Volunteer volunteer roles in South east

ENGINEERS/MAKERS

Across the UK, our 60+ local branches help disabled people live the lives they choose. Our network of skilled volunteers respond to thousands of requests each year to design and make customised equipment free of charge.

Our Engineer/Maker volunteers are at the very heart of what our local branches do. They use their practical skills and creativity to help people with disabilities live fuller and more independent lives.

What the role involves

This is a varied role where local need shapes what you’ll be working on, but it often includes:

• Designing and making pieces of equipment for individuals with specific needs

• Using your practical skills working with metal, wood, plastic, or electronics (or a combination of them)

• Attending a monthly meeting of the local branch.

We can support you to develop the skills you need for this role, and there’s an induction that covers all the areas above. You’ll also have chance to discuss your role and any additional needs with us.

What you’ll need for this role

Essential

• Practical experience in working with one of the above materials

• Comfortable working with people, listening to them and understanding their needs

• Able to apply our risk management system

• Able to apply disability, equality, and inclusion practices

• Able to keep people’s personal details safe

• Willing to follow REMAP policies and procedures and a commitment to our values

Desirable

• Access to your own tools and workshop (or can access these)

• Able to drive or have good transport links

You’ll also need to complete the induction checklist, as well as a DBS check and reference check.

Where will I volunteer?

This role is largely home based, but will generally also involve visiting clients out in the community. Your local branches hold in-person meetings once a month or so.

Time commitment

This varies quite a lot depending on which cases come in, how complex they are and whether they fit your skills and experience, but it’s essentially a flexible role and there are no set hours.

Why volunteer

When you volunteer with us, you join a community of committed people with a passion for helping to improve the lives of others. We’re a volunteer led organisation and we couldn’t do what we do without your hard work, skills and commitment.

N.B. We’ll reimburse any out-of-pocket expenses during your time with us.

Do you enjoy organising, sorting, and bringing order to busy spaces? Our Goods Sorting Volunteer role is a vital way to make a real difference behind the scenes and to the people we serve. 

At Wycombe Homeless Connection, we are fortunate to receive generous donations of food, clothing, and essential items from individuals and groups in our community. These items are part of our emergency response for people experiencing a housing crisis, including those who are homeless. They are given out to help people get through immediate, difficult situations and meet basic needs with dignity.

Keeping everything sorted, stocked, and easy to access means we can respond quickly when someone needs urgent support and that’s where you come in.

Our goods sorting team meets regularly to process donations, organise storage areas, and make sure our emergency supplies are ready to go when they are needed most.

What you’ll be doing

• Sorting donations by type, size, and best-before dates. 
• Emptying, labelling, and refilling storage boxes. 
• Organising cupboards and storage areas so emergency items are easy to find. 
• Helping keep spaces tidy, clear, and well organised. 
• Occasionally transporting surplus items to charity shops or other locations.

What the role is like

This is a practical, hands-on role where small tasks make a real difference to people in urgent need. A well-organised shelf or clearly labelled box can mean someone in a housing crisis gets essential support quickly.

You’ll be working alongside a friendly team of volunteers, sharing tasks, chatting as you go, and helping keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

Who this role suits

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Enjoys organising, sorting, and tidying. 
• Likes working as part of a team. 
• Is organised and able to work efficiently. 
• Is comfortable with light physical activity, including moving boxes and goods.

What we offer

You’ll receive full induction and role-specific training so you feel confident and supported from day one. Wycombe Homeless Connection is an award-winning charity with a small, experienced team working closely with dedicated volunteers who make this work possible.

Without volunteers, we simply couldn’t do what we do.

When you’ll volunteer

10:00am – 12:30pm, one Wednesday per month

Flexible, occasional commitment based on your availability

Interested?

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

Do you enjoy driving?  Would you like to make a difference to the people we support in your community?  

We are looking for friendly drivers to join us!  

You will meet some amazing people, whilst making a positive impact to their lives by driving to places they enjoy and appointments that are important.   
 

 Activities will include:  

• Driving the people we support between their homes and services in a safe manner, in accordance with UK law.  

• Driving your own car or house vehicles

• Driving around the Marlborough area, which will be the start and end point of the majority of journeys  

• Assisting people we support in and out of vehicles and locations – with assistance from trained Dimensions staff.  

• Driving in a manner that is sensitive of physical and emotional requirements of the people we support.  

 
We are looking for drivers who:  

• Are aged 21 or over, with at least 2 years driving experience  

• Hold a full, clean and current UK Driving License (or equivalent)  

• Have the ability to understand verbal and written instructions in relation to  journeys  

• Are friendly with the people we support and our support staff  

• Are willing to commit to volunteer regularly (every other weekend, times to be agreed)  

A DBS check and two character references will be required for this role.   

What you’ll gain from being a Dimensions volunteer:  

Dimensions provide support for autistic people and people with learning disabilities across the UK.     

Our volunteers play a vital role in our work and in return, we support them with:     

• Access to free online training (with access to 800 plus courses)  

• Free membership to an online shopping discount scheme  

• Comprehensive support from professional, friendly and trained Dimensions staff  

• Travel expenses may be reimbursed as agreed

• An opportunity to gain real experience in the social care sector  

 
Want to apply for this role?  
 
If you’d like to be a Dimensions volunteer, please get in touch!   

​

Do you enjoy meeting new people?   Would you like to share your time on evenings and weekend? 
 
We are looking for a friendly female volunteer who would like to socialise and build a friendship with a lady we support in Crawley! 

“Hi! I live in Crawley, and I am supported by Dimensions. I love music and I play the keyboard in a band! I would love a buddy to spend time with, share my love of music with and to join me at evening social clubs” 

If you would like to make a difference and make a great friend along the way, we would love to hear from you!  

Activities will include: 

• Sharing your time and enjoying trips out in the evenings and weekends.The lady we support has a bus pass and can travel around the area and beyond. 

• Enjoying music and evening social clubs

• Providing company, friendship and fun 

 
We are looking for volunteers who are: 

• Friendly, chatty and a good listener 

• Happy to be out and about 

• Comfortable chatting with people with learning disabilities and autism. 

• Reliable/dependable and willing to commit to volunteer regularly (exact times/days can be discussed) 

A DBS check and two-character references will be required for this role.

What you’ll gain from being a Dimensions volunteer: 
 
Dimensions provide support for autistic people and people with learning disabilities across the UK.   
 
Our volunteers play a vital role in our work and in return, we support them with: 

• Access to free online training (with access to 800 plus courses) 

• Free membership to an online shopping discount scheme 

• Comprehensive support from professional, friendly and trained Dimensions staff 

• Reasonable expenses may be reimbursed at manager’s discretion

• An opportunity to gain real experience in the social care sector 

Want to apply for this role? 

 If you’d like to be a Dimensions volunteer, please get in touch!​

Do you have good local knowledge and enjoy a Forest drive? 

We are looking for friendly drivers to join us and drive the people we support around the areas of New Milton, Lymington and New Forest.  

You will meet some amazing people, whilst making a positive impact to their lives by driving to places they enjoy.   

 Activities will include:  

• Driving around the areas of New Milton, Lymington and New Forest. The people we support love a drive in the forest! 

• Driving the people we support in a safe manner, in accordance with UK law.  

• Driving your own car or house vehicles

• Assisting people we support in and out of vehicles and locations – with assistance from trained Dimensions staff.  

• Driving in a manner that is sensitive of physical and emotional requirements of the people we support.  

 
We are looking for drivers who:  

• Are aged 21 or over, with at least 2 years driving experience  

• Have good local knowledge

• Hold a full, clean and current UK Driving License (or equivalent)  

• Have the ability to understand verbal and written instructions in relation to  journeys  

• Are friendly with the people we support and our support staff  

• Are willing to commit to volunteer regularly (every other weekend, times to be agreed)  

  A DBS check and two character references will be required for this role.   
 
What you’ll gain from being a Dimensions volunteer:  

Dimensions provide support for autistic people and people with learning disabilities across the UK.     

Our volunteers play a vital role in our work and in return, we support them with:     

• Access to free online training (with access to 800 plus courses)  

• Free membership to an online shopping discount scheme  

• Comprehensive support from professional, friendly and trained Dimensions staff  

• Travel expenses may be reimbursed as agreed

• An opportunity to gain real experience in the social care sector  

Want to apply for this role?  

If you’d like to be a Dimensions volunteer, please get in touch!  

National Helpline Volunteer Role

Join our team of dedicated helpline volunteers and help change the lives of bereaved people. 

Volunteers have always been, and remain at the very heart of Cruse, supporting thousands of bereaved people every year and playing an incredible role enriching so many aspects of our organisation.  The National Helpline is a key service within Cruse, enabling us to support bereaved people with compassion and empathy. 

As a Helpline Bereavement Volunteer, you will join a thriving volunteer community to provide emotional support, information, internal and external signposting over the phone to bereaved people. You provide this through a person-centred, empathetic and non-judgemental approach to supporting all our callers, in accordance with Cruse Bereavement Supports policies and procedures. This role is home-based only, so you must have a quiet and private space to work in, access to a computer (Tablets or iPad’s will not be suitable) and a stable Wi-Fi connection. 

You must be open to communicating with a diverse range of clients over the phone and understand that some of the content of the calls may be distressing to hear. Although it may be difficult at times, the reward of being able to support someone is one of our volunteers’ main motivations for doing this role. 

Want to find out more? 

We will be holding an open day on the 26th August where you can join our Zoom session to find out more about the role, the training involved, meet with other volunteers and hear from members of the helpline team. 

Please note that should you wish to become a Helpline Volunteer after attending the open day, you will need to apply directly through our website and you will find the upcoming course dates on the website - Volunteer for the helpline | Cruse Bereavement Support

https://buytickets.at/crusenationalservices/2315607 - 6pm Link 

Martlets, Chestnut Tree House and St Barnabas House have collection tins hosted by a wide variety of businesses across Worthing, Sussex, Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas. Our tins continue to play an important role in raising money and awareness for the hospices so that we can continue to provide specialist care.

These tins need to be collected, replaced, and returned to our fundraising offices or shops on a regular basis. With collections expected to be completed on a 6-8 week cycle.

We are looking for friendly, reliable people to help us with this important fundraising and community liaison role.

You will be the face of the Fundraising team in your locality, representing the hospices when collecting. This is a chance to involve yourself with the community by building a relationship with our collection tin hosts and keeping them up to date with any news from us.

This is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking for a flexible volunteering role to fit around other commitments. We can discuss potential rounds based on where you live and an appropriate distance to travel.

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

Martlets, Chestnut Tree House and St Barnabas House have collection tins hosted by a wide variety of businesses across Worthing, Sussex, Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas. Our tins continue to play an important role in raising money and awareness for the hospices so that we can continue to provide specialist care.

These tins need to be collected, replaced, and returned to our fundraising offices or shops on a regular basis. With collections expected to be completed on a 6-8 week cycle.

We are looking for friendly, reliable people to help us with this important fundraising and community liaison role.

You will be the face of the Fundraising team in your locality, representing the hospices when collecting. This is a chance to involve yourself with the community by building a relationship with our collection tin hosts and keeping them up to date with any news from us.

This is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking for a flexible volunteering role to fit around other commitments. We can discuss potential rounds based on where you live and an appropriate distance to travel.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

St. Barnabas House and Chestnut Tree House provide specialist palliative care within the hospices and in the comfort of patients' homes, treating adults and children with advanced progressive life-limiting illnesses.

To ensure our shops are packed with new and exciting stock and look appealing, we rely on a team of volunteers working behind the scenes to make this happen at our Retail Distribution Centre in Worthing. It's a hive of activity, with donations sorted from bags of clothes, and boxes of Bric-a-brac, to large furniture items.
This is an excellent role if you like being part of a team and enjoy keeping active. There's always lots to do, and it's fascinating when our volunteers spot something rare and valuable.

You can volunteer for one or more shifts a week for a morning, afternoon, or all day, but we're delighted to consider any time that suits you, even if it's just a couple of hours.

Apart from a willingness to help, no special skills are needed because we'll show you what to do and provide all the training you'll need.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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