Voluntary Action Arun & Chichester
Voluntary Action Arun & Chichester
Headway Sussex is launching an exciting new volunteer role: Brain Injury Navigator.
As a Navigator, you’ll provide telephone support to people living with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Many people will be newly injured, recently discharged from hospital, or waiting for community rehabilitation. Other people will have unexpectedly fallen into a carer’s role. This is often a lonely and uncertain time and that’s where you come in. With patience, empathy, and a calm listening ear, you’ll help people feel heard, reassured, and less isolated. You’ll provide guidance, encouragement, and connection at a time when it matters most.
This is your chance to: - Make a direct difference to people’s lives - Gain valuable experience in a unique new service - Be part of a supportive and passionate team
Join us and help shape this innovative project from the very beginning.
We need people who will listen with patience and empathy, who can be calm and respectful when people are distressed. Understandably, you’ll respond to each person's needs on an individual basis, maintain confidentiality, and respect the dignity of the people you support.
As many people using the service will have cognitive impairment, you’ll need to provide information that is accurate and appropriately pitched.
Follow-up information could be in written and/or video form, alongside further signposting and referrals.
You won’t be alone or unsupported, as we want to build a networked, supportive team of Navigators so that you can feel empowered and confident in your role - so you can enjoy your sessions with us.
We welcome people who can bring kindness, compassion, and a solution-focused curiosity to health-related challenges. Clear and calm communication, patience, and adaptability are all important qualities for this role, as will be emotional resilience.
We need people to have basic digital skills to log calls and join online sessions and can provide further training where necessary. It’s also helpful, though not essential, if you have experience of disability or mental health support, cultural sensitivity, or a willingness to learn and accept feedback.
In return, you’ll receive a full induction and role-specific training, regular supervision and debriefs, and guidance on stress management and self-care. Most importantly, you’ll gain the opportunity to say you’ve made a real difference to people’s lives, with the potential to grow and reach even more people in the future.
Headway Sussex offers reablement and support opportunities for people with an acquired brain injury, and their family Carers. A brain injury can be the result of many different causes including stroke, accident, tumour, infection, sporting injury or assault.
We offer a varied Living Well Programme for personal wellbeing including individual support to achieve independence, tailored reablement and therapy, client and Carer groups, social and relaxation opportunities together with information and advice. We are expanding our services to reach more people in town communities right across East and West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. We are a listening organisation and welcome the views and opinions of all our client and Carer members.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Afternoon | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Evening | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
As a general rule, we would like people to commit a minimum of 2 and half hours a week to the role. We want to provide day and evening support to people during the week, with the potential to stretch into the weekend as the service develops. This means you have lots of options for when you'd like to volunteer and these valuable calls will be allocated to you based on your availability.
Working from home
Wednesday 9 September
2026 Lucy Stone Fundraising - Ask Lucy anything about fundraising?
Wednesday 23 September
Start Up Club 6 Week Evening Course
To register your interest in this opportunity you will need to register with us.
