Event Champions

What will I be doing?

• We have many fundraising events throughout the year both at the hospice and in the local area. By volunteering you could be assisting at one of these events, networking, helping us with the set-up of an event, or attending an event to say a few words on behalf of Haven House.
• The role may also include volunteers attending and networking at events on behalf of Haven House and this could sometimes include giving a small speech about the work we do, picking up a cheque, being a judge at a bake off or attending a raffle or bingo evening. This key role helps to raise awareness of the hospice by providing presentations to a variety of organisations about the work and services we provide.
• We rely on volunteers to raise funds and awareness of the Charity by assisting with fundraising activities. Working alongside the fundraising team, duties could include some administrations tasks. You may also help with the preparation of a talk or presentation you will carry out on behalf of Haven House.
• There will also be home-based research tasks within the Community and Events team to assist with promoting seasonal fundraising products. For example, you could be contacting local schools to take part in our Elf for a day project or contacting local businesses to help promote our Christmas Tree collection.
• We also encourage volunteers to make their own links in the local community in sourcing places to book talks and attend events.

What impact will this have?

• This key role helps to raise awareness of the hospice by providing presentations to a variety of organisations about the work and services we provide. This can help us with future fundraising, supporters and links with the local community.
• Haven House Children’s Hospice cares for seriously ill babies and children (up to the age of 18) by creating a loving and warm environment for them and their families while they go through the toughest of times.
• No family should have to face alone the difficulties of looking after a child with a serious illness. Haven House provides round the clock care at our hospice, surrounded in beautiful grounds and woodland, in Woodford Green and through our outreach services in the home and local community. We provide; day care, over-night stays, end of life care, bereavement support, as well as life enriching activities such as sensory play, music therapy and physiotherapy.
• We provide care and support where and when our families need us. Hospice care does not mean that a child is near to the end of their life, we are here from the time a devastating diagnosis is made to help our families have choice, quality of life and to make the most of the precious time they have together.
• It is important to have a Haven House volunteer represent us to show our support. We have seen first-hand the impact that having volunteers at events has made, it has led to increased awareness, money raised and additional support across the areas that we cover.

Commitment

• The role is very flexible and can be worked around any existing activities you may have. Networking events and talks can take place at different times and days in the week. There may also be some occasional weekend support needed.
• We do not set a time limit on this role but we would expect you to be in contact with the team at least once a month. We would ask that volunteers commit to a few sessions per year . Communication will be via email with any upcoming dates. Events typically occur in the areas we cover. This includes Barking and Dagenham, Enfield, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, and West Essex. Expenses to these events can be covered but must be pre-agreed.

What else do I need to know?

• No specific skills or qualifications are needed, however being a good communicator and confident in approaching others would be desirable. As the role is flexible you will need to be able to manage your own time to enable you to undertake the volunteering role.
• Volunteers can be aged from 16 to assist at our events, there are some restrictions on under 18's volunteering depending on the event. We can not always send out 16 year old's to talks without a staff or DBS volunteer with them.
• You will need to fill in one of our volunteer application forms and then we will invite you in for an informal interview. We will also require you to provide us with two references.

Expenses

• Pre-agreed travel expenses can be claimed up to the value of £5. We will need a receipt for any expenses claimed.

Background checks

• Other background checks are required

Training

• You will be required to attend a 2 hour induction into the hospice, these run on a bi- monthly basis. You will also have some online volunteer modules to complete. You will be offered a briefing and support from the events and fundraising team for all events that you are going along to.
• We will also provide you with some champion training with our fundraising team. The next date for this is 5 October. This training will cover how we currently give talks and what information we give about Haven House.