Volunteering

We are seeking peer mentor volunteers to assist in the delivery of allocated online and face to face support groups mentoring new individuals as they begin their journey with us to help access the Liver UK support groups and other Liver UK services.

• Do you have liver disease or had a liver transplant?
• Have you attended either our virtual or face to face support groups?
• Do you have some free time to support someone at the beginning of their journey?
• Are you a good listener and empathetic to others affected by liver disease?
• Are you passionate about making a difference to liver health?

If so, we would love to hear from you.

The role

Peer mentoring is a form of peer support which is specifically focused on mentorship. Our peer mentorship programme involves our more experienced volunteers supporting new people on their liver journey from joining Liver UK support groups.

Peer mentorship inspires hope, provides a sense of inclusion and belonging, while relating to the challenges and stigma associated with liver disease. Our peer mentor roles can help patients and families to take a more active role in their healthcare and empower people, helping them to gain confidence in self-managing their liver condition.

The peer mentor volunteer will work alongside the Outreach team at Liver UK who are at the forefront of our public-facing work. The ideal candidates will have experience of attending a Liver UK support group and understand the journey liver patients and their families undergo following diagnosis.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Working alongside your allocated Outreach Development Officer in the facilitation of Liver UK patient support groups.
2. Setting up and facilitating both online and face to face support groups as agreed with your allocated Outreach Development Officer.
3. Act as a point of contact for patients attending your allocated support groups.
4. Engaging with patients and families affected by liver disease through peer mentoring to inspire hope, build confidence and help people self- manage their condition.
5. Acting as a peer mentor supporting new individuals who are joining our support services.

Peer Mentor recruitment and training:

• Once you have submitted your application form, one of our team will arrange to meet with you to discuss the role and to answer any questions you may have.
• We will ask for two references and apply for an enhanced DBS check for you.
• Full training will be provided and will take place across a two-day period.

We are looking for volunteers who are interested in becoming trained as peer mentors for our virtual and face to face support groups. If you have been attending one of our support groups for at least two years and fit the description (please see the link below), we would love to hear from you.

Click here to apply

If you have lived experience of a liver condition and looking for ad-hoc, home-based volunteering, supporting our patient information team, this may be the role for you.

The role

All of our information is made alongside medical experts, patients and families. We also make regular updates. Patient information volunteers are a vital part of this. The role can include:

• Initial discussions with individuals / focus groups to help with planning and shaping a project.
• Reading and commenting on drafts to check that information is useful and easy to understand.
• (April to June) Answering occasional questions for quick rebrand checks.

What you’ll gain

• The chance to work with our Patient Information team in a national charity.
• The opportunity to help others who are going through similar experiences.

What we’re looking for

• Anyone with experience of a liver condition in the UK as a patient or family member.
• Commitment of around 1-2 hours up to 3 times a year.
• The ability to respond to requests within a week.

You do not need any medical knowledge or to be good at proof reading for this role. Other people will make these checks. It is your personal, lived experience that will help us.

We’re hugely grateful for the time and energy our volunteers give. If this role is of interest, we’d love to hear from you.

If you enjoy engaging with the public, our fundraising events volunteer role is a great opportunity to show your support alongside our Fundraising team. This role is particularly great if you can only commit your time on an ad-hoc basis.

The role

• Attending events with our fundraising team to help raise awareness and cheer on those participating such as the London Marathon.
• Talk to members of the public and encourage them to engage with the event.

What you’ll gain

• The chance to support alongside a friendly and energetic team.
• The chance to be a part of our key fundraising events.
• A meaningful CV addition, whether you’re early-career or more experienced.

Many of our volunteers use this experience to support their next paid role, and we’re happy to provide references where appropriate.

What we’re looking for

• Confident about speaking to the public.
• Positive, outgoing and friendly.
• An interest in liver health and the services that we provide.
• Preferably London-based or willing to travel.

While this is a volunteer role, the work is meaningful and impactful. You don’t need to have worked in a charity before to apply.