Single Parent Gingerbread Group Lead Volunteer (this role is for single parents)

Gingerbread groups offer a chance for single parent families to get together, meet new people, build meaningful connections and share experiences or coping mechanisms. Run by single parent volunteers, they are a space for single parents to support each other and share the highs and lows of parenting, or just to have a cuppa and a chat while your children play. The aims of the Gingerbread group are to develop meaningful connections and friendships between local single parents and to facilitate access to peer guidance and advice amongst single parents. As Volunteer Gingerbread Group Lead your role is to set up and run a local single parent group, facilitate ongoing engagement with group members, hold monthly meetups and to liaise with Gingerbread around necessary information sharing. · Set up a local Gingerbread Group using Gingerbread templates · Welcome new members · Arrange and promote monthly meet ups face to face or with some online options · Cascade information from Gingerbread to group members · Promote engagement and communications between single parents - including facilitating connection on social media · Signpost group members to Gingerbread for any information, advice or guidance · If needed, identify a Group Admin Volunteer to support with recruiting and onboarding new members, and lead on submitting evaluation and monitoring data to Gingerbread · Attend online regional coordinator meetings every 2 months · Communicate with your named Gingerbread contact through support sessions and wider volunteer sessions. · Undertake induction, safeguarding training and any further training as required. · Keep in touch with your named contact to inform them of your activities and share any concerns or support needed and participate in occasional reviews. As a Gingerbread Volunteer you will gain: · The opportunity to share or develop new skills such as communication, leadership and organisational skills in a friendly and supportive environment · The opportunity to support people in your local community and make a real difference in the lives of single parents · A platform for building confidence and enhancing your wellbeing

· Knowledge and experience within the charity sector along with opportunities to be involved in other areas of Gingerbread · Being part of an enthusiastic and dedicated team · Building your CV or giving examples to talk about on application forms or in interviews · Ongoing support and networking opportunities

What skills do I need?

As a single parent, you’ll know the challenges that being a single parent can bring, so you already have the main qualification!

You will also need the following:

· A friendly, proactive and professional attitude

· Clear communication skills and the ability to communicate with a wide range of people

· An inclusive and non-judgemental approach

· Strong community ties with an ability to build networks

· Reliable, well-organised and collaborative

· Empathy and understanding of single parents’ experiences

· Willingness to take part in an induction, safeguarding training and additional training opportunities

· Able to embrace Gingerbread’s values which include being trustworthy, supportive and inclusive

About Gingerbread

We are Gingerbread. We’re here to fight for single parents and their children. We campaign against the injustices that single parents face every single day and we challenge the stigmas around being a single parent. We provide expert advice and information to support all single parents so that they have the tools to support their children and themselves. And we provide a support network so that, with Gingerbread, no single parent is ever alone. Join us today. Together we can create a world where all single parents and their children don’t just survive, but thrive.

When do I need to be available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

This role is flexible so it would be varied times, hours and days to suit individual needs. We ask for a commitment of once a month from the volunteer. The volunteer must be a single parent.