Volunteer roles - can you help make a difference by volunteering?

The work of Torch Trust relies heavily on the contribution made by volunteers. There are many rewarding opportunities for Christian service through Torch, working on your own or with others.

Volunteering opportunities has always been an important part of the work of Torch. Volunteers are of great help to the ministry of Torch, but individuals find that the experience of volunteering benefits them significantly too. We continue to hear stories of friends who have worked here in the past, who regard their time with us as a positive influence on their life journey.

This page contains all the current volunteering opportunities available at Torch Trust. It includes tasks that can be undertaken at home, things you can do in your locality, opportunities for service at Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre in Sussex, and work that can be done by coming into Torch House in Leicestershire. If you have a specific skill that isn’t on the list that you would like to use to help the work of Torch we would love to hear from you too.

To apply please read Joining the Journey, fill in the Volunteer Application Form and send it to Suzanne Powell using volunteers@torchtrust.org

If you have any queries please first read our FAQs for Volunteers.

For further information about anything on this page, email Suzanne using volunteers@torchtrust.org.

Use the following links to see the volunteer jobs available regionally, at Torch House and at HRC:

Regional volunteer roles

Torch House volunteer roles

Holiday and Retreat Centre (HRC) volunteer roles

Regional volunteer roles:

Journeying With by Phone Volunteer

Journeying With by Phone is Torch's telephone befriending service. We would like Christian volunteers who are able to offer one to two hours per week. To give emotional, spiritual and practical support through listening, and offering relevant advice when appropriate. Help clients to access other services available to them, be able to talk about matters of faith, and to feel more confident in facing the future. All telephone befrienders receive full training (over the phone) and continued support in their role.

For more details: click here for the Journeying With by Phone Volunteer Role Profile

Friendship and interest groups

There are many ways to connect and support people with vision impairment locally. One way is to set up a Group that meets around a shared interest – such as walking, creative crafts or music. Book Groups are particularly popular and Torch has a range of audio books for free-loan to participants with vision impairment. For further infomation please email Suzanne Powell using volunteers@torchtrust.org.

Drivers

Getting out and about can become harder for people who are experiencing sight loss, particularly if they are no longer able to drive, which can led to feeling ‘disconnected’. Having a driver can help someone get out to a local Group or event, keep up with hobbies, meet friends, and make all the difference to their week. For further information please email Suzanne Powell using volunteers@torchtrust.org.

Fellowship Groups

There are over 100 Torch Groups throughout the UK serving people with sight loss in their different localities. These monthly Groups provide an opportunity for visually impaired and sighted people to meet within a Christian context and socialise with old and new friends around refreshments.

If you are a Christian you can help make a difference by offering your skills and whatever time you have to the local Group. That could be baking a cake, serving the refreshments, chatting with folk, driving visually impaired people to a meeting, playing an instrument or simply setting out the chairs. All these can make the difference between friendship and encouragement or isolation and loneliness. For further information please email Suzanne Powell using volunteers@torchtrust.org.

Volunteer 'Reflections' radio researcher and interviewer

To assist the producer by contributing material to Reflections, a weekly 15-minute radio programme, broadcast on RNIB’s Insight Radio, and on Premier Christian Radio. This will be done through researching, arranging and carrying out occasional interviews with people about their faith and disability. This role would be a great opportunity for someone to build their experience in the Christian media sector.

click here for Volunteer 'Reflections' radio researcher and interviewer Role Profile

Torch House volunteer roles

Volunteer Audio Reader

To read, record and edit books and publications as required by the Audio Transcription Coordinator. Subject to agreement, the work will be carried out at Torch premises or at the applicant’s home.

click here for the Volunteer Audio Reader Role Profile

Volunteer Audio Editor

To proofread and edit recorded audio books and publications as required by the Audio Transcription Coordinator. The work will be carried out in the editing suite at Torch House, Market Harborough.

click here for the Volunteer Audio Editor Role Profile

Volunteer Resource Data Entry

To assist the Resources Leader by updating and adding new data entries into the database.

click here for the Volunteer Resource Data Entry Role Profile

Production volunteer

Join our small group of volunteers who help for occasional short periods (one or two days) in dealing with a large run of printing. The work is semi-skilled, skills that can be easily learnt on the job.

This role would suit someone living locally to Market Harborough. We would like to build up a team of 3 or 4 people who could be called on, and share this work.

click here for the Production volunteer Role Profile

Logistics volunteer

This department deals with the packaging and distribution of literature. Volunteers are able to help with ...

Sorting audio DAISY CDs and USB sticks
Packaging literature in braille, giant print and audio for posting
Receiving and packaging orders
Selecting and sorting library materials

click here for the Logistics volunteer Role Profile

Gardening and maintenance volunteer

We are currently looking for people to become part of our gardening and maintenance team to make Torch House a safe and inviting place for people to work in and to visit. This opportunity will be about half a day a week, depending on the time of year.

Tasks can include: cutting the grass and maintaining the dog run area; keeping the paths clear and free of weeds; keeping the borders weed-free and the shrubs in shape; keeping the exterior and interior painting to a high standard; basic repairs to chairs, tables etc; Basic maintenance tasks - light bulbs, taps etc.

click here for the Gardening and maintenance volunteer Role Profile

International support volunteer

People who can help sort and pack clothing and goods boxes for Aid Africa at Torch House and/or who can knit specific items for our work in Malawi.

Holiday and Retreat Centre (HRC) volunteer roles:

Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre in West Sussex provides holidays for people with sight loss.

HRC Hospitality Assistant Volunteer

Volunteers often spend a week or more with us providing general support and sharing in the exciting experience of holidays with our guests and friends.

Specific tasks include:

General assistance in supporting blind guests on outings and around the house.
Assistance in the kitchen and with catering, waiting on guests at meal times etc.
General housekeeping duties.

click here for the HRC Hospitality Assistant Volunteer Role Profile

HRC Facilites Volunteer

Volunteers often spend a week or more with us providing general support and sharing in the exciting experience of holidays with our guests and friends.

Specific tasks include:

General assistance in supporting blind guests on outings and around the house.
Assistance in the kitchen and with catering, waiting on guests at meal times etc.
General housekeeping duties.

click here for the HRC Facilities Volunteer Role Profile

HRC gap year/international volunteer

We are looking for gap year/international volunteers to spend 6 months volunteering at our Holiday and Retreat Centre in West Sussex. Volunteers will support blind and partially sighted people on the holidays and assist in the smooth running of the centre through helping with all the day-to-day activities involved in running holidays and conferences.

This role would suit a young person taking a gap year, looking for experience of working with people with disabilities. An international volunteer may use the experience to improve their English, although a good basic standard of spoken English is required.

Torch is only able to accept applicants that are over 18 and can stay for a minimum period of 3 months. Accommodation and food are provided.

click here for the Gap Year Role Profile

click here for the International Volunteer Role Profile

HRC volunteer driver

At the Centre we have a number of guests who would love to attend one or more of our holidays during the year; however this is difficult for them as they find public transport challenging. We are looking for volunteer drivers who are willing to drive a guest from their own locality to our Centre in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, using their own vehicle. We are happy to pay mileage and provide a meal for the driver at Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre, there will also be an allowance for coffee and refreshments during the journey.

click here for the HRC volunteer driver Role Profile

For more infomation or to express your interest in volunteering, email Suzanne Powell using volunteers@torchtrust.org