It’s great that you're interested in finding out more about volunteering with Archway.

Without people like you giving us the gift of time, compassion and commitment, we couldn’t do what we do to reduce loneliness and social isolation in Oxford.

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and bring with them different skills and experiences. Archway volunteers get involved with the services we provide for lots of different reasons and provide a rich and varied background of experiences.

One thing they have is common is that they find volunteering to be enjoyable and rewarding.

Volunteering with Archway

Training and support

We welcome volunteers from all ages (over 18) and all backgrounds. There are excellent opportunities for receiving on-going support, supervision and in-house training. We value the time given by our volunteers and we are more than willing to pay petrol/travelling and out-of-pocket expenses.

A Volunteer's Story

Twig got involved with Archway 7 years ago when she was a Health and Social Care student and was looking for a way to both give back to her local community, and to gain some experience working with vulnerable people:

“I started off with a role in one of the social groups, which was great – full-on but fun, and a real feeling of community and support. The volunteering roles are really flexible and can easily fit around my other commitments, so after a couple of years at the group, I thought I could also spend an hour a fortnight visiting someone who wasn’t able to get out of their home due to their anxiety.

I have been seeing my Friend Yvonne ever since then. We have a really good relationship. I’ve supported her through some difficult times and changes, and when my mum died recently, she was really incredible in being a support for me, too. We’ve both grown to trust each other and can talk about all sorts of things. I have also grown in confidence in communicating with people, which has really helped me at work.

Yvonne has recently also started to get out of the house with support from another group Archway was able to signpost her to. Seeing Yvonne’s quality of life change over time has been amazing. I have volunteered at other places, but with Archway it’s the first time I can really see and feel that I’ve made a difference.”

What do you look for in a Volunteer?

We look for someone who:

is an empathetic, kind and compassionate listener.
has good people skills.
has patience.
is able to accept and maintain professional boundaries.
is reliable and trustworthy.
has friendly and approachable manner.
has a non-judgemental and inclusive attitude to all people involved with Archway
possesses basic administration skills.
is willing to have enhanced DBS check for working with vulnerable adults.
can commit to attending mandatory training sessions and is willing to attend others

How much time do I need to commit?

It depends on the role:

Individual Support volunteers, both telephone and face-to-face, will need to commit to an hour or so once a fortnight.

Group volunteering requires 2 hrs per group (excluding travelling time to and from the group) with the opportunity to volunteer in a group once, twice or three times a month depending on preference and location.

We ask volunteers to aim to commit to a role for at least 12 months. You will also need to consider occasional time spent in training for your role and for continuous development.

What can Archway offer me?

the chance to develop new transferable communication and life skills and increased emotional intelligence and enhance existing ones.
access to ongoing training, and support to enhance skills and knowledge that are transferable to many other work and life contexts.
increased personal confidence and self-esteem.
a useful addition to your CV or application for further education opportunities.
regular supervision for ongoing support and guidance.
becoming part of a dedicated and committed team.
a sense of purpose and regular routine.
personal satisfaction from helping others in their journey of recovery.
an opportunity to give something back to the community.
the chance to be part of an innovative and inclusive service.
the real knowledge that you have made a difference to someone’s life

If you feel you can make a difference to someone’s life by giving the gift of time, then complete the Archway Volunteer Application Form.

You can also give us a call on 01865 790552 or email office@archwayfoundation.org.uk to discuss our volunteering opportunities.