Children support volunteer volunteer roles in bexley, greater london

Role: Data Volunteer
Organisation: Street Child 
Location: Central London 
Start date:  ASAP 
Commitment: Minimum 3 months, 3 days a week, 1 day in office 
Benefits: Unpaid role (Travel expense covered) 

About Street Child: 

Street Child believes that every child deserves the chance to go to school and learn. Our projects focus on a combination of education, child protection and livelihood support to address the social, economic and structural issues that underpin today’s education crisis. We partner with local organisations and communities to deliver our locally rooted programmes, using evidence to drive learning and the refinement and scale up of programmes to create maximum impact for the most children at the lowest cost. We pride ourselves on being willing to go to the world’s toughest places where others won’t, including remote, hard-to-reach areas and fragile, disaster-affected states across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Since 2008 we have helped over 250,000 children to go to school and learn, supported over 25,000 families to set up businesses so they can afford the cost of educating their children. 

About the Role:

We are in the process of implementing a fundraising CRM to efficiently manage our outreach activities. To support this project, we are seeking to recruit a Data Volunteer who can help us clean and migrate the historical fundraising data into the new database. This is an entry-level role, best suited for a candidate who is interested in developing a career in data. Data skills are high in demand so will suit someone keen on learning new data skills to enhance their CV. For the right candidate this will provide an opportunity to learn how not-for-profit organisations work and enable them an entry into the charity sector. 

Ideally, we are looking for someone with good Excel skills (any knowledge of additional data tools such as MS Access, Power Query, etc will be an advantage), and some understanding of data related process. Hands-on training will be provided to the right candidate. As the focus of this role will be on enhancing the quality of the data, we are seeking a highly organised person who can pay greatest attention to detail. As part of this role you will be working with our database project lead.

To succeed in this role, we need someone with: 

• Excellent eye for detail and a commitment to high standards 
• Interest in learning data skills and have good Excel skills 
• Good inter-personal skills and the ability to interact with the wider Street Child UK team 
• A passion for Street Child’s mission 

We are looking for volunteers who can work for a minimum of 3 days a week (minimum 1 day in the office) for a minimum of 3 months. Ideal for those who live in the Greater London area as we will be able to provide transport costs only up to £25. 

How to apply:

Please send your CV and a covering letter and explain why you are the perfect candidate for this role. We will be reviewing applications as we receive them, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 

Street Child’s commitment to Safeguarding:

Street Child is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the communities we serve, our partners, our volunteers, and our staff. As part of this commitment to safeguarding, volunteers will be subject to appropriate background checks, including a Criminal Records check. 

About the Community Food Hub

Our Community Food Hub is dedicated to providing nutritious food to those in need while fostering a strong sense of community. We offer a sustainable model that involves food donations, partnerships with local organisations, and volunteer-led initiatives to ensure that food insecurity is addressed effectively and with care.

We are seeking passionate and skilled individuals to join our Board of Directors. If you have knowledge of food systems, a strong network, or experience in volunteer recruitment and community development, we would love to hear from you!

Role Overview

As a Board Member, you will play a vital role in guiding the strategic direction of the food hub. Your contributions will ensure that the hub continues to support the community through partnerships, volunteer recruitment, and maximising food resources for those who need them most.

Key Responsibilities

•Strategic Input: Contribute to the overall strategic vision of the Food Hub and its programs.

•Food Systems Knowledge: Share insights on food sourcing, sustainability, and distribution to ensure the hub operates efficiently and ethically.

•Networking: Leverage your connections within the food industry, local businesses, and community organisations to secure partnerships and support for the Hub’s initiatives.

•Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement: Help recruit, train, and retain volunteers to ensure smooth day-to-day operations of the hub.

•Community Outreach & Partnerships: Forge relationships with local agencies, schools, and organisations to enhance community engagement and food distribution efforts.

•Fundraising & Awareness: Support fundraising efforts by connecting the hub with donors, sponsors, and funding opportunities to sustain its operations.

•Oversight: Attend board meetings and contribute to decision-making that ensures the hub meets its goals and remains compliant with local regulations.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for individuals who have:

•Knowledge of Food Systems (e.g., food sourcing, distribution, nutrition, sustainability).

•Networking Skills: Ability to connect with local businesses, organisations, and individuals who can support the Hub.

•Experience in Partnerships: Proven ability to foster relationships with external stakeholders, including local food banks, schools, and community organisations.

•Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement: Experience in recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers.

•Interest in Community Development: Passion for making a tangible difference in addressing food insecurity and supporting community well-being.

Commitment

•Time Commitment: 6–10 hours per month (flexible)

•Location: Hybrid (Remote and in-person board meetings)

•Term: Minimum one-year commitment (renewable)

•Board meetings occur quarterly, with additional time as required for planning or networking

What You’ll Gain

•The opportunity to be part of a growing initiative that tackles food insecurity in your community.

•Experience in nonprofit governance, strategic planning, and community outreach.

•Access to a wide network of professionals, organisations, and partners in the food and nonprofit sectors.

•Personal satisfaction knowing you’ve helped nourish your community and support those in need.

How to Apply

To express your interest in joining the Board of Directors, please send your CV or a brief letter of interest to:

Subject: Board Member Application

We value diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Join us in creating a future where everyone has access to nutritious food and a strong, connected community.

Could you befriend an asylum seeking or refugee young person? HIAS+JCORE is seeking volunteer befrienders for our transformative JUMP project! As a befriender, you'd meet fortnightly with your young person for at least 12 months, and receive full training and an enhanced DBS check. You'll also get ongoing support from our JUMP project staff.

The difference you'd make

The young people JUMP support might benefit from a befriender because they’ve left their families behind and often feel isolated, bewildered and lonely. Some have no one to talk to. Some want to improve their English. Some would like to get to know London better. The impact made by our befrienders is long-lasting and varies depending on both the befriender and young person's interests. 

What do volunteers get out of JUMP?

• A chance to help people in real need
• The opportunity to ‘give back’
• A new friend
• Increased understanding about asylum and refugee issues and policy 

Skills required

• Able to establish good relationships with young people.
• Able to use a non-judgemental, non-directive approach to working with young people.
• Empathy, sensitivity and patience.
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Reliable in making and keeping commitments, including arrangements to meet up.
• Aware of the needs of young people.
• Sympathy for the difficulties that asylum seeking/refugee children and young people face.
• Willing to enhance own awareness of the issues facing asylum-seeking and refugee children/young people through training.
• Aware of safeguarding and child protection issues, and (i) willing to enhance this through JUMP training, and (ii) willing to follow HIAS+JCORE’s safeguarding policy and procedures.
• Willing to ask for help when uncertain when befriending and to discuss the experience of befriending through regular updates and supervision.

Volunteer requirements

Volunteers will be required to:

• Meet with an unaccompanied asylum seeking or refugee young person fortnightly for at least one year.
• Establish a warm, supportive friendship with the young person within JUMP befriending boundaries.
• Help to build up the young person’s self-esteem and confidence.
• A JUMP befriender will be someone the young person can talk to. They must be prepared to support the young person with a range of possible activities, such as: developing everyday life skills, getting around London, taking part in recreational or educational opportunities, applying for work experience or a job. They should be prepared to offer support with English, and where possible other types of academic work.
• They must make time to travel, if necessary, within London to meet with the young person. While we try to match people who live reasonably close by, this is not always possible, and young people can often have precarious housing situations and move neighbourhoods. It is important to consider the travel time, as well as contact time, potentially involved in befriending.
• A JUMP volunteer should be prepared to enjoy cultural/ sporting activities with the young person, and to take advantage of free entertainment and other opportunities in London.
• They should regularly communicate with the project coordinator after meeting the young person, providing feedback once a month about activities undertaken and to attend supervision face-to-face twice a year.
• They must submit monthly expenses incurred during the activities undertaken with the young person, and immediately alert the JUMP project coordinator or HIAS+JCORE Safeguarding Lead to any safeguarding (child and young person protection) issues.

What is the application process?

After submitting your application, you will be contacted to arrange an informal telephone interview. If all goes well at this stage, we would request two references and get you booked onto a day's training. The training will cover the role of the befriender and offer some more information about the experiences of unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee young people. Before being paired with a young person we would also request an enhanced DBS check.

Do you have a passion for supporting women and children who have experienced domestic abuse? This is a rewarding opportunity to facilitate weekly story reading sessions with the children in our refuges over the summer holidays! During the school summer holidays, Hestia runs a six-week Summer Play Scheme providing activities and outings for mothers and their children across our refuges. Funded through generous donations from the public, the Summer Play Scheme provides women and children with a safe and supportive space to reconnect by having fun and sharing happy memories together as family.

What you will be doing

• To develop positive relationships with the children and women, maintain professional boundaries and keep accurate records.
• Facilitating weekly story reading sessions for children
• Provide opportunities for the group to collaborate on books for future sessions

The skills you need

• Understanding of Domestic abuse and its impact on children and women
• Good interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with people from different backgrounds
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

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

As a Volunteer Education Mentor, you'll join a dynamic team to deliver 8 mentoring sessions over 8 weeks aimed at building group rapport and covering essential topics like communication, goal setting and problem solving. These sessions will be with a consistent group of young people, ensuring you can build meaningful connections and see their progress over time. 

You'll be supported throughout this process by a King's Trust Youth Development Lead, who will provide guidance and resources to help you succeed.

The sessions will typically last 1 hour and will take place face-to-face in a secondary school environment. The frequency and timing of these sessions will be determined by the school, and you will choose a school that fits your availability, as your consistent attendance is crucial. 

School location and dates: Vauxhall, London  

• Friday 6th June

• Friday 13th June

• Friday 20th June

• Friday 27th June

• Friday 4th July

• Friday 11th July

• Friday 18th July 

An educational background is not required, but a genuine interest in engaging with and developing the skills of young people is essential. Session content will be provided, and you will be expected to develop and review the plans each week. Key skills required include preparation, organisation and reliability. 

Full training will be provided to ensure you feel confident and prepared, please be expected to commit to 2 hours in person training, as well as some virtual training. 

Take a look at this video to see the impact this programme makes …https://youtu.be/dmf7fG1c69Y 

In return for your valuable time, you'll become part of a dedicated community of volunteers. You'll experience the satisfaction of directly impacting the success of young people, many of whom face significant barriers and challenges.

Additionally, you'll enjoy personal development and the pleasure that comes from working for a cause that makes a real difference in the lives of children and young people. 

Join us at The King's Trust and make a lasting impact! 

Apply to volunteer today and join the friendly team in our Larkfield Demelza charity shop.

There are so many ways that you can get involved at our Larkfield shop. You might use the till to serve customers, sort donations to find the best preloved items, or put your creative skills to use to create eye-catching displays.

There's a role for everyone and no experience is needed – just a smile and enthusiasm!

We have a range of morning and afternoon weekday and weekend shifts available. We’re fully flexible around your commitments, so that you can really make the most of your time.

What you will gain from volunteering

• Learn new skills and boost your CV
• Meet new people and make new friends
• Improve your mental health and wellbeing
• Be given role-specific training and support
• Receive a professional reference
• Be reimbursed travel expenses
• Get a 10% discount on donated goods
• Help save the environment and reduce landfill
• Make a real difference to your community

With your help, you really can make a difference, so apply today and see what you can gain by giving!

Volunteer Befriender: Home-Start Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham

Do you have experience with young children and have two hours to spare a week?

Are you a compassionate and reliable person who wants to make a real difference in the lives of families?

Home-Start WKCHF is looking for volunteers to support parents and children who are facing challenges such as isolation, mental health struggles, or financial difficulties.

About the Role

As a Home-Start volunteer, you will provide emotional and practical support to families with young children in their own homes. Your role may involve:                                                                                                                                                     

• Offering friendship, a listening ear and encouragement
• Helping parents build confidence in their parenting skills
• Providing practical support such as accompanying families to appointments, family hubs or groups
• Signposting to additional services and community resources

What We’re Looking For

• A friendly and non-judgmental attitude
• Experience parenting or caring for children
• Good listening and communication skills
• Commitment to volunteering for two hour per week for a minimum of six months
• Willingness to attend free preparation course and undergo a DBS / reference checks

What We Offer

• Free Volunteer Preparation Training Course
• Regular 1-to-1 supervision and ongoing support
• Additional training opportunities to enhance your skills and experience
• Reimbursement of travel and out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteer Social Events
• A chance to develop new skills and meet like-minded people
• The opportunity to make a lasting impact on families’ lives

Join Us!

Are you passionate about Art and would like to facilitate weekly sessions for the children in our refuges? We are looking for passionate and committed female only volunteers to support our refuges during the summer holidays. During the school summer holidays, Hestia runs a six-week Summer Play Scheme providing activities and outings for mothers and their children across our refuges. Funded through generous donations from the public, the Summer Play Scheme provides women and children with a safe and supportive space to reconnect by having fun and sharing happy memories together as family.

What you will be doing

• To facilitate weekly arts and crafts sessions for children
• To use a range of skills and tools to make sessions interesting and fun for a range of ages.
• To develop positive relationships with the children and women, maintain professional boundaries and keep accurate records.
• To gather ideas and suggestions from service users to plan sessions

The skills you need

• Experience of arts and/or crafts either in a professional, educational, or personal
• Understanding of Domestic abuse and its impact on children and women
• Good interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with people from different backgrounds
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality

What's in it for you

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

Could you inspire children from across Hestia’s domestic abuse refuges to get active? We are recruiting for a qualified Sport’s coach to support us over the summer holidays! During the school summer holidays, Hestia runs a six-week Summer Play Scheme providing activities and outings for mothers and their children across our refuges. Funded through generous donations from the public, the Summer Play Scheme provides women and children with a safe and supportive space to reconnect by having fun and sharing happy memories together as family.

What you will be doing

• To develop positive relationships with the children and women, maintain professional boundaries and keep accurate records.
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team
• Coordinate a weekly timetable of sports and active games to engage children
• General knowledge about wellbeing and how sport affects physical and mental health
• Support the children to maintain their physical health through exercise
• Support the children to learn/play and work as a team
• Plan activities or sports in collaboration with the children

The skills you need

• Understanding of Domestic abuse and its impact on children and women
• Good interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with people from different backgrounds
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation.
• Calm and patient approach
• A skilled and qualified sports coach/fitness instructor working with children

What's in it for you

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

Hours: Variable – depending on individual circumstances and what people can do

Location: Variable – we are looking to extend our reach of peer support walks throughout Yorkshire

Main Tasks:

We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our

volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.

We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might

vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:

· Support our regular wellbeing/peer support walks

· Welcome participants and help them feel comfortable, fostering a friendly and inclusive atmosphere

· Encourage conversations among participants, offering a listening ear

· Be attentive to the well-being of all participants during the walk

· Offer information on YBTC services

· Attending occasional training sessions or volunteer meetings organised by YBTC

We are looking for people who are:

· Are warm and non-judgemental

· Reliability – are punctual and committed to scheduled walks

· Collaborative mindset to work effectively with staff and volunteers

· Basic physical fitness to complete the walks, awareness of the needs of participants with

different mobility/health conditions

We can offer you the following:

· Full induction and ongoing training

· Ongoing support and supervision in your role

· Opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people

· The satisfaction of making a positive impact on those affected by brain tumours

Background

Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea’s Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support

Across Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading

brain tumour charity. Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child

brain tumour patients, together with their families.

We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new

approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours will improve outcomes for patients.

At YBTC we are a small team who are growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain

tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumours are diagnosed in the region

every week.

Our charity values are: Integrity, Compassion, Community & Ambition.

Our Vision/Mission

To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire through local support and research.

Time2Share@WECIL’s Befriending Service links volunteers 1:1 with a Disabled child / young person. Links are based on shared interests and activities which the volunteer and young person can enjoy doing together either in the child/family home or out in the community.

What experience do I need?

You do not need any previous experience with disabled children or young people, but we ask that volunteers are friendly, caring, reliable and able to make a commitment to visit a young person regularly.

What will I be doing?

You will volunteer within Time2Share@WECIL’s befriending service for disabled children/young people (aged 5-18 yrs) and their families. This involves spending time regularly with a disabled child or young person in their home or supporting the young person to take part in social and leisure activities in their local community. You will not be asked to administer medication or deliver personal care in this role.

Who am I responsible for?

You are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person you are linked with. All links are risk-assessed and carefully monitored by your co-ordinator.

Who am I responsible to?

The parent / carer. You must ensure that the parent / carer’s reasonable instructions and guidance regarding the welfare of their child are adhered to and that clear communication is maintained. Feedback must be given to the parent/carer following a visit.

How often will I be needed?

Time2Share@WECIL typically ask for volunteers to commit to 2-4 hours a week and the days / times are agreed between the volunteer and the family. We ask for a minimum commitment of 6 months to ensure the child and their family are able to benefit fully from the relationship.

Role: Welcome volunteer

Team: Tooting Hub – CARAS ESOL (Youth/Adult)

Supervised by: Team Project Coordinator

Location: Tooting Hub site

Activity times: Monday or Wednesday

Time commitment: 2 hour shifts on a rolling basis.

We ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 4 months

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 the Role:

We are currently recruiting a team of volunteers to join our new Welcome team at Tooting Hub. This is a new role. Welcome volunteers will provide a friendly face to existing community members attending our regular projects. They will also be the important ‘face of CARAS and our welcome at the door’ to people attending projects for the first time, to visitors and to people dropping in unannounced to enquire about CARAS’s service. Volunteers will meet and greet, and ensure all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting. There will be an administrative element to the role (updating registers and emailing enquiries to CARAS staff, for example).

Who will you be?

We work hard to ensure our services feel welcoming and inclusive. It is important that this new team is representative of our diverse local and internal CARAS community. Whether you are new to volunteering with CARAS or are a regular volunteer looking to vary your role or a community member wanting to develop some leadership skills or volunteering experience, this might be the exact project for you.

Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities: 

· Signing up to a shift/s on the Tooting HUB welcome team rota

· Able to be at Tooting Hub in person to complete agreed shifts

· Welcoming staff, volunteers, existing and potential new community members and visitors

· Ensuring all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting

· Ensuring everyone completes the onsite register on arrival to comply with safeguarding, health and safety and fire evacuation policies

· Taking agreed initial intake information for new / drop in visitors wanting to attend a taster activity

· Conducting induction tours of the building and introductions to facilities, key staff, and partners

Requirements (all experience can be from paid or voluntary roles): 

Essential: 

· A calm, friendly, kind, and patient approach

· Happy and confident to meet new people and put them at their ease

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

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

· Confidence in using one’s own judgement to follow agreed policy

· Good IT admin skills in using Microsoft office, outlook, Google search, online forms etc

· A commitment to confidentiality and data protection

· Punctual and reliable

· To be able to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays for a minimum of four months

Desirable:

· Lived experience of seeking sanctuary and/ or the UK immigration system.

· Personal experience of working with people seeking asylum.

· Proficiency in one or more of the following community languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu, or Vietnamese.

We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process.

Benefits to Volunteering:

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

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team.

· Develop your skills and competencies.

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

· Obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months’ regular volunteering

· All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. *

· You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.

Shout is the UK’s only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. When people text 'Shout' to 85258, they are connected to a Shout Volunteer for a text conversation. Our volunteers provide a safe space for people to share what's causing them distress, while showing warmth and compassion.

Tasks and Responsibilities

If your application is successful, you’ll be enrolled in a training group. New groups start every two weeks.

Shout Volunteers receive 25 hours of free training in communication, listening, managing and assessing risk, and problem solving. The training is self-paced and done online. You’ll learn how to bring people in distress to a place of calm and practice skills that will be useful to you throughout life.

As we are investing in you throughout your time with us, our hope is that you will complete the training in a timely manner and look at this as a longer term commitment. The experience you gain over time is valuable and our goal is to have volunteers commit to 200 hours on the platform, which can take up to two years to complete, as we ask you to take one 2-4 hour shift per week. 

Our Volunteer Training Support team is here to support you, answer any questions and provide feedback during training and throughout your time with Shout. You’ll be joining an incredibly supportive volunteer community and have access to the resources you need to do your role.

As a volunteer, you’ll be supporting people in distress, so it’s important we see the skills required to do that while you are in training. While most trainees complete the training and go on to volunteer, not everyone will pass the training. If this happens, there are other ways you can still support us.

Selection Criteria

A Shout Volunteer is kind and compassionate, a good listener, and has the ability to remain calm when supporting people in crisis. You will also:

• Understand the difference between being friendly and being a friend

• Be aware of your own mental health and wellbeing

• Be open-minded

• Be supportive

• Be reliable

• Be discreet and able to respect confidentiality at all times

• Be accepting and non-judgemental

• Be passionate about contributing some of your time to a cause such as Shout

• Adopt a growth mindset, and be willing to accept feedback

Requirements

• You must live in the United Kingdom or New Zealand while volunteering. 
• You must be over 18 years of age.
• You will need a reliable internet connection and a private place to take your shift.
• All of your volunteering must be done using a laptop or desktop computer and Google Chrome.

It’s worth spending time thinking about the nature of the role, and whether it’s right for you. We support all texters, regardless of race, religion, sexual identity or issue. You will need to be comfortable addressing topics frequently discussed with texters (suicide, self-harm, depression, etc.) without compromising your own mental health. 

Before you apply, please consider whether either of the following applies to you:

• Have you recently experienced grief, loss or change issue/s? For example; someone close to you has been ill or has died, you’ve lost your job, your relationship has ended.

• Is your current mental health and wellbeing in a place such that the stress and pressure of listening to the challenges of others would bring additional burden to you personally?

Benefits to Volunteers

The role is rewarding and can save lives. Shout Volunteers tell us they gain a sense of pride, satisfaction and purpose from taking conversations. They also tell us that their own wellbeing increases, they learn valuable skills and gain experience they can use at work and in their personal lives.

Volunteering can also be a great addition to your CV. You do not need to have any past experience in mental health to be a Shout Volunteer - we’ll provide you with all the training and support you need to do the role.

Application Process

You will need to create your account and fill in the application using a laptop or desktop computer and in a Google Chrome browser. This is a standard requirement for all of our systems at Shout, from the application through to the platform.

You should leave up to an hour to complete the form. As Shout is a text based service and we do not conduct in person interviews for our volunteer candidates what you write in your application and the strength of your references are how we get to know you. 

We appreciate when candidates take the time to write thoughtful, considered answers. We recommend you review your application with an eye toward things like spelling, grammar and punctuation. While some of our texters will occasionally reach out using more informal text speak, our volunteers respond in full sentences and double check their messages for accuracy before hitting send. 

Your application will be reviewed once we have received responses from both of your references. We ask for a personal reference and a professional reference. The personal reference can be a friend or colleague but the other must be someone who knows you professionally or has supervised you in some way. 

This could be a manager or supervisor from where you work or a teacher or educator from where you study. We recommend you choose references who are able to speak to your ability to fulfil the selection criteria outlined above.

We do not accept references from family members. This includes your partner or their relatives, your children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents or godparents. 

Please allow up to a month for us to review your application and return a decision. 

If your application is approved, you can book your place on training. Training groups usually start every two weeks and spaces are available to book a couple of months ahead. While you are in training and before you are allowed on the platform we will carry out a background check.

Could you help to change a care-experienced child's life by reading with them for just an hour a week over a six month period?

We're looking for new volunteers to read online. Reading Heroes is a highly individualised initiative - every book that you read has been chosen specifically for you and the child.  All books are provided, and you will receive ongoing personal support from our dedicated Reading Heroes team, as well as opportunities to meet with other volunteers.

The number of care-experienced children in the UK growing; research tells us that these children are more likely to experience social, emotional and mental health problems, so we believe that Reading Heroes is a more important project than ever.

We have found that the Reading Heroes scheme has helped the children involved with their reading and other literacy-based skills, but these are not our primary purposes. Reading Heroes simply promotes reading for pleasure, and giving some of our time to children who need a little extra support - along with a kindly, friendly listener!

As a Reading Heroes volunteer, you’ll be instilling a love of stories which can have a lifelong positive impact. 80% of participants tell us they enjoy reading more after taking part.

Find out more: https://ow.ly/FVts50SBrIm

“Thank you for helping me read better and for making reading fun and not stupid boring!" (Reading Heroes participant)