Lived Advocate & Community Educator; Volunteer

About Waythrough

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.

Aquarius is a national charity working to reduce harm caused by drugs, alcohol, and gambling. We support individuals, families, and communities through prevention, early intervention, and recovery focused services.

The Lived Experience Community Ambassador role works alongside Youth Ambassadors and Aquarius practitioners. The role uses lived experience of substance use, recovery, or being affected by someone else’s substance use to support learning, engagement, and understanding.

You will contribute to peer informed education, community outreach, and parent engagement. Your experience supports honest conversation, reduces stigma, and helps families feel understood and informed.

• Work alongside practitioners to support education and outreach activity
• Share lived experience appropriately within agreed boundaries
• Support school based sessions and parent focused learning
• Contribute to community outreach and awareness activity
• Support parents and carers with practical insight and reassurance
• Reinforce prevention, harm reduction, and recovery messages
• Follow safeguarding, confidentiality, and information sharing procedures
• Communicate concerns or disclosures to practitioners promptly

• Take part in planned lived experience talks and panel discussions
• Support PSHE lessons or awareness sessions alongside staff
• Share personal insight to support understanding of substance use and recovery
• Support parent sessions with perspective drawn from lived experience
• Attend community events to promote support and early intervention
• Work with Youth Ambassadors to model safe, respectful engagement
• Prepare for sessions with practitioners to agree focus and boundaries
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times

Minimum 2 to 4 hours per month

Sessions planned in advance

Flexibility to support school and community activity

• Mandatory volunteer induction
• Lived experience and boundaries training
• Safeguarding training
• Project specific briefing before sessions
• Named supervisor
• Ongoing supervision and support

• Lived experience of substance use, recovery, or being affected by another person's use
• Ability to reflect on experience safely and constructively
• Comfortable speaking in groups or community settings
• Calm and reliable approach
• Respectful and non judgemental communication
• Ability to maintain boundaries and confidentiality
• Willingness to work alongside practitioners and follow guidance

• Opportunity to use lived experience to support others
• Contribution to prevention and early intervention work
• Development of confidence and communication skills
• Experience with in education and community services
• Training and development opportunities
• Support from experienced practitioners
• Reimbursement of agreed expenses

• Agreed out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed
• Public transport
• Mileage costs at 0.45p per mile

Service Name – Bedford

Service Model / Project:
Prevention, Early Intervention, and Community Outreach Services

Responsible Manager / Supervisor:
To be confirmed

Schools, community venues, and outreach settings

• Application form
• Assessment meeting
• DBS and references
• Induction and training

• Approachable, professional, and reflective
• Organised and reliable
• Ability to practice patience
• Able to maintain confidentiality
• Able to…