Wish Maker - Action Team (Greater London)

Make-A-Wish UK brings amazing people together to grant inspirational, life-changing wishes for children with critical conditions. We work with wish children, their families, and medical teams to make unforgettable wishes a reality – like a child getting to be a princess in their own castle, cooking with their favourite celebrity chef, and even becoming a Ghostbuster to save the city of Leeds! Join our volunteering community now and make a lasting difference. By sharing your time and skills, you can help children across the UK experiencing life-threatening illnesses.

Why we need your help

When a child is diagnosed with a critical condition, everything changes. The joy of childhood is brought to an abrupt end; replaced by hospital appointments, gruelling treatment plans and endless worry. A wish has the power to cut through the gruelling daily reality of life with a critical illness, bringing true magic back to the childhoods of those most in need.

Sadly, the number of wish enquiries from seriously ill children with less than a year to live is rising fast. We need help to meet this urgent demand now - before it’s too late. By volunteering, you have the power to make a wish come true for a critically ill child, allowing families to create lasting memories to treasure forever – no matter what the future holds.

Why Volunteer for Make-A-Wish UK?

Are you looking for a dynamic and flexible opportunity with no regular commitment? Does your employer offer you corporate volunteering days and you are not sure how to use them? Make-A-Wish UK run a variety of events throughout the year which raise vital funds needed to grant magical wishes. These events could not take place without a team of amazing volunteers who lend us their support in a variety of ways. When you volunteer in your community as part of the Action Team for Make-A-Wish UK, you'll become part of a nationwide team, helping children who are living with critical conditions by getting active in your local community with other volunteers by taking part in a variety of one-off events with no minimum commitment. As part of the Action Team we will give you a ‘shout out’ when they are happening in your area with the hope you can be there to help us. We know that your time is precious, so we’ll work with you to make sure you get the most out of your experience with us.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Join an inspiring and magical organisation, where you will help children experience the anticipation and long-lasting effects of a wish
• Develop new skills and gain new work-related experiences and relationships
• Participate in an interactive and engaging learning and development programme, that fits in around you and your life
• Build emotional resilience, and increase your levels of wellbeing and self-esteem using our wellness platform and recognition programme
• Access our volunteer community; our online network where you can connect with both Make-A-Wish UK Employees and volunteers across the UK, and access handy resources and training documents
• Make connections with a diverse range of people and build lifelong friendships
• Access our Volunteer App which shows you where events and activities are happening in your community that you can choose to get involved in
• You can attend regular volunteer community meetings, which will keep you updated on Make-A-Wish UK news and wishes, deliver training sessions, connect you to other volunteers and the wider team and hear from our guest speakers. You may even wish to have slot yourself to talk about what you have been up to as a volunteer

How will I be supported?

You will be fully inducted into the world of Make-A-Wish UK and receive a training session which showcases our values of be inspiring, be magical and be inclusive that we expect all Make-A-Wish UK Volunteers to demonstrate in any role or activity. Alongside this you will receive specific training relating to your role through our engaging learning and development programme, as well as plenty of support from the Make-A-Wish UK team, enabling you to feel confident and empowered in making magical wishes happen for our wish families.

What will I be doing as part of the Action Team?

There are a variety of exciting events that take place throughout the year for Make-A-Wish UK. When an event is planned that needs the Action team’s help, we will let you know the details of the event in advance with the hope that you will be there to join us on the day.

• Events and activities range with many exciting events. Tasks could include; caddying at golf days, volunteering at cricket events at the Oval, selling raffle tickets, getting involved in our prestigious auctions and balls, fundraising collections for events such as World Wish Day or cheering on runners at a marathon stations amongst other things.
• Helping out at any other one-off events where we need an extra pair of helping hands! This could be anything from attending one off events such as music concerts, delivering talks at local community events and much more.
• You may also have the opportunity to help when a magical wish is being granted which can be anything from blowing up balloons to accompanying a wish family during a celebrity meet and greet.

What skills do I need?

• A commitment to our values and behaviours.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A warm, enthusiastic, and friendly manner.
• The desire to get involved and work as a team to ensure events are successful.
• Attention to detail and good organisational skills.
• The desire to genuinely connect with children and inspire them to use their wildest imagination.
• A basic level of IT skills is essential for this role, and you will also need access to either a computer or smartphone/device
• A commitment to our learning and development programme

There are few experiences more powerful than helping to make a wish come true. Join us now and be part of the magic.

Watch George’s amazing ghostbusting wish and many more on our YouTube channel here