Job Description

Do you live in Wales and want to gain valuable skills, have new experiences, and support vulnerable people? We are offering 1 young person aged 18-25 the opportunity to volunteer for up to 11 months with the Portuguese Red Cross in Sanguedo, Portugal. Placements dates are planned to start as soon as possible for: August 2025 - July 2026 (subject to visas). You will be supporting projects aimed at helping the local community and promoting youth involvement in social and environmental activities, which will give you the chance to explore the different kinds of social action that the Portuguese Red Cross undertake in Sanguedo. This is a great opportunity to get involved in these projects and find out what you are interested in. The main thing we want to see is your motivation for this placement! Typical tasks may involve: - Assisting the Social department: by supporting Social Centre activities such as assisting teachers with activities for children aged 3 to 5, befriending and developing activities for elderly service users and attending classes at the Senior University. - Assisting the animal care department: liaising with different organisations involved in animal care (shelters, zoo and farm); assist in cleaning spaces and the animals, provide food and other necessities, as required. - Supporting promotion and administration activities: the branch offers a wide range of the activities to the local community, and volunteers will take a lead in promoting these activities and volunteering overall to increase youth social participation. Volunteers will also assist with administrative tasks including sorting donations, and gifting or selling activities. Please note that only young people based in Wales can apply for this role. Interviews will take place online with shortlisted candidates. Please contact [IYVP@redcross.org.uk](url) with any queries. We are keen to hear from individuals especially those who do not normally get the chance to volunteer overseas, who are passionate and motivated about working in the humanitarian sector and international volunteering but who also understand that these types of placements require adaptability and resilience. We are especially interested in applications from those who are from low socio-economic backgrounds, are carers or are care experienced, have accessed free school meals, are refugees or asylum seekers and those with disabilities or additional needs.

Why we want you: The International Youth Volunteering Programme (IYVP) can offer young people aged 18-25 to take part in a full-time, structured, and supported volunteer international programme. All our placements are fully funded, with travel, accommodation, visas and health insurance costs covered, and volunteers receive a small monthly allowance to cover additional expenses. This is the perfect opportunity for those interested in gaining valuable skills, having new experiences, and giving back to the community. The personal and professional skills developed on these placements (independence, resilience, working with vulnerable people, etc), as well as the opportunity to live in a new country and create connections with people from different walks of life are extremely beneficial for any young person looking to start a career in this sector or similar. We are keen to hear from individuals, especially those who do not normally get the chance to volunteer overseas, who are passionate and motivated for this kind of work, but who also understand that these types of placements require adaptability and resilience.

Tasks: Admin tasks


Supporting your line manager with service-based tasks



See advert for specific tasks.



Skills: Good communications skills


Good interpersonal skills



Reliable and organised



See advert for further skill requirements.



Benefits: The opportunity to share your skills and knowledge to help people in your community


The opportunity to develop your existing skills, whilst gaining new skills and experience within the voluntary sector



Training provided with ongoing personal development



Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses



An opportunity to be part of the world's largest humanitarian organisation and the knowledge that you are making a difference to people's lives.