Do you live in Wales and want to gain valuable skills, have new experiences, and support vulnerable people? We are offering 1 young person aged 18–25 the opportunity to volunteer for up to 11 months with the Portuguese Red Cross in Guimarães, Portugal. The Portuguese Red Cross in Guimarães supports the local community through a wide range of voluntary activities focused on social inclusion, education, health, and youth engagement. Volunteers will be involved in several impactful projects, including: - Supporting elderly people through digital inclusion and companionship - Promoting healthy lifestyles and safety awareness among children and teenagers - Assisting in shelters for homeless individuals and long-term care patients - Organising creative and educational activities in schools, hospitals, and foster homes - Helping with social media, fundraising, and community events. Volunteers will stay in a shared house near the city centre, just a short walk from the Red Cross headquarters. The house includes shared bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and a terrace. Volunteering hours will not exceed 35 hours per week, and volunteers are entitled to two consecutive days of rest. While most weekends are free, occasional weekend activities may take place. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore your interests, develop new skills, and make a difference in a vibrant and historic city. For more details on the role and the projects available, please refer to the full role description. The most important thing we want to see is your motivation for this placement! Typical tasks may include: - Assisting with educational games and workshops in schools and hospitals - Supporting digital literacy sessions for elderly people - Helping manage donations of clothes, food, and essentials - Creating engaging content for social media and awareness campaigns - Participating in climate change and health awareness projects - Designing and leading your own community-based initiatives. The volunteers will be working in a range of projects, which will give them the chance to explore the different kind of social action that the Portuguese Red Cross undertake in Guimarães. This is a great opportunity to get involved in social action projects and find out what you are interested in. For more details on the role and the projects available, have a look at the role description. The main thing we want to see is your motivation for this placement! **Please note that only young people (aged 18-25) based in Wales can apply for this role. Depending on the situation at the time, we will either run an in-person selection day or run Teams interviews with shortlisted candidates.** **If you have any questions, please contact [IYVP@redcross.org.uk](IYVP@redcross.org.uk)**
Why we want you: The International Youth Volunteering Programme (IYVP) can offer young people aged 18-25 to take part in a full-time, structured, and supported volunteer international programme. All our placements are fully funded, with travel, accommodation, visas and health insurance costs covered, and volunteers receive a small monthly allowance to cover additional expenses. This is the perfect opportunity for those interested in gaining valuable skills, having new experiences, and giving back to the community. The personal and professional skills developed on these placements (independence, resilience, working with vulnerable people, etc), as well as the opportunity to live in a new country and create connections with people from different walks of life are extremely beneficial for any young person looking to start a career in this sector or similar. We are keen to hear from individuals, especially those who do not normally get the chance to volunteer overseas, who are passionate and motivated for this kind of work, but who also understand that these types of placements require adaptability and resilience.
Tasks: Admin tasks
Supporting your line manager with service-based tasks
See advert for specific tasks.
Skills: Good communications skills
Good interpersonal skills
Reliable and organised
See advert for further skill requirements.
Benefits: The opportunity to share your skills and knowledge to help people in your community
The opportunity to develop your existing skills, whilst gaining new skills and experience within the voluntary sector
Training provided with ongoing personal development
Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
An opportunity to be part of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation and the knowledge that you are making a difference to people’s lives.
