Children support volunteer roles

About CARAS: 

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

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

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

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

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

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

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

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

About Youth Club:

Youth Club is a place for young people aged 14-19 to come and play games, learn new skills, make and strengthen friendships and build a sense of belonging. Regular activities include classic youth club games such as table tennis, pool, foosball, board and card games.

Youth club takes place at Tooting Hub- Beechcroft Road, Tooting, SW17 7B

About the Role:

CARAS is looking for volunteer Football Assistants to support our Football sessions on Mondays, 5.30-7pm in Balham.

Football coaching sessions are led by Fulham FC Kicks programme weekly, supported by CARAS volunteers to offer welcome to young people.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities

· Welcoming young people to the session;

· Helping young people to register for sessions;

· Join in and be role model for young refugees and asylum seekers;

· Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements;

· Following FULHAM FC safeguarding policy and CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management, online communications and all other policies as relevant.

Requirements:

Essential

· To be 18 years or older;

· To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds;

· To be reliable and punctual;

· Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English;

· The ability to volunteer on Monday evenings for a minimum of four months;

· Currently resident in the UK;

- A love of football, and wanting to encourage others to play.

· Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo an enhanced DBS check (residency is not necessary if you are a Caras community member who is more recently arrived in the UK);

· Able to attend compulsory volunteer induction training (online) general and safeguarding prior to start of role

Desirable

· Knowledge of community languages, such as (including Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali and Spanish).

Through volunteering with us you will:

· Meet new members of your local community;

· Learn about different cultures;

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

- Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months’ regular volunteering

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;

· Develop your skills and competencies;

· Be able to access relevant training;

Youth Helper work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By support our Youht Leaders to deliver a sessions across our range of programmes. In this role, you'll support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Helpers also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

We are looking for a trustee with a Paediatric Therapy specialism to join the established Board of Trustees. This is an opportunity to join the charity at an exciting time of great development.

We're inviting applications from:

• A Paediatric Therapist - Physiotherapist /Occupational Therapist
• Minimum 2 years Paediatric experience
• HCPC registered
• Currently practicing (NHS/Private/Charity)

In addition, it would be useful but not essential if the applicant also has:

• Experience in community setting
• Knowledge of the charity sector
• Previous Trustee or equivalent experience
• Management experience - under financial reporting, HR and quality measures.

Glow Walk returns for 2025, our shiniest event! Participants don their brightest gear, fairy lights and glow sticks and take on our 5km course in aid of Acorns. 

This event is accessible to all and there’s loads of extra fun in the event village.

Volunteer with us at Acorns Glow Walk 2025 on Saturday 25th October.

At Acorns we provide care and support for life limited or life threatened children and their families. We are a charity, and our fundraising is vital to enable us to continue providing care and support to the children: it costs around £11 million a year to run our care services.

What's involved?

We are looking for volunteers who can support with;

• Event set-up
• Course marshals
• Event village volunteers (tombola, merch stand, hook-a-duck, coconut shy etc.)
• Event pack-down
• Mascot (Alex the Acorn or others)

How much time will it take?

5pm-10pm (any hours between these times is fine and times are role dependent)

Why volunteer at Acorns?

• To help a local charity and make a difference in your community
• Connect with likeminded people and make new friends
• Learn new skills to boost your CV
• Opportunities to progress to other roles
• Access to free online training courses
• Retail discounts
• Participation in our volunteer recognition schemes and rewards

Last year 786,574 people were offered information and support from Victim Support. As a Volunteer Case Worker (DA) you will provide specialist support services for young people affected by domestic abuse.

Why volunteer with us?

• Make a difference - you will volunteer directly with victims and/or alongside staff.
• Gain skills and experience - you will receive training on how to provide practical and emotional support.
• This is an ideal role for anyone looking to gain experience working for a charity or who has an interest in a career working with young people and people affected by domestic abuse.
• Join our community - you will be part of a large community of over 1,500 volunteers and staff.
• Access to reflective practice, peer support and mentoring.
• One to one support provided by a designated line manager, who will offer coaching and case supervision.
• Beyond your role – attend one or our many events/webinars and join one of our six Equality, Diversity & Inclusion networks.

Volunteering with Victim Support and our STREET programme in Gloucestershire  

As a Volunteer in Gloucestershire your role will include:

• Supporting young people who have experienced domestic abuse
• You will receive specific specialist training around domestic abuse and supporting young people
• Work closely with our partner agencies such as GDASS and SARC
• Opportunity to attend events to represent Victim Support and our STREET service
• Being able to work from our office in Gloucester or from home depending on the need
• Training around our case management system
• Access to a Victim Support laptop and phone to enable you to update our systems and use a victim support email account to communicate with clients and referral partners

What do we ask of you?

In order to join us as a Service Delivery Volunteer, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or over.
• Be able to volunteer for at least 7 to 14 hours per week, for at least 12 months. Ideally, we are looking for someone who can commit to two fixed days a week.
• Undertake training over a 10-week period – this includes eleven virtual training days (including our core, safeguarding, children’s and domestic abuse training) as well as completing a workbook and online learning modules.
• Undertake an enhanced DBS check & be part of the DBS update service.
• Be able to provide two satisfactory references.
• Have an active email address that you are comfortable using in order to engage with VS communications.

Expenses

• All Victim Support volunteers are entitled to out-of-pocket expenses incurred whilst volunteering, including travel and lunch.

Diversity Matters

• VS strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.
• VS is also a Disability Confident Employer, and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.
• We are happy to make reasonable adjustments to support you through the application process.

Volunteer Bike Repairer at Claygate Youth and Community Hub 

Role description 

As a volunteer bike repairer at Claygate Youth and Community Hub’s monthly Bike Repair Cafe, you will work with a friendly team of repairers to complete basic bike fixes helping to get the local community cycling! You will have your own station to work on the bikes but often our repairers work together. If you are interested, you will also have the opportunity to mentor young people who are keen to learn how to maintain their bikes, helping to ensure they are safe on the roads.

At Claygate Youth and Community Hub, our mission is to ensure young people have a safe space in which they can thrive learning key skills and accessing vital support networks to facilitate a smooth transition into adulthood. We also want to contribute in any way we can to uphold the strong sense of community within Claygate so a bike repair service for the community which involves our young people is a great way to kill two birds with one stone!

 We have held three bike repair sessions so far helping fix up over 50 bikes and welcoming over 100 members of the community.

If you’re passionate about bikes, sustainable forms of transport and/or helping young people, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

When and where

The next bike repair cafe will take place on Sunday 9th September between 10am - 11:30am. 

These occur monthly one Saturday or Sunday at 10am - 11:30am, future dates to be confirmed and we can try to work around you!

Claygate Youth and Community Hub

Elm Road

Claygate

Surrey

Skills you need

If you have any bike repair experience or basic skills, we would love to have you. No formal experience require

We will be incorporating half hour open workshops during these sessions teaching members of the community and our young people how to fix their own bikes. If you would like to get involved with this, that would be great!

What’s in it for you? 

• Opportunity to help get people in the community on their bikes.
• Work alongside young people empowering them by teaching practical life skills.
• Join a friendly team for a relaxed yet rewarding hour and a half a month.
• Get a bacon or sausage roll and as many teas and coffees as you like!

About Claygate Youth and Community Hub 

Claygate Youth and Community Hub is a registered charity (number 1193361) which offers fun and educational youth activities and support to all young people aged 11-19. We provide a safe and welcoming space for young people to socialise, learn new skills, and get support and advice when needed. Our services include Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday youth nights, as well as holiday clubs for 11-16s. We often work in tandem with other organisations, schools, social services and the police to help provide young people with the best support and opportunities possible.

Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment where young people aged 11-19 can socialise, learn new skills, and get support and advice when needed. We believe in empowering young people to achieve their full potential and make positive contributions to their communities.

Support / Training 

If you are keen to work alongside young people, we will get your DBS done and provide you with copies of our safeguarding policy to read over.

his role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

What we're looking for

We're looking for an enthusiastic, creative and organised person local to Swindon to lead our Festival of Trees event over the festive season. Around 90 per cent of our income comes from our community supporters and we couldn't continue doing what we do without them. That means, our community fundraising volunteers play a really important part in rallying people together to raise vital funds which help to protect children and prevent abuse.

What you'll do

You'll volunteer around your other commitments to steer our Christmas Festival of Trees event, to coordinate the event activity and engage with other volunteers, partners and the public to make the event a success for the community to enjoy and promoting a positive image of the NSPCC! You'll be a valued part of  our Volunteer Community Fundraising Team in Swindon, raising awareness and funds. We appreciate that work, family and friends come first and, with that in mind, this role offers flexibility to fit in with your lifestyle. You only need to commit between August and January, a few hours a week. 

What you'll get

We'll support you with advice, skills and tools to help you fundraise and spread the word of the NSPCC. You'll learn more about how you're helping to protect children across the UK, and you'll have the opportunity to grow your skills and inspire others to support us. It's also a chance to spend time with like-minded people and make new friends.

The event is already well established and currently housed at the Wyvern Theatre, you'll have a guide to follow, a list of contacts and support from your local Fundraising Manager. We are hoping someone can put their own spin on this event to further its success. 

Who's right for the role?

While we think this role is suitable for someone with event management experience or someone looking to work towards a career in event management and needing to gain experience - we are particularly looking for those with the following qualities:

• Passionate about helping young people and children
• Enthusiastic and personable
• Strong organisational skills
• Able to think on your feet
• You work well within a team
• Great communication and social skills

Interested in getting involved? Volunteer today and join our fight for every childhood.

Location: Hampshire (Board meetings in person)
Commitment: Approx. 1 day/month, including 4 Audit & Risk Committee meetings and 5 Board meetings annually
Remuneration: Unremunerated voluntary role with expenses reimbursed

A thriving community charity working across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to support children, young people, and families is looking to appoint a Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. Through early years education, youth services, housing, and outdoor activities, the charity helps individuals belong, contribute, and thrive.

The Board is now seeking a Trustee to Chair the Audit & Risk Committee, a vital governance role at the heart of the organisation’s mission. The successful candidate will ensure robust financial oversight, effective risk management, and strong internal controls, supporting the charity to uphold the highest standards of accountability and compliance.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Senior-level experience in audit, finance, or risk management
• A qualification in accountancy (full qualified)
• Experience in being a Trustee, and/or chairing a committee
• Strong understanding of governance and regulatory requirements
• The ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-financial board members
• A collaborative approach and commitment to the values of the charity

This is a highly rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference to the communities YMCA Fairthorne Group serves.

Deadline: 14th September | Interviews: w/c 29th September

Administration and Office Support Volunteer 

Team: The Fundraising Team  

Location: Woodhouse Square, Leeds, LS3 1AD  

Time commitment: 1 day a week

_________________________________________________________________________ 

About Candlelighters 

Candlelighters provides financial, emotional and practical support to families affected by childhood cancer in Yorkshire. We support around 150 new families each year and our work ensures the whole family unit is supported in these extraordinary circumstances. 

We support children and their families from diagnosis and throughout their journey, including providing  financial support, practical help in hospital, much needed breaks, as well as emotional and well-being support at our Family Support Centre (The Square) and Family Support Bus.

Purpose of the Role and Key Activities 

Candlelighters needs to fundraise £2million every year to continue providing services to families. The Administration and Office Support Volunteer provides crucial administrative and office support to the Fundraising Team and is central to helping the team raise the money we need to continue supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer in Yorkshire.

Activities vary, but may include 

• Responding to enquiries from supporters via telephone and e-mail

• Providing administrative support and helping to prepare resources, merchandise and equipment for events 

• Taking leadership over the Candlelighters Ebay page. Adding merchandise to sell, liaising with any queries and fulfilling any orders 

• Answering the phone, transferring calls and taking messages 

• Updating the supporter database 

• Writing thank you letters and sending certificates 

• Processing large mailings (including mail merge) and dealing with any returns 

• Franking letters and parcels 

• Arranging courier companies for large deliveries

• Filing (paper and electronic)

• Providing administrative support for events 

• Assisting the Fundraising Team with other tasks and activities as required 

• Send out Merchandise to our fundraisers/Challenge events participants (Running tops, T-Shirts, FR Materials) 

• Research – future challenge events/mailing contacts 

• Preparing Collection Tins/Buckets for use by fundraisers 

• Making up Goody Bags for events 

• Adhering to Candlelighters’ policies and procedures.

Volunteer Requirements 

We are looking for volunteers who 

• Have strong administrative skills 

• Have experience of working in an office environment 

• Have strong IT skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel 

• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills 

• Have experience of communicating in a professional capacity via telephone, email and in person.

• Are friendly and approachable, whilst also able to maintain professional boundaries 

• Have strong attention to detail

• Are able to work well as part of a team 

• Are able to work independently and use own initiative 

• Are able to lift and carry boxes, equipment and resources

• Are able to climb multiple flights of stairs 

• Are able to follow Candlelighter’s policies and procedures. 

We recognise that family members accessing Candlelighters’ services may wish to volunteer with Candlelighters. However, this particular role is not suitable for family members receiving support from Candlelighters. This is to ensure they are given the best possible care and support without any potential conflict of interest. Other volunteering opportunities can be found on our website.

Support and Benefits 

You will receive: 

• Thorough induction & training to give you the confidence to perform your role well and to the best of your ability 

• Opportunity to develop new and existing skills to help you beyond your involvement with Candlelighters 

• Ongoing support from the Fundraising and HR teams 

• The opportunity to meet lots of new, friendly people 

• The opportunity to expose yourself to new experiences 

• Certain expenses to be reimbursed as agreed with your Volunteer Supervisor, in accordance with our Expenses policy 

• Regular reviews with your Volunteer Supervisor to help you develop in your role 

• Satisfaction in knowing you are making a valuable contribution to supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer 

• We can be a reference once you’ve volunteered for three months 

• Access to the MINDFUL EMPLOYER+ 24/7 mental health hotline 

• Charity Worker Discount card 

• Access to The Company Shop 

 Successful applicants will be invited to attend an interview.

Thankyou

What we're looking for:

We need enthusiastic and outgoing volunteers who can cheer as loudly as possible for our runners as they go past our cheer points. Every year thousands of people join Team NSPCC to take on a challenge and raise money to help protect children and prevent abuse. Together with other cheerers, you'll make a huge difference to how our runners feel – helping them to complete a challenge they've spent months preparing for.

What you'll do:

You'll be joining other lively and enthusiastic cheerers at one of our NSPCC cheer points along the route – be ready for cheering, clapping, whooping or even singing. It's a team effort, so you would also help with setting up the cheer point, giving out t-shirts and cheering materials, making sure the area is kept tidy and helping with packing down.

We have several cheer points along the course, with staggered start times. We'll be in touch to arrange with you what time to arrive, where to meet and what to expect. You don't have to be an official cheerer to come along and support team NSPCC. So if you can't make the full-time or to one of our cheer points, we'd still love to see there, just look up the event time and come along.

What you'll get:

Volunteering at our events is a great way to experience the fantastic atmosphere of event days, without the training! The atmosphere at our cheer points is amazing, and we'll provide you with cheering materials and an NSPCC t-shirt so all you have to bring is your enthusiasm.

You'll be accompanied by NSPCC staff to support you and answer any questions you may have. Refreshments will be provided at the cheer points, and travel expenses will be covered up to the value of £5.

Who's right for the role?

You don't need any prior experience, just a sense of fun, team spirit and enthusiasm. It's important that you're able to spend a few hours outside, spending lots of this time cheering and clapping. You'll also need to stand for a few hours so, if you think this would be difficult, we'd advise bringing along a travel chair. If you are a wheelchair user, please let us know and we can help to identify a suitably accessible cheering point for you.

You'll need to feel comfortable if members of the public ask you about your volunteering role and will simply need to direct them to a member of staff if they have any questions about the NSPCC. We need volunteers with a warm and friendly manner, as the NSPCC is 90 per cent funded by public donations so the impression people have of us is incredibly important.

Please be aware that you'll need to make your own way to your cheer point (we will give you directions).

We can discuss which cheering post would be most convenient for you.

Interested in getting involved? Volunteer today and join our fight for every childhood.

Location: Hampshire (Board meetings in person)
Commitment: Approx. 2 days/month, including 5 Finance Committee meetings and 5 Board meetings annually, and ad-hoc conversations with Finance team
Remuneration: Unremunerated voluntary role with expenses reimbursed

A thriving community charity working across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to support children, young people, and families is looking to appoint a Chair of the Finance Committee. They work through early years education, youth services, housing, and outdoor activities, the charity helps individuals belong, contribute, and thrive.

The Board is now seeking a Trustee to Chair the Finance Committee, a key governance role ensuring the charity’s financial sustainability and strategic direction. The successful candidate will provide oversight of financial performance, budgeting, compliance, and long-term planning, working closely with the Board and Executive Leadership Team to support the organisation’s mission and vision.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A professional finance qualification (fully qualified)
• Senior-level experience in financial planning, strategy, and risk management
• Experience in being a Trustee, and/or chairing a committee.
• Familiarity with charity financial management and regulatory requirements (preferred)
• The ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-financial board members
• A collaborative approach and commitment to the values of the charity

This is a highly rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference to the communities that the charity serves.

Deadline: 14th September | Interviews: w/c 29th September

Trustee Role

Become a Trustee for ellenor

ellenor is a charity that provides hospice care to people of all ages living in Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley and Bexley (Children only). To help us provide this specialist hospice care and support, we need amazing people.

This is a fantastic opportunity for business professionals to join ellenor at Board level to influence our strategic direction and support our developments. We are seeking an individual with a legal background with expertise in Charity Law.

As a Trustee you will be responsible for the governance and strategy of ellenor, its financial health and the probity of its activities in accordance with ellenor’s Articles of Association.

People are at the heart of everything we do.

Join us to make a real difference to the patients and families ellenor cares for

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS clearance. 

To apply please email your CV and a short covering letter toc/o HR. Mr Mac Cheema, Chair of the Board

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Therefore, if you are interested, kindly submit your application at your earliest convenience as the vacancy may close prior to the closing date.

At ellenor, we are committed to acknowledging and celebrating our differences, fostering an inclusive environment for all. Join us in building an outstanding and diverse team dedicated to supporting our patients and their families during one of life's most challenging times

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth meetings take place on Wednesday evenings. Ideal candidates would be asked to commit to attending at least two weeks in every month.

Closing date for these opportunities is: 31/12/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

About Us

The Story Forge is a new, grassroots literacy project based in Grantham. We run creative, inclusive workshops that help children and young people express themselves through storytelling, drawing and imagination. From festive drop-ins to zine-making and sensory map sessions, we’re creating spaces where all kids feel like storytellers.

We're in our founding year and need a bold, beautiful brand to help us bring this work to life.

The Role

We’re looking for a kind, curious and imaginative designer (or marketer with strong visuals skills) to help define and deliver the look and voice of The Story Forge. We’re already reaching out, but we need design clarity and someone to help make everything we share feel as special as the work itself.

You might help with:

• Designing a simple visual identity (logo, fonts, colour palette)

• Creating branded templates in Canva (social, flyer, web)

• Developing a tone of voice guide to keep our comms consistent

• Designing a downloadable Story Maker Kit for kids

• Supporting one or two future campaigns (Christmas, Zine launch)

You’d be working directly with our founder (a children’s author), and your work would be credited visibly across our website and materials.

You Might Be…

• A designer looking to do meaningful work in children’s creativity or literacy

• A brand/comms professional with a bit of time to spare

• A student or early-career creative wanting a standout portfolio project

• Someone who just really loves stories and wants to help kids tell theirs

What You’ll Get

• Creative freedom to help define a grassroots brand from day one

• A tangible portfolio piece in print, digital and packaging

• Insight into community-focused children’s arts

• Visible credit and references

How to Apply

Just send a short note about who you are, with a link to your portfolio or any relevant work (if you have one!). CVs are welcome but not necessary.

We’re reviewing applications as they arrive and would love to meet you.