Volunteer roles

We are seeking an ambitious new Chair to lead our Board of Trustees. This is an exciting opportunity to help drive the success of an increasingly influential charity that is having  substantial impact on national policy and on the lives of vulnerable people.
We are looking for someone who shares our values of putting people first, bringing people together and seeking lasting change. A passion for our work and an appreciation of the unique insights brought by lived experience are essential. The ideal candidate will be well-respected and possess active networks in policy, public affairs, and/or business sectors, including philanthropy. They will leverage these connections to enhance our work. The individual will have a proven trach record of setting, agreeing and attending to an organisation’s strategy, and will bring financial literacy and business acumen.

We’re looking for trustees

We’re looking to recruit dynamic, committed and motivated people with professional skills and experience who are as passionate as we are about empowering individuals to work through and beyond their experience of sexual abuse.

Specific qualifications are not necessarily required and we welcome applicants with lived experience. A genuine interest in learning about our charity and our services within the local community is essential.

These trustees will help to form a new board dedicated to supporting the charity and contributing to the effective and quality governance of Trust House. You will play an active role in developing the strategic direction of the charity and provide guidance to ensure the charity continues to support anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse in the Thames Valley area.

Global Charities Trustee Role Vacancy

Grant-making and Impact measurements specialism

Role Description

INTRODUCTION

Global Charities (operating name Global’s Make Some Noise) is the official charity of Global, the UK and Europe’s largest Radio and Outdoor company.  The Charity brings Global staff and the Global’s amazing brands together to create incredible change for communities right across the UK. 

Since 2014, Make Some Noise (MSN) has raised more than £43 million, changed more than 248,000 lives and additionally reached more than 603,000 people through over 755 projects across the UK​.

We are seeking an experienced, values-driven and analytically strong individual to join our Board of Trustees, with a particular focus on grant-making, impact measurement and an understanding of diverse and marginalised communities.

You will bring rigorous judgement and constructive challenge to Board discussions, helping to ensure our grant-making decisions are robust and evidence-led, and that the charity maximises its impact for beneficiaries across the UK. This is an exceptional opportunity to use your expertise in support of communities facing some of life's toughest challenges.

GLOBAL’S MAKE SOME NOISE

Global’s Make Some Noise utilises the power and reach of Global’s platforms, talent, and client base to raise vital funds and awareness for the charities we support. We also work closely with Global staff 'Globallers’, to tap into their skills and experience, which allows us to build meaningful training and development opportunities for our small charities and maximise the partnership, events and on-air fundraising opportunities.

We align with Global’s proposition of “national brands delivered locally”, so that we are relevant to audiences in terms of both raising money and supporting local projects.  We also align with Global’s culture of Making Everyone’s Day Brighter and work closely across the business to maximise the opportunities under this shared vision.

The Charity works closely with individual radio brands to develop fundraising strategies relevant to their audiences and commercial clients. We continue to focus on growing brand awareness of Global’s Make Some Noise and to innovate our various fundraising streams in order to support small charities that are in need of financial help and align with the Charity’s strategy.

Global’s Make Some Noise actively supports around 100 charities a year, in communities across the UK.  These charities are small (under £1million in revenue) but high in impact, and provide critical help for some of the most vulnerable in our society.

We run 3 programmes to build sustainability in small charities:

· An awareness programme to generate much needed publicity and support

· A grants programme to fund vital services and equipment

· A learning and development programme to help upskill charities

Our mission is to ensure that nobody in the UK is left facing life’s toughest challenges alone.  We deliver that mission through four key pillars :

· Providing shelter and safety; A safe home is essential, yet millions of people don’t live in one.  We work with small charities that exist to support those who have no option but to live on the streets, in temporary accommodation or in unsafe or overcrowded houses. 

· Supporting physical and mental health; We fund crucial services to ensure people can access the support they need to feel well.  This includes funding hospice and care services, mental health helplines, respite support for people with disabilities and their families, and food banks for those living in poverty.

· Improving life skills; We’re supporting programmes that are dedicated to improving people’s life skills and future opportunities.  This includes helping people get the education they need, upskilling them for the future, providing access to wellbeing support, and supporting them into employment.

· Preventing isolation; We recognise how vital it is for people to be connected so we fund crucial projects that prevent isolation.  These include community projects that bring people together to build a sense of belonging, as well providing access to devices that support connections and digital skills training.

Our 2025 fundraising appeal for Global’s Make Some Noise raised a record-breaking £4.8million for communities across the UK.  You can find out more about our impact here: https://cdn.sanity.io/files/lvz0au6x/production/e2f407d31e35d28769be5008efd248bbdb68f44c.pdf

THE TRUSTEE BOARD

The Trustee Board comprises of a mix of internal (Global employees) and external Trustees, with specialist knowledge aiming to cover different areas across charity governance, finance, grant making, partnerships, content production, staff engagement, fundraising and marketing.  The full Board meet five times a year, with four quarterly Board meetings and one Strategy half day.  Members of the Finance Committee meet four times a year, ahead of the main Board meeting.  Additionally, there is a Nominations Committee, who meet as required to discuss Trustee/Senior Team appointments.  Board members are encouraged to attend meetings in person at Global’s offices in Leicester Square or Holborn.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Trustees play an essential role in the governance of the Charity and its future development. The Trustees, while retaining total responsibility for the conduct of Global Charities’ affairs, delegate functions to the executive staff and the Grants Panel. The following matters are key Trustee responsibilities:

· Appointment of Trustees and of the Chair

· Appointment of Grants Panel and the Chair, and approval of Terms of Reference

· Appointment of Finance Committee and the Chair, and approval of Terms of Reference

· Approval of the Terms of Reference of any other Panels or Committees

· Agreement of strategy, and approval of strategic plans

· Approval of the Annual Budget and of all expenditure over £200,000

· Approval of the Annual Report and Accounts

· Appointment of the Auditors

Role Description

· To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving strategic direction to the charity, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets. 

· To make sure that Global Charities complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

· To make sure the charity uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects and that the charity does not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects.

· To scrutinise Board papers, attend quarterly Board meetings and contribute to discussions and decision-making processes.

· To provide guidance on new initiatives and issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.

· To make sure risk management and control systems are in place, with clear delegated responsibilities to staff for managing and mitigating risk, and to monitor these on an ongoing basis.

· To approve annual charity budgets including approval of Senior Management pay rises and monitor financial performance against these budgets.

· To ensure that Global Charities has policies and practice that mean it is able to recruit, retain and develop high quality people.

· To act as an Ambassador for the charity and establish networks in support of the charity’s strategy and reputation.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The Board is looking for an experienced candidate who brings experience across grant-making, impact measurement and understanding of diverse and marginalised communities.  A candidate who also has experience in fundraising, particularly how to technical applications from large funders, Trusts or Foundations, would be beneficial but is not an essential element of this role.

Essential Experience and Knowledge

We are particularly looking for candidates with significant experience in one or more of the following:

· Overseeing or managing a grants portfolio, including assessment, due diligence and decision-making

· Developing, delivering or overseeing impact measurement, outcomes frameworks or programme evaluation

· Working at a senior level with or for diverse and marginalised communities

· Operating at a senior level in the charity, foundation or social impact sector. 

· Significant  charity governance experience and a strong understanding of Trustee responsibilities

Essential Personal Qualities

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

· Strong independent judgement and analytical thinking

· Confidence to offer constructive challenge and to speak up thoughtfully in Board discussions

· The ability to weigh evidence and consider multiple perspectives before reaching a view

· A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

· Collaborative approach and respect for collective Trustee decision-making

· A passion for the aims of Global Charities and an ambition to make the biggest difference possible to the lives of beneficiaries

Desirable Experience

It would be advantageous if the successful candidate also brings one or more of the following:

· Formal safeguarding training and up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and best practice

· Understanding of fundraising regulation and fundraising governance

· Experience of charity finance oversight or scrutiny of charity accounts

· Relevant lived experience connected to the communities and cause areas the charity supports (providing shelter and safety; supporting physical and mental health; improving life skills; preventing isolation)

· Experience on committees, panels or boards

· Useful networks within the charity, grant-making or social impact sectors. Grant funding applications through Trusts and Foundations.

· Knowledge of and interest in the voluntary sector more broadly

Indicative Candidate Backgrounds

Candidates might include, but are not limited to:

· A senior leader in a grant-making trust or foundation

· A Director of Programmes, Impact, Grants or Evaluation

· A charity CEO, COO or senior executive with strong programme and impact experience

· An individual with relevant lived experience and strong governance capability

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The Charity has a fundraising subsidiary, Global Charities (Trading) Ltd, whose principal activity is to contribute to the fundraising for Global Charities.

The ultimate control of the Charity is vested in its member, Global Radio Ltd. The member delegates the running of the Charity and the safeguarding of its assets to the Trustees. The assigned Executive for the member is the CEO, Global, who is represented by the Director, Global Goodness.

Trustees do not receive remuneration, as their role is entirely voluntary. They can claim travel expenses to Board meetings and any essential meetings as agreed with the Chair.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please provide a CV and covering statement which outlines;

· Why you would like to be a Trustee for Global's Make Some Noise

· How your experience in grant-making, impact measurement and/or working with marginalised communities would strengthen the Board

· Your relevant career background and how your skills align with this Role Description

· Any relevant lived experience you would bring to the role

CLOSING DATE

Shortlisted candidates will have interviews with Nominations Committee members in June/July 2026. We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis. 

We are honoured to be supporting the wonderful Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People to recruit a new Chair of the Board.

Rainbows Hospice for Children & Young People is based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and is the only Hospice across the East Midlands that delivers a comprehensive range of support services, nursing and care for babies, children and young people with life threatening and life limiting conditions and their families.

We are seeking an outstanding Chair of Trustees to lead our Board and support the Chief Executive in ensuring the hospice’s strategic direction, governance, and long-term sustainability.
 

Purpose of the Role

The Chair provides leadership to the Board, ensuring effective governance, strategic oversight, and strong support and challenge to the executive team. The Chair also works with the executive team to develop external relationships.
 

Leadership & Governance

• Provide clear leadership to the Board, ensuring it operates effectively and in line with charity governance standards and the Charity Commission’s expectations.
• Ensure the Board fulfils its duties to safeguard the organisation’s mission, assets, reputation, and beneficiaries.
• Lead on Board development, ensuring a high-performing, diverse, and properly skilled Board of Trustees.
• Work closely with the Vice Chair and Committee Chairs to ensure committee structures function efficiently.
 

Strategic Oversight

• Work with the Board and Chief Executive to set the organisation’s long-term vision, strategic objectives, and measurable success indicators.
• Ensure appropriate strategic oversight of clinical services, safeguarding, quality frameworks, finance, and fundraising.
• Support robust risk management processes and long-term financial planning.

Relationship with the Chief Executive

• Develop a strong, constructive, and supportive relationship with the Chief Executive.
• Provide regular guidance, support, and challenge as needed.
• Undertake the Chief Executive’s annual appraisal and support their personal development.

External Representation

• Represent the hospice at key events, meetings, and media opportunities where appropriate.
• To represent the charity at meeting with key supporters or potential supporters, supporting our fundraising activities.

Board Meetings & Governance Processes

• Chair Board meetings effectively, ensuring inclusive debate, timely decisions, and high-quality governance practice.
• Ensure trustees receive accurate, timely, and relevant information to support informed decision making.
• Oversee governance policies, ensuring compliance and continuous improvement.
 

Application

The best Boards are diverse, with people who have a real understanding of the needs to be met and others who have specific skills and knowledge that can complement that. Rainbows supports babies, children, young people and their families from many multi cultural and multi-ethnic communities across the East Midlands. We welcome applications reflective of the region and rich diversity of the communities we serve.

For more information, please download the job pack attached above.

The closing date is Monday 15th June 2026

Valued Recruitment is working exclusively with Rainbows. We are an ethical recruitment company, intent on hiring inclusively and transparently.

Accessibility is incredibly important to us here at Valued Recruitment and at Rainbows. If you would like any accessibility amendments or support throughout the application and interview stage, please don’t hesitate to let us know. No question or request is too big or too small. We want this process to be comfortable and enjoyable and a chance for you to bring your best self to the process.

Volunteer Graphic Designer (Brand & Creative Design)

Unlock YOUR Potential

Location: Remote
Time Commitment: Flexible
Reports To: Founder / CEO
Salary: Voluntary Position
Closing Date: Ongoing Recruitment

Help Us Build a Brand That Inspires Change

At Unlock YOUR Potential, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. Through careers coaching, employability support, personal development, wellness programmes, and mentoring, we help adults build confidence, unlock opportunities, and achieve their goals.

We are seeking a creative and passionate Volunteer Graphic Designer to help bring our brand to life. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact by shaping the visual identity of a growing charity and creating resources that will inspire, engage, and support our community.

As one of our founding volunteers, your work will help establish a professional and recognisable brand that reflects our mission of empowerment, growth, and opportunity.

About the Role

We have developed an AI-generated logo concept and are looking for a talented volunteer who can refine, format, and prepare it for professional use across digital and print platforms.

Beyond the logo, you will help create a cohesive visual identity and design engaging resources that support our programmes, events, fundraising activities, and community outreach.

Key Responsibilities

1. Brand Development

• Convert and optimise our AI-generated logo into professional formats.
• Create logo variations suitable for print, web, social media, and merchandise.
• Produce high-quality files including SVG, PNG, JPEG, PDF, and vector formats.
• Develop a comprehensive Brand Guidelines document.

2. Graphic Design

• Design promotional posters and flyers.
• Create social media graphics and templates.
• Produce presentation and workshop materials.
• Design banners, brochures, and information leaflets.
• Support the creation of fundraising and campaign materials.

3. Digital Content

• Develop branded templates for social media platforms.
• Create graphics for website content and newsletters.
• Design visual assets for volunteer recruitment campaigns.
• Help maintain visual consistency across all communications.

4. Creative Collaboration

• Work closely with the Founder and volunteer team.
• Contribute creative ideas to strengthen the charity’s identity.
• Support special projects and awareness campaigns.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who enjoys using creativity to make a positive difference.

Essential Skills

• Graphic design experience (professional, freelance, student, or hobbyist).
• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Affinity Designer, Figma, or similar tools.
• Understanding of branding and visual identity.
• Ability to create professional-quality digital and print-ready designs.
• Good communication and organisational skills.

Desirable Experience

• Brand development and guideline creation.
• Charity, community, or non-profit design work.
• Social media content design.
• Marketing or communications experience.
• Illustration or motion graphics skills.

Whether you’re an experienced designer building your portfolio or a creative professional looking to use your skills for a meaningful cause, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Gain

By volunteering with Unlock YOUR Potential, you will:

• Help shape the visual identity of an emerging charity.
• Build an impressive portfolio of meaningful work.
• Gain experience creating branding for a charitable organisation.
• Work on a variety of creative projects.
• Develop leadership and project management skills.
• Receive recognition, references, and professional development opportunities.
• Make a lasting impact on the lives of adults seeking to improve their futures.

Our Values

• Empowerment – Helping people realise their strengths and potential.
• Growth – Encouraging continuous learning and development.
• Wellbeing – Supporting positive mental, emotional, and personal wellbeing.
• Opportunity – Creating pathways to brighter futures.
• Community – Building connections and supporting one another.
• Integrity – Acting with honesty, respect, and professionalism.

Diversity and Inclusion

Unlock YOUR Potential is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse organisation. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and communities.

Apply Today

If you’re passionate about design and want to use your creativity to help transform lives, we’d love to hear from you.

Unlock YOUR Potential

Empowering People. Transforming Futures.

“Your creativity can help people see the possibilities in themselves. Join us and help build a brand that inspires change.”

Volunteering Programme Manager / Volunteer Coordinator (Volunteer Role)

Unlock YOUR Potential

Location: Hybrid/London (with occasional community events)
Time Commitment: 4–8 hours per week
Reports To: Founder / CEO
Salary: Voluntary Position
Closing Date: Ongoing Recruitment

Help Us Unlock Potential Across Our Communities

At Unlock YOUR Potential, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. We support adults through careers coaching, employability skills, personal development, wellness programmes, and mentoring opportunities that build confidence, resilience, and brighter futures.

We are looking for a passionate and organised Volunteer Coordinator to help us recruit, support, and retain the amazing volunteers who make our mission possible.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing charity from the ground up and play a key role in building a positive, inclusive, and impactful volunteer community.

About the Role

As Volunteer Coordinator, you will be responsible for helping us attract, engage, and support volunteers across a range of roles, including mentors, careers coaches, workshop facilitators, fundraising volunteers, and community champions.

You will help ensure that every volunteer feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to make a difference.

Key Responsibilities

1. Volunteer Recruitment

• Promote volunteer opportunities through online platforms and community networks.
• Respond to volunteer enquiries.
• Arrange informal volunteer interviews and onboarding sessions.
• Support volunteer selection and placement.

2. Volunteer Engagement

• Welcome and support new volunteers.
• Maintain regular communication with volunteers.
• Organise volunteer meetings and engagement activities.
• Help create a positive volunteer experience.

3. Administration

• Maintain volunteer records and databases.
• Track volunteer hours and contributions.
• Assist with volunteer policies and procedures.
• Support safeguarding and compliance processes.

4. Recognition and Retention

• Develop volunteer appreciation initiatives.
• Celebrate volunteer achievements and successes.
• Gather volunteer feedback and suggestions.
• Help improve volunteer satisfaction and retention.

What We’re Looking For

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who share our passion for empowering people.

Essential Skills

• Excellent communication skills.
• Good organisational and administrative abilities.
• Friendly and approachable manner.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Basic IT skills (email, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace).

Desirable Experience

• Volunteer management or coordination.
• Recruitment or HR experience.
• Community engagement.
• Charity or non-profit sector experience.
• Event planning and coordination.

Don’t worry if you don’t meet every requirement—we value enthusiasm, commitment, and a willingness to learn.

What You’ll Gain

By volunteering with Unlock YOUR Potential, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Make a genuine difference in people’s lives.
• Develop leadership and management skills.
• Gain experience within the charity sector.
• Build your professional network.
• Enhance your CV and career prospects.
• Receive training, support, and references.
• Be part of a passionate and supportive team.

Our Values

• Empowerment
• Growth
• Wellbeing
• Opportunity
• Community
• Integrity

Diversity and Inclusion

Unlock YOUR Potential is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and respected. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and communities.

Apply Today

Join us in helping adults build confidence, develop skills, improve wellbeing, and create brighter futures.

Unlock YOUR Potential

Empowering People. Transforming Futures.

“Together, we can help people unlock the potential they already have within them.”

Are you a young person aged 18-25 ready to connect globally, build skills, and create positive change? Youth Connect is a virtual mobility programme bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds to learn, collaborate, and take action on issues that matter through supported social action in your local community.

Whether you're passionate about helping others or just curious to learn more and put this into practice, this programme will give you the confidence and tools to create meaningful change—right from home. The programme will run from late June - August and is open to young people aged 18-25 globally. 

✨ Open, inclusive, and designed for emerging changemakers.

�� Apply now and be part of a global community shaping the future.

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Pursuing the role

We will be running a number of information events locally and these are:

• Date, Times and locations to be advised

We are looking to run a volunteering selection session on:

• Date, Times and locations to be advised

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - Date, Times and locations to be advised
• Training for role - Date, Times and locations to be advised

Closing date for these opportunities is: 01/09/2026

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Are you tech-savvy and ready to change lives?

We are by no means looking for the next tech genius, just someone with enough know-how to help others make the most of their devices. Could this be you?

Many of our clients live alone, often with no family nearby, leaving them to face tech challenges by themselves. This can mean a piece of equipment designed to support independence turns into yet another obstacle. This volunteer role has not only been created to provide technology support, but to help our clients access a life beyond their doorstep.

Setting up a new phone, tablet or laptop may seem rather straightforward, now imagine doing the same task with little or no sight… That is where you step in! Ready to provide our clients with the support they need, ranging from helping set-up a new piece of equipment, to locating accessibility features on an existing device, and everything in between.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you!

This role will be subject to a DBS check.

Would you like to help end food insecurity and tackle climate change in Greater Manchester, whilst gaining valuable experience and skills? Or perhaps you'd just like to keep busy and active and make new friends, whilst supporting a great cause.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

Induction, training and support.
Practical experience and transferable skills in food redistribution and warehousing.
A reference (after 2 months with us).
An understanding of warehousing and logistics.
Expenses:
Reimbursement of travel costs of up to £5 for public transport, and up to £6 for car drivers.
Up to £3 towards lunch, if you have special dietary requirements. (We provide lunch, so will contribute towards the cost of a meal, should you bring your own, if what we are offering isn't considered suitable; e.g. a diet that's restricted for health, ethics or religion).

ABOUT US
As a sustainability charity, we take donated surplus (over-stocked) food and redistribute it to people in need.
The initiatives we support include food banks, schools, community groups and charities.
Our vital work supports people experiencing extreme hardship and prevents good food going to landfill, where it would contribute to climate warming through greenhouse gas emissions. 
We need help in our warehouse to receive and record supplies, load and unload vans, and prepare orders for delivery. In return, we offer training and support to help you obtain skills and experience if you are seeking work. If you're not looking for a job, volunteering with us is rewarding in many other ways; offering an opportunity to make friends, keep physically active and support your community.

This role is vital to FareShare's work, ensuring that the food in our warehouse is sorted, labelled and organised into orders.
It is perfect for someone who is:

a) Looking for a practical activity to keep busy and physically fit.
b) Looking for experience and skills to gain employment in the food industry, warehousing or customer service.
c) Wanting to help their community and help tackle global warming.
d) Wanting to make new friends.

Our volunteer roles are available Monday to Friday, for a whole or half day, with shifts between 8:30-am-12:30pm and 12:30-4:30pm. 
Volunteers are typically involved on one day a week.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Receiving, sorting, cataloguing and storing chilled and ambient food and preparing orders for delivery. 
Ensuring food quality and safety by checking ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates.
Unpacking deliveries, recording and categorising food.
Assembling food orders.
Assisting our Community Food Members with their order collections.
Maintaining health and safety and hygiene standards. 
Helping with cleaning and other routine tasks.

PERSON SPECIFICATION: You must...
Be reasonably physically fit to carry out tasks, including lifting and loading.
Speak English well in order to communicate clearly with our Community Food Members, and to understand and follow instructions and health and safety rules. 
Have basic literacy and numeracy skills to record details of donated food.
Be able to work to Health and Safety standards.
Be happy to complete tasks independently according to instruction.
Be positive, friendly and enthusiastic about tackling food waste and food insecurity.
Be reliable and able to commit to an agreed session/day.

LOCATION
We are located in Maynard House, New Smithfield Market, Openshaw, M11 2WJ, which is easily reachable on public transport. We have free-onsite parking and secure storage for bicycles.

​IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be a UK resident and living within easy commuting distance of our base in order to volunteer with us. This is because our volunteers must be able to reliably commit to regular shifts for our roles.
We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

Know someone else who might be interested in volunteering with us?
Please pass our details on to them as we always welcome new people on our teams. :)

Whether you’re a jobseeker interested in a career in construction or woodwork, a student or recent college graduate seeking experience, or just someone with spare time on your hands, wanting to do something positive and meet new people, volunteering with the Touch Wood project at EMERGE 3Rs may be just the ticket!

Touch Wood is a wood recycling and upcycling initiative, which collects surplus and waste wood and timber and gives it a new lease of life, preventing it from being burned, chipped, or dumped in landfill.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

* Preparing wood for resale

* Assisting with the construction of wooden products, from small household items to pieces of furniture

Our Touch Wood volunteers are able to gain skills in practical woodworking, as we offer hands-on experience of working with reclaimed timber; from making basic lumber products ready for resale, through to assisting with the creation of bespoke items, such as kitchen equipment and home and garden furniture.

Full training in woodworking and health and safety is provided, along with Personal Protection Equipment.
Capped reimbursement of expenses is awarded for lunches and travel, where applicable.

The UK generates around 5 million tonnes of wood waste every year, but less than 1% is reused. Touch Wood rescues waste timber that would otherwise be landfilled or turned into woodchip; creating jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged local people at the same time. We collect from construction sites, industrial estates and other commercial sources, reclaiming everything from pallets to indoor cycle tracks – you name it, we take it! Anything we can’t reuse is locally recycled, so nothing goes to waste. This reduces the carbon emissions associated with disposing of waste wood, offers cost savings for DIY enthusiasts, and provides training and job potential to volunteers in the workshop. Some of the timber we work with comes from high profile sources, including the entire track of the Manchester Velodrome cycling centre and wood removed in the recent refurbishment of Manchester’s historic Town Hall!

Our skilled team of staff and volunteers often use reclaimed timber to create beautiful and practical products, such as home and garden furniture. We regularly create bespoke pieces to order; some of it for famous clients like Olympic cycling champions Jason and Laura Kenny, for whom we made a table from the Manchester Velodrome track.

Please be advised that our volunteers require a fair level of physical fitness and manual dexterity as the role is entirely practical.

Our Touch Wood workshop and wood store is open Mon-Fri, 8.30am - 4pm.
We occupy a unit at Maynard House, inside New Smithfield Market, in Openshaw, North Manchester, which is accessed from the main entrance on Whitworth Street East (off Ashton Old Road). The site is served well by buses, and we have free parking onsite, as well as secure storage racks for pushbikes.

​IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be resident in the UK and living in Greater Manchester, or within easy commuting distance of our base, in order to volunteer with us. There are no exceptions to this rule. This is because we require volunteers to be able to reliably commit to regular shifts for some of our roles. We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

Know someone else who might be interested in volunteering with us?
Please pass our details on to them as we always welcome new people on our teams. :)

Apply to join the DISC founding pilot program - Becuase your safeguarding team needs better intelligence

We support safeguarding teams to identify emerging online harms, social media threats and exploitation risks through digital threat intelligence.

DISC is looking for safeguarding professionals who already understand the challenges they face and want real analytical support to help protect children and young people. Through practical intelligence, early warning insight and a direct voice in shaping a new national digital threat intelligence professional network, founding members will help strengthen how safeguarding teams respond to fast moving online risks.

• < Direct Access > to practical tools designed by PhD Crime Science researchers for safeguarding professionals, including platform risk tracking, trend monitoring, URL checks, username analysis and safeguarding intelligence resources.

We are now inviting a small group of founding members to join the DISC pilot project. This is a voluntary, free pilot opportunity designed for designated Safeguarding Leads, Deputy DSLs, safeguarding governors, other professionals working directly in child protection or safeguarding.

We are particularly keen to hear from safeguarding professionals who are dealing with the realities of online risk in schools, youth settings, charities, academies, trusts or community organisations. You do not need to be a technical or digital expert. What matters is your safeguarding experience, your understanding of children and young people, and your willingness to help build something useful, ethical and thats genuinely crime prevention focused.

As a founding member, you will receive access to DISC pilot services and help shape what the service becomes. Your experience, feedback and professional judgement will directly influence the tools, briefings and intelligence support we develop for safeguarding teams across the UK.

Digital Intelligence & Safeguarding Centre started as a UCL, University of London based social venture supporting schools, charities and youth organisations with digital safeguarding intelligence. We help safeguarding teams make sense of online harms, social media risks, harmful trends, platform threats, online offenders and emerging digital behaviours that may affect children and young people.

This pilot is about partnership and community. DISC resources are designed to support, not replace, existing safeguarding policies, DSL decision, making or statutory responsibilities. Final safeguarding decisions remain with your organisation. Our role is to strengthen your awareness, improve your access to digital threat intelligence and help you respond earlier to emerging online risks.

This is a founding member opportunity! Participation is voluntary, free of charge and there is no obligation to continue after the pilot. Founding members will be recognised as early adopters and expert contributors to the DISC intelligence network and will have a direct say in how the service develops. If you are a safeguarding professional who wants better intelligence on online harms, stronger support for digital safeguarding decisions and the chance to help shape a new crime prevention focused service, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

During the pilot, founding members will receive:

• Weekly Threat Briefing on online risks, social media harms, and digital safeguarding trends
• Access to our crime analyst’s intelligence reports, platform alerts and threat assessments
• The opportunity to submit digital safeguarding tasking requests to the DISC Threat Desk
• Beta access to the DISC members dashboard and digital intelligence toolkit
• Successful applicants must attend the initial onboarding training session

                                                               Ready for real threat intelligence?

Would you like to help end food insecurity and tackle climate change in Greater Manchester, whilst gaining valuable experience and skills? Or perhaps you'd just like to keep busy and active and make new friends, whilst supporting a great cause.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

Induction, training and support.
Practical experience and transferable skills in food redistribution and warehousing.
A reference (after 2 months with us).
An understanding of warehousing and logistics.
Expenses: Reimbursement of travel costs of up to £5 for public transport, and up to £6 for car drivers. Up to £3 towards lunch, if you have special dietary requirements. (We provide lunch, so will contribute towards the cost of a meal, should you bring your own, only if what we are offering isn't considered suitable; e.g. a diet that's restricted for health, ethics or religion).

ABOUT US

As a sustainability charity, we take donated surplus (over-stocked) food and redistribute it to people in need.
The initiatives we support include food banks, schools, community groups and charities.

Our vital work supports people experiencing extreme hardship and prevents good food going to landfill, where it would contribute to climate warming through greenhouse gas emissions. 

We need help in our warehouse to receive and record supplies, load and unload vans, and prepare orders for delivery.
In return, we offer training and support to help you obtain skills and experience if you are seeking work.
If you're not looking for a job, volunteering with us is rewarding in many other ways; offering an opportunity to make friends, keep physically active and support your community.

This role is vital to FareShare's work, ensuring that the food in our warehouse is sorted, labelled and organised into orders.
It is perfect for someone who is:

a) Looking for a practical activity to keep busy and physically fit.
b) Looking for experience and skills to gain employment in the food industry and warehousing.
c) Wanting to help their community and help tackle global warming.
d) Wanting to make new friends.

Our volunteer roles are available Monday to Friday, for a whole or half day, with shifts between 8:30-am-12:30pm and 12:30-4:30pm. 

Volunteers are typically involved on one day a week.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Receiving, sorting, cataloguing and storing chilled and ambient food and preparing orders for delivery. 
Ensuring food quality and safety by checking ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates.
Unpacking deliveries, recording and categorising food.
Assembling food orders.
Maintaining health and safety and hygiene standards. 
Helping with cleaning and other routine tasks.

PERSON SPECIFICATION: You must...
Be reasonably physically fit to carry out tasks, including lifting and loading.
Be reliable and able to commit to an agreed session/day.
Speak English well in order to understand and follow instructions and health and safety rules. 
Have basic literacy and numeracy skills to record details of donated food.
Be able to work to Health and Safety standards.
Be happy to complete tasks independently according to instruction.
Be positive, friendly and enthusiastic about tackling food waste and food insecurity.

LOCATION
We are located in Maynard House, New Smithfield Market, Openshaw, M11 2WJ, which is easily reachable on public transport. We have free-onsite parking and secure storage for bicycles.

​IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be a UK resident and living within easy commuting distance of our base in order to volunteer with us. This is because our volunteers must be able to reliably commit to regular shifts for our roles.
We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

Know someone else who might be interested in volunteering with us?
Please pass our details on to them as we always welcome new people on our teams. :)

Our shops help raise vital funds, and volunteering with us is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, and join a fantastic team. Volunteering in our shops offers a variety of exciting tasks. From sorting, steaming, and pricing donations to spotting hidden gems, you'll roll up your sleeves in the backroom and assist on the shop floor. Engaging with customers is key, whether you're serving with a smile, working the till or helping donors complete Gift Aid forms.

Creating a warm, friendly and inviting space is just as important. You'll help design eye-catching window displays, keep the space tidy, and use your creativity to ensure everything looks its best, encouraging customers to return.

No special skills are needed as we’ll show you what to do, and we provide all the training you’ll need.