Activities support volunteer volunteer roles in saint margarets, greater london

Become an Independent Visitor to be matched one to one with a young person in care. You will meet once or twice a month to take them out to do fun activities together. This is an opportunity for our young people to develop a healthy relationship with a trusted adult, have fun and share their worries and feelings if they are ready to do so.

We'll provide full training, all your expenses and ongoing support from dedicated staff. 

This is an opportunity for you to build skills and knowledge within social care and test yourself with real life experience of a young person in care.

We're looking for enthusiastic, committed people to bring their experience, skills and positivity to the lives of young people who have been through tough times. We will be providing training on the following subjects.

Session 1 Introduction to IV and the Care system
Session 2 Trauma, Attachment and Growth
Session 3 Safeguarding
Session 4 Communications and Boundaries
Session 5 The Role Of The IV

If you are passionate about improving the environment and helping create spaces for community engagement, this role would be perfect for you! Come join us at CPRE London - a charity that fights to protect London's green spaces.

Part time/flexible opportunity at CPRE London who are seeking a volunteer with a passion for the environment, good organisational and administrative skills to join our Hedgerow Heroes project. 

You’ll make a real difference and be a central part of a friendly and passionate team in a charity that makes a difference.

Job Description - What you will be doing​

Our Hedgerow Heroes project is an ongoing project focused on planting and restoring hedgerows in green spaces across London. The goal of the project is to help reinforce and enhance London’s green belt, and use hedgerows and related engagement activities to help people in greenspace-deprived areas - which also have indicators of social deprivation, mental health issues and poor air quality - to connect with nature. All activities will be designed to be inclusive, allowing a wide range of people the opportunity to engage in hands-on conservation work and gain appreciation of the natural world in their local area. In summary: help us to introduce, restore and maintain hedgerows in London’s green belt, in cooperation with Friends-of groups and community-level volunteers. 

The role of the Hedgerow Heroes Coordinator will be to: 

• Help research new project opportunities (planting sites, partners etc)
• Work in a friendly team to help co-ordinate the planting / restoration of hedgerows all over London
• Administration and organisation of people and teams to meet planting session requirements 
• Work alongside more experienced volunteers to learn project management skills to help you in your future career
• As you continue to volunteer with CPRE you're free to find the perfect role that suits your needs - we have lots of volunteer work available in fundraising, campaigning, and project management.

The project will be run in partnership with London’s Friends of Greenspace Network – which supports community groups aiming to enhance their local green-spaces, and with whom CPRE have a strong and continuous relationship providing them with regular newsletters; corporate volunteering opportunities; events; and by facilitating capacity building and directly providing bespoke support and advice.

For more information on the project you'd be working on, please check out CPRE London's website under What we care about. This will be the third year of the project and we've seen successful planting around London!

Benefits for you:

• Use your skills to help our charity and make a positive difference to London’s green spaces
• Meet like-minded people and enjoy being part of a team
• Enhance your CV by developing new skills and gaining valuable experience
• We will support you in your role and provide you with relevant training
• We can give you a reference for your future work or volunteering
• Get involved with social events and workshops on a local and national level, including the annual CPRE conference
• The opportunity to attend a volunteer induction run by CPRE’s national office
• We provide out-of-pocket travel expense

What are we looking for?

Are you passionate about hedgerows and community engagement? Can you help us introduce, restore and maintain hedgerows in London’s green belt, in cooperation with Friends-of groups and community-level volunteers?

Time requirement: It is anticipated that this role would require 2 - 3 days per week, hybrid working, some onsite. However, this is flexible and can be discussed at interview.

The skills you need - our ideal volunteer will demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Attention to detail and determination
• Skilled communicator who can demonstrate a passion for connecting people and the environment and inspiring communities to take local action.
• Conservation work or hedgerow planting and management would be an advantage
• Competent IT skills and organisation/admin experience 
• A flexible and ‘can-do’ attitude
• An ability to work both as part of a team and independently with minimum supervision
• An interest in environmental issues and enthusiasm for helping further CPRE London’s work 

Please download Role Description details for some further information

Deadline: 21st July 

Scheduled Interview date: Tuesday 29th July (online or in person)

Start Date: Early September

Could you use your social media, marketing and communications experience to raise the profile of a small charity? Help us to increase our social media presence and engagement, generate greatr content and help promote existing activities.

Our charity delivers a range of awareness campaigns and support services to patients, relatives, partners and carers who have been affected by a poorly understood pain condition; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). We are looking for 2 experienced social media and communications volunteers who are able to develop posts and campaigns from design to inception, create fresh and engaging content, increase engagement and to increase awareness of the charity and of the condition we represent.

Even though we are a small organisation we have big ideas and would like to draw on your experience in the communications world to help the charity deliver engaging content and communications to help us spread our aims and message to all our audience.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Engagement: Help increase engagement, improve the number of followers/likes, create & execute a content calendar
• Content Creation: Produce fresh, branded and engaging content for our social media channels 
• Graphics: Prepare graphics and text for sharing across channels 
• Engage with our followers and encourage interaction 
• Manage and maintain social media channels on a regular basis
• Support charity campaigns, marketing, events and fundraising activities by promoting them on our social media feeds
• Use your creative skills to support strategies to engage, grow, and widen our target audiences
• Develop publicity materials and communication techniques for social media to raise awareness of our chronic condition 

You will be with a small team of volunteers who will provide an overview of our existing social media content, our brand and how we have approached our social media content to date. 

Experience
We are looking for a volunteer who has experience in:

• Different types of marketing and communications media, including electronic and social media
• Writing and editing marketing content for social media platforms including Facebook, X, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn (especially TikTok, Instagram Reels & posts and YouTube)
• Building strategies to increase social media following and /or build fundraising or awareness campaigns
• Developing a coherent brand voice for social media, from content creation to community interactions
• Using and setting up tools such as Buffer, Canva etc
• Creating and executing content calendars to help plan social media activity 

Skills Required

• Excellent written communication skills
• Accuracy and attention to detail 
• Creative writing and design abilities
• Good computer and digital skills
• Enthusiasm for communications and marketing and willingness to learn
• Ability to quickly understand the needs of our team / organisation / users
• Ability to transform small snippets of information into interesting and engaging stories suitable for X, Facebook, Instagram etc.
• Understands the resource constraints of a small charity and is able to work with these
• Open to feedback 
• An interest in helping Burning Nights CRPS Support achieve its aims
• Good organisational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and able to work as part of a team

What Difference You Will Make
You will join the charity during a critical and challenging period and your expert knowledge and experience will be invaluable to our success. You will have a key role in ensuring we can maintain our support services and become a sustainable charity to allow us to fulfil our aims.

Benefits

You would be a part of our small, friendly and forward-thinking charity team, focused on reaching people who may not have heard about the charity or about the condition. You would have a key role in developing a socoal media strategy for a small charity. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a real difference to a rare condition.
You will further develop your communication skills, gain PR and marketing experience and develop your social media skills.

This is a remote volunteering role, volunteering from your own home.

We're on the look out for a volunteer to join us in the volunteer role of Fundraising & Grant Writer and help us shape the future of Urban Youth!

If you're a proactive and resourceful individual with a passion for securing vital resources and you have a knack for research, a persuasive writing style, or a talent for organising engaging events, then we'd love to hear from you!

Urban Youth is a brand-new youth work charity being set up to build a vibrant community for young people across London. Our mission is to provide engaging youth work activities, offer positive mentorship, and create safe spaces where young people can thrive, develop new skills, discover themselves and reach their full potential.

We're currently in the crucial setup phase, and securing initial funding is paramount to getting us off the ground and we're therefore looking for a dedicated Volunteer for Fundraising & Grants to help us kickstart our financial journey. This is a unique chance to be involved from the very beginning, directly contributing to our ability to reach and support young Londoners.

What will you do?

In this pivotal role, you'll be instrumental in securing the seed funding we need to get started.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Grant Research & Application: Researching and identifying suitable grant opportunities from trusts, foundations, and corporate social responsibility programmes. You'll then assist with or lead on drafting compelling grant applications to secure vital seed funding.

• Fundraising Event Planning: Taking the lead on planning and organising a range of initial fundraising events and activities. This could involve small community events, online campaigns, or creative initiatives to raise awareness and funds.

• Donor Cultivation Support: Helping to identify potential individual donors or corporate partners and assisting with initial outreach strategies.

• Budgeting & Tracking: Supporting the development of basic fundraising budgets and helping to track income and expenditure for fundraising activities.

Who are we looking for?

We need someone who is not only passionate about empowering young people but also brings practical skills in fundraising and development.

You should be:

• Proactive & Self-Motivated: Able to take initiative, identify opportunities, and drive tasks forward with minimal supervision.

• Strong Researcher: Skilled in finding relevant information, particularly about funding bodies and their criteria.

• Excellent Communicator: Able to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively (essential for grant applications) and comfortable with outreach.

• Organised: Capable of managing multiple tasks, deadlines, and event logistics effectively.

• Creative: Able to think of engaging and effective ways to raise funds and awareness.

• Committed: Willing to dedicate a few hours a week (flexible, all tasks can be done remotely) to help us build Urban Youth from the ground up. Experience in fundraising or bid writing is a bonus, but a strong willingness to learn is just as valued!

This is a voluntary, unremunerated role, but it offers invaluable experience in charity fundraising, grants management, and the immense satisfaction of directly enabling a new organisation to make a profound difference in countless young lives.

Ready to help us build a strong financial foundation?

If you're eager to lend your skills to Urban Youth during this exciting startup phase, we'd love to hear from you!

Let's work together to create a brighter future for urban youth!

URBAN YOUTH

Building Futures | Forging Connections | Creating Memories.

An ideal opportunity to make a lasting diference in the lives of vulnerable women those who have experienced some form of abuse, violence or trauma and sexual exploitation. To be part of a team providing practical help and support within a women's only space, offering compassionate care and a listening ear. To engage in and also opportunity to lead creative activities, exploring faith and helping build trustful friendships, providing hospitality and friendly conversations. The ability to identify women that may need extra support or referral to external agencies. 

The ideal person volunteering for this role should have the ability to relate sensitively to vulnerable women, with various needs, able to build rapport and boundaries in relationships. A commitment and compassion for our cause, preferably Christian, have good communication and listening skills. Good time management and able to work well as part of a team. Be friendly, approachable, a positive outlook and enthusiastic, with a willingness to learn. Preferably knowledge, understanding or lived experience of sexual exploitation and or domestic abuse, an awareness of the needs of the vulnerable.

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors.

An enthusiastic, reliable and compassionate volunteer with good interpersonal skills and a desire to help others. The volunteer must be a fully qualified Dietitian or Nutritional Therapist and have training and/or experience working with individuals with eating disorders.

Activities

• Supporting the nutritional needs of young women with health issues on a limited budget.
• Providing support with meal planning, cooking skills, food safety, and day-to-day problem solving around food and eating.
• Providing wisdom and accurate nutrition education around healthy eating for the individual.

Qualifications/ Experience

• Must be a fully qualified Dietitian or Nutritional Therapist.
• As many of the residents have eating disorders it is essential for the volunteer to have training and/or clinical experience working with individuals with eating disorders.
• Must have professional liability insurance and be a member of a professional body ie. HCPC, BANT
• This role requires us to carry out a check through the Disclosure and Barring Service for the Enhanced DBS

Commitment 

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of the residents. We recommend weekly one-to-one sessions for a minimum of 3 months.

Support 

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training
•  Reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed
• The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons.

Overview

In partnership with a second, and possibly third Leader, you will lead a Fire (Group) of 8-12 Young Explorers. Social Leader role is to ensure that all young people can develop and thrive on our expeditions. They provide additional support with pastoral care and behavioural management for young people, particularly those facing challenges. Social Leaders will have demonstrable experience of working with young people in residential environments.

We are looking for applicants who are:

• Able and passionate about leading, inspiring, and facilitating sessions with young people.
• Comfortable spending extended periods in remote and sometimes harsh environments.
• Able to commit to all pre-expedition training events. 

As a charity, all Leader positions are undertaken on a voluntary basis and Leaders join for the intrinsic value of adventure, education, and personal development of young people. 

VOLUNTEER VICE-CHAIR

Across the UK, our 65 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.

As a Vice-Chair you’ll support your Chair or Coordinator in making sure your local branch works as effectively as possible.

You’ll bring your leadership, communication, organisation, and motivational skills to this role.

What the role involves

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

• Supporting the Chair/Coordinator in organising branch activities, from setting up branch meetings to planning and completing referrals

• Helping the Chair/Coordinator oversee the recruitment, induction, and ongoing support of new volunteers

• Deputising for the Chair/Coordinator when necessary

• Acting as a key contact between staff and volunteers

What you’ll need for this role

Essential

• Confident in leading and chairing a meeting when required

• 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

• Able to keep people’s personal details safe

• Willing to follow Remap policies and procedures – and a commitment to our values

Desirable

• Confident in communicating with 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

You’ll also need to complete the induction checklist and reference check, and you may need a DBS check if you also have another client facing role.

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 speak Farsi and are looking to give back to the local community? By joining our team of befrienders, you will support us to reach some of the most isolated adults in the community to reduce their feelings of loneliness, build friendships and provide support for mental wellbeing.

You will support individuals who struggle to communicate with others and help them to reconnect with their local community. You will support to relight a spark in a hobby, interest or encourage individuals to explore and participate in new social activities.

What you will be doing

• Agree a mutual time and frequency to meet in the local community
• To develop and promote a positive relationship with your befriendee
• To engage in conversation in Farsi
• To encourage your befriendee to engage in social activities and support them in doing so whilst building their confidence
• To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
• Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals

The skills you need

• Able to communicate confidently in Farsi
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere which motivates and inspires others
• Willingness to engage in activities in the community
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow professional boundaries
• To be consistent in attendance

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Fight for Home Champion [London]

Do you have great communication skills that you’d like to put to good use?

Information about the role

In this role you’ll be representing Shelter at local events and functions, speaking about our work and encouraging more people to support our movement for change. You’ll also promote our local Shelter services and our campaigning work to tackle the root causes of the housing emergency.

Location: London (various)

Suggested contribution: Ideally at least once month, but it’s up to you.

Availability: This is a flexible opportunity, with meetings and events that might take place in evenings and weekends.

The above is the essential information you need to know. You can apply now by clicking ‘fill in an application’ or read on more for details.

Main activities may include:

· Delivering talks to local community groups, schools and faith groups about the work of Shelter and the ways in which your audience could help us achieve our goals.

· Raising awareness of Shelter and our work through talking to friends, family and on social media

· Attending cheque presentations on behalf of Shelter to thank people and say a few words about how the money raised could be used to tackle homelessness

· Supporting our campaigns to tackle the root cause of the housing emergency by encouraging people to sign petitions and spreading the word in your community

This role fights the housing emergency by raising funds that enable Shelter to provide advice and support and campaigning for change. The events you’ll be attending are also great for raising awareness of the housing emergency and how people can get involved to help tackle it.

Benefits of volunteering with Shelter

Volunteers are essential to Shelter’s mission to end housing injustice. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. The insights and life experiences our volunteers bring to Shelter are valued as much as their contribution through volunteering.

We aim to provide our volunteers with a positive experience. This is by prioritising accessibility and tailoring the support we provide to the needs of the individual. We make sure our policies and processes are equitable, which means that no-one is unfairly disadvantaged while volunteering because of their background or identity.

Your skills and experience

For this role it’s important you’re willing to speak in front of an audience, but it doesn’t matter if you have experience in this area or not. The most important thing is that you are passionate about joining our fight for home!

Supporting you

· You will be provided with an induction into your role, access to relevant learning and a copy of our volunteer handbook.

· The role, including learning and communications, are flexible, so can be tailored so they best suit your needs and preferences.

· You will be able to claim reasonable volunteering expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer policy. Where financial circumstances would be a barrier to volunteering, we may be able to offer these funds in advance.

· You will be able to access our volunteer support package, including our colleague assistance programme and Shelter’s network of mental health first aiders.

Next steps

You can apply for this role by clicking ‘fill in an application’. If you need to apply by an alternative method, please contact us.

We will then get back to you about your application. Shortlisted applicants will have a recruitment conversation to discuss the role further.

Upon offer of role, you will be asked to declare any unspent convictions. Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you can’t volunteer with us. We will have a conversation with you to discuss the convictions in relation to the role you have applied for. Sometimes it may limit the ways you can get involved. Please contact us if you require more information.

Job Title: Fundraiser Trainer & Advisor

Reporting to: Operational Director

Hours: 2 to 4 hours per week (we can be flexible and work with your schedule)

Willowbrook Farm Charity

Willowbrook Farm Charity exists to create nurturing educational and cultural spaces in the Oxfordshire countryside that are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to communities who have been historically underrepresented in rural environments — including people from racialised backgrounds, neurodivergent individuals, and young people with diverse learning needs.

In partnership with Willowbrook Farm (www  willowbrookfarm  co  uk), where we host our activities, we aim to build a nationally recognised centre of excellence that supports personal growth, wellbeing, and connection with nature. Through hands-on learning, community building, and cultural exchange, we empower individuals and groups to explore sustainable living, ethical land stewardship, and the transformative potential of nature-based education.

Our Values

Community
We foster a culture of care, connection, and belonging. We create space for people to come together in joy, learning, and mutual support, building relationships rooted in respect and shared purpose.

Stewardship

We honour the land as a living system and recognise that the wellbeing of people and nature are deeply interconnected. We are committed to nurturing the next generation of ethical and responsible stewards — who care for the earth, each other, and future generations.

Equity & Inclusion
We are dedicated to removing barriers so that people of all identities, backgrounds, and abilities can access and participate fully in experiences of farming, countryside living, and sustainability. We celebrate diversity and work to create welcoming spaces where everyone can thrive.

Connection with Nature
We centre our actions on a deep respect for the natural world. We believe in restoring and nurturing the bond between humans and nature, creating a place where both can flourish in harmony.

Job description

We are thrilled to welcome a Fundraiser Trainer & Advisor to support our Fundraising and Marketing Team at a pivotal time for our charity.

After a challenging period of inactivity due to the impacts of Covid, we are excited to embark on a new chapter, as we are ready to restart our activities in 2025 and to develop our projects and create a positive impact in our community.

This is a unique opportunity for those eager to be part of a project evolving from its early stages to the launch of new initiatives. The volunteer will have ample opportunity to grow with the charity.

We are looking for a passionate and articulate Fundraiser with extensive experience in fundraising strategy and bidding writing skills.

What this position entails

This role is designed for someone eager to share their fundraising knowledge by coaching our team to enhance their skills and gain a deeper understanding of the fundraising landscape.

We work with a dedicated team of volunteers, from our operational staff to those actively participating in our events, all of whom are enthusiastic about supporting our initiatives while gaining valuable experience and connecting with new people. Our Fundraising Trainer will provide valuable training to our fundraising and marketing team, focusing on enhancing their fundraising abilities, helping them to develop innovative strategies, and assisting with bid revisions by offering them constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.

We seek a mentor rather than someone to handle fundraising tasks for the team; we want a guide who can empower others to learn from their expertise.

Therefore, the ideal candidate must possess excellent communication skills and the ability to train individuals in the art of fundraising with creativity and kindness.

The key focus of the role is:

•  Train and guide the fundraising and marketing team, acting as a mentor.
•  Revise bids and give insightful suggestions for improvement.

Essential:

• Highly experienced in Fundraising and with excellent communication skills.
• Able to produce training in Fundraising skills and deliver it to the team.
• Able to dedicate time to weekly catch-ups with the team and review actions, offering insightful tips for improvement.
• Able to give constructive feedback on bid applications.

We might consider multiple volunteers for this position if we get applications from fundraisers with specialised skills in different areas of fundraising.

 
By getting involved you will gain:

• This is an excellent opportunity for professionals eager to utilise their talents to address community needs and contribute to reducing inequality.
  
• Additionally, this is an excellent starting point for those wanting to transition their fundraising career to a mentor/coaching style and are looking for an opportunity to develop skills as a mentor/trainer, try new techniques and get useful feedback from the team in your mentorship style.  

Location: Fully Remote. But we welcome those who wish to come and visit the farm at least once to understand more about us.

Commitment:

The estimated time needed is 2 to 4 hours a week, and we welcome those volunteers who can offer more, although it is not a requirement for the role. We can be flexible and work with you to find hours that fit ours and your schedule - all help is much appreciated!

As this is a trainer position, we unfortunately won’t accept applications from volunteers who do not possess a solid background in fundraising strategy.  

Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.

Based in either our Main Gallery or Stables Gallery, the role is integral in providing a high-quality visitor experience by bringing our gallery spaces to life by welcoming and engaging visitors, as well as sharing your passion and the stories of our exhibitions.

Tasks and Responsibilities 

• Welcoming and engaging visitors in a warm and friendly manner 
• Interpreting our gallery spaces, exhibition content, the Richmond Borough Art Collection and the gallery’s history for all ages and abilities
• Being a visible presence in our galleries, ensuring everyone's safety and the security of our exhibitions
• Guiding visitors around the gallery and wider site
• Monitoring visitor numbers and contributing to evaluation initiatives 
• Representing the Gallery and Richmond Arts Service

What we hope you will get from the role 

• The opportunity to engage with people and communities from the local area, West London and beyond
• Opportunity to develop interpersonal and communication skills
• -An insight into the day-to-day running of a contemporary art gallery and museum crossing a range of sectors 
• Opportunities to engage with artists and learn about their practice
• An understanding of the breadth of arts activity offered by Richmond Arts Service 

Training and Support 

We will provide training and an induction which covers all aspects of the role. On-going support and supervision will be provided by staff throughout your time with us. Additionally, there are regular training sessions to supplement and further your initial training, as well as a varied programme of volunteer events and activities to join in, meet people and learn something new!

We offer a tour of our exhibitions with the artist(s) or a member of staff prior to their opening. This will give you a first hand insight into the concept, processes and artist’s vision behind the exhibition. 

Desirable qualities and experience 

• Enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with people and sharing information
• Interest for contemporary art, history and/or heritage 
• Able to answer enquiries in a friendly and helpful manner 
• Willingness to learn 
• Enjoys being part of a team 
• Ability to complete tasks independently 
• Good time keeping 

Availability 

The gallery is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm, with two volunteer shifts a day, 10am – 1pm and 1pm – 5pm.

We ask for a minimum commitment of one shift every fortnight, although there is flexibility over scheduling.

Location 

This role is based at Orleans House Gallery, in either the Main Gallery or Stables Gallery. 

Expenses 

We will cover travel expenses up to £17 per day.

We are recruiting for a volunteer who would like to play a role in helping others to express themselves through writing. Would you like to support others to use their imagination to portray a message?

Creative writing is a great way to express yourself using your own creativity and imagination through story telling or poetry. It is an opportunity to reflect on your own experiences and put it down on paper. Creative writing has been shown to improve emotional and mental well-being. Through creative writing, we can gain insight into our emotions, develop self-expression and communication skills, cultivate empathy and understanding of others, boost our imagination and creativity.

What you will be doing

• Lead and facilitate a weekly Creative Writing Group, encouraging participants to explore their thoughts and feelings through writing exercises, prompts, and storytelling.
• Guide a subsequent Feelings Forum where participants can share and discuss emotions sparked by the writing session or current experiences in a respectful and supportive atmosphere
• Foster an inclusive, non-judgmental environment where all voices are heard and valued
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the organisation’s safeguarding and mental health protocols
• Prepare session materials and adapt activities to meet the needs of diverse participants

The skills you need

• Prepare session materials and adapt activities to meet the needs of diverse participants
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with sensitivity to mental health challenges
• Ability to facilitate group discussions and manage diverse emotional responses constructively
• Patience, empathy, and a non-judgmental approach.
• Training or experience in mental health, counselling, social work, or a related field is advantageous but not essential

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

INDEPENDENT READING GROUP VOLUNTEER (FACE-TO-FACE) 

CARAS Youth ESOL Programme – Monday, Wednesday mornings  

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

• CARAS is looking for Reading Group Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.
• The reading group is in Tooting and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education.
• Students will be supported to read at length and complete challenges that are adapted to their ability level.
• The reading group aims to foster independence and a joy of reading among the young people and requires volunteers to learn about the young peoples' interests in order to help them select an appropriate text.
• The ESOL teacher will provide volunteers with tips to support reading and understanding for emerging learners of English, such as phonics and elicitation strategies.
• Volunteers will work with 1-5 students, mostly reading out loud with them or helping them to decode unfamiliar language.
• Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates. 

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities: 

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within the Reading Group sessions; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources; 

• Contributing to debriefs to inform the ESOL teacher how each student found the lesson/task and the students’ areas of greatest challenge and success;  

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Listening and supporting students to select, read and understand a text; Showing flexibility to the wide range of ability levels in the classroom; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential

• To be 18 years or older; 

• An interest in education and English language teaching;

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• * Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK.  

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• An interest in books and stories, writing and poetry 

• The ability to volunteer on Wednesday during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of four months; 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish; 

• Experience of reading with young people or learners of English, or teaching ESOL or phonics. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering.