Advice volunteer volunteer volunteer roles in Grays, thurrock

Home-Start Croydon is a charity dedicated to helping parents give their children the best possible start in life.

 As a volunteer, you will help run a warm and welcoming peer-to-peer stay and play group for families with children aged 0–5. You will engage with parents, share information about local services, and take part in play activities that encourage children to learn and explore.

 Your support will help strengthen community bonds, promote inclusion, and reduce isolation—creating a safe, supportive space where families and children can flourish and thrive.

Role title: Stay & Play Group Volunteer

Hours: 3 hours per week, term-time only

Key activities

v Setting up the group room and tidying up afterwards

v Chatting with parents and making them feel welcome

v Making refreshments for adults/healthy snacks for children

v  Encouraging children to play and explore

v  Participating with the families in the activities organised for the day

v Inspiring parents to build friendships and support networks amongst themselves

v  Providing information on childcare options / signposting to local services for families (training provided)

v  Being attentive, observant, able to read situations and respond with care

v  Building a good knowledge of your own community and links with local families

v Collaborating and coordinating with fellow volunteers to ensure sessions run smoothly

v Recording and documenting basic but essential information needed for funding purposes

v Attending training

v  Regularly meeting with the Parent Champion Coordinator and other volunteers to share good practice

Skills and Experience

v  Have experience of being a parent or carer

v  Have a positive experience of using formal childcare and local family services

v  Having an understanding of professional and personal boundaries

v  Being warm, jovial and welcoming with the families and colleagues

v  Have a non-judgemental attitude, able to communicate and listen with kindness and understanding

v  Have the ability to empathise with some of the difficulties parents face

v  Be able to work collaboratively in small teams

v  Have an awareness of Confidentiality and Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults (training provided)

v  Have knowledge of and commitment to equal opportunities, fairness and diversity

v  Be able to keep basic records as requested by Home-Start Croydon

Prospective volunteers will be contacted and invited to attend an induction training course provided by Home-Start Croydon and Coram Family and Childcare. An enhanced DBS check is required and will be carried out as part of the application process by Home-Start.

Home-Start Croydon is committed to safe recruitment practice as an important part of safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults.

This role involves volunteering with families who may be going through difficult times. It is essential that candidates are in a stable and positive place themselves, meet the above criteria, and are prepared to work sensitively and responsibly with families. Home-Start Croydon reserves the right to decline any volunteer application if the individual does not meet the requirements or if it is considered not suitable for the families’ well-being.

Volunteer HR & Volunteering Manager Wanted

Unlock YOUR Potential – Empowering Adults Across the UK

Do you believe in the power of people to transform lives?

Do you want to lead the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of volunteers who will unlock opportunity, resilience, and dignity for adults across the UK?

At Unlock YOUR Potential, we are seeking a Volunteer HR & Volunteering Manager—a visionary leader who will design and oversee a world-class volunteering programme. This is not just administration; it is stewardship of human potential, ensuring every volunteer feels valued, supported, and inspired to make lasting impact.

Your Role

As HR & Volunteering Manager, you will:

• Lead on the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of all volunteers.

• Build and manage a world-class volunteering programme rooted in dignity, clarity, and empowerment.

• Develop policies, training, and support systems that ensure volunteers thrive.

• Foster a culture of belonging, recognition, and resilience across our charity.

• Be the architect of our volunteer movement—ensuring every role contributes to transformation.

Why Join Us?

• Impact lives: Every volunteer you recruit multiplies the reach of our mission.

• Grow together: Leadership in HR and volunteering is a journey of shared strength and discovery.

• Belong: Join a warm, empowering community of volunteers across the UK.

• Legacy: Help build a charity that restores hope, resilience, and opportunity for generations.

Step forward. Lead as HR & Volunteering Manager. Together, we will unlock potential, restore dignity, and create opportunity across the UK.

Apply today and join us in shaping lives, futures, and communities.

Unlock YOUR Potential

• BREAKING BARRIERS
• UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

Victory Afghanistan is a volunteer -led nonprofit providing free online English lessons and mentoring for Afghan girls and women who are currently barred from formal education. Our mission is to equip them with the skills and confidence to apply for scholarships and university placements abroad.

We are looking for a number of volunteer IELTS Tutors to support our mentorship-level students from January to May 2026. These students already have an IELTS level of around 6.0 and now need focused preparation to achieve higher scores required for university entry.

You will be teaching bright, ambitious young women who are eager to perfect their academic English, improve their fluency, and succeed in international admissions. Lessons are held online once or twice a week, and materials can be adapted to suit your teaching style.

Commitment: 1–2 hours per week (online) depending on your availability.
Programme duration: 16 weeks
Start date: Third week of January 2026
End date: Third week of May 2026

This is a critical role in helping our students prepare for higher education starting September 2026—your guidance can truly change lives.

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

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!

Organisation: YourGateway2Success (Charity no. 1199249)

Location: Croydon and surrounding areas

Hours: Flexible, voluntary position

About Us
At YourGateway2Success, we empower young people aged 16–25 to thrive through mentoring, skills training, advice, and community activities. We believe every young person deserves the chance to arrive with a dream and leave with a future.

Job description

We are looking for Youth Mentor Volunteer to empower and uplift young people, specifically those aged 16-25, who reside in the Croydon and the surrounding areas, by providing the support and opportunities they need to thrive. We are committed to creating a brighter future where every young person has the tools and confidence to succeed.

Key Responsibilities

• Mentor and guide young people through one-to-one or group sessions
• Support delivery of workshops, skills programmes, and community activities
• Act as a positive role model, promoting confidence and personal growth
• Assist with events, outreach, and recreational projects
• Provide encouragement to help young people achieve their goals

What We’re Looking For

• Good communication and listening skills
• Patience, empathy, and a genuine interest in supporting young people
• Willingness to work as part of a team
• Commitment to our mission and values
• Previous youth work or mentoring experience is helpful but not essential full training provided

What We Offer

• Training and ongoing support
• Valuable experience in youth and community work
• Opportunities to develop leadership and mentoring skills
• The chance to make a real difference in the lives of young people

Additional Information

This role is unpaid.

Send your CV and a short statement on why you’d like to volunteer as a Youth Mentor.

Are you an organised and proactive leader who enjoys bringing people together to achieve meaningful results? Join us as a Volunteer Project Manager and play a key role in coordinating our remote volunteers across multiple teams.

You’ll be at the centre of ensuring projects run smoothly, collaboration stays strong, and our initiatives continue creating impact in youth empowerment and skills development.

About the Role

As a Volunteer Project Manager, you’ll oversee the full project lifecycle — from planning to successful delivery. You’ll coordinate timelines, deliverables, and communication across various volunteer teams, supporting team leads and maintaining project momentum.

This is a great opportunity to strengthen your leadership, coordination, and communication skills in a mission-driven, international environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate progress across multiple volunteer teams and projects.
• Plan and manage project timelines, deliverables, and follow-ups.
• Support team leads in maintaining engagement, motivation, and productivity.
• Track progress, analyse outcomes, and provide regular updates to leadership.
• Identify and address challenges to ensure efficient project execution.
• Foster collaboration and effective communication between volunteers and management.

Skills & Qualifications

• Strong organisational and coordination skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Proven experience managing projects or teams (remote experience is a plus).
• Comfortable using digital tools and project management platforms.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and able to work independently.
• Genuine interest in youth development and social impact.

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience in leadership and project management.
• The opportunity to collaborate with a global, values-driven community.
• Mentorship and guidance from the management team.
• A meaningful role contributing to youth empowerment and skills development.
• A professional reference and recognition for your contribution.

Please note the role is a voluntary position and could be entirely remote. Any incurred reasonable expenses will be paid.

Could you be the person who helps a young man rewrite his future?
At Trailblazers, we believe in second chances. Since 1998, we’ve been mentoring young men in prison to reduce re-offending and inspire new futures. Through a programme of 1:1 mentoring and practical support, we support men aged 18–35 during the last 6 months of their sentence and for up to 12 months after release.

In London, our services run at HMP Brixton, and we’re looking for volunteer mentors who can commit half a day per week to help someone change their life.

What You’ll Do

• Be a positive and empathetic role model whilst supporting someone to fulfil their potential
• Meet regularly to build a supportive, consistent relationship with a mentee for a minimum of 12 months
• Help set goals and celebrate achievements
• Support reintegration into the community, education, and employment
• Attend and participate fully in mentor training and develop an understanding of the role, responsibilities and boundaries of a volunteer mentor
• Engage with ongoing support and supervision sessions to regularly review performance within mentoring relationships
• Perform your role in line with the aims of Trailblazers, following relevant policies and procedures and reporting safeguarding concerns immediately
• Keep mentoring session notes and communicate regularly with Trailblazers staff

Mentoring sessions last around 1 hour per week, with additional time needed for travel and liaison. We ask for a 12-month commitment to ensure consistency for the mentee.

Why It Matters

The national re-offending rate is up to 55%. For those with a Trailblazers mentor, it drops to just 7%. Your time could be the turning point in someone’s life.

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome all backgrounds and skill sets, especially those with experience in:

• The criminal justice system
• Underrepresented communities (including BAME groups)

All we ask if that you are:

• Empathetic, non-judgmental and committed to social change
• Professional but relatable with strong communication skills
• Able to advocate for your mentee and help them to overcome barriers
• Comfortable using basic IT and taking guidance from staff
• Willing to travel and undertake visits for mentoring sessions on a weekly or fortnightly basis
• Committed to supporting one young man for up to a year

 Requirements

• Aged 21+
• British citizen (due to prison security checks)
• Live within 30 miles of the prison at which you want to volunteer
• Good level of fitness (prison visits may involve stairs and fast-paced movement)
• Not barred from working with vulnerable adults or children
• If you have lived experience of the criminal justice system, you must be off licence for at least 12 months and not in crisis
• You cannot volunteer at a prison where you were previously a resident

What We Offer

• Full training and ongoing support
• Out-of-pocket expenses covered
• A chance to make a real difference

Ready to be the change?
Visit our website for more information and to apply. We’d love to hear from you.

Are you committed to delivering high quality care? Do you have experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team?

As a County lead of Kent, you will be part of the establishment of a County St John Council to oversee and guide volunteer Community Networks, aims to create a structured and supportive framework that empowers volunteers to operate more effectively and efficiently. By providing strategic leadership, coordination, and oversight, the council ensures that volunteer efforts align with community needs and priorities while avoiding duplication of services.

St John has embarked on a journey to achieve the goal of ensuring that every community and young person across the country is first aid confident.

We are looking for a leader with a passion for local volunteering and helping communities to inspire and support volunteers on this journey across your county

The post will also interact with relevant Communities of Practice to share learning, advice and best practice.

Contribute to the Honours and Awards process. - Play an active role in local events such as Carol Services, awards ceremonies, faith-based services, and The Order of St John UK Award for Organ Donation. - Initiate or support fundraising activities. - Cultivate relationships with key external stakeholders. - Attend formal, ceremonial, or other required meetings and events. - Collaborate with Networks to recruit, appoint, and line manage other Presidents within the County. - Supporting the Commissioner and members of the County Council in your specialist area.

The closing date for this vacancy is 05/01/2026

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 needs to hold a professional level diploma in counselling and have training and experience working with individuals with eating disorders.

Activities

• To provide therapeutic support to young women (aged 18-30) with eating disorders
• One-to-One counselling sessions will aim to support the individual to improve self-confidence, identify and resolve negative thought processes, implement constructive coping strategies and empower them to fulfil attainable life goals
• To develop and promote a positive relationship with the women within allocated caseload
• To keep up-to-date with development in the field of counselling and eating disorder therapy
• To manage appropriate professional boundaries in the relationship
• To maintain records for monitoring, evaluation and tracking purposes plus service evaluation
• To take responsibility for own professional development

Requirements

• Hold a professional level diploma in counselling
• Hold professional membership with BACP, UKCP or equivalent
• Have own regular supervision with a qualified supervisor
• Fully trained in eating disorder therapy and previous experience supporting individuals with eating disorders
• 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. Ideally 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.

About Care4Calais 

Care4Calais is a volunteer-led charity delivering essential aid and support to people seeking asylum living in the UK and Northern France. We provide direct aid and advocate for a fair asylum system, including safe routes to claim asylum.

The UK Direct Aid team delivers essential support through practical services; such as running distributions, delivering English classes and casework-style support through drop-ins. The UK Direct Aid team also provides services to promote wellbeing such as trips and sports activities.

UK Area Lead Volunteer

We are looking for a compassionate, organised, and motivated Volunteer Area Leads to oversee a team of volunteers and the delivery of essential services and activities in their area. You must be committed to anti-racism and social justice, particularly for people seeking safety.

We are looking for Leads in the following areas:

• North London (including Brent, Barnet, Camden and Harrow)
• West London (Ealing/Acton)
• Reading
• Oxford
• Surrey (Redhill/ Reigate)
• Bedfordshire 
• Southampton
• Birmingham
• Nottingham
• South Yorkshire
• West Yorkshire

Responsibilities include:

• Organising activities (distributions, drop-ins, conversation clubs)

• Monitoring WhatsApp groups

• Attending and leading meetings

• Sharing updates and resources with volunteers

• Partnering with local organisations and councils

• Attending training

• Ensuring best practice and reflecting Care4Calais objectives

• Monitoring group funds and purchases

• Recording services and support provided

• Ensuring your group reflects Care4Calais’ values and messaging

What you will get

• Comprehensive training to equip you in your role; including safeguarding training, Induction Training, Activities and Distribution Training and Boundaries and Resilience Training. 

• Support from a wonderful team

• Opportunity to develop skills including casework, team management/leadership, admin, organisational, delegating, networking, funding bids, sourcing donations, and building partnerships in the sector

• Greater understanding of the UK asylum system

There are a range of activities that you can organise, including the following:

• English classes/ conversation clubs 

• Drop-ins - help with requests and signpost to support.

• Distributions - provide essential items like clothing, shoes, and toiletries. 

• Sports - activities like yoga, football etc., are a great way to improve wellbeing, and for people to connect with others.

• Trips - organise trips to places such as the park, cinema to help boost mood and give people time away from the hotel.

• Wellbeing activities - sessions like crafts and cooking are popular. 

• Workshops - help with housing once someone receives Leave to Remain; familiarise people with life in the UK.

• Events - mark specific days or holidays to get people together and celebrate. 

• Media/ Press/ Engagements - as a volunteer you may be asked to share a story for our social media or help someone with lived experience to share.

• Remote working - support with tasks such as contacting Migrant Help, helping individuals register with GPS, researching local support, or general admin. 

Care4Calais strongly encourages people with experience of the asylum system to apply, and recognises the specific value that lived experience brings to an organisation.

We're STAMMA. We exist to create a world that makes space for stammering. Where a stammer is embraced as just a difference. Where no-one judges us on our stammer or the way we choose to deal with it. 

We will stand up for and empower those who stammer and challenge discrimination wherever we find it. We will provide support and information and fight for speech and language therapy services for those who want it. No matter how you talk, we're here for you. Join us and help the public understand that stammering is not a sign of being shy, drunk, dishonest, nervous or weak. It's simply how some of us talk.

We provide a free national helpline, email and webchat service, online resources and information, support for local groups and professional networks, for families with children who stammer, and an Advocacy Service for those who have been discriminated against because of their stammer.

STAMMA’s Helpline Services include our phoneline, webchat and email support services and are a hugely important part of STAMMA’s work. This is frontline stuff, responding to people reaching out for information and support. It’s a great opportunity to spend time chatting with people who stammer, as well as their parents, grandparents, teachers and employers, taking the time to make space to listen and to value what they have to say. Where appropriate we then signpost people to useful information, support and services.

We use a virtual call centre which means you can take calls and webchats from home, using a desktop or laptop computer.

Our helpline is manned by our amazing volunteers from 10am - 2pm (our morning shift), and from 4pm - 8pm (our evening shift), Monday to Thursday. We are looking for dedicated volunteers who can commit to one of the following shifts on a weekly basis:

Monday 18:00 – 20:00

Thursday 10:00 to 14:00

We think that you (and our callers!) will get the most out of this opportunity if you're able to volunteer with us for at least 12 months or more. By gradually learning and developing your confidence in the role, you can have the biggest impact. 

About the role

Working within our Helpline Services, we’re hoping you’ll feel comfortable to:

• Take helpline calls (listening and speaking on the phone)
• Respond to webchats (reading on-screen messages and typing responses)
• Sending occasional emails

If you wish to, you can also be linked to an area of project work. That way, if the helpline services are quiet during your shift, you can get involved in other areas of STAMMA’s work. Project work is likely to involve reading and reviewing documents and resources, contributing to discussions and campaign ideas, and helping develop new resources.

We provide structured, online training that you can complete at your own pace, but is likely to take about 8-10 hours in total to complete. Following the training, you’ll have practice helpline calls and webchats. If you feel ready after that, you’ll start working in the helpline services. Ongoing support includes:

• Monthly helpline services meetings where you can meet other helpline volunteers. These monthly meetings include a short training session and discussion where we share and learn from our experiences of different calls and webchats.
• We have a WhatsApp group where you can keep in touch with other volunteers.
• Volunteer supervisors are available for one-to-one support and discussions.
• Access the training modules as many times as you want.

Who are we looking for?

You’re likely to enjoy volunteering in the Helpline Services if you:

• have a genuine curiosity about people and their experiences
• are able to understand written and spoken English
• are comfortable enough to speak on the telephone
• are comfortable with basic email functions
• have good administration skills
• enjoy listening and talking to people

It’s not essential to stammer yourself if you’re interested in working in our helpline, but it can be an advantage if you do, or if you are the parent of a child who stammers. Many of our callers find it really helpful to know that they’re speaking to someone who really ‘gets it’ and who has that personal insight into some of the issues and questions they have.

This is a volunteer role is remote, so you will need access to:

• a quiet place where you can work in privacy and not be overheard during calls
• a mobile phone or landline
• a computer or laptop

What can you gain from this opportunity?

This is a wonderful opportunity to join a small and friendly team! We'll make sure you're supported in every step of your journey, and you'll get to meet some inspiring people. You'll gain skills that you'll be able to use in all areas of your life and build experiences for your CV. Most importantly, you will make a real difference in the lives of people who stammer.

How to apply

To apply, please fill in our volunteer form that is linked to this opportunity. 

We are dedicated to making sure our roles are accessible and open to all. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

The Mental Health Recovery Pathway (MHRP) service provides day service opportunities for people with low and medium Preventative Care Needs.

We are currently looking to offer volunteering placements with our Mental Health Recovery Pathway (MHRP) – a mental health provision based across three sites in Islington responding to the mental health needs of Islington residents.

You will be assisting service users who experience mental distress in group settings.

We ask for a commitment of at least 1 day a week 10:15am – 4:00pm for a full year (+ about 2-3 months for DBS check and induction), though there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer more than one day a week.

If this sounds interesting and suitable to you, please complete the MHRP volunteer application form and return with your CV, indicating why are you interested in volunteering for Islington Mind, if there is anything specific that you would like to do in your volunteering placement – e.g. facilitate activities, support our open access drop-in sessions, support service users with completing forms, accompany service users to appointments etc, and your availability – e.g. one or more days a week and which days of the week you are available.

We are Forward, the social enterprise that empowers people to break the cycle of crime or addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

The Forward Enterprise Team is part of Forward’s employability service. The team supports enterprises and charities that create self employment opportunities for ex-offenders and people in recovery from addiction. Eligible applicants can benefit from a tailored mix of support to help grow their business and access investment.

As an Enterprise Mentor, you will be supporting clients of Forward’s Enterprise Support team to reach their full potential to start and build a successful business. Acting as a role model, you will use your personal experience and expertise to guide them with their personal goals and challenges. You will be matched to a mentee according to their aspirations and your personal expertise. You will meet with your mentees once to twice a month and will need to be able to commit to 4 to 6 hours a month to support your mentee . This is a just a recommendation and is flexible based on the Mentee's needs. Training is provided to all volunteers to support them with their volunteering duties and enable them to further their skills and experience with our client group.

We recommend that the Mentor commits to volunteering to 4-6 hours a month for a period of 6 months. This is just a recommendation and can be flexible according to the needs of the Mentee.

Task description:

• Build a trusting and supportive relationship with your mentee
• Be a consistent ear to listen
• Support your mentee to formulate realistic and achievable goals
• Support your mentee with the barriers they encounter and provide guidance on how to overcome these
• Support your mentee by using your professional expertise and knowledge of the sector to guide them
• Listen to the mentees’ concerns and work with them to overcome these
• Listen to your mentee’s ideas and give honest feedback on them
• Be a positive role model to your mentee

Specific duties:

• Arrange and attend monthly meetings with your mentees
• Set targets at the meetings and encourage your mentee to work towards those
• Provide practical support to help your mentee with their concerns and barriers to enable them to overcome them
• Keep a record of your meetings by completing the relevant paperwork after each meeting
• Ensure that notes of meetings are sent to your placement supervisor
• Attend monthly mentor meetings to hear group feedback, raise any concerns and learn from other mentors’ experiences

Perks and Benefits:

Induction training will be provided to the volunteer and will include the following E-Learning:

o Induction to the Forward Trust
o Safeguarding
o Data Protection & GDPR
o Health and Safety
]

Additional internal training will be discussed and offered according to the need of the volunteer in placement to support you with your personal development goals. This may include: group facilitation skills, 12 Steps awareness. External training requests will need to be agreed with placement supervisor and submitted to Head Office for approval prior to completing a course.
 

Skills You'll Need

Below is a list of the qualities that we are looking from volunteer:

• If in Recovery from Addiction, to be 12 months abstinent from all mood altering substances. 
• To have the ability to engage effectively with the client group.
• To have a clear understanding of confidentiality.
• To have a clear understanding of how to set and maintain boundaries.
• To be able to communicate and actively listen to client’s concerns.
• To be able to treat clients in a positive and non-judgemental manner.
• To be committed to own learning and development
• To have experience of setting and managing your own business