Sustainability volunteer roles

Are you passionate about building a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient economy? Are you looking for a meaningful way to use your finance expertise?

ECU is a small, dynamic non-profit working to transform the economy so that everyone has the freedom and security to live a good life. 

We are now recruiting for ECU’s first Treasurer, who will lead at board level on monitoring ECU’s financial performance and sustainability, ensuring that we have robust financial policies and processes in place, and supporting other board members to fulfil their collective responsibilities around finance. 

This is an exciting time to join ECU. We have an ambitious vision for change, a strong analysis of the opportunities and barriers to progress, and a clear view of our role in building a better economy. Our board is committed, collaborative and inclusive, with a strong understanding of its role and remit, and a culture of open dialogue. Our work is challenging, fascinating, and fulfilling – and, with rising levels of inequality, an unfolding climate emergency, overstretched public services and a growing concentration of corporate power, it couldn’t be more important.

What is the Meet and Greet team?
 

If you love chatting with people and you’re looking for a relaxed role then this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

We’re looking for Meet & Greet volunteers to be on site during opening times to help visitors feel welcome, answer their questions, show them around if they wish and offer more information. The site can get busy but it isn’t always – during quiet times it’s a good opportunity to catch up on a book or potter in the community garden! Our lovely new, heated Welcome Cabin includes a sofa, computer, a tea/coffee station (and biscuits of course) and other amenities to ensure your comfort.

What can you expect from this role?

As a Meet and Greet volunteer you will:

• Be supported to use your people skills to ensure everyone feels welcome, helping to build a more caring community.
• Build your communication and customer service skills.
• Learn about the day to day workings of a varied community project.
• Signpost visitors around the physical site and also onto suitable local events and activities.
• Help visitors get involved – everything from signing up new volunteers to taking room booking enquiries or accepting donations.
• Help with some simple ‘pottering’ jobs that keep the site safe and beautiful – such as watering or litter picking.
• Be part of a friendly, welcoming team.
• Get a snazzy Railway Gardens T-shirt!

Are there opportunities to learn more, or take on more responsibility?

Absolutely! If you are able and interested, then there will be optional opportunities to broaden your responsibilities into the following (all training provided): 

• Giving hire tours & inductions, helping to bring in income for the project
• Help with computer based admin such as social media, research, designing posters, or answering emails.
• Take part in a range of training in transferable skills, from Health and Safety and Fire Marshall training to safeguarding, dementia awareness, and more.

Once you have completed an agreed number of sessions with us, and completed your induction and any training required, we’ll also be happy to provide a reference to help with job applications. 

What skills do you need for this role?

We’re looking for people who:

• Enjoy chatting to people and feel able to offer a friendly welcome
• Have a conversational level of English – you do not need perfect language skills!
• Would enjoy helping visitors find the information that they need.
• Are happy working with other volunteers in pairs or threes.
• Can commit to a two hour slot, ideally weekly but at least once per month. 

Optional skills. We also welcome you getting in touch if…

• You speak an additional language
• You feel comfortable carrying out simple computer based admin tasks
• You have experience with buddying, befriending, or supporting others to thrive in their role.

You do not need a DBS/ Criminal Record check for this role.

As a Fundraising Trustee, you'll play a key role in shaping and supporting Let's Play Project's fundraising vision and strategy. Working with the charity manager and fellow trustees you'll help us build sustainable income streams to support our mission.

f you have experience in fundraising, marketing, running a business or non-profit organisation, strategic thinking and understanding of income growth and sustainability as well willingness to use your skills, time and networks to make an impact for our pretty incredible team and service, you will be able to add plenty of value.

We play to each other strength and everyone has a lot of transferable skills that are incredibly useful in this setting. Come and meet us, let us share our vision and aspirations - and we guarantee there will be plenty of fun and challenges but equally you will feel how your input makes a difference in the lives of our young people and their families.

Main duties and responsibilities 

• Provide Strategic input on fundraising plans and campaigns
• Support and advise on income generation, donor engagements, and partnerships
• Champion a fundraising culture across the charity
• Use your networks to open doors to new supporters and opportunities
• Ensure the charity complies with fundraising regulations and best practice
• Guide and support staff and volunteers
• Assist in recruitment (when required)

As a member of the Board of Trustees 

Participate in quarterly meetings and annual strategy day, to help set Let’s Play’s strategic direction, goals, and targets, particularly in relation reaching a very challenging fundraising target to ensure the sustainability of our organisation.

Help us to grow brand-new online charity platform A Good Thing! Come on board to help us manage relationships with the businesses that have joined us: use your communications skills to drive more businesses to engage with the platform and to make donations of things they no longer need.

A Good Thing is a not-for-profit set up with one mission: to send less to landfill, and more to a good cause. We're rolling out fast across the UK, momentum is building, and we're growing a network of passionate local volunteer champions right across the country to drive our growth.

You’ll be using both your communications skills and your project management expertise to help us grow the number of businesses engaging with the platform and giving things away.

Come with us on our journey towards reducing waste and boosting wonderful local charities at the same time.

Volunteering with us is an excellent opportunity to gain new skills and work experience, explore this beautiful area of mid Wales and the Snowdonia National Park, and meet a range of interesting and friendly new people all working together on solutions to the climate and biodiversity emergency.

In this exciting residential placement, you will learn gardening practices that focus on regeneration and biodiversity through the seasons.

Volunteering with the CAT gardens team helps to provide beautiful, healthy, diverse and peaceful outdoor spaces for visitors, educational groups and CAT staff to learn from and enjoy.

Full food and board provided.

Applications for the Summer 2026 placement open.

The deadline for applications is 17 January 2026.

The trial week for this placement will be Monday 16 – 20 February 2026

The summer 2026 placement will be 30 March – 25 September 2026

For more information and to apply for this fantastic opportunity visit our website 

Trustee – Compliance & Policy Lead | Grantham Foodbank (Trussell Trust network)

Grantham Foodbank is seeking a Trustee – Compliance & Policy Lead to join our board. As a trustee, you’ll share responsibility for governance, strategic direction, and financial sustainability, with a focus on oversight, development, and implementation of policies including Safeguarding, GDPR, Health & Safety, and Equality.

You will support the Board in maintaining robust governance and risk management, helping the Foodbank deliver its mission effectively in the local community.

Time commitment: ~6–8 hours/month
Location: Grantham (board meetings in-person; some work from home)
Term: 3-year term, renewable

About you: Experience or understanding of governance, compliance, safeguarding, or policy development. Strong organisational skills and attention to detail. Commitment to the values of Grantham Foodbank and The Trussell Trust.

Training & support: Full induction including Safeguarding, GDPR, and governance training; ongoing support through The Trussell Trust.

Apply via CharityJob
Closing date: 15 Jan 2025

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Chair – Filling Good (Sustainable Retail Community Benefit Society)

Location: Remote/Hybrid – Maidenhead, Berkshire
Commitment: Voluntary (Approx. 4 hrs/week)
Application Deadline:  18/01/2026 - We will interview candidates as we receive applications of interest
Start Date:  ASAP

About Filling Good

Filling Good is a community-led sustainable retail community benefit society on a mission to reduce waste, promote ethical consumption, and support local, eco-conscious producers. Based in Maidenhead, we are passionate about empowering our members and customers to live more sustainably. As a co-operative, we are owned and governed by our members and guided by values of fairness, transparency, and social impact.

The Role

We are seeking a new Chair of the Board to provide strategic leadership, ensure good governance, and support the long-term sustainability and growth of Filling Good. This is a rewarding opportunity to lead a purpose-driven organisation making real environmental and social change at the local level.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Guide the Board in setting and reviewing strategic goals.

• Lead an annual strategy workshop (e.g. SWOT analysis, SMART goal setting).

• Ensure consistent progress tracking against the co-operative’s strategic plan.

Governance Oversight

• Chair Board meetings with clear agendas and effective timekeeping.

• Ensure compliance with legal, food safety, and risk management requirements.

• Support transparent communication with members and foster a shared understanding of priorities.

 Operational Support

• Act as a point of contact and line management for senior staff (e.g.Senior Retail Manager).

• Hold annual informal reviews with key volunteers to set goals and offer support.

• Monitor key performance indicators, financial updates, and operational risks.

Board & Team Development

• Facilitate reviews for individual directors and the Board as a whole.

• Support the ongoing learning and development of Board members.

• Represent Filling Good at events and within the wider co-operative and sustainability sectors.

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Brings leadership experience and a collaborative, facilitative approach

• Understands or is keen to learn about co-operative governance

• Is passionate about sustainability, social impact, and ethical retail

• Can commit time and energy to support a growing, purpose-led organisation

• Is diplomatic, organised, and a great communicator

Experience in strategy, governance, HR, or ethical business is desirable but not essential.

What You’ll Gain

• Be part of a vibrant, values-driven community

• Lead meaningful change in local sustainability

• Gain board-level experience in an innovative co-operative model

• Collaborate with a passionate, diverse team of volunteers and members

How to Apply

To express interest, please send a short cover letter and CV (or a brief description of your relevant experience) by 31st July 2025

Informal chats about the role are welcome – just get in touch!

Filling Good is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities.

Filling Good is a community-led sustainable retail community benefit society on a mission to reduce waste, promote ethical consumption, and support local, eco-conscious producers. Based in Maidenhead, we are passionate about empowering our members and customers to live more sustainably. As a co-operative, we are owned and governed by our members and guided by values of fairness, transparency, and social impact.

We are looking for volunteer retail assistants to help run the shop. The shifts are from 9.45 am until 1.45 pm or 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm and we are open Tuesday to Saturday 10 - 5 (and on Sundays but shorter hours).  You will be serving customers, refilling food dispensers, receiving and processing deliveries, liaising with other volunteers and helping make Maidenhead residents follow a more sustainable lifestyle.

Volunteering in the shop will entitle you to a discount on your shopping and you will meet lots of other environmentally friendly, lovely people.

Feel free to pop in for an informal chat or if you have any other questions

We are looking for a passionate and conscientious individual to join our board of trustees as the trustee dedicated to strengthening and diversifying our financial sustainability for the future. As a valued member of the Board, the role will join the team of trustees to ensure that Equality in Tourism International fulfils its duty to its beneficiaries and delivers on our vision, mission and values.

This new trustee role will assist in strengthening our financial sustainability in the forthcoming growth period.This role will combine donor development and business development expertise. The Trustee will work alongside our Operations Manager to:

• Leverage personal and professional contacts to open doors for new opportunities.
• Cultivate and manage existing and potential donor relationships, including trusts, foundations, companies, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional/EU funders.
• Identify and explore new, sustainable income streams such as consultancy opportunities, training, corporate partnerships, etc.
• Develop a strategy to grow and diversify income.This will provide financial insight to support EiT’s strategic and budget planning.This will include identifying budgeting for restricted and unrestricted funding.
• Attend relevant networking events and represent EiT at conferences, webinars, trade shows etc with the aim of cultivating financial opportunities.
• Work closely with the Co-Directors and Trustees to align fundraising and business development with EiT’s strategic goals.

Person Specification

Essential

· Relevant Business experience and Donor Development

· Commitment to Equality in Tourism’s mission and values

• Proven track record in fundraising and donor development, with success across income streams, for instance:Trusts/foundations, Corporates, HNWIs, institutional/EU funding.
• Excellent relationship-building and networking abilities, ideally with existing donor or business contacts.
• Business development skills, with experience linking fundraising to long-term financial sustainability.
• Ability to think strategically and translate ideas into action.
• Strong written communication skills.

Desirable

· Trustee experience in a previous role

· Experience in gender equality, women’s rights, international development, or sustainable tourism.

• Financial literacy, including experience with budgets, restricted/unrestricted funding, and financial planning.
• Experience of innovative or entrepreneurial approaches to income generation.

Volunteering with us is an excellent opportunity to gain new skills and work experience, explore this beautiful area of mid Wales and the Snowdonia National Park, and meet a range of interesting and friendly new people all working together on solutions to the climate and biodiversity emergency.

In this exciting residential placement, you will learn sustainable woodland management practices through hands-on practical tasks, help support our off-grid water and sanitation systems and make improvements around site using our natural resources. You will learn how to apply a variety of woodland management techniques and woodworking skills to support biodiversity across CAT’s managed woodland spaces.

Volunteering with the CAT Water and Woodland team helps to provide beautiful, healthy, diverse and peaceful outdoor spaces for visitors, educational groups and CAT staff to learn from and enjoy.

Full food and board provided.

Applications for the Summer 2026 placement open.

The deadline for applications is 17 January 2026.

The trial week for this placement will be Monday 16 – 20 February 2026

The summer 2026 placement will be 30 March – 25 September 2026

For more information and to apply for this fantastic opportunity on our website.

Justice4 is a registered charity and umbrella organisation dedicated to tackling systemic injustices through advocacy, education, and radical storytelling. Justice 4 Windrush, our inaugural campaign, is committed to exposing the ongoing Home Office scandal that continues to impact the Windrush generation and other Commonwealth communities, while driving systemic change to combat the hostile and racist attitudes towards immigration embedded in Britain’s history and perpetuated through its policies and practices today. 

​​​​​​Through powerful storytelling and multi-faceted campaigns, we aim to inspire action and keep these injustices in the public consciousness. From film, television, music, and live events (theatre, concerts, debates) to exhibitions, podcasts, and digital campaigns, we are building a movement to educate the nation and demand justice. 

About the Trustee Treasurer role

As Trustee Treasurer, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing the organisation’s financial health, ensuring robust governance, and helping guide strategic decisions that enable Justice4 to deliver impact and sustainability. This is an exciting opportunity to bring your financial expertise, passion for social justice, and commitment to ethical stewardship to a dynamic and mission-driven organisation.

​​​​​​​We are looking for someone who can collaborate with our board, support innovative financial planning, and help us continue building a sustainable platform for justice. Your skills and experience will directly contribute to advancing systemic change and supporting the communities we serve.

We are looking to appoint a trustee with experience in Finance to oversee our finance functions, providing advice, scrutiny and support to the charity and to be the Chair of our Governance, Audit & Risk Committee (GAR) 

1851 TRUST – SPORT INSPIRED LEARNING  

We use the power of sport to inspire and empower the next generation. At the 1851 Trust, we believe every young person, has the potential to shape the future. Founded by Sir Ben Ainslie, our mission is to transform how young people connect with the world around them, helping them see themselves in it and thrive. 
 

Through our free to access education programme, STEM Crew, we bring science, sustainability, and innovation to life using the real-world context of high-performance sport. These sport-inspired resources are used in over 40% of UK secondary schools, helping teachers unlock potential, build confidence, and spark ambition in STEM, green skills, and maritime careers. 
 

Our work is driven by belief in young people’s potential, we focus on removing barriers to education and opportunity, as we aim to level the playing field and help all young people, particularly those from underserved communities to see that they belong in the world of STEM. 

At FareShare, we stop good food from going to waste and give it to people who need it in our local community. Our Volunteer Drivers deliver food to our Community Food Members which is vital to ensuring the donated food we receive gets to the right people, instead of going to landfill. 

What will I be doing? 

• Safely driving vans to deliver and collect food 

• Loading and unloading food orders, planning routes and completing paperwork 

• Responsibly driving the van, cleaning the van, reporting any issues or accidents 

• Representing FareShare in a courteous and professional manner and, where necessary, you will be accompanied by a Volunteer Driver’s Assistant. 

Why volunteer as a Driver with FareShare? 

• Gain skills such as route planning, manual handling, organisation, teamwork and communication skills 

• Meet new people, be part of a team and socialise with other volunteers and Community Food Members 

• Be physically active, keep fit and help vulnerable people in your community. 

Requirements for the role: 

• Hold a full driving licence with no or low points 

• Be over 21 with minimum 3 years driving experience 

• Have the confidence to drive a medium-sized van (training/support will be offered where needed) 

• Be able to perform physical manual handling tasks safely including loading/unloading food from the van 

• Have the ability to complete paperwork and follow directions via Sat Nav system/map 

• Be adaptable and flexible. Managing surplus food is unpredictable and tasks can vary 

• Be positive, friendly and personable 

• Be able to work well in a team and on your own 

• Follow health and safety policies & procedures 

We are committed to embracing diversity and promoting equality and inclusion. As part of your application, please let us know of any health conditions or access needs that might impact your volunteering with us. 

Volunteer Opportunities at Coombe House Farm
Our farm is in the early stages of an exciting journey. We are already cultivating a vibrant mix of fruit and vegetables, including our no-dig beds, polytunnels and orchard. We currently care for chickens, ducks, sheep and guinea pigs with more animals being introduced as the site develops. We are expanding and would love volunteers to join our friendly team! 

Interested in volunteering? Please contact Claire Taylor, Assistant HR Manager for further details.  We are always happy to discuss how you can get involved. We can then advise you of the application process and next stages.