Memory Maker

At Lasting Memories, we know that a cancer diagnosis is the toughest challenge most families will ever face. It creates new worries, new routines, new expenses and limits the opportunities to spend quality time with loved ones. 

To make life just that little bit easier, we provide respite and financial support to individuals, and their families, currently affected by cancer. We do this by funding memorable days out, short trips away and issuing benevolent grants.

Ultimately, our aim is to make a difference to the mental health and well-being of people going through tough times and provide services that give them the opportunity to restore emotional balance and create lasting memories with their family and friends.

Role Responsibilities

We are looking for a highly organised and efficient person that is an effective communicator and operates with compassion to join our team. With the support and supervision from trustees you will liaise with beneficiaries and their partners/relatives to help organise memorable days or process benevolent grants. This will involve handling the end-to-end process of assessing, processing, and closing applications. Each application is unique, and you will get to help people living with cancer to create lasting memories and improve their wellbeing. 

The main tasks of the role include: - 

• Leading on the end to process of facilitating memorable days and short breaks for individuals and families living with cancer 
• Assessment of applications received in a timely manner using eligibility criteria and calculator
• Follow application procedures in line with our grant giving policy
• - informing applicants of decisions   - sending approval forms   - Sending feedback form
• Carrying out follow up calls to applicants after 7 – 10 days (or more) where appropriate
• Sending out monitoring and evaluation forms to beneficiaries and collating responses
• Maintaining our beneficiary register of who we have helped and why
• Tracking spend on grants for memorable days/benevolent grants and liaising with trustees on budgets
• Producing simple beneficiary reports detailing:
• - Age Groups - Average grant amount - Locations - Cancer type
• - Grant type (Ben Fund, Mem Days) - Grant use (What did they apply for)
• Liaising with beneficiaries to obtain feedback and testimonials/case studies/stories

Skills and experience

The ideal candidate will have the following skills or experience: 

• Previous work experience working directly with service users or beneficiaries
• Able to work as part of a team and autonomously
• Confident communicating with people from different backgrounds and showing compassion towards people living in different circumstances or with a serious medical condition
• Able to work to deadlines, sometimes multiple
• Highly organised and efficient 
• Confident communicating via email and telephone
• Competent using a computer and applications such as Google Documents, Google Drive and Google Mail or equivalent e.g., Microsoft Office
• Aware of basic principles of data protection and safeguarding

Time commitment

We anticipate this role could take between 4-6 hours per week. However, the time commitment will vary based on the number of applications for our service we receive. Sometimes the role requires a lot less hours per week and at other times requires more. 

The role is flexible and can be carried out to fit around existing commitments. There is no need to come into a central or office location as the role can be done remotely. 

The role may also be shared between two or more volunteers. 

Training and support 

We offer training and support covering the following areas: 

• Our internal processes and policies
• Safeguarding vulnerable adults
• GDPR and data protection

We cover all out-of-pocket expenses and can provide access to a laptop and phone if required.