Volunteer volunteer roles in South east

Branch Coordinator 
Across the UK, our 65 local branches help disabled people live more independently. Our network of skilled volunteers respond to thousands of requests each year to design and make customised equipment free of charge.

As our local Branch Coordinator, you’ll take the lead in making sure your local branch works as effectively as possible. You’ll recruit, induct, and support other branch volunteers to make sure your branch’s activities meet the needs of your local disabled community.

You’ll bring your leadership, management, communication, organisation, and motivation skills to this role.
Most importantly, you’ll help disabled people to live more independent lives.

What the role involves
This role may vary depending on local needs but is likely to include:
• Coordinating the activities of our local branch to undertake and meet the needs of referrals in your area
• Coordinating and chairing the branch meetings
• Leading the branch’s shared responsibility for planning and completing referrals
• Coordinating the recruitment, induction, and ongoing support of new local branch volunteers
• Approving income and expenditure with the other branch bank account signatories and ensuring with the Treasurer that our financial requirements and policies relating to branches are followed
• Ensuring the branch’s activities comply with policies to keep people safe
• Regularly communicate and act as a key contact between staff and volunteers

What you need for this role 

Essential
• Confident in leading and chairing a meeting
• Confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email
• Willingness to attend local events to promote the charity’s work
• Ability to understand and follow external and internal policies and procedures

Desirable
• Self-aware of own management style and ability to lead a team, taking a supporting and coaching approach with other volunteers
• Able to communicate to different audiences, including decision-makers and volunteers
• Able to delegate and motivate the activities of others
• Enthusiastic about raising awareness of the charity’s work in the local area
• Willingness to develop skills and experience

To volunteer in this role, you will need to:
• Complete references 
• Complete induction including online and virtual training- as directed by central staff
• Undertake a PVG check if it is necessary for the role 

Additional information about our Volunteering programme:
When you volunteer with us, you join a community of committed people with a passion for helping to improve the lives of others. To undertake this specific role, you do not need to be an engineer/skilled craftsperson.

Make a Difference with Essex Respite & Care Association (ERCA)

Are you experienced in finance or accounting and looking for a rewarding way to give back to your local community?

At Essex Respite & Care Association (ERCA), we are seeking a Volunteer  to join our charity and help support the important work we do for adults living with dementia, mental health conditions, and other long-term health needs across Essex.

This voluntary role requires approximately 2–3 hours per week and offers the opportunity to use your financial skills to make a real difference.

The Role

• Maintain oversight of the charity's financial records.

• Help keep our accounts up to date and well organised.

• Prepare and review profit and loss reports and other financial information.

• Work alongside the Charity Manager and Board of Trustees to support good financial governance.

• Provide financial guidance where appropriate.

About You

• Experience in accounting, bookkeeping, finance, or a similar financial role.

• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Confident working with financial information.

• A commitment to supporting a local charity and its values.

A full handover will be provided by our outgoing Treasurer, ensuring you have the support needed to settle into the role.

This is a fantastic opportunity to use your skills to help a well-established local charity continue providing vital support to people across Essex.

If you would like to find out more, we'd love to hear from you.

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 and safety 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 we offer you:

As one of our volunteers, you’ll get:

• Full training with ongoing support and guidance from your team.
• A chance to meet new people.
• A great way to develop new skills and share your existing skills.
• The feeling you get knowing you’re making a difference to the lives of disabled people with complex needs.
• A reference to support future applications for paid or voluntary roles.
• Support from our Mental Health First Aiders, should you need it. 
• Reasonable volunteer expenses reimbursed in line with our volunteer expenses policy.

Our values:

Everything we do is underpinned by five core values. These values shape the way we work every day. Our values are:

• We're creating change
• We're always learning
• We're better together

Swimming sessions are available to families on weekly or fortnightly evenings, weekends or weekdays at Chestnut Tree House. The swimming sessions allow families to enjoy life and make memories together in a safe and specially adapted environment.

You will be supporting staff and families, helping to set up the equipment needed and making everyone feel at home. You will be trained to spot if there are problems and act accordingly alongside qualified staff.

Please note a car is required to access Chestnut Tree House due to it's location.

Please note this role is to start in September when additional training will be required.

Bespoke training is provided by the hospice so we ask for volunteers who would be willing to give a longer term (1 year +) commitment to the role.

Please note you must be over 18 to apply for this role.

Everything you create matters! Help us share stories that inspire hope, raise awareness and connect people with support.

About The Role
Our Campaigns and Storytelling Volunteers play a key role in how Doncaster Mind communicates its work with the Doncaster community, shares impact and connects people with support.

Through campaigns, digital content and storytelling, you will help us raise awareness of mental health, promote early support, and highlight the services available through Doncaster Mind, including prevention work, community services and our Rise Therapy service.

This flexible volunteer role can be carried out remotely from home, with a minimum commitment of just two hours per week, making it easy to fit around work, study or other commitments.

The role is suitable for people living in Doncaster who want to apply existing communications skills in a meaningful setting, as well as those looking to build experience and develop a portfolio in campaigns, content and storytelling.

What You’ll Do
You’ll support a range of communications and campaign activities, which may include:

• Creating social media posts and digital content
• Supporting awareness campaigns and key messages
• Writing or adapting copy for different audiences
• Helping share stories, case studies and impact updates
• Supporting website or newsletter content updates
• Contributing ideas for campaigns and engagement activity
• Helping promote events, services and community activity

Choose What You Love
You can focus on one area or work across several depending on your skills and interests:

• Prevention & early intervention - supporting campaigns that encourage people to seek help earlier, challenge stigma and promote mental wellbeing.
• Rise Therapy Service - helping promote Doncaster Mind’s professional therapy and workforce wellbeing services, increasing awareness and understanding of support available.
• Community impact & supporter engagement - sharing stories, celebrating impact and helping inspire people, partners and communities to engage with Doncaster Mind.

What You’ll Contribute and Develop
This role offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful mental health work while developing or applying communications and storytelling skills.

Depending on your experience, you may develop skills in:

• Campaigns and content creation
• Social media and digital communication
• Copywriting and storytelling
• Community engagement and awareness raising
• Working within a values-led, ethical communications environment

You’ll also:

• Work alongside staff across communications, services and fundraising
• Build a portfolio of real-world content and campaign work
• Gain experience relevant to careers in communications, marketing or the charity sector
• Apply professional skills in a purpose-driven organisation

Support and training
We’ll ensure you feel welcomed, supported and confident in your role. You’ll receive:

• A structured induction to Doncaster Mind and the role
• Ongoing support from the development team
• Regular check-ins and feedback
• Guidance on safeguarding, confidentiality and ethical storytelling
• Access to relevant training and tools

We will never expect volunteers to manage sensitive situations alone or work outside agreed boundaries.

Who This Role Is For?
We welcome applications from:

• People living in Doncaster
• Experienced communications or marketing professionals looking to give back
• Students or early career individuals building experience and portfolios
• Anyone passionate about mental health, storytelling and community impact

You don’t need previous experience in a mental health setting, but an interest in communications and a willingness to learn are essential.We're particularly looking for people who:

• Communicate clearly and respectfully
• Are creative and audience-focused
• Work well independently and as part of a team
• Value inclusion, dignity and non-judgemental communication
• Are motivated by improving access to mental health support

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

 Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

 Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

 Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

 Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

Make a Difference. Save Lives. Build Your Future.
The Global Health Reform Initiative Foundation (GHRI) is looking for passionate and dedicated volunteers to join our mission of making quality healthcare accessible to underserved communities across Nigeria.
Whether you're a student, graduate, working professional, or simply someone who wants to create positive change, there's a place for you at GHRI.
Who Can Apply?
We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds, including but not limited to:
Healthcare professionals and students
Content writers and social media enthusiasts
Graphic designers and photographers
Community mobilizers
Event coordinators
Researchers
Administrative support volunteers
Anyone passionate about humanitarian service

We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic people to help us in our brand-new Visitor Centre at Crystal Palace Park!  

The Visitor Centre is a welcoming hub where visitors can discover the history and heritage of Crystal Palace Park through a permanent exhibition, browse our gift shop and find information to help them make the most of their visit to Crystal Palace Park. The building also includes a flexible space available to hire for community events, meetings, and activities.

Volunteers will play a vital role in ensuring that visitors have an informative and positive visit. You’ll volunteer in pairs, supported by paid staff, to welcome visitors and support our Visitor Centre shop and membership opportunities.

This role will suit you if you are a friendly, outgoing individual who is keen to gain retail and customer service experience while learning more about working for a charity.

What’s involved: 

• Welcoming visitors to Crystal Palace Park and helping to ensure that we provide an inclusive and friendly environment for all our visitors. 

• Supporting the Visitor Centre shop, including serving customers, processing sales through our cashless till system and helping to ensure the stock is monitored and the space is welcoming and tidy. 

• Wayfinding – helping visitors map out their route around the park, including information about park services; toilets, cafes and seating areas 

• Promoting Crystal Palace Park, including our aiding visitors to join as Crystal Palace Park Members using our membership tablets. 

Time involved: 

This role is available Wednesday – Sunday throughout the year. Hours involved will be across two shift patterns, AM: 9.45 – 1.00pm and PM: 12.45 – 4.00pm. 

There will also be ad-hoc evening openings throughout the year which volunteers can also be involved in.

We encourage volunteers to take part in this role for at least 3 months to get the most out of the opportunity.

This role will suit you if: 

• You are a friendly and welcoming person, and you enjoy talking and meeting a wide variety of people 

• You’re happy to volunteer as part of a team 

• You’re interested in learning more about our history and communicating information to our visitors 

• You’d like to gain retail experience and customer service skills

• You’re interested in learning more about working for a charity and gaining understanding of the importance of membership and donations.

Support and training: 

We will provide you with all the training necessary for your role, including: 

• An induction and full briefing before your first session 

• Training in how to assist in the shop and membership engagement 

• Support from Trust and Freelance staff.

• Volunteers are covered under Crystal Palace Park’s public liability insurance 

We will offer you:

• A volunteer uniform (lanyard or pin badge) 

• Reimbursement of travel expenses up to maximum of a zone 1-6 travelcard 

• Support from a dedicated volunteer officer 

• Access to facilities, water and light refreshments 
• Ongoing support and supervision from Trust staff 

Access information: 

This role takes place inside the Visitor Centre in Crystal Palace Park which is step free. We want to make our volunteer roles accessible and if you have access requirements or would like to discuss whether this role is suitable for you, please get in touch. 

About PEP
PEP Enterprise CIC is a Lancashire-based organisation focused on GEM leadership and representation, creating opportunities for voices and communities that are too often missing from the spaces where decisions are made.
We bring people and organisations together, creating powerful partnerships and collaborations that deliver meaningful change for the communities we work alongside. Our work spans leadership, education, employment and wellbeing, but our ambition goes further than delivering projects. We want to influence systems, challenge barriers and create lasting change in representation, opportunity and who gets to lead.
Be Brave. Be Authentic. Be That Change.

About Padel Power
Padel Power – More Than a Game.
Padel Power is PEP Enterprise’s women-focused physical activity and wellbeing initiative, using the rapidly growing sport of padel to bring women together, get them active and create a strong sense of community.
We recognise that women can face very different barriers to becoming active – from confidence, isolation and mental wellbeing to cultural, financial and social barriers. Padel Power creates an accessible and welcoming way for women to get moving, meet others and build confidence. Through beginner programmes, regular games, coaching, events and tournaments, we create pathways for women to start playing, progress and become part of a growing padel community. The padel gets women through the door. The connection, confidence and community are what make it more than a game.

The Role
We're looking for creative volunteers to help us tell our story online. You'll get real responsibility, space to try ideas and the chance to create work for both PEP and the growing Padel Power brand.
 

What You'll Do

• Create posts, graphics, reels and stories for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.
• Help plan and schedule content.
• Turn our projects, people and events into clear, engaging stories.
• Bring fresh ideas to help grow our online communities.

Who We're Looking For
You might be a student, an aspiring marketer, an experienced creative wanting to give something back, or simply someone with a good eye and a willingness to learn.

What You'll Gain

• Hands-on experience and work for your portfolio.
• Creative ownership rather than just observing.
• A supportive team and a reference upon request.

Commitment & Apply
A few flexible hours each week. This is a volunteer role. To apply, send us your CV or a short introduction and, if you have one, a link to examples of your work.

Are you a positive and motivated team player with a high level of attention to detail and a confident reading ability? Are you looking for a highly rewarding and heartwarming volunteer opportunity?

Look no further, the Sponsorship Communications Volunteer role may be perfect for you! Plan International UK is looking for organised and focus-driven individuals to join our Sponsorship Communications Team.

Plan International UK is a global children’s charity striving for an equal world. One where every child can reach their full potential and every girl can choose her own future. We bring people together to protect children’s rights and keep girls safe, in school and in control of their bodies – even when disaster strikes. And we won’t stop until we are all equal. 

Volunteers are a vital part of our Sponsorship Communications Team. As a team, we pride ourselves on delivering the best possible experience for sponsors and children who exchange communications with each other every year. As a volunteer, you will read, log and send these communications between sponsors and sponsored children, making sure they’re in line with our child safeguarding requirements.

We ask our volunteers to dedicate a minimum of 24 days of volunteering across 3-6 months. The role is office-based, and a laptop is provided. Our usual volunteering hours are Monday to Friday 10am-4pm (including an hour lunch). Whilst this role is unpaid, we pay out of pocket expenses of up to £7.00 for lunch and up to £23.60 for travel per day when you are volunteering with us in the office.

Whether you are looking to gain experience in the charity sector, contribute your time to benefitting children across the world, or join a team of incredible volunteers, we would love to hear from you.

For more information, please download the task description.

Please note, this role is not eligible for sponsorship and therefore we are unable to provide sponsorship for this role.

The deadline for applications is 9.30am on Wednesday 2 September 2026.

Interviews are scheduled to take place in our office on Wednesday 9 September 2026.

We are committed to the safeguarding and protection of children, young people and adults in our work.  We, therefore, apply rigorous volunteer recruitment and selection processes to ensure that only those who are suitable are recruited to volunteer with us.  Accordingly, appointment to all our volunteer opportunities is subject to a range of vetting checks and for this role this will include a Basic Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us; this will depend on the circumstances of any offences.

Please note: If successful following the interview, and subject to the above background checks, the earliest potential start date for this role will be from w/c 19 October 2026.

Plan International UK is committed to being an inclusive employer and we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

Global Health Access Trust is looking for a Governance & Charity Administration Volunteer to help strengthen the records, policies and administrative foundations of an international charitable organisation working towards registration.

This opportunity would suit someone with governance, legal, charity administration or senior administrative experience who enjoys bringing order, accuracy and follow-through to important organisational work.

Global Health Access Trust (GHAT) develops, funds and coordinates defined projects that advance health, relieve illness and preserve life for the public benefit. Good governance, safeguarding, accountability and responsible stewardship sit at the centre of how that work is developed and delivered.

What you could contribute

• Help maintain governance policies, registers and organisational records
• Support preparation and organisation of governance documentation
• Help maintain accurate meeting records and action points
• Track agreed actions and follow-up
• Support orderly document management and version control
• Help ensure governance information is complete, current and easy to retrieve
• Work with the Trust team to strengthen practical administrative processes

Who this could suit

This opportunity may suit people with experience in governance, charity administration, legal administration, company secretarial work, compliance or senior administrative roles.

We particularly welcome methodical, discreet people who are comfortable handling confidential information, maintaining accurate records and working within agreed processes.

Strong written communication, attention to detail and dependable follow-through are important.

The opportunity can usually be undertaken remotely from any country and the commitment is ongoing and flexible.

The role is voluntary and unpaid. There is no salary, fee, employment benefit or entitlement to expenses.

How to apply

Applications are handled through the Global Health Access Trust website. When you click to apply, you will be taken to GHAT’s Governance, Safety & Assurance section. There you can review this opportunity in context, explore the other current opportunities within this area and select the opportunity that best matches your experience before submitting the GHAT application form.