Activity volunteer volunteer roles in barbican, greater london

It Gets Better UK envisions a world where all LGBTQ+ youth are free to live equally and know their worthiness and power as individuals. We strive to tell the stories of LGBTQ+ people and to provide positive and reassuring messages to LGBTQ+ youth.

The It Gets Better Project was founded in 2010 in America. Since then, affiliated charities have been formed in over 20 different countries. We are now at the exciting stage of continue to grow and develop the UK affiliate having formally launched in October 2018.

Join our network of Regional Ambassadors to help promote It Gets Better UK, to inspire and engage with members of their local LGBTQ+ communities to get involved, and to help fundraise.

We're looking for volunteers UK-wide, particularly across Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and parts of England (North East, North West, and South West). If you are not based in these areas but are interested in the role, you are still welcome to apply as the local role exists across the country. 

What will I be doing? 

We ask Regional Ambassadors to deliver four self-led regional actions per year, and to expect to be asked to be involved in more ad-hoc centrally-led actions and activities as these arise. Key activities include: 

• Raise awareness of It Gets Better UK and our work through talking to members of the LGBTQ+ community in your area, and on social media 

• Look after our information and fundraising stands at local events – most importantly, hosting an It Gets Better UK Pride stall in your local area. Members of the It Gets Better team will support you with sign-up admin and capacity on the day. So far, we're planning to attend Edinburgh Pride!

• Support other members of the It Gets Better UK volunteer team to deliver events in their area by adding capacity where possible, and within a distance that suits you – for example, helping out at a Pride stall run by another Ambassador nearby. 

• Deliver talks to local LGBTQ+ groups, community groups, schools etc about the work of It Gets Better UK and how they could help us achieve our goals 

• Inspire members of the LGBTQ+ community to add their own It Gets Better story to our work 

What skills/experience do I need? 

• Confident public speaker with excellent communication skills 

• Confident in crowds and talking to new people 

• Excellent organisational skills 

• Reliable and professional demeanour 

• A personal and friendly manner 

• Flexibility to be called upon when needed 

• An honest and trustworthy nature 

• A good knowledge of the local LGBTQ+ community 

What is the time commitment? 

This is a flexible role and the times will vary. Taking into account four self-led regional actions per year and ad-hoc centrally-led actions and activities, we recommend expecting to spend at least two hours a week on your role. We ask Regional Ambassadors to try to be available for Pride events over the summer: this means some half/full day activities over the summer period, usually on Saturdays. You’ll be able to sign up for days which suit you. Regional Ambassadors are appointed for up to two years. Regional Ambassadors will have a monthly online meeting with their It Gets Better UK point of contact. 

 
How will I be trained and supported? 

• You will receive a full induction into It Gets Better UK and to your role 

• You will have a named contact who will support you and answer any questions 

• You will join our international and UK networks of volunteers where you can share ideas, ask questions, and support one another 

What can I gain from volunteering with you? 

• The satisfaction that you are helping to inspire and empower LGBTQ+ youth 

• Being part of an international movement 

• The opportunity to use your existing skills as well as develop and learn new ones 

• It Gets Better UK will act as a referee for you after successful completion of your role 

• Reimbursement of any expenses incurred (with prior agreement) 

Where will I be based? 

This role is based within your local area, with some travel at your discretion and with expense reimbursement as pre-agreed.

How do I apply? Please complete our Regional Ambassador form on the website. We’ll then meet online for an introductory conversation, seek 2 references, and conduct a DBS check. Once these steps are completed satisfactorily, we’ll share our resources for you to read. 

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Support Volunteer for the Lambeth and Southwark Group. As our local group Support Volunteer you’ll help people affected by MS find information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access local information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application. See a video about one of our Support Volunteers here.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services. Most importantly you’ll help people affected by MS to access the help they need.

Time commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the local area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

World Jewish Relief created the Specialist Training and Employment Programme (STEP) for refugees in 2016 and today we are the largest provider of specialist employment support to refugees in the UK.STEP aims to support and empower people with experience of forced migration through a tailored employment programme that addresses the complex barriers refugees face in preparing for, and ultimately finding, work in the UK.

We are looking to expand our Experts by Experience advisory board for STEP, made up of volunteer board members who are experts by experience (EbE). The STEP EbE Advisory Board is a structured and collaborative way for World Jewish Relief to engage with external advisors (in this case, volunteer board members) to advise and help on programme design and decision-making. The members of our advisory board support our programmes with their knowledge and expertise to offer more specific help and ideas in managing different aspects of STEP. 

We are now recruiting for a further 3 board members who are of Ukrainian nationality or Hong Kong BNO status / visa holder as we are launching a new STEP programme supporting these communities. 

The board members’ responsibilities will vary depending on the topic of advice in discussion, however, suggested activities include:

• Board member meetings to discuss ideas and create recommendations
• Group and 1:2:1s meetings with STEP stakeholders (employment advisors, participants, WJR board, partners)
• Document reviews (e.g. programme materials)
• Presenting recommendations in different formats (e.g writing, speaking)
• Attending optional training sessions chosen by the board

About you

Full training and ongoing support will be provided for this role, so you do not need experience. We are looking for board members who:

• Have lived experience of forced migration i.e. refugee status, humanitarian protection, people seeking asylum, and Ukrainian extension scheme
• Are of Ukrainian nationality or Hong Kong BNO status/visa holder
• Have intermediate and above understanding of English (B1+)
• Can commit to 2-4 hours a month
• Comfortable with IT, training can be provided
• Board members can have experience of being on STEP as a participant, but it is not a requirement. We aim for there to be a mix of experience with STEP on the board.

​What you can expect from us

• Expenses: We will pay for any travel and other expenses related to costs incurred
• Equipment: We will provide any IT/ Digital Access equipment needed for the role.
• Induction training and materials will be provided as well as other training as requested by board members.  

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

World Jewish Relief values equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and we encourage applications from candidates of all ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, genders, sex, sexual orientations, ages, disability, faiths (or non), marital status (or non), that meet the criteria set out for this role. We are striving to build a team reflective of the communities we work with.

This role is targeted for people with refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds as experts by experience. If you have first-hand experience of forced migration, please let us know in your application. Additionally, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the requirements that are listed within the role specification. We respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience during the interview process unless they wish to do so.

You don’t need to be Jewish to volunteer with us, but you must be committed to our faith-based values of Justice, Kindness, Repairing the World and Welcoming the Stranger. We are inspired by these values to work beyond our community, recognising the dignity and potential of all people.

To apply

Please upload your CV and a one-page cover letter that answers the following two questions: 

1. Why do you want to be a STEP EbE Advisory Board Member?

2. What skills can you contribute to the board?

Please note that your CV will only be used during the recruitment process to find out about your previous experience will not be assessed against any criteria.

Who are we?

We are Buttons & Bubbles CIC. We work with children, young people, families and other professionals associated and affected by illness and disability. We have several different services including inclusive characters, sensory workshops, resources, events, advocacy and more.

What are we looking for?

Do you enjoy art? Graphic design? Are you an amazing illustrator? Then we might just have a project for you. One of our aims is to have every type of disability in every culture, religion and ethnicity depicted through our characters. And yes, we know that’s going to mean a lot of hard work and a lot of characters! But NO we are not asking you to complete this entire project!

We’ve created 11 characters so far that depict a variety of conditions. We want to look at potentially re-developing these characters and starting work on some new ones!

What do we expect?

• Be willing to undertake our training programme which will be done virtually and at a time to suit you.

• Have an Enhanced DBS check (preferably be on the update system)

• Sign our volunteer contract. (If you disagree with anything in it please do discuss it

  with us and we will be happy to have a conversation and make small changes if

  appropriate).

• A positive attitude to disability and illness. We are happy to answer questions on this.

  What can you expect?

  • A community group that does not currently operate a rota system of any kind. You don’t have to regularly commit your time.

• A kind, caring, nurturing company who cares about people, staff and volunteers. Our aim is to keep your wellbeing at the centre of our work.

• A very positive and proactive approach to disability and illness. Any and all accommodations will be made that you require. If there is anything you wish to discuss in private please email us and we will arrange a confidential chat.

Benefits to Volunteering with Buttons & Bubbles CIC

• Gaining valuable experience and improving your confidence

• Allows you to explore potentially different areas of interest.

• Make a difference to community

• Develop your current skill set and gain new skills.

• Displays your level of commitment to future employers.

• Displays your ability to balance and schedule your time effectively when seeking future employment.

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

At Cats Protection we help thousands of cats and kittens each year thanks to our dedicated and passionate volunteer groups. We have branches across the UK, all of which help our cats in different ways. Branches take in stray and abandoned cats and ensure they receive the veterinary care and attention they deserve; help raise funds, promote neutering and help spread cat welfare messages. Our branch team leader volunteers lead their local team by supporting and managing volunteers within their group, maintaining communications with both volunteers and employees, and helping promote a positive and professional image of Cats Protection.

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

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Supporting your team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure volunteers are happy and confident
• Making sure the team observes charity best practice and compliance
• Collaborating with your Branch Development Manager (BDM) to plan volunteer activity
• Leading the team to follow Cats Protection policies, procedures and guidelines
• Monitoring expenditure and helping ensure long term financial stability of the volunteer group
• Organising and chairing team meetings
• Acting as an ambassador for Cats Protectio

Volunteers offer people a place to keep warm, charge phones and enjoy a hot drink or meal. Could you be a friendly face in the community this winter? Training and support is provided. The Break Room is a welcoming, free space at T&T2 in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre. 

Volunteering with Time & Talents provides fantastic opportunities to connect with your community, build your skills, and even make new friends! We provide induction, training and continuous support, alongside opportunities to meet other volunteers.

In the first instance, please get in touch here and we will send you our online application form!

The Structured Intervention Support (SIS) service offers support for people with high and complex needs.

You will be assisting service users who experience mental distress in one-to-one settings:
-help to resettle in the community on discharge from hospital
-help to develop strategies to improve their quality of life and reduce their dependence on statutory services
-provide personalised key work support to enable people with complex mental health needs progress and maintain independent living.

We are looking for volunteers who can support people with activities for a minimum of 1 day per week. Activities such as:

-Escorting people to appointments/outings/activities or events
-Organisational and administrative tasks – help with budgeting; understanding/applying for welfare benefits; letter writing and form filling; arranging activities/appointments; planning the use of other services such as shopping.
-Supporting people to maintain their homes – reporting/organising repairs; organising a move; signposting and referring to services and activities.
-Ad-hoc support

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Support Volunteer for the Camden Group. As our local group Support Volunteer you’ll help people affected by MS find information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access local information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application. See a video about one of our Support Volunteers here.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services. Most importantly you’ll help people affected by MS to access the help they need. 

Time commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the local area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Support Volunteer for the Wandworth Group. As our local group Support Volunteer you’ll help people affected by MS find information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access local information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application. See a video about one of our Support Volunteers here.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services. Most importantly you’ll help people affected by MS to access the help they need.

Time commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the local area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Support Volunteer for the Croydon Group. As our local group Support Volunteer you’ll help people affected by MS find information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access local information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application. See a video about one of our Support Volunteers here.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services. Most importantly you’ll help people affected by MS to access the help they need.

Time commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the local area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

The Deputy Chair of Hidayah provides essential support to the Chair, helps ensure the effective governance of the organisation, and stands ready to act in the Chair’s absence. This role helps maintain the smooth functioning of the Board and the organisation overall.

What are the key responsibilities of this role?

This role will have the following duties, but are not limited to:

· Support the Chair in providing strategic leadership and overseeing Trustee meetings, stepping in as Chair when needed

· Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of Hidayah’s Strategic Plan, Annual Report, and key governance policies

· Help manage volunteers and support fellow Trustees to ensure shared responsibility, accountability, and active engagement across the Board

· Assist in planning and delivering core governance activities, such as the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Trustee votes

· Act as a signatory on financial matters, supporting the smooth running of Hidayah’s operations.

· Lead or support outreach activities, including identifying and engaging new partners, drafting proposals, and maintaining outreach records

· Help plan and promote events and campaigns, and contribute to the development of inclusive outreach strategies

· Represent Hidayah at external events, building relationships with individuals and organisations aligned with our mission

What do we expect from the Deputy Chair?

Please note that you must agree with and fit the criteria below to be eligible to volunteer in this role:

Essential:

· A strong commitment to Hidayah’s mission and values, particularly around LGBTQ+ Muslim inclusion

· Reliable, organised, and able to manage tasks independently

· Good written and verbal communication skills

· Basic digital literacy – including use of email, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office tools

· Ability to maintain confidentiality and act with integrity

· Respectful, inclusive, and collaborative working style

· Willingness to take initiative, contribute ideas, and stay engaged with wider organisational activity

Desirable:

· Experience in community outreach, project support, or partnership building – particularly in a grassroots, voluntary, or equalities-focused setting

· Familiarity with governance, quality assurance, or safeguarding in the charity or community sector

· Experience facilitating or supporting meetings and group discussions

· Ability to resolve conflict or challenges with empathy and professionalism

· Knowledge or lived experience of LGBTQ+ Muslim identities or the intersection of faith, gender, and sexuality

· Awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices

How much commitment is required?

This is a voluntary role with flexible hours, and can be carried out around your existing commitments. The role will take approximately 2 - 4 hours per week (flexible depending on needs and availability). You are also required to attend monthly board meetings. There is also an expectation of willingness to commit to the role for at least 3 months.

This role will be supporting two lovely gentlemen living in Twickenham who would love a visitor to spend some time with them. They both enjoy exploring their local high street charity shops and going for a drink and a sausage roll in Greggs. When at home, one man enjoys relaxing in front of the telly and the other enjoys listening to his record and cassette collection.

Living in the same home, we’d ideally like one volunteer to visit both gentlemen. For one of the men, their speech might take some patience to understand, and the other prefers to communicate with gestures and pictures, so a friendly and understanding approach is key. It would be up to you whether you do both visits on the same day or on alternate months.

Access to a car would be a great addition but is not essential for this role as the house is very near to both bus and train routes.

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year to create a 1-2-1 connection, offer companionship, encourage people to do the things they enjoy and check-in on their wellbeing. In many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them.

Watch a video about this role here

This is an Out and about visit role which means your visits are likely to be longer, very active and the person you visit will often take an active part in planning your outings and activities in the community. Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions for things you can do. Visits will vary in length but tends to be around a couple of hours, sometimes shorter or longer, depending on what you plan to do.

In this role you will spend quality time with the person you visit and could do a range of different activities like:

• Sitting and having a chat
• Checking in on their well- being
• Going out to a local café/pub for a meal/drink
• Take part on community activities like visiting a place of interest, go shopping etc.
• Enjoying a walk
• A craft activity at home

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

• Friendly and approachable
• Accepting of others who might be different to yourself
• Reliable and patient
• Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

• Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit
• Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training
• Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed
• Meet new people
• Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

**About Mencap ** Mencap is the leading learning disability charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with people with a learning disability and their families to challenge prejudice and change laws, and we directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose. We have an ambitious vision for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

Volunteering with us is YOUR opportunity to help us achieve this, whilst having the chance to develop your skills, meet new people and join a passionate and dedicated team.

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Communications Volunteer for the Croydon Group. As our Communications Volunteer you’ll make sure people know they have a local MS Society group to turn to.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your writing skills, and gain an experience of communicating across a range of digital channels. 

Time commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

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