Children’s Activity Support – Group Helper (Supporting Young Carers 5 – 18 years old across Liverpool)

About Us 

Barnardo’s, based in Liverpool, United Kingdom, is a leading children’s charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable children, young people, and families. We provide services across safeguarding, education, mental health, foster care, and community support, helping individuals overcome challenges and reach their potential. Our work combines compassion, expertise, and evidence-based practice to deliver personalised care and interventions. Committed to inclusion, innovation, and advocacy, Barnardo’s Liverpool collaborates with communities, partners, and policymakers to create lasting change. We strive to protect, empower, and improve the lives of children and young people, building stronger communities and a brighter future for the next generation.

Culture & Work Environment  

Our culture values empathy, collaboration, and professional growth. Staff at Barnardo’s Liverpool work in a supportive environment where learning, inclusivity, and innovation are encouraged. Respect, accountability, and teamwork underpin our workplace, empowering employees to deliver impactful services while developing their skills and advancing their careers in the charitable sector.

Why Work With Us 

Joining Barnardo’s Liverpool provides opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families. We offer training, career progression, and a collaborative environment. Employees contribute to impactful programmes, support communities, and develop professionally while working with a respected organisation dedicated to safeguarding and empowering young people.

Website: www.barnardos.org.uk

Job description

Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference. **Children’s Activity Support** volunteers work across a range of groups, from Children’s Centre’s with pre-school children and Short Breaks services for children with disabilities, to Mental Health Support Groups and Young Carers Groups. **Children’s Activity Support volunteers support groups activities with young carers across the Liverpool area ages 5 – 18 years old.** A young carer is a child or young person who provides unpaid care, assistance or support to an adult family member who has a physical illness/disability including mental ill-health, sensory disability or has a problematic use of drugs or alcohol. The service works towards reducing the negative impact that caring can have, socially, emotionally, and educationally. Young carers will have the opportunity to receive 1-1 support, participate in breaks from caring, attend group activities and take part in personal development and opportunities to have their voice heard. We are looking for volunteers, with a passion for making a difference in children’s lives, a fun and approachable attitude and an ability to engage young people in worthwhile and enjoyable activities during the school breaks and occasional evenings. Activities can range from nature & sporting activities, crafting sessions, mindfulness, cooking workshops, theatre trips and much more … If you have a particular passion and or skill you want to share, let us know! This volunteer role may also involve; • Researching cost-effective ideas for activities in and around the local area. • Assisting in arranging transport for children and young people or supporting them to access public transport, so they are able to access activities (where applicable). • Welcoming new members to groups and helping them to settle into the group environment. • Helping to build socially inclusive groups service users feel safe to attend and able to participate fully. We are looking for volunteers, with a passion for making a difference in children’s lives, a fun and approachable attitude and an ability to engage young people in worthwhile and enjoyable activities.

Our groups need support with a range of tasks to help them run smoothly. Could you help with tasks such as planning activities, setting up and packing away, making refreshments, collecting feedback, and much more?
• Tasks: Planning and organising group activities, which take into consideration age, abilities and interests of members.

Setting up group activities in advance and clearing away afterwards. This might include preparing refreshments/snacks, organising the layout of the room, preparing resources and tidying the room after the group.

Assisting children and young people to improve their self-confidence, develop social skills and build positive relationships.

Role modelling positive behaviour and interactions during sessions.

Collating and evaluating feedback from children, young people and parents.

Adhering to Barnardo’s policies and procedures at all times, including Barnardo’s: Safeguarding; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Health & Safety; Data Protection; Confidentiality; Recording policies and procedures.

Participating fully in training and supervision.

Volunteering within Barnardo’s Values and Behaviours
• Skills: Reliable, punctual and trustworthy.

Approachable and welcoming.

Passion, enthusiasm, compassion, understanding and having an open minded approach.

Being passionate about making a difference in the lives of children, young people and families.

Preferably have some experience of working with children, young people and families.
• Benefits: Full induction and training.

Other training opportunities relevant to the volunteer role.

Regular supervision and support.

Out of pocket expenses agreed in advance.

Access to the Barnardo’s internal vacancy listing.

Our volunteers tell us about lots of other benefits of volunteering including; experience of working with children, young people and families; experience for your CV; supporting your local community; meeting new people; increasing self-confidence; feeling like you are making a difference; improving your health and wellbeing; and a chance to contribute to a worthwhile children’s charity.

Disclaimer: We look to recruit a diverse range of volunteers. If your skills don’t fit the above, please do not let this put you off as we are able to be flexible with most of our roles. If you are unable to apply online through the link on this page, please contact the Barnardo’s Volunteering Team on volunteering@barnardos.org.uk or call us on 0208 498 7320

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