Living On could not provide the service and support to families and schools without the help of our wonderful volunteers.  We have volunteer opportunities in many capacities from fundraising, marketing, social media to working directly with families.

All our volunteers are given training in childhood bereavement which is a two-day course. Those volunteers who wish to work with families are given further training in practical ways to support children and safeguarding.  We ask all volunteers to offer three hours a week.

To be a Buddy (those that work with families) we require you to have experience of working with children in an educational, health or social setting. All Buddies are required to have a DBS check with us when they join as well as provide one-character reference.

Our Buddies meet once a month for supervision which offers the chance to reflect on the work we are doing, share experiences and feelings about the work we are all doing and to stay connected as a volunteering team.

Buddies will shadow one of our family support workers or an experienced buddy before they start to work with a family on their own.  Working with a family can involve working with creative activities one to one with a child to help them; tell their story, manage their feelings of grief, collect memories, adapt to the change they have experienced and to help them to express their needs and feelings to others. Creating memory boxes individually or with family groups, helping to prepare a child to attend a funeral, offering phone and email support to parents.

Our volunteers also support our family events which can be social activities, picnics and parties as well as therapeutic groups for families and groups for children and young people.

We provide ongoing training sessions and opportunities to develop their skills.

We are looking for volunteers in all capacities to support us in providing a bereavement service to children, young people and their families in the Orpington area. We need enthusiastic, committed and compassionate people to join our dedicated team to develop and continue the support we give.

Volunteer roles include supporting our grief groups, helping to fundraise or providing marketing and administrative support.

If you have a professional qualification and/or experience of working with children and families you can be a Buddy. A Buddy provides support and advice to a child and family following bereavement. Living On provides training for the role you undertake.

If you want to make a difference and support your local community, please download our Volunteer Application Form or contact us.

Testimonials from volunteers:

Why do I volunteer for ‘Living On’?

“Volunteering is such a rewarding role which allows you to work with and support families and children going through a time of bereavement in their life. You meet families and children, talk through their experiences and situation and then provide support which is unique and personalised for them.”

“I love working with children/young people!  Seeing them flourish, be happy and make sense of the world around them is very rewarding.   Coping with grief can be a huge challenge…..by helping the young person with therapeutic support hopefully makes them feel less alone and able to ‘live on’ in their own life.  I enjoy supporting the families too with regular phone calls.  I fit these in and around my own commitments. I am a buddy, going into schools to work 1:1 with a child, on a weekly basis, at a set time.  The team at ‘Living On’ are really inspirational! I feel fully supported and have learned so much thanks to them.”