Volunteer Roles

Are you looking for an opportunity to offer your experience and leadership skills to the board of a small but dedicated charity?

Friends of Seaview are dedicated to enriching the lives of the disabled children and young people who use Seaview's services. We achieve this by providing therapeutic gardening sessions that help them connect with nature, develop new skills, and build confidence.

We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to the role. Currently we are seeking dedicated individuals to join our board as Treasurer and Chair of the Board.

The Chair will hold the Board to account for the Charity’s mission and vision,

providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity.

In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee, the responsibility of the Treasurer is to maintain an overview of the organisation's affairs, ensuring its financial viability and that the organisation has policies and systems in place to ensure robust financial planning, implementation, and reporting.

Trustee meetings are held in person every 6-8 weeks in order to contribute to the decision-making process.

If you’re passionate about supporting our work and ensuring its continued good work, we would love to hear from you.

About Circles South East

Circles South East, based in Oxfordshire, is an award-winning charity which works to reduce the impact and instances of sexual harm through prevention, rehabilitation, education and safeguarding.

We have a long record of working within the field of reducing impact of sexual harm. We work with Survivors and others impacted by sexual violence to help them heal and perpetrators to help them to avoid re-offending. 

We are organisational members of the BACP, and take referrals from organisations such as Victim Support, Children’s and Social Services, Rape Crisis, Probation Victim Liaison Units, GP Surgeries etc as well as from potential clients themselves.

Volunteers are at the core of what we do, and operate across all aspects of our work.

What will you be doing?

Trustees ensure their charity has a clear strategy and that all decisions put the needs of the service users first. They safeguard the charity’s assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation. They make sure these are used well and that the charity is run sustainably. They hold the CEO to account and provide support and encouragement to them and the team. Trustees are jointly responsible for all their decisions and work together to ensure the charity delivers it’s aims.

A full list of duties can be found in the candidate pack attached.

This role is mainly home-based.

What are we looking for?

We are particularly, but not exclusively, interested from hearing from people with the following skills/experience:

· Legal

· Business

· Marketing & Branding

· London communities. We work in a lot of London communities and have no one on our board with knowledge of this part of the UK

We would especially welcome applicants who are from Black, Asian or other minoritised ethnic groups, people with a disability, and young people under the age of 35’ who are all under-represented on our board. We strongly value the contribution that people with these characteristics would bring to our board discussions.

What difference will you make?

We are looking for a Trustees to contribute to our plans for an exciting future. While continuing to provide Circles across the South East we aim to further develop our complementary services of counselling, victim support and training. We are constantly innovating new methods to deliver our goals and currently have two funded pilot projects which we hope to further develop. We have recently secured sustainable funding for our core Circles work providing trustees with a fabulous opportunity to be part of the charity as we build on this.

Commitment:

Estimate of time needed: up to five hours per month.

The board normally meets 5 times a year. The board meetings are quarterly and usually take place 4-6pm on a weekday. We are currently meeting remotely.

Leicester Memory Walk is back for 2024, and so are our amazing volunteering opportunities. Memory Walk is so much more than a sponsored walk. Every year thousands of people come together to remember and bring hope for a brighter future. 

This is a walk like no other; this is thousands of people walking for a better future for those with dementia. Join the volunteer team on Sunday 22nd September at Abbey Park, in Leicester. 

There is something for everyone, with roles based in the event site and along the route. Be part of an unforgettable event experience as you cheer at a marshal point, follow the route as a back marker, sell some goodies or congratulate walkers with their finish line medal. You will have the opportunity to pair up with a friend or another volunteer and we’ll make sure you have everything you need! 

Sign up to volunteer at Memory Walk this September!

South Shields Memory Walk is back for 2024, and so are our amazing volunteering opportunities. Memory Walk is so much more than a sponsored walk. Every year thousands of people come together to remember and bring hope for a brighter future. 

This is a walk like no other; this is thousands of people walking for a better future for those with dementia. Join the volunteer team on Saturday 5th October at Bents Exhibition Park, in South Shields. 

There is something for everyone, with roles based in the event site and along the route. Be part of an unforgettable event experience as you cheer at a marshal point, follow the route as a back marker, sell some goodies or congratulate walkers with their finish line medal. You will have the opportunity to pair up with a friend or another volunteer and we’ll make sure you have everything you need! 

Sign up to volunteer at Memory Walk this October!

A charity  based in  Croydon, Surrey, London, UK is looking for volunteer Charity Volunteer Assistants; to volunteer 30 unpaid hours per week. The Charity serves a multi ethnic community especially people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds. 

Responsibilities:

• To assist in the delivery of events (ours and those we are invited to), projects and our yearly summer community event.
• To assist in the daily collection and drop off of Greggs after day produce to various soup kitchens
• To assist in promotion of organisations services. eg flyer distribution, school workshops, etc.
• To assist in the delivery of essential services 
• To assist in our soup kitchen projects

Person Specification:

• Someone enthusiastic and passionate about charity work and committed to working towards the achievements of the charities objectives.
• Knowledege of Black and ethnic minority tradition/culture is preferable however not essential.
• Experience is desirable.

This is a non-paid one year temporary position however accommodation and maintenance will be provided.

All interested candidates are required to send us a letter of application, a resume, and contact to the email provided. If your application is accepted, you will be invited for a telephone interview. Any applications received after the closing date will not be considered unless we have been unable to find a suitable candidate for this vacancy.

Successful candidates will require a DBS/POLICE check and references prior to commencement.

Volunteering for Sense

Our amazing team of volunteers help us run over 100 shops across England and Wales.  Every donated item that you sort, prepare and sell helps to raise vital funds to support us in our mission to make sure no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, is isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our shops are at the heart of local communities – sharing the work of Sense, and helping to secure support for our life changing work.

What your role will involve

There are a variety of tasks that you can get involved with in the shop, including:

• Welcoming and assisting customers, providing great customer service and a fantastic shopping experience
• Receiving donated goods from members of the public
• Sorting, steaming, tagging and preparing donated goods for sale
• Creating eye catching window and in-shop displays
• Keeping the shop floor well stocked, tidy, clean and organised
• Processing sales and serving on the till
• Promoting Gift Aid and other Sense fundraising initiatives
• Acting as an ambassador for Sense; promoting the shop and Sense in your local community
• Supporting with the recruitment and training of new volunteers
• Following new health, safety and social distancing measures to ensure the safety of everyone

Will the role suit me? Yes, if you are:

• Motivated and hardworking
• Reliable, flexible and willing to do a variety of shop tasks
• A team player
• Friendly and helpful
• Passionate about customer service and enjoy interacting with people
• Respectful of others and their diversity
• Interested in supporting the work of Sense and want to make a difference to people who have complex disabilities and are deafblind.

What can Sense offer me as a volunteer?

• A full induction and ongoing support and guidance from your Shop Manager to make sure you feel confident in your role
• Support to develop new skills, knowledge and experience, in particular of a retail environment, but also skills such as teamwork, customer service, communication and using your initiative
• A reference for other paid or voluntary work (available on request)
• The opportunity to share your existing skills and experience to benefit others
• The chance to meet new people from a wide range of backgrounds and to join a passionate and committed team
• The opportunity to make an invaluable contribution to Sense by raising vital income and raising the profile of Sense in your local community; changing the lives of those who have complex disabilities and are deafblind

About Sense

For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to offer personalised support to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our experts offer support that’s tailored to the individual needs of each person, whether that’s at our centres, through our holidays and short breaks, or in people’s own homes. In addition to practical support, we also provide information to families, and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.

Volunteers add real value to Sense, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the work that we do. We believe that volunteers enable us to bring people together, and provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world.

We include. We collaborate. We find a way. We challenge. We celebrate.

Can you spare a few hours a week to brighten someone’s day? Our veteran would like someone to visit for a cuppa and possibly go out and about in the local area.

We are committed to supporting our blind veterans no matter where they are. Our community home visitors provide crucial social interaction for our veterans who can’t reach our centres and can often feel isolated or lonely.

By popping by once a week or fortnight to see a veteran in their area, home visitors are a friendly face that can make all the difference. A visit could be a simple chat and a cup of tea, helping out with odd jobs around the home that can otherwise be a struggle for our veterans to complete or getting out and about in the local area. You will never be asked to do any personal care.

Although you will be working in the community independently, your manager is only a phone call away and there is a network of other volunteers for you to link in with too. Volunteers must be over the age of 18 years and understand the importance of confidentiality and relationship boundaries. The role can be flexible around your other commitments, but we ask that you are reliable and punctual for our veterans. You will be fully trained and supported so you feel comfortable and confident in your volunteering.

Volunteers need to be able to travel independently to and from our veteran’s home, willingness to drive and access to a car would be of an advantage. All agreed out of pocket expenses such as travel costs will be met by Blind Veterans UK.

At the Eco Centre our mission is to empower people to live and work sustainably. We inform, inspire and enable people to take action on climate change and the environment.

What we do

Our focus is on practical help so people can reduce carbon, live sustainably and combat climate change.

We’ve developed an innovative approach to helping people make that transition to sustainable living that has the potential of being scaled up and used nationwide – putting us on the road to zero carbon. We’re working closely with communities to pilot and develop the scheme.

In the next 12 months we planning an events programme to engage inspire the public and businesses, and for collaboration and co-creation for climate action innovation.

The next step will be a regional sustainability hub – a visitor attraction with hands-on activities. A go-to destination, training facility, and events/exhibition space – and a resource base for outreach and schools’ programmes.

How you can help

As Finance Board Member you’ll take on the role of Treasurer. As a key member of a newly enlarged team, you will have a leading role in ensuring we are able to step up our action on climate change and sustainability and the drive to Zero Carbon.

Key information:

Position: Finance Board Member/Treasurer

Responsible to: The board and membership

Working Location: Generally remote working but the ability to help occasionally at events in the South West is preferable.

Location Requirements: Preferably living or working in the South West. Regulations permit only a limited no. of directors from outside the area of benefit.

Hours: Minimum of 6-8 hours a month. Flexible

Renumeration: None. Voluntary. Expenses only.  

How to apply: Click the Quick Apply button below. You’ll be asked to submit a CV and answer a few short screening questions about your relevant skills and motivation. Please also submit a cover letter saying why you would like to be a board member and what skills you will bring to our board, operations and plans.

Interviews may take place in the week August or September.

Applicants can contact us for an informal discussion.

What you’ll be doing

As a hands-on board member, you’ll:

• Take on the role of Treasurer.
• Undertake bookkeeping and transaction processing dugites
• Lead on developing and implementing financial procedures and systems
• Be joining newly enlarged team, steering and developing the Eco Centre, helping it to realise its ambition of a Sustainability Centre for the South West.
• Play an important part in developing strategy and ensuring the organisation is well run and able to deliver, and step up, its impact on climate change and sustainability.
• Be contributing to the day-to day running of the organisation and/or its operations.

What are the requirements?

This unique opportunity is for you if…

• You have accounting qualifications or bookkeeping experience
• You have a working knowledge of excel and/or accounting applications
• You work effectively with others to identify, analyse, and solve problems.
• You can use your experience and knowledge to make considered judgements
• You have a commitment to action on climate change/sustainability.

This position is open to people residing in the UK only.

Milton Keynes Memory Walk is back for 2024, and so are our amazing volunteering opportunities. Memory Walk is so much more than a sponsored walk. Every year thousands of people come together to remember and bring hope for a brighter future. 

This is a walk like no other; this is thousands of people walking for a better future for those with dementia. Join the volunteer team on Sunday 8th September at Willen Lake, in Milton Keynes. 

here is something for everyone, with roles based in the event site and along the route. Be part of an unforgettable event experience as you cheer at a marshal point, follow the route as a back marker, sell some goodies or congratulate walkers with their finish line medal. You will have the opportunity to pair up with a friend or another volunteer and we’ll make sure you have everything you need! 

Sign up to volunteer at Memory Walk this September!

Can you spare a few hours a week to brighten someone’s day? Our veteran would like someone to visit for a cuppa and possibly go out and about in the local area.

We are committed to supporting our blind veterans no matter where they are. Our community home visitors provide crucial social interaction for our veterans who can’t reach our centres and can often feel isolated or lonely.

By popping by once a week or fortnight to see a veteran in their area, home visitors are a friendly face that can make all the difference. A visit could be a simple chat and a cup of tea, helping out with odd jobs around the home that can otherwise be a struggle for our veterans to complete or getting out and about in the local area. You will never be asked to do any personal care.

Although you will be working in the community independently, your manager is only a phone call away and there is a network of other volunteers for you to link in with too. Volunteers must be over the age of 18 years and understand the importance of confidentiality and relationship boundaries. The role can be flexible around your other commitments, but we ask that you are reliable and punctual for our veterans. You will be fully trained and supported so you feel comfortable and confident in your volunteering.

Volunteers need to be able to travel independently to and from our veteran’s home, willingness to drive and access to a car would be of an advantage. All agreed out of pocket expenses such as travel costs will be met by Blind Veterans UK.

Are you passionate about putting the voice of disabled children and young people centre stage?  Do you believe that disabled children and young people have the right to a fulfilling life?

Bexley Snap are seeking a Chair for our Trustee Board.  In addition to the core responsibilities of all Trustees, the Chair is overall responsible for ensuring the Board works well together and supports the organisation to fulfil its purpose.Specifically, the Chair will:

• provide leadership to the Board of Trustees to ensure the Board gives firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• chair meetings of the Board of Trustees effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision-making process.
• ensure the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities, and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities and manage and mitigate the risks.
• ensure that trustees are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of the Charity and that the Board takes collective ownership.
• monitor that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.
• appraise the performance of the Trustees and the Board on an annual basis.
• monitor the Director's performance through robust bi-monthly supervisions and appraisals.
• be the final point of decision making for any appeals for disciplinary/complaints escalated to Board level.
• ensure our operational business plan is utilised as a dynamic , current, working document, used to achieve our strategic objectives.
• foster, maintain and ensure constructive relatioships exist with and between the Trustees.

Relevant experience

Individuals are sought who have a strong empathy  with our mission to provide positive opportunities for disabled children and young people and their families in Bexley.

We are looking for someone who:

• has effective experience of leading a Board/management committee.
• has a high degree of emotional intelligence, showing empathy, tact and diplomacy to others with the ability to listen and engage positively.
• demonstrates strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and bring people together.
• has a good undersanding of charity governance issues.
• has relevant experience as a parent, carer or professional.
• has a track record of commitment to promoting equality and diversity.

Bournemouth Memory Walk is back for 2024, and so are our amazing volunteering opportunities. Memory Walk is so much more than a sponsored walk. Every year thousands of people come together to remember and bring hope for a brighter future. 

This is a walk like no other; this is thousands of people walking for a better future for those with dementia. Join the volunteer team on Sunday 15th September at Pier Approach, in Bournemouth . 

There is something for everyone, with roles based in the event site and along the route. Be part of an unforgettable event experience as you cheer at a marshal point, follow the route as a back marker, sell some goodies or congratulate walkers with their finish line medal. You will have the opportunity to pair up with a friend or another volunteer and we’ll make sure you have everything you need! 

Sign up to volunteer at Memory Walk this September! 

Manchester Memory Walk is back for 2024, and so are our amazing volunteering opportunities. Memory Walk is so much more than a sponsored walk. Every year thousands of people come together to remember and bring hope for a brighter future. 

This is a walk like no other; this is thousands of people walking for a better future for those with dementia. Join the volunteer team on Sunday 13th October at Heaton Park, in Manchester. 

There is something for everyone, with roles based in the event site and along the route. Be part of an unforgettable event experience as you cheer at a marshal point, follow the route as a back marker, sell some goodies or congratulate walkers with their finish line medal. You will have the opportunity to pair up with a friend or another volunteer and we’ll make sure you have everything you need! 

Sign up to volunteer at Memory Walk this October!

About CARAS: 

CARAS is a leading refugee charity in Southwest London, providing firm foundations for new-arrival asylum seekers to build happy and successful lives. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges and to help them rebuild their lives.  

We provide person-centred educational, social and casework support to over 600 young people and adults across South London each year, recognising the moment of arrival as one of opportunity. Our work provides individuals with essential support to build language and employability skills, develop social networks and friendships, and access essential services such as legal and mental health services. Our work has a multi-generational impact, providing forced migrants with early interventions to support language and skill acquisition, and tackling the root causes of socio-economic marginalisation by supporting social inclusion and future labour market access.

Volunteering with CARAS - our Community of Welcome:

CARAS has a proud history of volunteers helping us deliver our charitable aims. Volunteers are an essential part of the CARAS community, bringing skills, insights, experience, different languages, and enthusiasm to the roles.  Community members tell us that welcome by volunteers is so important in an often hostile world. It helps them feel safe and valued. Community is at the heart of all we do, and we could not deliver the projects we do without the enormous contribution that volunteers bring. 

About the CARAS Adult Programme: 

Alongside educational and casework support, CARAS has a thriving social Programme of weekly activities, from women’s yoga to creative coffee afternoons, sports sessions and workshops, designed and built in collaboration with our community, volunteers and local partners. Most people we work with in the adult team are waiting for a decision on their asylum claim, and are accommodated in cramped and inadequate hotels contracted by the Home Office for up to – and sometimes more than – 2 years whilst they wait for a decision on their asylum claim. During this time, they are eligible for only £8.86 per week and are prohibited from working. This is an incredibly stressful and disempowering period for those seeking asylum. Against this backdrop, our social activities exist as spaces of welcome, for people to come and make meaningful connections, build confidence and importantly - have fun! 

Connecting community members to volunteering: 

Whilst many of our community members are prohibited from working whilst waiting for a decision on their claim, they can volunteer. However, there are many linguistic, cultural and practical barriers to being able to actually access volunteering opportunities. We work with our community members to try to find interesting and high-quality volunteering roles that are accessible and fulfilling. We know from experience that connecting our community members to volunteering can have a huge positive impact on their well-being, confidence, and preparedness for future careers and education in the UK. However, as a small team, we do not have the capacity we need to be able to provide more personal, tailored support to respond to the huge range of skills, interests and experience. This is where you come in! 

Volunteering connector role: 

As the volunteering connector, you will work 1-2-1 with CARAS community members to understand what roles people are interested in and will liaise with suitable providers and partners to connect them to these roles. Part of your role will also be to explain to community members what volunteering means, including the boundaries and expectations of volunteering, as well as what rights volunteers have in the UK. This is important to ensure the volunteering placements are valuable for both community members and the organisations they volunteer with.

We are looking for someone who is warm, compassionate, proactive and efficient. You will be good at building trusting relationships quickly and taking the initiative to make connections across the local area to find suitable opportunities. You will take a person-centred approach that places focus on our community members’ existing skills, priorities and goals to make decisions together about the best course of action. 

We are looking for volunteers who can commit to 3 hours per week and can come to our Tooting-based office. Wednesday afternoon is our preference but we are open to being flexible with timetabling for the right candidate.

Tasks and responsibilities:

To work with CARAS community members to understand their interests, experience and goals relating to volunteering; 

To support our CMs with their applications to these organisations and ensure smooth referral pathways; 

To work together with external providers to find suitable and accessible volunteer roles;

To research possible new volunteering organisations that are willing and appropriate; 

To support community members to recognise and celebrate their achievements;

To adhere to CARAS Child Protection procedures, Confidentiality Policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant; 

To keep CARAS database records up to date to support the adult team, as well as for monitoring and evaluation

Requirements - Essential: 

To be 18 years or older; 

Current resident of the UK;

To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds; 

To be reliable and punctual;

To have an interest in building and strengthening community in London; 

Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English; 

To be able to dedicate 3 hours a week to CARAS’ volunteering connections for minimum 3 months; 

Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; 

Able to complete compulsory volunteer induction training (online) in general and safeguarding prior to the start of the role. 
Please note that volunteer induction training currently takes place online once a month on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 6pm – 8pm. we offer the same trainings on Tuesday and Wednesday daytimes online between 12pm – 2pm once every 3 months. Your availability to attend 1 general and 1 safeguarding online training session at these times within 3 months of your application would be a prerequisite of being accepted as a volunteer at CARAS.

Requirements - Desirable: 

Knowledge of community languages, such as Farsi, Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Somali and Spanish 

Experience working with people who are seeking asylum in the UK; 

Personal experience of volunteering in any sector or organisation that can inform this role 

Through volunteering with us you will:  

Meet and meaningfully support new members of your local community; 

Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;  

Develop your skills and competencies;  

Be able to access relevant training;  

Be able to request a reference after 3 months regular volunteering