STAR Drug and Alcohol Service - East Sussex

We have several volunteer roles that we recruit for depending on service needs. If you’ve got personal experience of the issues our services help people with, one of your options is to volunteer as a peer mentor, supporting people on their own journey, or becoming a Service User Representative.

You can view our latest volunteer recruitment opportunities and application form here: https://volunteers-changegrowlive.icims.com. You can also contact our Volunteer Lead Heidi White to have a chat about any aspect of volunteering with the service – please email [email protected] or call Heidi on 07500 801729. 

All applicants are asked to complete a short form which will help us match you to the volunteer opportunities we have. If your application indicates that you have the skills and interests we are looking for, you will be invited to take part in an interview. The interview will involve the Volunteer Lead and other members of the team – we want the interview to be an open conversation – as relaxed as possible!

The interview gives us time to get to know you a bit more and we can talk about your goals in volunteering and what added value you could bring to our service and our service users. Unfortunately, not everyone who asks to volunteer with us is successful – sometimes the voluntary role and the person applying don’t fit. We will always aim to give you feedback on this and encourage your potential in future volunteering. If you are chosen to volunteer with us, you will be given an induction and training plan supported by the Volunteer Lead.

You will be matched with a member of the team who will be your supervisor while you volunteer with us. Your supervisor will guide you on your voluntary role and support you 1 to 1 where you will be encouraged to share how your role is going, celebrate successes and discuss any problems you may be facing. We will do our best to support you to develop in your volunteering role with us.

As a volunteer in our service, you will need a DBS check. Having a criminal record does not necessarily prevent someone from being successfully recruited, however, it will mean someone needs to go through a safer recruitment DBS risk assessment process before being accepted into the role.

Unless stated, the hours can be flexible to the time you can commit to and the needs of the service/service users.

All volunteers will receive a full induction which includes an introduction to Change Grow Live, boundaries training and some mandatory training. There will also be 1:1 task specific training including shadowing, practice observations and reflection opportunities.

We value all our volunteers and provide extensive induction training before placement and ongoing training throughout your placement, with the opportunity to gain accredited certificates. Volunteers have access to the same training opportunities as paid staff. Volunteers can access training specific to their role and as part of their personal and professional development. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to devise a personal development plan with their supervisor.

Yes, requests can be made in writing to us. Considerations will be based on the type and length of placement and the needs of the service at that time. Unfortunately, placements are not always available, and requests may be declined.

We believe volunteers shouldn’t be out of pocket through their volunteering experiences. Volunteers can claim travel expenses from home to the place of volunteering. To find out more about how the variety of ways in which volunteers can claim expenses, please email [email protected] or call Heidi on 07500 801729

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer and would like to chat to us first, please email [email protected] or call Heidi on 07500 801729 – we’d love to hear from you.