Our Volunteer Support Group Leads are at the heart of the charity, providing local alopecia support to our community. If you're interested in starting a new support group, it's important to figure out if the role is right for you. Please take some time to follow our step by step process below, and if you feel this role could be for you, fill out our Expression of Interest form. 

Step One: What does an AUK Support Group Lead do?

Support Group Leads are at the front line of the charity and so have an important role in supporting people affected by alopecia. For a lot of people, you may be the first person they have spoken to/met who has been affected by alopecia.

By facilitating peer support group meetings in their local area, Support Group Leads can bring people together affected by alopecia to create a sense of community. Support Group Leads can feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction at being able to offer a safe space for those affected by alopecia to share their story and engage in empathetic, emotional peer support as well as signposting information. 

A summary of what the role involves:

• Organising and facilitating support group meetings
• Sourcing a suitable, accessible venue
• Promoting the support group meetings in your area
• Running the group. As the group lead you are there to encourage conversation and support attendees
• Communicating with the group attendees and the charity regularly (this involves checking group emails once a week)

To be a successful Support Group Lead, volunteers need skills such as:

• Good organisational skills
• A listening ear
• A welcome, confident and empathetic personality
• Knowledge of how and when to signpost to other services

Please also take a few minutes to read through our current terms and conditions and Support Group Lead role description. 

Step Two: Areas we would like to offer support groups

We are looking to recruit more volunteer Support Group Leads across the UK. If you feel there is a specific need in your community, and this area isn't listed below please do feel free to get in touch and we will consider your application. The set-up of all new groups is at the discretion of Alopecia UK. 

The areas in which we would like to actively set up new groups/areas we wish to cover are: 

• Adult Groups
  
  • South West of England - Cornwall, Devon or Dorset
  • South of England - Southampton
  • Wales - Cardiff
  • North West of England - Liverpool
  • Northern Ireland

Please note: We would love to be able to facilitate support groups in all corners of the UK but unfortunately this is not always possible. If there is already a support group within an hour of you, it is unlikely that another will be set-up in your area. 

Step Three: Send us your expression of interest form

So, you've watched the video and you'd like to start a new support group - that's fantastic! Simply complete the expression of interest form below and a member of our volunteer team will review your application then contact you directly.

Complete an expression of interest form

Step Four: What happens next?

Once we have figured out if starting a group in your area seems appropriate, your AUK team member will arrange a video call to chat you in more detail about the role. If you both feel the role is right for you, you will then be asked to fill out of a couple of forms and a disclosure check will be carried out. 

Your staff contact will be busy working behind the scenes to prepare all the resources you need to feel fully supported in your new volunteer role. You’ll receive an AUK email inbox, a webpage, induction information, and resources for your new group attendees! All that’s left to do is send us your group dates for the year so we can help promote your group. We will continue to support you in your role as an Alopecia UK Support Group Lead.

Here Elaine, our Surrey Support Group Lead tells us what she enjoys about the role

If you have any questions please contact: [email protected]