Volunteering
Give a little time and get back much more!
If you’re looking for a way to give something back to the community you live or work in, why not help a young person realise their aspirations of starting up in business?
We have many different roles to offer and the time commitment can be as little or much as you like, and although it’s preferable that you’ve run your own business or have professional experience, it’s not essential.
The role of a PSYBT volunteer is varied and this is what makes it so enjoyable. Seeing the difference you can make to a young person’s confidence and watching their skills and knowledge grow is incredible. You’ll also get something from it too. You’ll build on your own skills, gain a sense of satisfaction and achievement, boost your career options and benefit from exclusive access to training, events and awards ceremonies specifically aimed at enterprise.
For more information on how you can get involved in volunteering with PSYBT download our Volunteering Application and return it to pauline.bell@psybt.org.uk
Regional Panel Member
Summary of Role
Panel members are responsible for vetting all business plans, interviewing applicants and making the all important decisions on awards. All Regional Panel members are invited to join PSYBT by the Regional Chairman of the area.
Skills Required
- Wide range of business experience
- Knowledge of the local economy
- Ability to relate to young people
- Good listening and observational skills
- The ability to extract information in a sensitive manner
Responsibilities
- Attending Panel meetings – aim to make yourself available when required to attend a Panel
- Reading Business Plans – part of the decision-making process is based on an assessment of the business plan
- Interviewing Applicants – you will ask applicants about their business ideas and why they need support from PSYBT
- Contributing to the Decision-Making Process - in addition to deciding whether or not to support the applicant, the Panel must decide other issues such as whether conditions are to be attached to the award, e.g. should the award be increased or decreased, should the applicant attend a training course first
Regional Aftercare Adviser
Summary of Role
Aftercare Advisers provide business support and guidance to young business people through regular communication. This involves developing strong working relationships with the proprietors of the businesses and the building up of mutual trust.
Skills Required
- Good communication skills
- Ability to relate to young people
- Good listening and observation skills
- Business background (owner /manager)
- Marketing or financial experience extremely useful
Responsibilities
- Assist businesses to develop and grow, referring clients to business specialists as required
- Provide a ‘mentoring’ service to an average of 4 businesses
- Assist with the interpretation of a clients quarterly accounts
- Review the marketing strategy
- Identify training needs or any further assistance PSYBT could provide
Specialist Adviser
Summary of Role
The role of the Specialist Adviser is to provide business support and guidance to young business people, funded by PSYBT. This will involve sharing your specialist knowledge with other volunteers to enable them to support their clients and, in some cases, for you to communicate directly with their clients.
Skills Required
- Specialist in field you are advising on with proven track record
- Good communication skills
- Ability to relate to young people
- Good listening and observation skills
- Business background (owner /manager)
Responsibilities
- You must assist businesses to develop and grow
- Review training needs and any external or wider PSYBT assistance required
- Liaise with clients, aftercare adviser and Regional Manager.
- Lead clients towards independence from PSYBT at the two- year point. Where appropriate, recommend extension for specified period.
- Prepare an action plan with agreed commitments, priorities and timescales.
Volunteer Coordinator
Summary of Role
This role requires providing support to the group of volunteers in your region, enabling them to carry out their aftercare role with the young people being supported by PSYBT. This will involve the assignment of Aftercare Advisers to young people, assisting in the gathering of Aftercare reports and providing subsequent feedback on reports received to the Regional Manager and/or through the CRM.
Skills Required
- Good communication skills
- Ability to relate to young people
- Good listening and observation skills
- Leadership and coaching skills
- IT skills
Responsibilities
- Manage the assignment of Aftercare Advisers to young people
- Provide your team of aftercare advisers with support, leadership and coaching
- Arrange regular support sessions for volunteers in order to share experiences, good practice and offer guidance
- Assist in the gathering of aftercare reports and subsequent feedback to reports received
- Maintain full and accurate records of activities on CRM
Regional Fundraising Champion
Summary of Role
The Regional Fundraising Champion will raise awareness of the benefits of supporting PSYBT on a financial basis. This will involve following up Regional leads and creating new contacts, ranging from a variety of areas such as: individuals, trusts and corporate and public sector organisations.
Skills Required
- Strong network within Business community
- Good communication skills
- Reliability & Confidentiality
- Understanding of the PSYBT model
- Fundraising background beneficial
Responsibilities
- Assist Regional Manager with fundraising
- Build on existing Regional contacts
- Open up new Regional networks for PSYBT
- Attend on going training and updates with fundraising team
- Raise local awareness and attend fundraising events
Regional Ambassador
Summary of Role
The role of a Regional Ambassador is to support their Regional Manager through involvement in local marketing functions and raising the PSYBT profile at events. The Regional Ambassador will inspire, motivate and be seen as a role model for young people to aspire to.
Skills Required
- Builds understanding and trust
- Good communications skills
- Networking skills
- Motivational
- Understands the PSYBT model
- Must have started a business with PSYBT support
- Organisational skills
Responsibilities
- Attendance and participation at events / networking
- Meeting and promoting PSYBT to young entrepreneurs
- Creating opportunities to promote PSYBT within Scotland
- Follow up PR – case studies and links with press
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