Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer for OCD-UK. Whatever your motivation - we truly value your contribution - however much time you have to give.

There are many reasons why people choose to get involved. Some to support and make a difference to people coping with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, some to do something inspiring and motivating and others to learn new skills and share new experiences.

We hope volunteering will be mutually beneficial, with you able to expand your own skills and experiences. You may feel satisfaction from playing a positive role in someone else's life or, if you're looking for work, you will gain valuable experience for your CV.

To get involved take a look at this list of volunteer roles - or if you have a skill that you think would benefit OCD-UK we want to hear from you! Don't worry if there is nothing on the list that you feel will suit you, or you are skilled for, if you have the enthusiasm and interest to make a difference then we will help you gain those skills!

 

Ongoing Opportunities

- Proof Readers
- Email Support Team
- Graphic Designers
- Media Liaison
- Conference Manager
- Press Release Writers
- Collection Box Volunteers
- Collection Box Coordinator
- Fundraising Application Grant Writing
- Marketing, Media and PR
- Payroll
- Social Events Planner (OCD-UK members only)
- Telephone Information / Support Line Volunteers
- Telephone Message Retriever and Transcriber
- Website Designer
- OCD-UK Reference Checker
- Purchaser Procurement
- Corporate Fundraising Researcher
- Email Quality Assurance
- Data Protection Review and Policy Creation
- Volunteer Training
- Sponsored Event Support Liaison
- London Marathon Support Team 2009
- Video Editors
- Raffle and Auction Prize Sourcing
- Advocacy

For more information about any of these roles, to apply or ask further questions about any of the roles, please scroll down. Application details are at the bottom of the page.

 

Proof Readers

We require proof readers for both our website and written literature. We will send you documents (Microsoft Word or PDF) at short notice and require quick proof-reading (within day or two).

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Email Support Team

This role will involve logging into the OCD-UK email software and responding to emails submitted to the charity. These will vary from people seeking support for themselves, family members, admin queries and research support queries.

This is a crucial frontline support role, the importance of which should not be under-estimated.

This role is open time wise, depending on how much time you wish to give. You will not be expected to log in daily, but we are looking for a regular commitment.

Open full volunteering opportunity description

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Graphic Designers

We are looking for volunteers with design experience to help us with the design of our publications, magazine and leaflets to create print ready literature using software such as Quark, Adobe InDesign or other print standard software.

You may wish to offer your services for a one off design project to help us, to enhance your own portfolio, or you may wish to offer ongoing regular design support.

If you think you can help, simply shoot us an email, along with any samples of your previous work.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Media Liaison

Raising awareness of OCD is one of the key aims of OCD-UK. We have regular contact from the written press, freelance journalists and television media and we are looking for someone with experience of dealing with all areas of the media to support our chief executive in the dealings and negotiations with the media, to develop a media strategy and to help recruit and train volunteers to share their stories.

Requirement: The volunteer would need to be able to handle emails and telephone calls during working hours and be prepared to share their mobile number with journalists.

(Single vacancy)

 

Conference Manager

We are looking for an individual who has experience of organising and managing events and conferences to support OCD-UK in the management and running of their events (1-2 events per year).

This is a voluntary role, although expenses will be paid. We require this volunteer to take charge of working with the venue up to and on the day of the event to ensure everything runs smoothly. This role also includes liasing with the chief executive of the charity, guest speakers and the venue.

You will also be required to supervise volunteers helping on the day of the event.

(Single vacancy)

 

Press Release Writers

We require individuals who can write and distribute professional and accurate press releases as directed by the charity.

This is a voluntary role and is ideal for somebody with journalistic experiences or intending to pursue a career in journalism. A list of our previous press releases can be found on the front of our website.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Collection Box Volunteers

You won't need to be reminded of how important it is that OCD-UK goes from strength-to-strength, and it's a fact of life that funding is the key to helping us to continue achieving our aim of raising awareness and providing support.

One way that we can bring in a steady flow of additional money over the course of a year is through the expansion of our collection box network.

Individuals may wish to distribute 1 or 2 boxes in their local area, or may wish to distribute more. You would then need to visit the locations once or twice a year to empty the contents and bank it into the OCD-UK account.

It will not be easy work, you will get rejections, and we will be competing with the big charities for counter space, but you will be really helping OCD-UK raise much needed funding.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Collection Box Coordinator

You won't need to be reminded of how important it is that OCD-UK goes from strength-to-strength, and it's a fact of life that funding is the key to helping us to continue achieving our aim of raising awareness and providing support.

This role will involve managing every aspect of the OCD-UK collection box fundraising project, from sending them out to volunteers, checking the volunteer has emptied them every few months and checking what amounts have been banked. Re-sending collection box seals and keeping an updated and accurate log of all box locations, and amounts banked to OCD-UK by each box owner.

Open full volunteering opportunity description

(Single vacancy)

 

Fundraising Application Grant Writing

This role is for any volunteer who may have any type of fundraising experience, or experience of successfully writing grant application bids.

You won't need to be reminded of how important it is that OCD-UK goes from strength-to-strength, and it's a fact of life that funding is the key to helping us to continue achieving our aim of raising awareness and providing support.

You will work closely (at times convenient to yourself) with our chair and chief-executive to complete grant applications and any other fundraising work that you believe may be successful in obtaining much needed funding for OCD-UK.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Marketing, Media and PR

This role involves advising the charity of the best way to market their awareness campaign to reach its target audience and advising on awareness literature / posters to maximise their full potential. You will work closely with the charities management team.

Volunteers do not need to have OCD or an extensive knowledge of the condition for this role, but will need to have relevant marketing, media or public relations experience.

We will be able to pay expenses for postage and telephone call costs. Please email us if you think you may be able to help, including samples of any previous work you can submit.

(Single vacancy)

 

Payroll

This role will involve processing the payroll for our employee/s (1-2 people per month). You will be passed the details of the employee salary and will be required to produce a wage slip, calculate PAYE and NI contributions, and complete the appropriate paperwork to make payments to the HM Customs and Revenue at the appropriate times. You will also be required to complete the necessary year end paperwork (P14/P60 for example).

Requirements: The volunteer for this role will need to have relevant payroll experience and treat all information confidentially. We will be able to pay expenses for any postage or telephone call expense.

(Single vacancy)

 

Social Events Planner (OCD-UK members only)

This role involves planning 1-3 social events in your local city/area per year. The idea behind this is to bring members together in a social relaxed atmosphere and help break the day to day cycle that is OCD.

Events can be of your choice, something as simple as a group night out at the cinema, shopping, restaurants to a day out at a theme park, to country walks.

Requirements: Events must be planned far in advance for publication in the OCD-UK newsletter and each event will only be open to OCD-UK members. After each event, you will need to email a report to the OCD-UK office.

Costs for each event will be the responsibility of attendees, and a guide to costs must be advertised when promoting planned events.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Telephone Information / Support Line Volunteers

This role will involve logging into the OCD-UK telephone system and taking calls from members of the public, often needing someone to talk to about OCD. There will also be a level of message taking for the OCD-UK office. All calls will then need to be logged into the call logging software.

These will vary from people seeking support for themselves, family members, admin queries and research support queries.

Full training will be provided to use the telephone system, call logging software and how OCD-UK would like you to respond to calls.

This is a crucial frontline support role, the importance of which should not be under-estimated.

This role is home based and flexible time wise, depending on how much time you wish to give. You will not be expected to log in daily, but we are looking for a regular commitment. Some calls may last 30-40 minutes and you would be expected to complete the call to the callers satisfaction before logging off the system.

Open full volunteering opportunity description

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Telephone Message Retriever and Transcriber

This role will involve logging into the OCD-UK telephone answering service, retrieving messages and then transcribing them into our call logging software. Full training will be provided to use both the message service and call logging software. The role will not involve any one to one individual telephone contact with the public.

You will be emailed when a voicemail is on the system, you will then be required to access the system, retrieve and log the message. We have 1-3 messages per day usually.

Open full volunteering opportunity description

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Website Designer

We are looking for volunteers with website design experience (HTML, PHP, CMS) to help maintain and/or develop new website projects. If you need to know more or want to get involved, simply shoot us an email, along with any samples of your previous work.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

OCD-UK Reference Checker

This role requires an individual to browse search engines, books and other mental health references to ensure that OCD-UK are listed where appropriate, and most importantly listed correctly with the most up to date contact details.

(Single vacancy)

 

Purchaser Procurement

To research products required for purchase, find supplier options and obtain quotes to source the best deals for OCD-UK.

(Single vacancy)

 

Corporate Fundraising Researcher

To work with the fundraising team and research our corporate targets. Research each company for suitable contacts and information relevant to our fundraising application. Information usually required will include finding out the name of the CEO or charity/community liaison, how many employees and customers they have, and if they have a specific charitable giving policy.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Email Quality Assurance

This opportunity seeks an individual to review our email responses, check for the quality of replies from our volunteers and to propose what further training our volunteers may need.

(Single vacancy)

 

Data Protection Review and Policy Creation

This opportunity seeks an individual to review the charities data protection provision and confidentiality responsibilities, and create a review report.

(Single vacancy)

 

Volunteer Training

OCD-UK value the importance of ensuring our volunteers not only enjoy their volunteering experience for OCD-UK, but also learn and we are keen to create regular training opportunities.

We use online e-learning modules as one way to train our volunteers, and we are looking for someone to create new training quiz's every 6-8 weeks relevant to our volunteers. No technical knowledge needed.

Requirements: The volunteer for this role will need to have relevant teaching or training experience, ideally with some insight into OCD and Treatments.

(Single vacancy)

 

Sponsored Event Support Liaison

Each year OCD-UK have a large number of individuals taking part in sponsored events (marathons, 10k runs, cycle rides etc). We value the importance of ensuring our volunteers are given all the help and support that they need.

This volunteer well be required to make contact with individuals taking part in sponsored events prior the event and offer encouragement, advice and support.

We will be able to pay expenses for postage and telephone call costs.

(Single vacancy)

 

London Marathon Support Team 2009

(Sunday 26th April 2009)

The charity have secured 4 spots in the 2009 London Marathon and to ensure that our runners receive the best possible support we are seeking volunteers to help line the route and cheer loudly as the OCD-UK runners pass your spot.

This will be a coordinated effort to ensure we have volunteers around the course.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Video Editors

The charity wish to create short video pieces (approx 5 mins long) for publication on our website and video sharing sharing websites about OCD - what it is and how it affects people. We require creative talent to story board the video and someone with the technical equipment to create the video.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Raffle and Auction Prize Sourcing

The charity is constantly looking for fundraising items that can be used in raffle or auctions.

This often involves contacting local and head offices of companies (usually through letter) to politely ask if they can donate anything for our cause. We are looking for volunteers to help, either locally to themselves or, take on a larger role and target larger companies and their head offices, and other potential targets such as sports teams and television shows for example. 

Postage and telephone costs can be refunded.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

Advocacy

For the last three years, OCD-UK have been leading the way on providing advocacy support to our members. As a result we have helped people with all sorts of problems: Obtaining appointments, advising about benefits, supporting jury referrals and even helping individuals return to work because of OCD suspensions.

We are looking for volunteers to help project work on individual cases when required and work closely with our service users.

Postage and telephone costs can be refunded.

(Multiple vacancies)

 

How to apply for any of our volunteer roles

Firstly familiarise yourself with our application process. Some roles simply require you to email us with examples of your work, others will require you to complete our application form.

If you have any questions about any of these volunteer opportunities, or are interested in applying for any of the positions please contact us by emailing volunteer @ ocduk.org

The application form can be completed online and attached straight to your email. Open the volunteer application form.

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