Volunteer Role: Tea & Talk Volunteer

Location: Penrose Roots to Recovery Garden.

About the Role

Love a good chat and a cuppa? Join us as a Tea & Talk Volunteer and help make Penrose Roots Garden a welcoming space where people can relax, connect, and feel part of the community.

You'll prepare and serve drinks for members, help create a friendly atmosphere, and spend time chatting, helping everyone feel valued and included. From setting up refreshments before the session to ensuring the space is clean and inviting at the end of the day, you'll play a vital role in making each garden session a positive and enjoyable experience for all.

What is the Commitment?

We are looking for volunteers who can commit to 3-4 hours once a week for a period of at least 6 months. We ask for this commitment because building relationships with members is central to the role, and 6 months will give you the time to build these.

Garden sessions run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am - 3pm. Ideally volunteers would arrive at 9.15am to help set up before the garden opens and stay until the end of the session, though we can offer flexibility if these timings don't work for you.

About You

We are looking for volunteers who are friendly, reliable, non-judgemental and empathetic, aligning with our trauma-informed approach to support.

In this role, it is important that you are confident in approaching people and making conversation and a good listener. Beyond this, we are very open to what you can bring to the team!

What You Can Expect From Us

To support you and set you up for success in your volunteering role with us, you can expect that we will:

Work with you to find a volunteering arrangement that works for you and for the service. We will be as flexible as we can!
Reimburse you for agreed expenses relating to your volunteering.
Welcome you warmly into our team and support you to get the most from your experience.
Recognise and celebrate your contribution to the team! We can provide references to confirm your achievements and contributions upon request.
Provide the training and guidance you need to understand the context of our services and to keep you and residents and participants safe
Provide regular supervision and opportunities to provide feedback on your experience
You will be eligible to register with Blue Light Discount Card.

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change.

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group.

Additional Information

This role may close early, for a better chance to be considered, we recommend applying as soon as possible as we screen on an ongoing basis. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. If you need support with making your application, for example, due to learning needs or a disability, please email volunteering@socialinterestgroup.org.uk or call our central office on 020 3668 9270 to request a call back. Please note that this will take you through to our Central Administration team, who will then communicate your enquiry with us and we will arrange to call you back.

For information about our volunteer recruitment processes, please see our website and Volunteer Recruitment Policy.