Work or volunteer with us
A small organisation that regularly punches above its weight, Action for M.E. is leading, with others, a growing community working to create real change on the scale so urgently needed at a local, national and international level.
Our strategy, Shaping our future together, has been developed in partnership with children, young people and adults with M.E., their loved ones and carers, and others who share our values and ambitions. It sets out our ambitious goals which we believe will help us end the decades of ignorance, injustice and neglect faced by people with M.E.
We are currently underrepresented by men, non-binary and black and minority ethnic people in our team and would particularly welcome applicants from these groups.
Action for M.E. supports the Women in Business Charter: Bristol. The Charter recognises and supports the work of Bristol Businesses to create workplaces that are gender equal.
*This page has been created to inform people about our organisation's potential working and volunteering opportunities. We do not require the services of recruitment agencies regarding recruitment.
Adults Advocate
Responsible to: Head of Support Services
Salary: £25,132.92 pro rata
Hours of work: Part-time (17.5 hours per week). We consider all flexible working requests including job-share.
Contract Type: Permanent
Annual leave: 30 days + 8 bank holidays per year pro rata
Location: Keynsham office or home based anywhere in the UK
Closing date: noon Tuesday 7 May 2024
Having been paused to new referrals, Action for M.E.’s free, independent, Adults Advocacy service will soon be re-opening. It’s one of our range of free Support Services that work with adults, young people, and/or families living with M.E. We support colleagues across the team to take part in and share reflective practice, self-care, peer-support and training.
Our Adults Advocacy service offers non-statutory, single-issue, instructed advocacy for adults with a confirmed diagnosis of M.E. We encourage self-advocacy where possible, though many of our clients are too severely affected by M.E. to be able to take undertake this.
As an Adults Advocate, you will manage a caseload of clients remotely (we are not able to offer home visits or face to face meetings), as well as inputting and contributing to the triage process along with your Advocacy colleagues.
For further information and for details of how to apply, please visit the Recruitee page for our Adults Advocacy role.
Trustees
We are looking for up to three committed individuals to join our experienced and dedicated Board of Trustees with specific skills and expertise in the following areas: Scientific and/or research expertise; Policy experience at local or national level Local government experience; Communications expertise.
Action for M.E. is the only UK charity support children and adults with M.E., through information, support, advocacy and healthcare services while working to secure change for the future. Over half of our Board of Trustees have direct experience of M.E.
We are a small organisation that regularly punches above its weight, working on a national and international scale and are delighted to be working with staff, volunteers and our Board of Trustees team who are passionate, dedicated and determined. We have high aspirations and ambitions and believe that Action for M.E. can, and will, make a major contribution to creating the change that is so desperately needed.
This is an exciting opportunity for committed individuals who are willing to devote the necessary time and effort to the role, and who are interested in playing a critical part in providing support to people with M.E. while working to support change for the future.
For further information about this role and for details of how to apply, download our application pack.
Young People’s Services Steering Group (volunteer role)
In spring 2024, thanks to funding from the the National Lottery Community Fund, we will launch a free Counselling service for children and young people with M.E./CFS. It’s really important that young people have a say in how we deliver this new service, to make sure we are getting it right!
So we are extending our existing Young People’s Steering Group (set up help us run our Breaking Isolation workshops) to shape our peer-support, advocacy and counselling services for those aged 18 and under.
The Steering Group will take a leading role in deciding how and where we promote our services and help us measure the difference these services make. The Group will meet online every four to six weeks, with support from staff, and we will be really flexible to make sure meetings work for everyone.
So if you're aged between 13 and 18, and would like to meet new people with the chance to make a real difference to your peers - as well as gaining valuable skills and experience - we'd love to hear from you.
Please download our Young People's Steering Group information pack to find out more, including how to apply (don't worry, the process is simple and informal).
Recruitment for the Steering Group is ongoing as we get the project set up, which means there’s
no deadline to get in touch.
We will reply to everyone who contacts us within three working days. Thank you!
Other volunteer roles
Much of the work we do is made possible by our fantastic volunteers. Some have been with us for many years, while others gain valuable work experience over shorter periods. Supporting our administrative, communications, marketing, fundraising, and support work, some of our volunteers work with us in our Bristol office, while others make their essential contribution from home.
Some key services for our Young Person's Community are led by young volunteers (aged 18 and under) living with M.E. Some contribute to our community forum, helping users feel less isolated and more confident about making connections. Others write to those children and young people severely affected by M.E., without the expectation of a reply. Interested? Get in touch to find out more.
Pro bono support
A range of medical, research, and professional advisors provide an invaluable network of support for Action for M.E. on a pro bono basis.
All have one thing in common: they are hugely valued not just by our staff and Trustees, but also the people with M.E. they help us support. We are immeasurably grateful value for the time and energy they spend enriching our work, and helping us reach even more people affected by M.E.
If this sounds like something you're interested in, please get in touch.
