Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Anawim. We are currently recruiting for Volunteer Charity Shop Workers and Drop-in Centre Assistants.
If you have any queries, please contact our Volunteering and Counselling Manager Hannah Johnson at hannahjohnson@anawim.co.uk.
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We would love your help
Volunteering at Anawim can be extremely rewarding because you’ll be supporting women on their journey, while also gaining valuable personal experience that can help you with your confidence and your career.
There are lots of ways to get involved – from work experience and student placements, peer mentoring, education roles or becoming a regular volunteer. In return, we offer you training, career development, references for employers and our sincere appreciation. We’re proud to give back to our volunteers and hold an Investing in Volunteers Award accreditation.
What’s involved?
Our volunteers are aged 18 to 80 and come from all walks of life to play a vital role in keeping Anawim’s services running smoothly.
With varied work that ranges from counselling, casework, admin and outreach projects, there is something to suit everyone.
We’re very lucky to have a network of enthusiastic, committed and passionate volunteers working with us, and are always on the lookout for other people to join us – could that be you?
Ways you can volunteer:
Charity Shop Worker
We are opening a charity shop in Balsall Heath to provide goods to the local community, promote our services, and provide women with work opportunities and a safe space. Volunteers will be able to support the running of the shop, as well as provide a friendly and supportive environment for the women that visit us there.
For more information and to apply, please find the role description here, and our volunteer application form here. If you have any questions, please email hannahjohnson@anawim.co.uk
Wellbeing Worker
Sometimes it’s good to chat and our Wellbeing Workers are at the end of the phone to check in on women towards the end of their journey with Anawim. Whether it’s for a supportive conversation or to help them as they start to become more independent, these volunteers can make a real difference.
Reception and Admin Worker
We pride ourselves on offering women entering Anawim a warm reception and our team of volunteers help us to do that by manning reception, answering phones and completing admin tasks. Volunteers are also involved with supporting our helpline and live online chat facility.
Volunteer Caseworker
Volunteer Caseworkers work closely with our women from the beginning of their journey at Anawim. Supporting them with everything from housing to attending appointments, advocacy, CV writing and linking up with other agencies. These volunteers need to commit to at least six hours with us per week.
Drop-in Centre Assistant
These volunteers support our teams by manning the women-only drop in services at our Balsall Heath Centre and Dolphin Women’s Centre, where women in crisis receive food, clothes, a hot shower, and practical support. Drop-in sessions are an important way for us to directly reach more women who need support. Our drop-in workers regularly receive specialised training in safeguarding, domestic violence and financial literacy.
For more information and to apply, please find our volunteer application form here. If you have any questions, please email hannahjohnson@anawim.co.uk
General Assistant
This is a supporting role that is ideal for gaining work experience towards your career. General assistants help our project management teams with everything from HR and finance, to social media, fundraising and data collection. A more ‘behind the scenes’ role, this is the perfect opportunity to gain more insight into our infrastructure and charitable operations.
Donations Hub Assistant
We regularly receive donations of food, clothes and other items at Anawim and we need support to sort through these donations and help with preparing supplies for our outreach evenings, along with help in our on-site charity shop.
Volunteer Tutor
Supporting women back into education or helping them to find a job is part of the ethos at Anawim. We need volunteer tutors to deliver courses that can further develop and empower women.
Counsellor
Counselling is a key part of the support package we offer to women in a safe space and we’re always on the lookout for volunteer counsellors to help us grow this team. We also offer counselling student placements, however we do require a minimum of 30 hours of the 100 hours completed so that the student counsellor has some experience before joining us.
Street and Community Outreach Worker
These volunteers help staff to carry out vital monthly outreach work including supporting homeless women, sex workers and women experiencing domestic abuse, sexual exploitation or trauma in the community. Outreach workers signpost women to Anawim and provide them with toiletries, sanitary products and clothes. This can involve evening work and involves building up trust with women who need support.
Peer Mentor
Women who are nearing the end of their journeys with Anawim are now able to move into volunteer Peer Mentor roles at our women’s centre. Supporting women who are new to Anawim to feel welcome, socialise and engage with our services can be great for any woman who feels she has made significant progress and would like to share her experiences with those who may be a little less confident.
Male Volunteer
In our fight for gender equality, women’s safety and equal opportunity, men’s voices and support are crucial. We have a number of opportunities available for men who would like to support our work in the women’s sector, advocate for these causes, and raise awareness alongside us to help our voices be heard.
Please find the list of roles available here.
What our volunteers get out of it
Volunteers get involved for many reasons – whether it’s to develop new skills, gain experience to find a job, meet new people or find a renewed sense of purpose. That’s why we invest time in every volunteer, to ensure that their individual interests, ideas and goals are heard and supported.
All volunteers, students and placements receive an induction, supervision and free training when they become part of Anawim.
On top of this, we have shadowing positions available so volunteers can develop their skills across a wide range of departments and we create opportunities aimed at boosting their confidence and responsibilities.
We aim to make our volunteers feel valued and appreciated so we celebrate them through annual awards and by rewarding them with certificates of achievement.
If you’re interested in becoming an Anawim volunteer, take a look at our volunteering opportunities above – if you’d like to get involved, please complete an application form and send it to HannahJohnson@anawim.co.uk.
I believe it is important for the women, especially those on their initial visits, to be ‘received’ into a friendly and safe space and for them to ‘receive’ me too. When a woman arrives in the common room in a low place (emotional, anxious or fearful), a listening ear, a non-judgmental attitude, a friendly face, acceptance and assurance of confidentiality can diffuse the emotional pain, at least temporarily. Karen
Anawim volunteer
For any general enquiries relating to volunteering, please contact us
Find out more about our approach and impact here
Look at other ways to support us here