Volunteer roles

Are you a parent, grandparent or have experience raising children? Do you have a spare 2-3 hours a week to support a local family in need? Are you passionate about ensuring children have the best possible start in life?

We stand alongside families so that parents do not feel alone in the critical task of raising children and support them to help children reach their full potential, have access to positive opportunities and enjoy childhood! We are recruiting volunteers to help us support families with young children facing challenges with parenting, helping to prevent family crisis or breakdown.

Providing practical and emotional support to local families with children under the age of 12 years, volunteers are matched with a family, visiting or keeping in touch by telephone weekly, offering tailored support which suit their needs. This is an in person role, where volunteers visit families in thier own homes and out in the local community. 

Our Family Support Volunteers: 

•  offer support, friendship and practical help to local parents and children
• visit families in their own homes, where the dignity and identity of each individual can be respected and protected
• reassure families that difficulties in bringing up children are not unusual
• emphasize the positive aspects of family life
• encourage parents’ strengths and emotional well-being for the ultimate benefit of their own children
• encourage families to widen their network of relationships and to use effectively the support and services available in the community
• attend an initial course of preparation, one day a week for 5 weeks
• visit families for a minimum of 2-3 hours per week according to the family’s needs
• receive regular support and supervision from the Family Services Co-ordinator
• be able to make a commitment to the scheme for at least 6 months. 

It is important that Family Support Volunteers: 

•  complete Safeguarding Level 1 training
•  be familiar with and committed to the Home-Start ethos and policies and practice
• share information with the Family Services Co-ordinator and contact the Family Services Co-ordinator immediately if there is concern about the physical or emotional well-being of any member of the family
•  take part in reviews with the family and Family Services Co-ordinator as requested
•  keep records of visits to families as requested by the Family Services Co-ordinator
• attend support, supervision and training sessions as arranged by the scheme
• have good communication skills with Home-Start staff and families.
•  have a friendly disposition and be open, honest and non-judgemental .
• have a DBS check and 2 references returned before supporting families in their own homes or group settings 

This is exciting and rewarding voluntary work which requires energy, commitment, reliability, creativity and a sense of humour. We offer all our volunteers opportunities for self-development and social contact with others within Home-Start. We offer work experience and shadowing opportunities with the Family Support team as well as ongoing training on a variety of topics relating to families, children and young people. 

Are you a dedicated and organised person, passionate about helping others? Join our night-time party and lots of other Volunteers at The MoonWalk Scotland on Saturday 6th September 2025 from Holyrood Park, Edinburgh! Bring your energy and enthusiasm and help us make a difference, by supporting the thousands of Walkers get through the night and raise millions of funds for cancer prevention and research, and for the emotional and physical care of those living with cancer.

We need your help now more than ever…This is going to be a super special year, as it will be our last MoonWalk in Edinburgh before the MoonWalk goes on tour to a new city.

We recruit hundreds of Volunteers to make The MoonWalk a safe and enjoyable event; looking after our Walkers as they take to the streets of Edinburgh overnight, and above all giving them the encouragement they need to complete their epic challenge.

Join in the party atmosphere in Dynamic Earth on Saturday Evening, with help needed from around 6 PM through till Midnight. A busy period when our Walkers and Volunteers arrive en masse, from litter picking, to registering baggage, to handing out Volunteer uniforms or help managing the queues of excited Walkers, there is so much to get involved in!

The Night-Time is where the challenge really gets going for our amazing Walkers. If you like the nightlife, marshalling, or giving out water whilst surrounded by Edinburgh’s famous landmarks, this could be for you! Start times vary between 8 PM and Midnight, depending on your role, and last on average 8 hours. We can also offer site-based roles at MoonWalk Arena throughout the night. Early finishes can of course be requested.

Finally, the early morning team take the helm on Sunday Morning, starting between 5–6 AM until Midday. Watching the sunrise against an Edinburgh skyline is quite a sight to see! This truly is the most testing time for our Walkers… whether you join the route or MoonWalk Arena teams… your kind and motivating words could be all that is needed to get someone across that finish line!

On the night you will be provided with training, a t-shirt, cap and free light refreshments. All roles will develop teamwork and confidence, no matter what you do on the night… so why not bring your friends and family along to share this unique experience!

To join in the fun at this iconic event and Volunteer at the MoonWalk Scotland 2025, we will need you to officially register through our website by visiting Volunteering - The MoonWalk Scotland - Walk The Walk Worldwide.

We will ask you to fill in a short registration form to tell us a bit about yourself and confirm your availability for the event. Please note if you are under the age of 18 at the time of the event, you will need to register with a guardian over 18 who will also be Volunteering.

Position Summary:
Leads the Talent Acquisition team to deliver efficient, compliant, and inclusive recruitment processes, ensuring alignment with workforce planning forecasts and organisational goals. Manages sourcing, selection, and candidate experience while collaborating with the Workforce Planning team to anticipate future talent needs.

Key Responsibilities:

Recruitment Strategy Execution

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment processes for assigned business units, from job briefings to offer management.

• Partner with the Workforce Planning team to align sourcing strategies with long-term talent demands and skills gap analysis.

• Implement proactive talent pipelines (e.g., LinkedIn, diversity networks) for critical and future-focused roles.

Team Management

• Manage and mentor Talent Acquisition Specialists/Coordinators, setting KPIs for time-to-fill, candidate quality, and diversity hiring.

• Conduct regular performance reviews and identify training needs to upskill the team.

Employer Branding & Candidate Experience

• Promote the organisation’s EVP through job postings, social media campaigns (in partnership with the Talent Communications Team), and candidate interactions.

• Ensure a positive candidate journey by resolving escalations and maintaining clear communication.

Compliance & Best Practices

• Ensure adherence to UK employment law (e.g., right-to-work checks, GDPR) and internal policies.

• Audit recruitment processes to mitigate bias and align with DE&I goals.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with hiring managers and the Workforce Planning team to define role requirements and refine selection criteria.

• Share talent market insights (e.g., competitor hiring trends, salary benchmarks) to inform workforce planning strategies.

• Collaborate with the Team Leader: Onboarding to ensure a smooth handover post-offer acceptance.

Requirements:

• Education & Certification: CIPD Level 3 qualification or equivalent (e.g., HR apprenticeship, NVQ Level 3 in HR).

• Experience: 3+ years in recruitment, including 2+ years in a supervisory role.

• Technical Expertise: Proficiency in relevant systems and programmes.

• Legal Knowledge: Working understanding of UK employment law and recruitment compliance.

• Collaboration: Proven experience engaging with workforce planning or HR analytics teams to align recruitment with business strategy.

• DE&I Focus: Experience designing inclusive hiring practices (e.g., blind CV screening, diverse interview panels).

At Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall, we rely on our incredible volunteers to showcase the history of this magnificent building to our paying customers.
We look for people who have great enthusiasm, who love to meet other people and have a talent for igniting a spark in others.
Do you have the confidence to hold court in front of a group of people? do you have a fascination with Tudor history or Shakespeare? do you enjoy spending your free time volunteering with groups of likeminded, passionate individuals? Well this opportunity could be the right one for you.
Our guides are on hand to move people around the building and answer their questions as well as giving a short, engaging presentation. Don't worry if you don't know too much history at the moment - we will teach you all of it. All that we ask is that you are a good public speaker and that you have positive, can do attitude.

The Remakery Oxford is a fledgling non-profit looking, building momentum, and looking for someone to help us on our growth trajectory.

The Remakery Oxford is a collaboration between artists, makers, and the local community with the objective of transforming the used, unloved, discarded and obsolete into art and function, helping a new wave of creators to disrupt the status quo of consumption and top-down mass production and globalisation.

We encourage experimentation, social innovation and education where anyone can curate art, function and fashion with minimal planetary impact. We aim to provide resources and a share skills through workshops, talks, podcasts and other events.

Ultimately we want to have a studio for those who lack the space and tools to work independently and offer them a space in exchange for skills sharing in the community.

Our values

1.Disruption: We believe in upsetting business models and ideologies which are past their sell by date and being activist and agents for change. We inspire through chaos.

2.Collaboration: We are friendly, humble and community spirited. We learn and grow together

3.Open-mindedness: We do not judge. Change comes about through experimentation. There is no failure, only feedback.

4.Curiosity: We are open-minded and experimental. We love learning.

5.Respect: We respect people and the planet. We do not waste resources. We value diversity and we believe firmly in fairness.

We have run several small events and have gained a modest base of followers. We have a strong brand and vision which is resonating as we receive a steady stream of interest from people looking to run workshops

While we are open to the kinds of activity we can do, they must be thought provoking, conscience shifting and with circularity at their core.

Growth Manager

We are looking for someone who is inspired my our mission, able to commit a day or two a week for the foreseeable future.

As a Growth Manager you will take the lead in expanding our reach and impact, through identifying new funding opportunities, applying for grants, developing partnerships, community engagement and increasing our financial resources.

You will have creative ideas about events we can run to gain followers and impact in the community.

There are plenty of other activities you could take the lead on as we grow, depending on your strengths, interests and capacity, such as recruiting additional volunteers.

Eventually, subject to funding, we want to occupy a space which will serve as a studio and collaborative space for local artists and makers. Your role could include researching available properties and securing a lease on one. 

Ideally you will have some experience of fundraising in the non-profit sector and have close connections to the local community in Oxford. However, most important is an abundance of passion, energy and enthusiasm for circularity and making a positive impact in the community

Ability to meet in person once a week with the founder and other volunteers would be a distinct advantage.

This position is a volunteer position but if you are able to secure significant funding, some of it could be diverted towards paying for staff members in the longer term.

Do you want to see more happiness and kindness in the world? We’re looking for dynamic Volunteers to be part of creating exactly that!

About the Role:

Our volunteers bring people together for shared online learning experiences, based on positive psychology, that boost the wellbeing of everyone involved.

- The amazing 6-week Happiness Habits Course is designed to be run by pairs of volunteers.  It features expert videos, science-backed exercises and the chance to form meaningful connections. Our course has been specially designed to gather the insights of the world's leading experts on six fundamental aspects of a happy and meaningful life: Gratitude, Self-Care, Relationships, Resilience, Kindness, and Meaning. It is a very impactful (many say life-changing) experience.

- Alternatively, you can get involved by supporting a Monthly Group, bringing like-minded people together to learn evidence-based tools for creating a happier and more meaningful life. Explore the monthly themes and encourage people to set personal actions towards happiness, that support both themselves and others.

Volunteering with Action for Happiness is a path of action that consistently feels like you are making a difference in the world. You don’t have to be an expert - or be happy all the time. If you are a warm and enthusiastic person that is more than enough to get started.

Why Volunteer with Us?

Do something that matters: spreading happiness and witnessing people transform for the better is a huge source of meaning.

Grow your skills: inspiring others, learning together and reinforcing your own happiness skills all contribute to personal growth.

Build community: meeting like-minded people, building lasting friendships and belonging to a global community contributing to a better future for all.

How do I know it’s right for me?

Try out free VOLUNTEER TRAINING via the Action For Happiness website and decide for yourself.

We've designed it especially to help you answer questions like this as it explains thoroughly what being a volunteer involves and helps you reflect on your readiness.

What is the time commitment?

You'll need to set aside a couple of hours for the training initially and a few more for planning your course or group and connecting with your co-volunteer. Then you'll need a couple of hours per session for facilitating (x6 weekly sessions for a course, or x1 session per month for a group). 

- Apply today! Together, we can inspire change that ripples out through people’s lives, communities and the world.
 

Charity Trustee

You and Me Counselling are currently recruiting volunteer trustees to complement the committee members already in their role.

This is a home working role and will be for immediate start.

Our charity

You and Me Counselling is a charitable organisation established in 2011. We are a counselling and psychotherapy service based in Hornchurch, Essex that works with children, young people, adults, and their families in the boroughs of Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest. Our counsellors and therapists work both within schools and from our counselling rooms located in Hornchurch and Ilford.

You and Me Counselling are an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP). This means we are fully governed by the BACP’s Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.

Job Description

As a trustee you will need to:

• Acknowledge emails at least once a day.
• Give a minimum of one hour per week to the role.
• Attend quarterly trustee meetings online.
• Ensure that You and Me Counselling pursues its stated objectives
• Ensure there is regular review of changes that might affect the organisation (political, financial, demographic, etc.)
• Ensure that the charity complies with charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Monitor finance to ensure that the charity applies its resources exclusively for its charitable objectives.
• Uphold the good name and values of You and Me Counselling.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
• Ensure the financial stability of the organisation.
• Supervise, support and appraise the chief executive officer.
• Hold the chief executive officer to account for the management and administration of the charity.
• Ensure that the organisation acts in accordance with employment law and exercises a duty of care to its employees.
• Identify major risks to the organisation and put systems in place to mitigate or minimise the risks.
• Ensure that the organisation has a governance structure that is appropriate to a charity of its size/complexity, stage of development, and its charitable objectives
• Regularly review your own training needs and create an expectation of continuous professional development throughout the organisation.
• Ensure that trustees have an agreed code of conduct and comply with it, and that there are mechanisms for the removal of trustees who do not abide by the principles stated therein.

Person Specifications

All trustees should demonstrate the following skills and values:

• A commitment to the organisation.
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Good, independent judgement.
• An ability to think creatively.
• A willingness to speak their mind.
• An understanding and acceptance of their legal duties and responsibilities as a trustee
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability to evaluate and interpret management information and other data.

Specific Skills

The ideal candidate would have one of more of the following:

• Experience in charity law and governance
• Experience in charity fundraising
• Knowledge of counselling or psychotherapy (as a therapist or client)
• Experience in accounting or financial management
• Experience in business development
• Experience in social media or marketing
• A parent of a young person who has experience of mental health issues

Shannon Trust fulfils an unmet need around adult learning, supporting people who’ve fallen through the cracks in formal education.

We know a lot of people have had negative learning experiences in the past, so our programme is designed to be different, with no exams and no classrooms. Our unique, evidence-based Turning Pages reading manuals and Count Me In numeracy manuals are used by thousands of learners in prisons and the community to improve reading and numeracy skills. 

Prison volunteers live near to their local prison so that they can visit about once a month during the working week to nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by offering advice, guidance, training and support to prison staff and prisoner mentors who help other prisoners to improve their skills 1 to 1.

We are looking for volunteers who are able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and able to deliver engaging training to groups of people in prisons. Volunteers do not need to be teachers or qualified traininers, full training will be given. Due to the nature of the role, prison security vetting will be required.

We provide training for the role via e-learning and 4 training sessions which are a mix of live, online and group training.

Trailblazers’ mission is to reduce re-offending and inspire new futures and the charity has been providing mentoring services to people in prison since 1998. We provide support to men between the ages of 18 - 35 in custody who have 6 months left of their prison sentence, and then 'through the gate' into their community for up to 12 months.

In the West Midlands, services are delivered near Wolverhampton at HMPYOI Brinsford. We are looking for volunteer mentors who can spare half a day per week to support young men to change their life by acting as an inspirational role model and helping with goal setting. Mentoring sessions usually last 1 hour per week; allowing enough time for travel and liaising with Trailblazers staff will take about half a day.

Your support will help a young man to reconnect with his own community, friends and loved ones, go into education, training and employment, and to give a person a sense of hope for the future. As a charity we are reliant on volunteers; with your help we can continue to support people in prison to make and change to their lives, their family and wider society. We welcome all skill sets within Trailblazers as we work with a diverse group of men, all we ask if you have a genuine passion for social change and that you can commit to at least 1 young man for up to 12 months, so they have a consistent person in their life - something that some of our mentees have never had. The national average re-offending rate for a person leaving prison is up to 55%, the rate for those who have a Trailblazers mentor is lowered to 9%. 

We are actively looking for people to join our mentoring community with lived experience of the criminal justice system, underrepresented groups from BAME community, creative arts, business skills, wellbeing - whatever your skills and background we are open to hear from you to support our diverse group of men.Out of pocket expenses are covered as well as training to equip you for your role. More information and the application form can be found on the website. 

Role activities:

• To provide a positive role model for people in prison and in their own community, to be empathic and to have a desire and commitment to support people to fulfil their potential.

• To attend and participate fully in the initial and ongoing mentor training.

• To attend group support/supervision meetings and review performance within mentoring relationships.

• To complete mentoring session notes relevant to the mentoring service for monitoring purposes.

• To take part in introductory meetings with mentees and set ground rules and boundaries.

• To report safeguarding concerns immediately.

• To follow relevant policies and procedures. 

• To perform your role in line with the aims of the organisation.

• To meet with and actively develop a supportive relationship with mentees.

• Be prepared to travel and undertake visits for mentoring sessions. 

• To make the necessary practical arrangements to meet the mentee on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

• Assist the mentee to celebrate their achievements.

• Support the mentee to meet identified goals.

• Develop an understanding of the role, responsibilities and boundaries of a volunteer mentor.

• Be committed to the project for a minimum of 12 months.

• Regular communication with Trailblazers staff in support of your mentee. 

Skills/behaviours/knowledge required:

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and challenges faced by mentees (Desirable) full training will be given. 

• Awareness of own professional boundaries and the ability to report any concerns within the mentoring relationship that could be pertinent to risk to the mentee, or to others. 

• To be an advocate for a mentee and to actively seek opportunities for mentees for resettlement back into their own community in conjunction with Trailblazers staff. 

• To be non-judgmental, focus on the person rather than the offense. 

• Professional but relatable with strong communication skills. 

• Awareness of adversity and how to overcome barriers to build a supportive network around the mentee. 

• Basic IT skills. 

• Be able to take advice and guidance from Trailblazers staff. 

Criteria: 

• Over 21. 

• We encourage applications from those with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System but you must be off licence for a minimum of 12 months, and not in crisis yourself. 

• You cannot apply to a project if you have been a resident in the same prison yourself. 

• A good level of fitness to able to move around a prison at fast past that does include stairs 

• Due to security checks at the prison you must be a British citizen.     

• Not committed an offense where you are barred from working with vulnerable adults or children. 

• Live within a 30-mile radius from the prison at which you would like to volunteer.

Are you passionate about sustainability and community engagement?

Join us as a Volunteer Repair Café Lead and be a catalyst for positive change! As a Repair Café Lead, you’ll organise and oversee monthly community repair events.

Responsibilities:

– Schedule and coordinate monthly events (once a month, 10 per year)

– Manage volunteers, logistics, and data

Support and Resources:

– Comprehensive support, knowledge, and organisation resources

– Marketing assistance

– Volunteer training opportunities

– Insurance coverage and safety guidance

Qualifications: Strong organisational and leadership skills are ideal, and excellent communication and people skills will help you connect with our volunteers and the community. Previous experience in event management or volunteer coordination is a big plus, and a passion for environmental sustainability and community empowerment would be a perfect match! But don’t worry if you don’t have all of this—what’s most important is your motivation to learn and make a difference.

EVERY WONDERED HOW YOUR SKILLS COULD TRANSFORM YOUNG LIVES THROUGH SPORTS? 
BECOME A TRUSTEE A DFY SPORTS - Level the playing field for young people through sport

Are you passionate about creating opportunities for the next generation? Want to use your skills to support a grassroots charity doing powerful work with young people in London? DFY Sports is looking for new trustees to help us grow, reach further, and have even greater impact.

Who we are

DFY Sports helps young people aged 4–15 from underserved communities flourish through sport. Based in Brent and active across surrounding boroughs, we deliver PE sessions, after-school clubs, holiday camps, football training, and run an ambassador programme connected to our founding sports agency, ISC.

We’ve grown fast—and we’re just getting started. As we scale over the next 1–3 years, we’re looking for passionate trustees to help shape that journey.

Why join us?

• Be part of a hands-on, diverse and ambitious team making a real difference in London
• Use your skills for social good and gain board-level experience
• Support a charity grounded in community, inclusion and action

Trustees meet quarterly (with pre-reads shared a week in advance). You’ll bring your experience and perspective to guide DFY’s future and support our mission at a strategic level.

Diversity matters to us

We’re especially keen to hear from people whose backgrounds reflect the communities we serve—including people of colour, women, those with disabilities, and individuals with lived experience of socio-economic disadvantage.

That said, this isn’t an exclusive requirement. We welcome all applicants who believe in our mission and want to contribute meaningfully. Our goal is to build a board that’s balanced, representative, and full of fresh ideas.

We’re currently looking for trustees in the following areas:

✅ Safeguarding

• Ensure safeguarding policies are robust, compliant and actively implemented
• Support our DSL to report risks, share learning and update the board
• Help shape a safeguarding-first culture across all activities

✅ Marketing & Communications

• Help define and strengthen DFY’s brand and public voice
• Grow our online presence and support outreach to media and partners
• Guide the team on strategic communications and storytelling

✅ Network & Fundraising

• Open doors to donors, sponsors and collaborators through your network
• Support events and campaigns that raise both funds and awareness
• Offer fresh ideas for sustainable income generation

✅ Finance

• Provide oversight of budgets, reporting, and financial controls
• Support long-term financial planning and risk management
• Ensure funds are well managed and spent with integrity

✅ Community

• Champion the needs and voices of the local community in Brent and NW London
• Build connections with local schools, grassroots groups and families
• Help us stay rooted, responsive and inclusive in everything we do

⚽ Your core responsibilities as a trustee will include:

• Attending quarterly board meetings
• Reading board materials in advance and actively participating
• Contributing to DFY’s strategic direction and key decisions
• Supporting your specific area of responsibility, as outlined above

You don’t need to have trustee experience, just care, commitment, and the willingness to bring your skills to a team working to create lasting change for young people through sport. Training and support can be provided.

Interested?

Apply now or pass this along to someone who’d be a great fit. We're excited to hear from people who want to make a difference and bring something fresh to the table.

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Unfortunately cats can occasionally stray or get lost, which can be extremely distressing for their owners. Our lost and found volunteers are passionate about reuniting lost cats and bringing families back together. They help cats and their owners by advertising lost cats and providing support, advice and guidance to people searching for their cats.

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

A bit more information about this role and the team

• Going out to scan cats; own transport is needed

• Delivering donated food to stray cats being fed by households, if required

• Providing a quarterly update report to the local volunteer committee

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Responding to enquiries from the public about lost and found cats
• Keeping up to date records of lost and founds cats
• Matching cats that are reported lost with those reported found
• Advertising lost and found cats
• Providing help and information to owners about their lost cats

Time expectation 

Our lost and found volunteers usually spend between 2 to 3 hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

Are you passionate about sustainability and community engagement?

Join us as a Volunteer Repair Café Lead and be a catalyst for positive change! As a Repair Café Lead, you’ll organise and oversee monthly community repair events.

Responsibilities:

– Schedule and coordinate monthly events (once a month, 10 per year)

– Manage volunteers, logistics, and data

Support and Resources:

– Comprehensive support, knowledge, and organisation resources

– Marketing assistance

– Volunteer training opportunities

– Insurance coverage and safety guidance

Qualifications: Strong organisational and leadership skills are ideal, and excellent communication and people skills will help you connect with our volunteers and the community. Previous experience in event management or volunteer coordination is a big plus, and a passion for environmental sustainability and community empowerment would be a perfect match! But don’t worry if you don’t have all of this—what’s most important is your motivation to learn and make a difference.

Trailblazers’ mission is to reduce re-offending and inspire new futures and the charity has been providing mentoring services to people in prison since 1998. We provide support to men between the ages of 18 - 35 in custody who have 6 months left of their prison sentence, and then 'through the gate' into their community for up to 12 months.

In London, services are delivered at HMP Brixton and HMPYOI Isis. We are looking for volunteer mentors who can spare half a day per week to support young men to change their life by acting as an inspirational role model and helping with goal setting. Mentoring sessions usually last 1 hour per week; allowing enough time for travel and liaising with Trailblazers staff will take about half a day.

Your support will help a young man to reconnect with his own community, friends and loved ones, go into education, training and employment, and to give a person a sense of hope for the future. As a charity we are reliant on volunteers; with your help we can continue to support people in prison to make and change to their lives, their family and wider society. We welcome all skill sets within Trailblazers as we work with a diverse group of men, all we ask if you have a genuine passion for social change and that you can commit to at least 1 young man for up to 12 months, so they have a consistent person in their life - something that some of our mentees have never had. The national average re-offending rate for a person leaving prison is up to 55%, the rate for those who have a Trailblazers mentor is lowered to 9%. 

We are actively looking for people to join our mentoring community with lived experience of the criminal justice system, underrepresented groups from BAME community, creative arts, business skills, wellbeing - whatever your skills and background we are open to hear from you to support our diverse group of men.Out of pocket expenses are covered as well as training to equip you for your role. More information and the application form can be found on the website. 

Role activities:

• To provide a positive role model for people in prison and in their own community, to be empathic and to have a desire and commitment to support people to fulfil their potential.

• To attend and participate fully in the initial and ongoing mentor training.

• To attend group support/supervision meetings and review performance within mentoring relationships.

• To complete mentoring session notes relevant to the mentoring service for monitoring purposes.

• To take part in introductory meetings with mentees and set ground rules and boundaries.

• To report safeguarding concerns immediately.

• To follow relevant policies and procedures. 

• To perform your role in line with the aims of the organisation.

• To meet with and actively develop a supportive relationship with mentees.

• Be prepared to travel and undertake visits for mentoring sessions. 

• To make the necessary practical arrangements to meet the mentee on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

• Assist the mentee to celebrate their achievements.

• Support the mentee to meet identified goals.

• Develop an understanding of the role, responsibilities and boundaries of a volunteer mentor.

• Be committed to the project for a minimum of 12 months.

• Regular communication with Trailblazers staff in support of your mentee. 

Skills/behaviours/knowledge required:

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and challenges faced by mentees (Desirable) full training will be given. 

• Awareness of own professional boundaries and the ability to report any concerns within the mentoring relationship that could be pertinent to risk to the mentee, or to others. 

• To be an advocate for a mentee and to actively seek opportunities for mentees for resettlement back into their own community in conjunction with Trailblazers staff. 

• To be non-judgmental, focus on the person rather than the offense. 

• Professional but relatable with strong communication skills. 

• Awareness of adversity and how to overcome barriers to build a supportive network around the mentee. 

• Basic IT skills. 

• Be able to take advice and guidance from Trailblazers staff. 

Criteria: 

• Over 21. 

• We encourage applications from those with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System but you must be off licence for a minimum of 12 months, and not in crisis yourself. 

• You cannot apply to a project if you have been a resident in the same prison yourself. 

• A good level of fitness to able to move around a prison at fast past that does include stairs 

• Due to security checks at the prison you must be a British citizen.     

• Not committed an offense where you are barred from working with vulnerable adults or children. 

• Live within a 30-mile radius from the prison at which you would like to volunteer.