Team Leader for homeless service

About us

The Ilford Sunday Drop-In provides a warm, welcoming space every Sunday for people experiencing homelessness, insecure housing, loneliness or financial hardship.

Each week we support around 35 - 45 guests, providing a hot meal, sandwiches, drinks, clothing, toiletries and a friendly face when many other services are closed. We also offer informal advice and signpost guests to local support services where appropriate.

Role purpose

As a Volunteer Team Leader, you will lead one Sunday drop-in session, ensuring it is safe, welcoming and well organised for both guests and volunteers.

You will coordinate the volunteer team, oversee the smooth running of the session and help create a positive environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. You'll also be responsible for ensuring health and safety procedures are followed and managing any issues that arise during the session.

You will always be supported by the Chair, fellow Team Leaders and experienced volunteers—you'll never be expected to manage the service alone.

Time commitment

• Sundays: 12:00pm – 2:30pm
• Minimum commitment: One Sunday per month.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the Sunday drop-in session.
• Welcome volunteers and allocate roles.
• Support and mentor new volunteers.
• Ensure guests receive a safe, friendly and respectful service.
• Manage incidents calmly and confidently where required.
• Ensure health and safety procedures are followed.
• Monitor stock levels and communicate replenishment needs.
• Complete end-of-session checks and provide a handover for the next Team Leader.
• Signpost guests to other local services where appropriate.

Benefits to volunteer

• Leadership and volunteer management experience.
• Experience supporting vulnerable people within the local community.
• Training, shadowing and ongoing support.
• The opportunity to build confidence in communication, teamwork and decision-making.
• A reference after a successful period of volunteering.
• The satisfaction of making a real difference to people every week.

What skills do I need?

Skills, attributes, experience and qualifications 

We're looking for someone who is:

• Friendly, approachable and compassionate.
• Calm and confident under pressure.
• Organised and able to coordinate a busy session.
• Comfortable supporting and motivating volunteers.
• A good communicator who treats everyone with dignity and respect.
• Able to make sensible decisions and solve problems calmly.
• Passionate about helping people experiencing homelessness or hardship
• It is very important that volunteers are reliable and able to commit to at least one Sunday each month.
• Comfortable working as part of a team

• Ideally previous leadership, supervisory or team coordination experience.
• Experience volunteering or working with vulnerable people.
• An understanding of homelessness or community support services (helpful but not essential)
• A mobile phone to communicate with the Team Leader group via WhatsApp.
• Ability to travel to the drop-in in Ilford on your allocated Sundays.
• Willingness to undertake training and complete a period of shadowing before leading a session independently.

When do I need to be available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

One Sunday a month from 12:00 - 2:45pm plus quarterly Team Leader catch ups.

Where does this role take place?