Child Protection Volunteer Roles

Missing People is recruiting volunteers with expertise in Safeguarding to sit on our charity Safeguarding Panel. The Panel meets four times a year and assists the charity’s work by acting as critical friends - providing scrutiny, challenge and support to staff around safeguarding best practice.

The Panel is chaired by a Missing People Trustee and meetings are attended by Missing People’s Director of Services and Senior Managers, who present current projects, challenges and work for discussion. 

Description

Someone is reported missing every 90 seconds in the UK. Missing People is the only UK charity dedicated to reconnecting missing people and their loved ones. Our services include:

•  A free and confidential helpline, available 7 days a week, for missing people and their loved ones,
• A specialist family support and counselling service,
• Case publicity to support loved ones with sharing appeals,
• Specialist services for children and young people, and their loved ones, experiencing exploitation,
• Commissioned Return Home Interview services for young people at particular risk,
• Research, consultancy and training for professionals working around the issue of missing.

Our vision is that every missing person is found safe, and it is through the services above that we aim to safeguard and protect children and adults. True to our charity values, we offer confidentiality in order to build a relationship of trust, and we aim to empower our service users, respecting a person’s right to be missing and working with them to keep them safe.

Due to the complexity of the missing experience, we are always looking to improve our systems, processes and practice in relation to safeguarding. We cannot do this effectively without ‘critical friends’ who support the team to evaluate current work by asking the right questions and sharing external expertise.

We are currently recruiting new Safeguarding Panel members. Panel members are asked to:

• Attend and actively participate in Panel meetings - the Panel meets four times a year, usually for one hour. Meetings takes place via video call, and currently, meetings take place on Monday afternoons from 3-4pm.
• Read papers in advance of meetings - these are sent out in advance of the Panel meetings. Preparation for each meeting varies but is never more than 1-2 hours.
• If Panel members are interested, there are also additional opportunities to get further involved with the charity’s work. This is entirely optional.

What impact will you have?

Your input will support Missing People to recognise risk and protect children and adults effectively, safely and within a culture that is always acting on any opportunities for learning. This is vital to our work of providing a lifeline and meaningful support to all individuals and communities impacted by missing.

About the volunteer

We are looking for volunteers with:

• A strong understanding of safeguarding principles and practice, especially within the voluntary and/or statutory sectors.
• Experience of working with children and/or adults in areas such as exploitation, homelessness, mental health, modern slavery, refugee and migrant justice, social care, suicide prevention and victim support.
• Alignment with the ethos of Missing People’s services: to respect the agency of individuals, protect confidentiality and anonymity, and work alongside individuals, wherever possible.
• The ability to ask key questions and provide scrutiny and support to Missing People staff and volunteers (Trustee Panel Members and other Panel Members).
• Commitment to attend quarterly Panel meetings for a period of 3 years (a three-year term).

Role: Leadership and Management Volunteers

Location: London

Commitment: Flexible hours, Evening and Weekend based

Urban Youth is a brand new youth work organisation being set up and is committed to empowering young people through engaging and meaningful youth work projects. We believe in creating opportunities for personal growth, community involvement, and positive change.

We need volunteers with experience in Leadership or Management who can come on board and support our brand new start-up, helping us to set up and put in place systems, processes and policies and to also ensure we have a solid foundation.

Responsibilities:

• To provide leadership skills and support the set-up of Urban Youth.

• Lead or Manage a particular project or area that will support us at Urban Youth reach our full potential and make maximum impact.

• Set up your function, ensuring we have everything in place to get launched and ready to work with young people.

• Support the recruitment and onboarding process of new volunteers coming into Urban Youth, especially those under your leadership.

• Develop and implement project/programme strategies.

• Provide leadership and ongoing support and motivation to volunteers.

• Collaborate with other staff and volunteers to ensure successful project outcomes.

• Maintain accurate records and reports.

• Support us in our fundraising efforts, in promoting Urban Youth and getting hands on in other areas as and when needed, working as a team for a common goal.

Requirements:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Experience in Leadership or Management.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Excellent organisational and time management skills.

• Passion for working with young people and volunteers and then supporting their development.

• Commitment to Urban Youth's mission and values.

If you're ready to inspire and coordinate our amazing team of volunteers, please send your CV and a brief cover letter to us. We look forward to hearing from you!

Join Urban Youth: Be a Founding Volunteer!

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people in London? Urban Youth is a new youth work organisation in London currently being set up and is looking for dedicated volunteers to help us set up, found, and develop our exciting new initiative.

What We're Looking For:

• Enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about youth work or their field of expertise that will benefit our new organisation especially in our set up and founding stage.

• Volunteers with skills in organisation, planning, and development.

• Creative minds to help shape our brand and identity.

• Team players who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get involved.

What You'll Gain:

• The opportunity to be a founding member of an impactful youth work organisation.

• Hands-on experience in setting up and developing a youth work initiative.

• The chance to make a real difference in the lives of young people in London.

• A supportive and collaborative environment where your ideas and contributions are valued.

How to Get Involved:

If you're ready to make a difference and be part of something special, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact us with your CV to express your interest and learn more about how you can get involved.

Urban Youth: Discover Your Path, Shape Your Future

Let's build something amazing together!

Make a difference – become a school governor

You do not have to be a parent or member of staff to be a school governor – applications are appreciated from all with an interest in the local community. School governors come from all walks of life and specialist knowledge is not always needed. What IS essential is a desire to get involved in children’s education and make a difference to their lives.

We welcome applications from those with educational, health & safety and safeguarding experience but school governors are all volunteers and training and support is provided. The University of Chichester (Multi) Academy Trust partners new governors with a ‘buddy’ – a trusted and more experienced colleague on the governing body – who initially acts as their mentor. Briefing information and assistance is also available through newsletters, websites and helplines provided by the Department for Education.

Would you like to have fun in your local area and get reimbursed for your time? We are always looking for caring and compassionate people to take out a local child or young person for fun activities.

Right now we are looking for applicants in the South Wales area for a fabulous young person who enjoys marvel, climbing, cinema, food and chats. They would prefer a male, but we have other young people who would fit well with a female volunteer.

Activities can include things like: playing football in the park, trampolining, cinema, food, swimming, climbing, play centres, beach, cycling, board game cafes, escape rooms, circus, shows, concerts, go karting etc.

We reimburse reasonable expenses, including travel, for you and your young person up to around £40 a month.

Preferred experience:
- Driving and use of a car due to sometimes rural locations. (We are unlikely to be able to find you a suitable match if you do not drive.)
- Ability to communicate in English.
- Basic IT skills for completing reports and submitting receipts via an easy to use App.

Benefits:
- Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
- Gain valuable experience in supporting children and families.
- Access to online training portal with hundreds of courses. - Access to local authority training.
- All travel and reasonable documented expenses reimbursed.

If you are passionate about helping others and making a positive impact, we would love to hear from you.

Overview

Children with Voices, a dynamic children's charity based in Hackney, London, is seeking a dedicated and experienced Operations Manager to join our team. This pivotal role involves overseeing day-to-day operations, developing and optimising processes and systems, and supporting digital transformation initiatives to enhance organisational efficiency. The Operations Manager will work closely with the CEO, staff, and volunteers to facilitate smooth operations, modernise workflows, and drive the growth of the charity.

Responsibilities

Operations and Coordination

Coordinate day-to-day operations to ensure the smooth functioning of the organisation.

Provide guidance, support, and feedback to staff and volunteers to maximise their effectiveness.

Act as a liaison between different departments to facilitate effective communication and collaboration.

Process and Systems Development

Create and refine processes and systems to improve efficiency, using digital tools where appropriate.

Lead the implementation of digital transformation initiatives to modernise workflows and enhance operational effectiveness.

Monitor and assess existing systems, identifying opportunities for improvement and innovation.

Leadership and Training

Collaborate with the CEO to discuss organisational priorities, challenges, and opportunities.

Identify training needs for staff and volunteers, facilitating skill development in collaboration with the HR Manager.

Support the team in adopting new systems and technologies, providing training and guidance as needed.

Policy and Strategic Development

Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to enhance operational efficiency.

Assist in shaping strategic plans and initiatives to achieve organisational goals, with a focus on leveraging digital tools and methods.

Monitoring and Reporting

Track progress on delegated tasks to ensure timely completion.

Evaluate the impact of new processes and systems, reporting on successes and areas for improvement.

Promoting Organisational Values

Uphold and promote the values and ethos of Children with Voices in all interactions and activities.

Qualifications

Previous experience in an operational or coordination role, preferably with experience in process improvement or digital transformation.

Proficiency in using digital tools and platforms to streamline operations (e.g., project management software, cloud-based systems).

Strong organisational and time management skills.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Proactive attitude and problem-solving abilities.

Flexibility and adaptability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Commitment to the mission and values of Children with Voices.

Benefits

Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people.

Flexible hours suitable for retired individuals or those seeking part-time work.

Access to training and development opportunities, including in digital systems.

Joining a supportive and passionate team dedicated to empowering young individuals.

If you are passionate about making a difference and possess the skills and qualities outlined above, we would love to hear from you! Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

Contract: Voluntary (reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed)
Commitment: Average 3-4 hours a month
Location: Dartington/Hybrid

Join our Board and Make a Difference!

We’re looking to expand our Board of Trustees and are seeking individuals with expertise in any of the following areas:

• HR: With a strong understanding of HR best practices, you will support the development and implementation of our People Strategy alongside our HR Team, ensuring a positive and inclusive environment for all staff. You’ll also be there to provide guidance when needed, leaning on your experience of HR matters.
• Further Education: Your knowledge of the Further Education sector will be instrumental in supporting the College Leadership Team to continually improve the quality of education and learning opportunities for our students. Experience of Ofsted inspections and an understanding of ESFA funding conditions is highly desirable.
• Marketing/Communications: You will provide advice and guidance on the development of our marketing and communications and help us to build a strong brand with a clear voice.
• Fundraising: You will provide strategic and practical guidance on funding streams ensuring that the short and long-term needs of the charity are met.
• Digital/IT: You will provide strategic guidance on IT systems and infrastructure, ensuring they are robust, secure, and compliant. This includes identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency through technology, supporting the implementation of new software and advising on data protection regulations.

If you don’t have any of the above experience but believe that you can add value to our Board in a different way, we would still love to hear from you.

Who we are:

Lifeworks Charity is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities. We operate across multiple areas, including education, community support, day services and residential care. We are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to join our Board of Trustees, to help guide our organisation to a great future.

As a Trustee, you will get the opportunity to make a real difference. You’ll be directly contributing to the strategic direction of the charity, whilst supporting a brilliant cause.

What you'll bring:

• Passion for our mission: A genuine commitment to supporting individuals with learning disabilities to live great lives.
• Relevant expertise: Proven experience in HR, Further Education, Marketing/Communications, Fundraising or Digital/IT, ideally within the education or care sector.
• Strong governance skills: A good understanding of charity law, governance principles, and risk management (you don’t need to have previous experience as a charity board trustee – we will give you the support that you need to learn about us and your role).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: The ability to effectively communicate with colleagues, stakeholders, and the wider community.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion: A strong belief in creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all.

We believe that having a diverse Board of Trustees is key to our success so we’re especially keen to receive applications from under-represented communities and people with lived experience of learning disabilities.

Time Commitment:

• All new Trustees are required to attend an induction at Lifeworks, before attending your first Board meeting.
• You will need to attend our five Board meetings per year. They are held within standard business hours at our Head Office in Shinners Bridge, Dartington. One of these meetings will be an all-day strategic planning meeting, whilst the other meetings will be approximately 3.5 hours each. You will receive any materials within a week of the meeting.
• You may also be asked to participate in sub-committees as required.

Building a diverse and safe team:

At Lifeworks, we're committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals with disabilities who meet the job criteria, and we guarantee qualified candidates with disabilities an interview.

Lifeworks is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. To achieve this commitment, we will ensure the continuous development, improvement and review of robust safeguarding processes and procedures that continuously promote a culture of vigilance in respect of safeguarding within our organisation. Therefore, all Trustees undergo Safer Recruitment checks which include pre-employment checks, reference checks, and an enhanced DBS check.

Apply today and tell us why you'd be a great fit for our charity!

Job Title: Volunteer Recruitment Consultant
Location: Remote
Employment  Type: Part-Time (10 -15 hours per week)
Organisation: Children with Voices

About Children with Voices
Children with Voices is a Hackney-based charity dedicated to empowering children and families through educational programs, sustainable initiatives, and community-driven support. We are committed to creating a lasting, positive impact on the lives of those we serve.

The Role
We’re looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Volunteer Recruitment Specialist to join our team remotely. Your role will be vital in attracting, selecting, and onboarding passionate volunteers to support our impactful programs for children and families.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruitment Strategy: Design and implement creative strategies to attract a diverse pool of volunteers using social media, outreach, and job boards.
• Screening & Matching: Review applications, interview candidates, and match their skills and interests to appropriate roles.
• Onboarding & Support: Coordinate training and orientation for new volunteers while providing ongoing support and feedback.
• Database Management: Maintain accurate records of applications, assignments, and volunteer engagement metrics.
• Collaboration: Work with program managers to understand volunteer needs and improve retention.

About You

• Proactive, organised, and passionate about community development.
• Skilled in recruitment, screening, and candidate engagement (experience in HR is a bonus).
• Comfortable using digital tools for recruitment and communication.
• Motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in vulnerable families' lives.

Why Join Us?
At Children with Voices, you’ll have the chance to work with a dynamic team and directly impact your community. Your efforts will help us continue delivering life-changing programs to those who need them most.

As a valued member of our team, you’ll enjoy:

• Skill Development: Access to training and growth opportunities to enhance your recruitment and coordination expertise.
• Flexible Work Environment: A fully remote position with the autonomy to manage your schedule.
• Meaningful Impact: The chance to directly contribute to the growth and success of a community-focused charity.

If you’re organised, passionate about making a difference, and ready to help us build a team of dedicated volunteers, we’d love to hear from you!

To apply, please send your CV.

Join us at Children with Voices and help us transform lives, one volunteer at a time.

We are seeking an individual with a safeguarding background to support our well-established Trustee board.  The role is a voluntary, unpaid role.  The role is suited to a knowledgeable professional with a background in health/wellbeing for example; social work, teacher with responsibility for safeguarding, medical professional etc, who has a desire to make a real contribution to the shaping and future of Chesham Grammar School.  Our vision for CGS and values are firmly located at the centre of everything we do. 

No previous experience in an educational environment is necessary.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

If this role is something you are interested in and would like to explore further, we ask for a CV along with an expression of interest, stating why you think this role is suitable and what knowledge and experience you can bring to the Trust.

Childline Volunteer Counsellor- Someone who wants to make a difference to children’s lives by being there to listen when they feel they have no one else to turn to. As a Childline counsellor, you’ll be there for young people and listen to them as they open up about whatever is worrying them, whether it’s bullying, abuse, self-harm or family relationships – you’ll be there to support them.

What you’ll do

You’ll volunteer in our Leeds Childline base, offering counselling support to children and young people over the phone or through our 1-2-1 online chat. Your supervisor will help you develop and evaluate your counselling skills. After your initial training, you will be able to help young people as well as identify when a child or young person may be at risk, but don’t worry a supervisor will be on hand to give you plenty of support.

What you’ll get

You’ll receive training sessions over 12 weeks to prepare you for the role. When you start your regular shifts, a supervisor will be around all times to support you. Every shift includes a briefing and debriefing alongside other volunteers. Supervisors will also give you regular one-to-one support and group supervisions.

What we’ll need from you

Signing up to be a Childline counsellor is a big commitment and requires lots of training so, we do ask people to stay in the role for a minimum of one year.

We’ll also need to do some routine safeguarding checks, including an enhanced criminal record check and at least two satisfactory references with at least one covering a period of five years or more with no gaps. It’s nothing to worry about, and we can answer any questions you have about this.

Who’s right for the role?

While we think this role is suitable for a whole range of people, we are particularly looking for those with the following qualities and experience.

• Passionate about helping young people and children
• Great communication skills
• Empathetic and perceptive
• able to think on your feet
• works well within a team
• emotional resilience

Why volunteer with us?

Not only will you gain valuable experience throughout your volunteering journey, you’ll also have access to useful resources including a catalogue of online training, discount portal and NSPCC inMind – an online mindfulness resource.

You’ll be fully supported throughout your volunteer journey with us and will have a dedicated key contact should you have any questions along the way.

About Roots Academy

At Roots Academy, we’ve built a learning experience that’s changing the lives of the ummah’s future leaders, change-makers and visionaries.

Our vision is enabling university students to live God-centred lives, so we teach structured, engaging and transformative face-to-face foundational Islamic education to over 1,800 students across the UK.

Role Summary

The Safeguarding Officer will work with the People Team Lead and the Trustee Board in ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place for keeping students, volunteers and team members safe at Roots Academy.

You will promote the safety and welfare of young people involved in Roots Academy’s activities at all times.

Key tasks

• Support with developing, reviewing and implementing Roots Academy’s safeguarding policies and procedures: ensuring all safeguarding issues concerning students and volunteers who take part in Roots Academy’s activities are responded to appropriately.
• Make sure that everyone working or volunteering at Roots Academy, including the board of trustees, understands the safeguarding policy and procedures and knows what to do if they have concerns about a student or volunteer’s welfare.
• Develop and deliver safeguarding training.
• Make sure students and young people who are involved in activities at Roots Academy know who they can talk to if they have a welfare concern and understand what action the organisation will take in response.
• Receive and record information from anyone who has concerns about a student or volunteer who takes part in Roots Academy’s activities.
• Responding to information that may constitute a safeguarding concern, including a concern that an adult involved with Roots Academy may present a risk to children or young people. This includes:

a. assessing and clarifying the information

b. making referrals to statutory organisations as appropriate

c. consulting with and informing the relevant members of the organisation’s management

d. following the organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures.

• Liaise with, pass on information to and receive information from statutory agencies such as the police. This includes making formal referrals to agencies when necessary.
• Store and retain safeguarding records according to legal requirements and the organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures.
• Work closely with the board of trustees the People Team Lead to ensure they are kept up to date with safeguarding issues and are fully informed of any concerns about organisational safeguarding practice.
• Report regularly to the board of trustees on issues relating to safeguarding, to ensure that safeguarding is seen as an ongoing priority issue and that safeguarding requirements are being followed at all levels of the organisation.

What we’re looking for

• The Safeguarding Officer must have received relevant safeguarding training
• Experience as a qualified social worker or safeguarding lead desirable
• Understanding of safeguarding in further education desirable
• Strong understanding of Islam and the Muslim community essential

What we have to offer

• Be part of a team of 40+ dedicated volunteers from across the country.
• Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform.
• Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.
• Receive in-house tarbiyah sessions to develop your deen.

Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position.

Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy.

Could you help to change a care-experienced child's life by reading with them for just an hour a week over a six month period?

We're looking for new volunteers to read online. Reading Heroes is a highly individualised initiative - every book that you read has been chosen specifically for you and the child.  All books are provided, and you will receive ongoing personal support from our dedicated Reading Heroes team, as well as opportunities to meet with other volunteers.

The number of care-experienced children in the UK growing; research tells us that these children are more likely to experience social, emotional and mental health problems, so we believe that Reading Heroes is a more important project than ever.

We have found that the Reading Heroes scheme has helped the children involved with their reading and other literacy-based skills, but these are not our primary purposes. Reading Heroes simply promotes reading for pleasure, and giving some of our time to children who need a little extra support - along with a kindly, friendly listener!

As a Reading Heroes volunteer, you’ll be instilling a love of stories which can have a lifelong positive impact. 80% of participants tell us they enjoy reading more after taking part.

Find out more: https://ow.ly/FVts50SBrIm

“Thank you for helping me read better and for making reading fun and not stupid boring!" (Reading Heroes participant)