IT Volunteer Roles

Whether you're someone with a few extra hours to spare, a student, or you’ve got retail know-how to share, we’d love to have you on board!

Why volunteer with us?

• Get hands-on retail experience
• Be part of a friendly, welcoming team
• Your time helps us support families and individuals facing terminal illness.
• Get involved with exciting tasks like creating window displays and arranging stock.
• Whether you're great with people, love organising, or are a whizz at working the till, there’s a role for you!

Key tasks might include:

• Sorting and organising donations, spotting those hidden gems.
• Getting items ready for sale by steaming and pricing.
• Offering top-notch customer service and working the till.
• Helping with fun shop tasks like window displays, stock replenishment, and general tidying.
• Housekeeping duties

Skills & Qualities

No prior experience in retail necessary. Full training and ongoing support is provided

• Friendly and kind manner
• Able to work well as part of a team
• Able to follow instructions
• Knowledge of popular and quality brands would be useful

* Young Volunteers - Please note: A signed Parent/Guardian Consent Form is required for all volunteers aged 14-17 years.

What we do

We help everyone use parks and their transformative health and wellbeing benefits. DEFRA estimates that if everyone spent time in parks, the NHS could save £2.1 billion a year, however often the people who could benefit most from using parks, do not.

We work with under-served communities to help them spend time in green space and we support small groups and community organisations to do the same. From supporting people with complex mental health needs to connect with nature and build community, to identifying and removing physical barriers to park access, we work to make sure parks fulfil their potential as free to use, community assets.

The role

As a Trustee, you will take the lead at board level, whilst ensuring that the collective responsibility of the Trustees for the management, support and development of our staff is maintained. All Trustees share responsibility for the organisation.

The main responsibilities of a Trustee is to:

• oversee the strategic direction of the charity as it scales to meet demand, and support the CEO in managing this growth;
• use their expertise to help guide the process;
• ensure the organisation works within the law and in line with its governing document and policies;
• keep informed about the activities of the charity in order to maintain effective oversight;
• take a financial overview and ensure that the organisation’s finances are adequate and responsibly managed;
• promote the work and safeguard the reputation of Your Park Bristol and Bath.

Skills and experience needed

Our beneficiaries come from all walks of life and hire great people from a variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. If you share our values and enthusiasm for health, nature and accessibility, you will find a home here.

All applicants will be treated equally but we want to build our level of lived experience of barriers to parks. Therefore, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from people who are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, Disabled people, people who are caring for a loved one, and/or from low-income households. 

Please state in your cover letter whether you would like to be considered under our guaranteed interview scheme for Disabled or ethnic minority candidates. This scheme guarantees these groups an interview if they meet the essential skills, experience and qualities. 

A bit about this role

Our social media volunteers use their passion and knowledge of social media to promote the activities of local volunteer groups and teams though various channels. They directly help cats by raising awareness of Cats Protection. A higher profile can help us raise the funds we need for our work, ensure people know they can adopt a cat from us, help promote neutering and help as many people as possible learn more about feline welfare.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Promoting the work of Cats Protection through various social media channels, for example, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
• Gathering information from across the organisation and locally within your team or volunteer group
• Writing and creating social media content, ensuring it complies with policies and guidelines
• Scheduling and posting social media content
• Monitoring activity and responding to comments on social media channels

A bit more information about this role and the team

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge, and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by raising the profile of Cats Protection through social media. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• A passion for social media and experience of using social media channels regularly
• Knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of using social media
• Good IT skills
• Excellent writing skills, including good grammar and spelling
• Good communication skills
• Willingness to be part of a team

We're looking to recruit 3 new trustees who share our passion and commitment in supporting local families who are struggling to cope with a variety of challenging circumstances.

About Us

Home-Start Guildford is an independent charity based in Guildford committed to promoting the welfare of local families and children. We are part of Home-Start UK, one of the UK’s leading family support charities, benefiting from their policy framework and quality assurance, but not funding. Staff and volunteers offer regular support, including providing emotional and practical help to families in the families’ own homes and connecting families with specialist services within the community.

The Role and What We Are Looking for in a New Trustee

We are looking to recruit 3 additional Trustees to increase the range of skills and experience on the Board. This is essential for us to make the best decisions for Home-Start Guildford and our families. There is no requirement for you to have been a trustee before, however, you do need to be passionate about improving the lives of children and the families we support. You will be good at working with others, ready to speak up and ask questions, be thoughtful and open to learning, and able to stand back to see the bigger picture. You must take the responsibilities of a Trustee seriously.

We are looking to better reflect the experiences of our community, to bring the skills and experiences of diverse Trustees to the Board. We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with experience in areas such as marketing, fundraising, business strategy, governance, event planning, bid writing, local networks, IT, and media.

Trustees are the people who make the top-level decisions for our charity. Our Board includes people with experience and skills in early years, education, and business. We expect new trustees to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. Support from local charity-support organisations is always available, and a full induction to our organisation will be provided, including access to external training.

If you can think strategically and plan long-term, you have the primary skills needed by our trustees. You’ll also need to be able to work collectively with other Board members. Support from our paid employees is always available, as they handle the day-to-day running of the organisation.

We are a charity, not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds to join our charity. We want to expand the diversity of our board in all meanings of the word and strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups.

We ask for about six hours of your time per month, and the ability to join face to face board meetings in Guildford that are usually held every 6-8 weeks on a Monday or Friday morning.

What does becoming a trustee involve?

As part of the trustee role, you will be expected to:

• Attend, and prepare for, a minimum of six meetings per year.
• Undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
• Undergo a selection process as outlined by Home-Start Guildford.
• Commit to the legal and financial responsibilities of the role, as outlined in the charity's Constitution (‘Foundation’ model constitution).
• Visit and engage with the office and staff to enhance your understanding of how Home-Start Guildford works.

Training and Support

Trustees are fully inducted into Home-Start before beginning their new role; they will receive:

• An online welcome event and e-learning, introducing Home-Start’s service and your responsibilities.
• Training in key areas including safeguarding.
• Reimbursement of paid expenses.
• Access to Home-Start’s online community via HSUK intranet – full of information and guidance on running a local Home-Start.
• Tailored support by other trustees and staff.

What do you get as a volunteer trustee with our organisation?

• An opportunity to exercise your strategic planning skills, probably in a different environment or context.
• An opportunity to influence and collectively lead an organisation supporting families of young children.
• A chance to expand and implement your understanding of our work.
• A chance to augment your experience of charities.
• A boost to your career and CV, if needed.
• Satisfaction of helping an organisation that supports families, thus giving something back to your community.
• Induction training from us; training, support, and assistance from local charity-support & advice agencies; reimbursement of reasonable expenses, if needed.

• What do we get?
• Your strategic skills, knowledge, understanding, or experience.
• Your abilities to influence plans for our charity’s future, especially in this cost-of-living crisis.
• Enhancement to our overall governance and the Board of trustees; improvement in our operational growth.
• Your participation in our collective decision-making, contributing to all areas of our charity work.
• Your enthusiasm.

For more information, please visit our website.

If you would like more information about becoming a Trustee or would like to talk to a member of staff, please contact the Home-Start Guildford office.

Interested in Applying?

Please forward a CV and completed application form.

You can request an application form from the office or download a copy from our website (Home-Start Guildford).

Home-Start is committed to equality of opportunity and diversity.

Home-Start Guildford is committed to safer recruitment practice as an

important part of safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults

Registered Charity No. 1154609

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

We are seeking a skilled Test Engineer to join our digital team at Roots Academy. This role is essential in ensuring the quality and reliability of our Firebase/Flutter-based technologies. The ideal candidate will have a solid background in software testing and a passion for delivering high-quality digital products. You will work closely with developers, designers and other stakeholders to design and implement testing strategies (unit, feature and end-to-end testing) that enhance the performance and user experience of our platforms.

Key Tasks

• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans and test cases for the Roots app, website, and portals (Instructor, Student, and Partner).
• Collaborate with developers to identify testing requirements and ensure that all features are thoroughly tested and validated before deployment.
• Automate testing processes using appropriate tools and frameworks to ensure efficiency and repeatability.
• Identify, document, and track defects, and work with the development team to resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Conduct performance and load testing to ensure our platforms can handle user demands effectively.
• Provide feedback on usability and functionality, and work with the UX team to enhance the user experience based on testing outcomes.
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in software testing and quality assurance.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Test Engineer or in a similar role, preferably with a focus on mobile and web applications.
•  Strong knowledge of testing methodologies, tools, and processes.
•  Experience with Firebase and Flutter is highly desirable.
•  Proficiency in automation testing tools and frameworks.
•  Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
•  Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
•  Aptitude for learning new technologies and adapting to changing requirements.

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. 

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

We are seeking a creative and motivated UX Designer to collaborate closely with our UX  Design Lead and Digital team in building and enhancing the Roots app, website, as well as the instructor, student, and partner portals. This role is crucial in ensuring our platforms are user-friendly, accessible, and aligned with the needs of our user base. The ideal candidate will also bring user research capabilities to the team, ensuring that our design decisions are informed by real-world insights and user feedback.

Key tasks

• Support the UX Design Lead to create intuitive and user-centred designs for the Roots app and portals - Student and Instructor.

• Develop wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that align with user needs and project goals.

• Conduct user research/workshops to gather insights and identify user needs, pain points, and behaviours.

• Create user personas, journey maps, and other research artefacts to guide design decisions.

• Test and validate design concepts through user testing and feedback sessions.

• Work closely with the Digital team and our developers to ensure seamless implementation of designs.

• Ensure all design work meets brand guidelines and project objectives.

What we’re looking for

• Proficiency in Figma

• Previous experience with Android, Apple and web applications design

• Knowledge using illustrator and photoshop is a plus

• Knowledge of user-centred design principles and best practices.

• Ability to translate user research findings into actionable design solutions.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

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. 

Role Description

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of an important departments in our organisation, working with the team on fundraising efforts while gaining valuable experience within Emerge Worldwide. We are looking for an individual with the passion and drive for fundraising, to help the organisation reach our fundraising goals and enable us to achieve the crucial work we do in raising awareness and prevention against sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.

We make an impactful difference in the lives of children, young people, women and professionals as well as organisations and businesses. There has been a 10% increase in sexual exploitation and sex trafficking against children (NSPCC 2022), and 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry are female (Unseen).  We desire to provide free training so as many women and girls are trained, enabling increased protection against this horrific crime. 

As a volunteer fundraiser, you’ll be instrumental in the organisation securing the essential funds that allow Emerge Worldwide to reach more people, including supporting and empowering victims and survivors. Your efforts will directly contribute to us offering services to the most vulnerable people. 

What are we looking for?

We’re seeking volunteers with experience in fundraising, fundraising research to help drive our fundraising efforts and expand our support network, including sponsorship. Any experience in bid writing is desirable. We are also seeking volunteers who have event planning and project planning experience. 

This role will include:

● Researching funding and sponsorship opportunities.

● Exploring additional fundraising opportunities and strategies.

● Developing a simple donor journey and stewardship plan to engage supporters, providing ways to deepen their connection with our charity.

● Assisting in the planning and organisation of fundraising activities and events.

● Reaching out to businesses and companies for potential partnerships and donation opportunities.

● Supporting the promotion of our fundraising initiatives and activities.

● Assisting with online fundraising efforts.

● Contributing creative fundraising ideas to boost engagement and donations.

● Collaborating with our Social Media team to create engaging content and campaigns that promote our fundraising efforts, increase visibility, and inspire community support.

We are looking for volunteers who have:

● A track record in delivering successful fundraising.

● Experience of fundraising in the charity sector is desirable but not essential.

● Experience in planning successful events and activities.

● Good knowledge of the current fundraising landscape and interest in keeping up to date with fundraising trends.

● Reliable, organised with good timekeeping.

● Able to work independently and proactively as well as in a team.

● Clear and confident in communication.

● Excellent working knowledge and comprehension of written English.

What you will gain:

This role provides a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in fundraising, bid writing (where applicable), and event planning. You’ll develop valuable skills in building partnerships, communication, and project management—skills that are highly sought after across many sectors. In addition to gaining practical experience, you’ll be part of a passionate and supportive team, working closely with experienced professionals who are eager to help you grow, share their expertise, and celebrate your achievements.

By volunteering with us, you’ll experience the profound impact of helping your community receive awareness, prevention and interventions that will help safeguard and protect them against sexual exploitation and sex trafficking, as well as empowering and supporting victims and survivors. This is a perfect role for anyone looking to start or advance a career in the charity sector, communications, or event management, as well as for those who want to make a meaningful difference with their skills.

We are a welcoming team, dedicated to creating a positive and engaging volunteer experience where you’ll feel valued, inspired, and empowered to bring your ideas to life.

Please note that we will request references, and a DBS check will be required due to the nature of our work.