adapt, broaden and develop your skills.
This is a fascinating way for you to contribute to your local community. If you have the commitment and enthusiasm for the aims of the charity and a passion to make a difference to the lives of older people, we would love to hear from you.
CHEER TRUSTEE OPPORTUNITY – Marketing & Communications
We are looking to appoint a new Trustee to the Board to support CHEER’s mission of providing advice, friendship and support to Elmbridge’s older community.
We’re particularly seeking someone with experience of marketing and communications to complement the skills and backgrounds of existing Trustees. The role will oversee the formulation and implementation of CHEER’s marketing and communication strategy, providing guidance and support to the Board and CHEER team to ensure successful execution.
If you have an interest in the issues surrounding the elderly living in the UK, a desire to give those who need a helping hand somewhere to go to get help and support and a background in marketing and communications – with digital marketing a particular advantage – we’d love to hear from you.
For more information, please contact Lisa on 07899 905344 or [email protected].
We’d also warmly welcome contact from anyone interested in alternative trustee opportunities with experience in fundraising, business management, and/or older people and social care.
Staff vacancies
Current vacancies
We are a small team of dedicated staff who are passionate about helping older people. Currently we have no staff vacancies. If you’re interested in joining us, why not look at our volunteer opportunities?”
Members and Friends
Our members and friends support our work by helping us to engage as fully as possible with the local community. They are invited to attend general meetings and other events, and members have the right to vote on the election of trustees and on other resolutions submitted to general meetings. There is no charge for being a member or friend.
You can email: [email protected] for more information.