Volunteer role: Online Peer Support Facilitator with Faith to Faithless
(Around 2 hours every 2-4 weeks)
Faith to Faithless is Humanists UK’s support programme for so-called ‘apostates’; those who leave high-control religions.
The service is led by mostly ex-religious people themselves, who have knowledge and experiences of apostate communities facing serious and systemic issues. These issues range from emotional and physical abuse from family members, friends, and peers in their community, through homelessness, job loss, shunning, and so-called ‘honour-based’ abuse, to systemic failures by statutory organisations to support apostates.
Read more about what Faith to Faithless does on our dedicated website.
We are currently looking to expand our team of Online Peer Support Facilitators.
We hold weekly online peer support events via Zoom for individuals who have left high-control religious groups. These sessions provide a safe, facilitated space where participants can connect with others who share similar experiences. Each Thursday, from 19:00–20:00, a pair of facilitators lead a conversation on a relevant topic with a group of approximately 10 participants. The rota is flexible; volunteers are asked to commit to hosting or assisting the host at least once a month, and possibly every two weeks.
We are looking for compassionate, reliable volunteers to help create a welcoming, structured, and emotionally safe environment where participants feel heard, respected, and connected. If you think that might be you, please take a look at the full role description and consider applying.
Please note that all successful applicants will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check - we will cover the cost of this.
You are welcome to contact the Apostate Services Development Coordinator, Terri (info@faithtofaithless.com), or Humanists UK (volunteers@humanists.uk) to discuss the role before applying.
We are passionate about what we do because we know it makes a real difference to positively support the lives of those who leave high-control religious groups.
We actively encourage applications from all sections of our community. We particularly welcome applicants from groups currently under-represented among our volunteers; these would include individuals who identify as female, disabled or trans.
You can find our Recruitment and Promotion and Equal Opportunities policies via the Careers Menu or at the foot of our main Opportunities Page.
To volunteer with Humanists UK, we ask that you also register as a Supporter, if you are not already. This allows you to receive mailings from the organisation, to further your understanding of the work Humanists UK does, and to inform your own volunteering practice. There is no cost to you for this registration.
You may also wish to consider becoming a Member; more information on membership can be found here. Membership is not a requirement to volunteer with Humanists UK.
- Department
- Faith To Faithless Apostate Support
- Role
- Peer Support Facilitator
- Locations
- UK-wide
- Employment type
- Volunteer
- Job type
- Volunteer
- Remote Status
- Fully remote
About Humanists UK
We started out in 1896, and since then we’ve always been a growing movement at the forefront of social change. Today we’re trusted by over 120,000 members and supporters and over 70 local and special interest affiliates to promote humanism.
We put humanism into practice through effective campaigning and services, supporting lasting change for happier, more fulfilling lives. Our policies are informed with the support of over 150 of the UK’s most prominent philosophers, scientists, and other thinkers and experts and we seek to advance them with the help of over 100 parliamentarians in membership of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. We bring like-minded people together to make change happen, and we strive to be their voice in public debate, drawing on contemporary humanist thought and the worldwide humanist tradition.
We’ve been conducting non-religious funerals, weddings, and baby-namings for 120 years. Our highly trained celebrants are the best you’ll find anywhere, and they support individuals to create authentic, bespoke ceremonies that put people and their stories at the heart of every occasion.
We also help vulnerable people easily access like-minded and effective non-religious pastoral support that is specially tailored to work for them. Our trained and accredited non-religious pastoral support volunteers operate across hospitals, prisons, and the armed forces.