97 Business area manager volunteer volunteer roles

Charleston is seeking a new Trustee to join its Board at an exciting stage in the organisation’s development.

Charleston is a year-round cultural organisation with sites in Firle and Lewes, bringing people together to engage with art and ideas. The former home and studio of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Charleston has a rich history rooted in the Bloomsbury group and a contemporary mission to champion experimental thinking, social inclusion and the power of art to provoke new thinking.

We are particularly seeking a trustee with significant experience in financial management, investment and endowment strategy. You will work closely with the CEO and fellow trustees to shape and lead Charleston’s approach to building and stewarding its new Permanent Endowment Trust, helping to create a secure and sustainable financial foundation for the organisation’s future.

We are looking for someone with:

• Experience of financial management, investment, reserves and endowment management.
• Experience of fundraising, particularly endowment campaigns.
• Strategic thinking, sound judgement and strong Board-level decision-making skills.
• An understanding of charity governance and trustee responsibilities.
• The ability to build influential philanthropic, corporate, public or charitable relationships.
• Strong communication and collaborative skills.
• A commitment to Charleston’s mission, vision and values.

Knowledge of the arts, heritage, museums or cultural sectors, previous board or committee experience, and experience of strategic partnerships would be advantageous. You do not need to be a qualified accountant.

The successful candidate will join Charleston’s Business and Finance Committee, which meets quarterly, alongside four Board meetings each year in Sussex and London. Trustees serve a three-year term, renewable for a second term subject to Board approval. The role is unremunerated, with reasonable expenses reimbursed.

We particularly welcome applications from people from backgrounds underrepresented in the cultural sector, including Disabled people, people from the Global Majority, LGBTQ+ people and people from low-income backgrounds.

Closing date: 9am (GMT), Friday 16 October 2026.
Interview: Friday 20 November 2026, Charleston, Firle (BN8 6LL).

To apply, please send a concise covering letter addressing the person specification and CV.

West Midlands Heritage Trust, along with its three partner project trusts, is seeking to appoint a new Trustee Treasurer to its board. This is an exciting opportunity to help guide our work in rescuing, restoring, and finding sustainable new uses for historic buildings in our region.

Who are we?

We are four building preservation trusts all based in the West Midlands, working together to share our knowledge and experience to save Historic Buildings at Risk.

West Midlands Heritage is made up of: West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust, and Wolverhampton Heritage Trust.

We aim to safeguard buildings of historical and/or architectural importance, within the West Midlands, Worcestershire and Warwickshire which are in danger of being lost. Our previous projects range in age and type from a 16th Century farmhouse to a Georgian townhouse and a Victorian Cemetery Chapel. 

As well as projects to protect and rescue historic buildings, the Trusts organise a range of activities and events to encourage and involve our members and local communities, as well as contribute to professional development within the sector.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a volunteer Trustee Treasurer with an interest in saving historic buildings at risk and contributing to their local community.

The Treasurer plays a key role in supporting the financial governance of the Trusts and helping to ensure their long-term sustainability. Working with fellow Trustees and staff, including a Finance Officer, the Treasurer will oversee financial reporting, budgeting and financial controls, and provide advice on financial matters affecting the organisation.

We welcome applications from individuals with experience in:

• Finance, accountancy or bookkeeping
• Financial management of charities, businesses, or within the public sector
• Strategic financial planning
• Risk management or governance

A recognised accounting qualification would be advantageous but is not essential.

It is not necessary to have previous trustee experience, as support and guidance will be given.

What the role entails

• Attendance at up to SIX evening meetings of The Council of Management per year, plus the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
• Attendance at finance sub-committee meetings.
• Optional attendance at other meetings and site visits within the West Midlands, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
• Preparation of financial reports for the Council of Management and the AGM
• Responsible for overseeing Finance Officer role and activities
• Oversight of Trust bank accounts and authorisation of payments, monthly, with Finance Officer
• Oversight of Restricted Fund Management, with Finance Officer
• Liaison with the Trust’s appointed accountants (book-keeping) and auditors, with Finance Officer

Trustees are elected for a 3-year term of office, and may offer themselves for re-election thereafter. Out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed.

We are keen to make the role of Trustee Treasurer accessible to all and will endeavour to make necessary arrangements for individuals unable to attend in person, including the use of online meeting platforms.

Could you help shape the future of one of Suffolk’s most important heritage and conservation sites?

The Landguard and Felixstowe Conservation Trust seeks an experienced and inspirational Chair to lead its Board and support the long-term development of the nationally significant Landguard Peninsula, home to the Grade I listed Landguard Fort, Nature Reserve, Museum and Bird Observatory.

Welcoming around 500,000 visitors annually, the Trust works with volunteers, staff and partner organisations to conserve and enhance this unique heritage and wildlife asset.

You will bring strategic leadership, governance experience, excellent communication skills and a commitment to charitable values.

This is an unpaid role (reasonable expenses reimbursed).

For further information and an informal discussion, contact Paul Grant.

 A pack has been produced to be sent to all potential candidates that express an interest in the role. A copy can be provided on request.

Help us improve the quality of the information that supports young people, businesses and our wider community.

Position title: CRM & Data Support Volunteer
Reporting to: Quality Assurance & Impact Lead
Status: Voluntary and unpaid
Suggested commitment: Three days per week for approximately three months
Location: Tooting Works, London, with one agreed volunteering day from home

Expenses: Reasonable agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed in line with the organisation's volunteer expenses arrangements

About Us:

Business Launchpad supports young adult aged 18 to 30 from low-income backgrounds across London to pursue enterprising careers and achieve financial progress. We provide tailored enterprise programmes, one-to-one coaching and practical employability experiences designed to develop business and life skills.

Tooting Works is Business Launchpad's social enterprise and provides affordable offices, co-working spaces and supporting infrastructure for businesses and entrepreneurs. Profits generated through Tooting Works are reinvested into Business Launchpad's charitable activities.

Job Summary:

The CRM and Data Support Volunteer will provide practical, supervised support with agreed data entry, cleansing, checking and record management activities. The volunteer will help us reduce identified backlogs, improve the reliability of organisational information and prepare agreed datasets for reporting or migration.

This is a time limited volunteering opportunity suited to someone who wants to develop practical experience of Salesforce, data quality and information management within a charity and social enterprise environment.

The Quality Assurance and Impact Lead will set priorities, provide instructions, review progress and approve any activity involving record merging, anonymisation, retention or deletion. Department Leads and designated data owners remain responsible for the accuracy and maintenance of information generated within their areas.

What you will support us with

CRM data cleansing and maintenance

·  Review Salesforce records against agreed data quality standards and instructions.

·  Correct incomplete, inconsistent or inaccurate records where the source information is clear and the correction has been authorised.

·  Support agreed data entry and keep an accurate record of significant changes completed.

·  Flag records that require investigation, judgement or a management decision.

Duplicate record review

·  Review potential duplicate accounts and contacts using agreed criteria.

·  Help prepare records for controlled consolidation and support approved merges under supervision.

·  Escalate unclear or complex duplicate cases before any change is made.

·  Support the review of an initial backlog of more than 3,000 potential duplicate records.

Alumni data cleansing and migration

·  Help cleanse, standardise and prepare historic alumni information for migration into Salesforce.

·  Check records for completeness, consistency and appropriate formatting.

·  Support the consolidation of alumni datasets to create a reliable baseline for future outcomes reporting.

·  Support work on an initial dataset of approximately 380 alumni records.

Data retention, anonymisation and deletion support

·  Support agreed retention, anonymisation or deletion activity only when directly instructed and supervised.

·  Maintain a clear audit trail and pause immediately if any instruction or record is unclear.

·  Follow confidentiality, data protection and information governance requirements at all times.

·  Do not independently decide whether information should be retained, anonymised or deleted. The initial review may include more than 1,500 records.

Tooting Works data preparation

·  Help prepare, clean and standardise agreed Tooting Works information before migration into approved systems.

·  Assist with reviewing information held across existing databases and with digitising appropriate tenancy or operational records where agreed.

·  Identify missing, duplicated or inconsistent information and refer queries to the relevant data owner.

·  Support scoping across approximately nine existing databases or data sources, subject to the agreed technical plan.

Salesforce reports, dashboards and KPI support

·  Help check agreed Salesforce reports against documented reporting requirements.

·  Review report filters, fields and dashboard dependencies, and refer technical issues to the appropriate lead or specialist.

·  Assist with routine dashboard refreshes, data collation and preparation of management information.

·  Support outstanding KPI data entry, initially covering around 30 reports and 15 KPI records across six months.

Do you have experience in partnerships, business development or stakeholder management, and have some time you can give back to help an amazing cause? PINT Giving are looking for a volunteer Partnerships Manager! 

Our volunteer Partnerships Manager will be responsible for identifying and building relationships with organisations, businesses, universities, community groups and other potential supporters who could help PINT increase its reach, resources and impact. This will be across a number of different areas of PINTs work and various projects. We are also looking for someone who is proactive, organised and confident communicating PINT’s mission clearly, with the ability to work alongside other volunteers collaboratively.

We are looking for volunteers with experience in partnerships, business development, fundraising, stakeholder engagement or relationship management. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who are confident reaching out to new contacts, developing opportunities and maintaining positive relationships with external organisations. This is a new volunteer role, so we are looking for someone who can bring ideas and initiative to help shape our approach to partnerships, sponsorships, donations and wider community support for PINT’s work.

What’s in it for you? Volunteering at PINT is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in  the charity sector, develop your skills, and contribute to an amazing cause.

The time commitment can be flexible with whatever you are able to give, but around 4 hours a week on average could be a good estimate.  

Who are we: 
We are Buttons & Bubbles CIC. We are dedicated to increasing inclusion and representation across society for disabled families. We take a positive and proactive disability and illness. We don't conform to society's and the media's view that disability is awful, and you have no quality of life. Although we fully acknowledge it gives rise to come of the most heartbreaking and challenging times you will ever face. We ask everyone who joins Buttons & Bubbles to embrace this perspective. If you don't agree with it, then sadly we're not the right organisation for you. 

About the role: 
 
We are looking for people to help lead some our teams across the organisation. We are volunteer led and manage 65+ volunteers across the country, most of them remoately. There are 10 different teams ranging from creative to business development. We are looking for up to 10 people to help with the coordination of feedback, delegation of tasks and assisting with running monthly meetings. We have a very diverse team of volunteers from all different culture, religons and disabilities. 

Our values: 

We embrace disability and neurodiversity; it makes us a stronger and more brilliant team. No robots at Buttons & Bubbles, thank you! 

What are we looking for? 

We are looking for a few individuals who may have the following skills and experience. Don't worry if you haven’t as full training will be provided.

Skillset; 

• Communication skills  

• Coordination skills

• Delegration 

• Knowledge or previous experience of working with disabilities. 

• Knowledge of inclusive design and work practices or open to learning.

• Organised  

• Adaptable  

• Willing to learn and develop  

• Thrill of building an online community. 

• Have a basic DBS check

• Positive attitude towards disability or illness 

Benefits of joining Buttons & Bubbles C.I.C:  

• Gaining valuable experience. 

• Improving your confidence 

• Allows you to explore potentially different areas of interest. 

Benefits of volunteering with us:  

• Making a difference to the community 

• Makes a positive impact on people 

• 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 opportunities

Would you like to join our Board of  Trustees of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust?

This year we are looking for three people to join our Board of Trustees at our AGM in October 26.

Trustees of the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust (SRWT) are volunteers who together lead the organisation in the planning, resourcing and delivery of its activities, so that it can achieve its charitable objectives.  An enthusiastic, committed and active Board of Trustees, with a good range of knowledge, skills, experience and personal qualities is vital to the healthy and effective running of the organisation.

The Board of Trustees:

• lead the strategic development and planning of the Trust

• develop and adopt appropriate policies

• aim to ensure that the Trust is legally compliant and works to best practice wherever possible

• supports, guides and advises the Trust’s staff and volunteers, especially the CEO and the Executive Team

This year, we are especially keen to hear from people who:

Have expertise, knowledge and experience in one or more of the of the following areas:

• Marketing

• Commercial management, business acumen, profit for purpose experience (with reference to our consultancy)

• Green finance.

• Enterprise development

• Income generation

• Legal experience

• Health, Safety and safeguarding policy and compliance

• Have a good knowledge of communities and/or natural environment in Rotherham

• Can represent more of our diverse community in Sheffield & Rotherham

We are also recruiting for a Trustee to be our Treasurer who will have:

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, AAT)

• Ability to analyse proposals and understand financial consequences

• Understanding of financial risk

Skills & Experience

Trustees should demonstrate some or all of the following:

• Passion for nature

• Interest in and enthusiasm for the work of the Wildlife Trust

• Experience of working as part of a decision-making group, board or committee either in a business or voluntary environment

• Experience or knowledge of the legal requirements of a charity

• Local knowledge of the places in which the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust operates

• Experience of financial management and budgeting in a business or voluntary environment 

The following areas of expertise are always welcome on the Board:

• Environmental Law/ Protected species

• Land Management and Conservation 

• Community Outreach and Development

• Education & Training, Working with Children and Young People

• Advocacy & Campaigning

• Research: relevant to the work of the Trust

• Fundraising

Fort Amherst Heritage Trust cares for Fort Amherst in Chatham, Kent, preserving an important historic site and making it available for the benefit, enjoyment and education of the wider community. The Trust relies heavily on volunteers to help maintain, restore, interpret and promote the site for present and future generations.

Role Purpose

Trustees are collectively responsible for the governance, strategic direction and long-term sustainability of Fort Amherst Heritage Trust. As a Trustee, you will help ensure that the charity fulfils its charitable purposes, complies with its legal duties and makes decisions in the best interests of the Trust and the communities it serves.

Key Responsibilities

· Work with fellow Trustees to set and review the Trust’s vision, strategy and priorities.

· Ensure the Trust carries out its charitable purposes for the public benefit.

· Oversee the responsible management of the Trust’s finances, assets, buildings, grounds and collections.

· Support good governance by complying with the Trust’s governing document, charity law and relevant regulations.

· Monitor risks, policies and procedures, including health and safety, safeguarding, finance, data protection and volunteer management.

· Contribute to discussions and decisions at Board meetings, reading papers in advance and offering constructive challenge and support.

· Act as an ambassador for Fort Amherst, promoting its heritage, community value and volunteer-led work.

· Support fundraising, partnership development and community engagement where appropriate.

· Declare and manage any conflicts of interest and maintain confidentiality where required.

Skills and Experience

We welcome applications from people with a commitment to heritage, community benefit and good governance. Previous trustee experience is helpful but not essential. The Trust is particularly interested in people who can bring one or more of the following areas of experience:

· Heritage, museums, archives, conservation or historic buildings.

· Finance, fundraising, grant applications or business planning.

· Education, learning, interpretation or visitor experience.

· Volunteer management, community engagement or inclusion.

· Marketing, communications, events or digital engagement.

· Legal, governance, risk management, health and safety or safeguarding.

· Property, estates, facilities management or environmental stewardship.

Personal Qualities

· A genuine interest in Fort Amherst, local heritage and public benefit.

· Sound judgement, integrity and a willingness to act collectively with other Trustees.

· Ability to think strategically while understanding practical operational challenges.

· Confidence to ask questions, offer constructive challenge and support good decision-making.

· Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and respectful working relationships.

· Willingness to give sufficient time and attention to the role.

Kiplin Hall and Gardens in North Yorkshire is recruiting Trustees to join the friendly and dedicated Board which oversees the management of this intriguing Jacobean house.  The house was built in the 1620s for George Calvert, Secretary of State to James I, and founder of the US state of Maryland. A member of the Historic Houses Association, the Hall and Gardens welcome 40,000 visitors a year. In 2025 we opened a new Welcome Centre at Kiplin with improved retail and catering for our visitors and with the support of MEND funding undertook major repairs of the Hall roof. The National Lottery Heritage Fund enabled us to create new galleries and improve our visitor access and services. There is a dedicated staff of 10 FTE supported by a team of 240 volunteers.

TRUSTEE - We are seeking a Trustee with skills and experience in finance/accountancy to join the Board. We are keen to recruit someone who can advise the Board on its financial responsibilities and has oversight of the Trust's finances. As a Trustee you will contribute to Kiplin's business strategy and forward plan, ensuring the organisation's financial stability and sustainability. Over the next 10 years we are planning further developments to enhance the visitor experience. We are keen to attract the right person to the Trust Board to help guide Kiplin through an exciting period of change and transition. 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR - We are also seeking a new Independent Director to join the Board of Kiplin Hall Trading CIC, our trading arm that looks after our retail and café. We are particularly looking for people with experience in cafés or other catering environments.

Our aim is to develop and broaden the diversity of our governance team, ensuring we have a variety of perspectives and backgrounds and are particularly interested in receiving local applications.

Join the Team and Help Us Build the Future of The Swadhinata Trust 

The Swadhinata Trust is embarking on a journey of significant growth and transformation. Having recently refreshed our purpose, mission, and brand, we are now ready for our next big leap: transitioning from a grassroots volunteer organisation to a scalable charity with paid staff and expanded reach.

To reach our full potential, we need 'roll-up-your-sleeves' leaders who are eager to help us transform. This isn’t just about giving advice from the sidelines; it’s about being the engine of our transformation. Whether you are an expert in your field or looking to develop new skills, joining us as a collaborative partner offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible, lasting impact on our journey.

How Can You Help 

We are looking for both professionals and enthusiasts eager to use their skills to help us transform. Whether you can offer 2 hours a week or 10, your expertise will be a vital part of reaching our big goals. You don’t need to be a veteran in your field; we value a 'roll-up-your-sleeves' attitude and a commitment to our mission just as much as a CV.

Operations Volunteer

The Goal: You are the engine room! You’ll help ensure our day-to-day systems, from IT to HR, are smooth and supportive.

We’d love help with:

• Daily Support: Helping with office admin, logistics, or coordinating meetings.

• Improving Systems: Assisting with our CRM (database) or helping the team get the most out of our tech.

• People Support: Helping with the "welcome" process for new staff or volunteers.

What you bring:

• A proactive, "can-do" attitude and a knack for multitasking.

• Great people skills and an organised approach to busy days.

• Tech-savviness (or a quick ability to learn new software).

Volunteer Advisory Board Member – Strategy & Governance

About Children With Voices

Children With Voices is a community-focused charity based in Hackney, supporting children, young people and families through education, wellbeing, healthy eating, community support, creative activities and volunteering.

We are looking for an experienced Volunteer Advisory Board Member to provide strategic insight, constructive advice and professional expertise as we continue to develop and strengthen the organisation.

About the Role

This is an opportunity for someone with senior-level professional, leadership, governance or specialist experience who would like to use their skills to support a growing community organisation.

Working alongside the CEO and wider team, you will provide independent advice and constructive challenge on areas such as organisational development, strategy, governance, risk, finance, HR, fundraising, partnerships and community impact.

You will not be expected to manage the charity's day-to-day operations. Instead, you will contribute your experience, perspective and professional expertise to help inform key organisational decisions and support the charity's continued development.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice and constructive challenge to the CEO and senior team.

• Contribute professional expertise in areas relevant to the organisation's development.

• Support discussions around organisational strategy, priorities and future growth.

• Review and provide feedback on policies, processes and governance arrangements.

• Identify potential risks, opportunities and areas for improvement.

• Share knowledge, professional networks and relevant sector insight where appropriate.

• Support the development of sustainable partnerships, fundraising opportunities and community initiatives.

• Attend occasional advisory meetings and contribute to discussions between meetings where required.

• Act as an ambassador for Children With Voices and help raise awareness of its work within relevant professional and community networks.

Who We Are Looking For

We welcome applications from experienced professionals who can bring one or more of the following:

• Senior leadership or management experience

• Governance, compliance or risk experience

• Finance or accounting expertise

• HR and people management experience

• Legal or regulatory knowledge

• Fundraising or income-generation experience

• Business development or commercial experience

• Charity or community-sector experience

• Strategy, organisational development or project management experience

• Experience serving on boards, committees or advisory groups

You do not need previous charity experience if you have relevant professional expertise and a genuine interest in supporting children, young people and families.

What You Can Gain

• The opportunity to use your professional expertise for community benefit.

• Experience contributing to strategic organisational development.

• Exposure to charity governance and organisational decision-making.

• The opportunity to build relationships with professionals across different areas.

• The satisfaction of contributing to the development and sustainability of a local community organisation.

Commitment: Flexible / approximately 2–4 hours per month, with occasional meetings and additional input as required.

Location: Hackney, London / hybrid

Type: Voluntary

If you have experience, insight or professional expertise that could help Children With Voices grow and strengthen its work, we would be delighted to hear from you.

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves understanding, connection, and the chance to live a fulfilling life. Our volunteers play a vital role in supporting people affected by mental illness and helping create communities where no one feels alone. 

About the role

As a Volunteer Peer Group Facilitator you will: 

As a Volunteer Peer Group Facilitator, you will play a key role in delivering our peer support groups. These groups run all around the county throughout the week. You will work alongside our team of peer support workers and other peer support volunteers.

There is some flexibility with volunteering opportunities ranging from a minimum of 2-3 hours weekly to monthly commitments.

There may also be the opportunity to attend different community events to advertise the service.

There will be full training opportunities to ensure that you are successful in your volunteering role, as well as regular check-in meetings.

About the service  

The Empowering Minds Gloucestershire Service currently run group sessions for service users across Gloucestershire. 

Our team is dedicated to delivering a high-quality service that focuses on supporting individuals to achieve their recovery goals. The aim is to improve the lives and support independence for those living with a mental illness. The team will engage with other local providers to ensure a clear and seamless pathway for those that require support from multiple providers. 

What will make you a great fit for this role?  

• Lived experience of mental illness, whether that is caring for someone else or yourself.
• Reliability and good timekeeping.
• Have a good understanding of confidentiality and safeguarding.
• Basic IT knowledge.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• To have empathy and remain non-judgemental.
• Experience of working with people in some way, whether formally through employment or informally working as part of a team.
• Experience of leading a group.

Although it’s not essential, you may also have:

• Good knowledge of the local area and organisations.
• Experience with supporting someone with mental illness / ill mental health

How to apply 

To apply, please click the “apply now” button and complete a short interest form. You will have the opportunity to upload a CV and/or cover letter however, this is not mandatory. 

A member of the team will review your application and be in touch to update you on the next steps. If your application is successful, you will be invited to take part in an informal volunteer discussion. 

If you have any questions about the role or would like to find out more before applying, please contact the volunteer manager: 

Who are we?  

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”    

It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like its key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.    

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion    

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.  

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation  

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.  

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy?

Volunteers are essential to Shannon Trust and bring their energy, ideas and skills to train mentors in prisons, support learners in the community and enhance our business support team.

We are looking for volunteers to provide training and support to our mentors in prison in the North East area. This could include visiting any of the following prisons: HMP Frankland, HMP Holme House, HMP Durham, HMP Northumberland, HMP Low Newton, HMP Deerbolt. There may be some additional preparation and/ or administrative tasks in between volunteering days at the prison.

Our prison volunteers nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by delivering training sessions for prison mentors and offering ongoing advice, guidance and support through mentor meetings.

Volunteer recruitment dates

The closing date for applications to attend our next round of training is 24 January 2027. In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare. We will respond to all applications. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview between 25 January and 5 February 2027. This is an opportunity for you to meet our regional team, to find out more about you and for us to share more information about the volunteering role.

Training:

You'll be given high quality training to prepare you for volunteering with Shannon Trust. This takes place over 4 training sessions and via our online training portal. We ask that volunteers aim to complete the training in one course as this means that you will be ready to start actively volunteering. The next training sessions for volunteering for people applying to be a prison based volunteer will take place as follows.

Please check that you can attend all of the training the dates prior to applying:

• 16 February 2027, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 23 February 2027, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 2 March 2027, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 23 March 2027, 10am-4pm (in person session, London)

• 30 March 2027, 10am - 11am (via Zoom) - optional additional session

You’ll also receive the opportunity to attend ongoing training sessions and peer support meetings during your time as a volunteer to build your skills and experience.

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves understanding, connection, and the chance to live a fulfilling life. Our volunteers play a vital role in supporting people affected by mental illness and helping create communities where no one feels alone. 

About the role

As a Community Support Volunteer you will: 

As a Community Support Volunteer, you will complete face-to-face befriending activities with service users. You need to be able to travel around the locality in which you live to be able to do this. Ideally, you will be able to commit to a minimum of 1/2 a day (3-4 hours) of volunteering per week on a flexible basis, with the option to increase.

You will be working alongside our team of community link workers.

There may also be the opportunity to also attend different community events to advertise the service.

There will be full training opportunities to ensure that you are successful in your volunteering role, as well as regular check-in meetings.

About the service  

The Empowering Minds Gloucestershire Service currently run group sessions for service users across Gloucestershire. 

Our team is dedicated to delivering a high-quality service that focuses on supporting individuals to achieve their recovery goals. The aim is to improve the lives and support independence for those living with a mental illness. The team will engage with other local providers to ensure a clear and seamless pathway for those that require support from multiple providers. 

What will make you a great fit for this role?  

It’s essentials to have the following:

• Lived experience of mental illness, whether that is caring for someone else or yourself.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Flexibility.
• Experience of working with people in some way, whether formally through employment or informally working as part of a team.
• Basic computer skills.
• Reliability and good timekeeping.
• Have a good understanding of confidentiality and safeguarding.

Although it’s not essential, you may also have:

• Experience of supporting someone with ill mental health / mental illness.
• Good knowledge of your local area and organisations. 

How to apply 

To apply, please click the “apply now” button and complete a short interest form. You will have the opportunity to upload a CV and/or cover letter however, this is not mandatory. 

A member of the team will review your application and be in touch to update you on the next steps. If your application is successful, you will be invited to take part in an informal volunteer discussion. 

If you have any questions about the role or would like to find out more before applying, please contact the volunteer manager: 

Who are we?  

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”    

It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like its key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.    

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion    

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.  

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation  

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.