Communications volunteer volunteer roles in stepney green, greater london

About Access Academia

Access Academia is the charitable umbrella which was created out of the creation of the student-led publication, the Journal of Intersectional Social Justice. When Journal of Intersectional Social Justice (JISJ) was created, there were not any expectations for the project to be any more than that: a student-led academic publication. However, as it rolled on, attention for the project widened and it began to cover other topics and get involved in other realms of knowledge sharing, activism, and content creation. The creation of the seminal Access Series on the Intersections blog springboarded the idea for the JISJ to turn into something much more than a simple academic publication. Now as we have restructured the JISJ into Access Academia, we are finalising our official registration as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) in the UK. 

Our core purpose is to Make Academia More Accessible. We plan to accomplish this by many different avenues, as obviously it is a very wide-ranging goal! The main ways we plan to do this are through encouraging Open Access academia and knowledge sharing through the Access Series, expanding the themes covered on Intersections with additions such as Mental Health Mondays and Colonialism in Subject, creating accessible content across our social media platforms which encourages truthful and accurate knowledge sharing and activism, running research events to encourage students to publish and interact with academia, covering inside stories of academia, running student engagement programmes to try and make academia less of an Ivory Tower, and much more!

What is a Volunteership?

A volunteership is a unique hybrid opportunity that combines elements of volunteering and interning. Participants commit to working with a charity or nonprofit organization for a specified period of time, fulfilling a set of responsibilities and expectations. In return, they gain valuable experience, receive a letter of recommendation, and are offered LinkedIn endorsements. Additionally, they may have the chance to continue working with the charity through future hiring cycles as long as they remain a student. This experience provides both personal fulfillment through giving back to the community and professional development for future career opportunities.

Volunteership: Content Writer
Duration: May to August 2025
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled as a student

Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program.

• Strong interest in writing, critical analysis, and reserach.

• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills with attention to detail.

• Ability to write clear, engaging, and well-researched articles for various audiences.

• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple writing assignments.

• Passion for contributing to social impact and supporting charitable initiatives.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Content Creation:

  • Write a minimum of 2 written articles per month for the charity’s blog, Intersections, newsletter, or other communication channels.

  • Research and produce content on topics that align with the charity’s mission and goals.

  • Produce a minimum of 1 Access Series article per month.

  • Ensure that all written materials are on-brand, consistent in tone, and relevant to the target audience.

• SEO & Optimization:

  • Apply SEO best practices to all written content to maximize reach and engagement.

  • Optimize articles for readability, clarity, and search engine visibility.

• Editing & Proofreading:

  • Review and revise your own content, as well as provide feedback on content produced by others.

  • Ensure all content is grammatically correct, coherent, and polished before publication.

• Collaboration & Teamwork:

  • Collaborate with internal teams and volunteers to ensure a consistent upload schedule.

  • Contribute and attend all meetings for the Content Creation Team and directions from the Director of Content Creation.

  • Meet all given deadlines on time and consistently.

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience in content writing, storytelling, and digital marketing.

• Opportunities to build your research portfolio with real-world projects that align with a meaningful cause.

• Certification of participation at the end of the volunteership.

• A letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the volunteership.

• LinkedIn endorsements and the chance to be considered for future hiring cycles with the charity.

Please note: volunteers must be local to Hackney. We cannot assist people to travel to the UK.

Purpose of the Role

We support a young man with learning disabilities and mobility issues who would love to be matched with a volunteer who can take him swimming once a week! By taking him to the pool, you will not only be facilitating an enjoyable experience, but you will also help him to get the low-impact exercise that is so important for mitigating the physical symptoms of his condition.

You will be accompanied at all times by a support worker, except whilst you are in the water. 

Responsibilities

• Meet your befriending match and their support staff at the service and travel to the pool by bus
• Swim with them in the shallow end of the community swimming pool
• Providing companionship and friendship

Skills, Attitudes and Experience

• You are a competent swimmer
• Experience communicating with people who are non-verbal or have different communication needs is an asset
• You are friendly and have strong interpersonal skills
• You are passionate about making a difference in the lives of older people, people with learning disabilities, and/or people with autism spectrum disorder 
• You are patient, empathetic, and open-minded 
• You are organised and can work independently 
• You take initiative and manage your workload 
• You are reliable and punctual 
• You are a strong communicator

Benefits 

• Make a difference to the health and wellbeing of somebody in your community
• Meet different kinds of people and make new friends
• Improve your own health and wellbeing by swimming weekly
• Receive support from the Volunteer Team and an assigned supervisor 
• Become part of a community of staff and volunteers who are passionate about making a difference
• Receive references for future opportunities and build your CV 
• Receive reimbursement for reasonable out of pocket expenses 
• Additional training to help you grow in your role 
• Covered by Outward’s insurance policy 

Location

• Hackney (E8)

Time Commitment

• We would like somebody to start as soon as possible
• We encourage you to commit to a minimum of four months as a befriender, however an ongoing commitment is ideal
• Available on a weekday between 4pm and 7pm 

 Training Provided

• Volunteer Induction Training Session (approximately 2 hours) 
• Online CareSkills Training: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Safeguarding of Adults; Health and Safety; Fire Safety
• Service Inductions, including reading the Support Plan and Risk Assessment of the person you will be supporting

Application Process 

• Send an email for a link to apply online. Support is available if you need assistance to complete the application form.  
• If you are selected for a volunteer role, you will be required to undergo a DBS check, submit two references, and complete the abovementioned mandatory training before you can start your role. 

If there is any way that we can make the application process or the volunteer role more accessible for you, please do not hesitate to let us know. We will be happy to make any accommodations we can for you. 

This 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.

Job description

"We are looking for 10 candidates to join our volunteer enhanced professional development programme and gain real world experience in your chosen field). While we only have 10 vacancies available through this programme, other options are available if your skills match our criteria".

About the Role

The Enhanced Professional Development Programme (ePDP) Coordinator plays a pivotal role in driving the success of our flagship professional development initiative. This position is responsible for managing the end-to-end execution of the ePDP, ensuring seamless coordination between participants, Heads of Department (HoDs), and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will combine exceptional organizational skills with a passion for fostering professional growth, ensuring participants remain engaged and supported throughout their development journey.

Key Responsibilities

• Programme Management
• Oversee the effective implementation of the ePDP, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
• Welcome participants to the programme, providing orientation materials and clarifying expectations.
• Participant Support & Progress Tracking
• Conduct initial skills assessments to identify individual development needs.
• Monitor and document participant progress, providing regular updates to stakeholders.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings between participants and their respective Heads of Department (HoDs).
• Coordination & Communication
• Manage day-to-day operations, including scheduling sessions, sending reminders, and maintaining programme documentation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for participants, addressing queries and resolving issues promptly.
• Engagement & Feedback
• Design and organise feedback sessions to gather insights from participants and HoDs, using data to refine the programme.
• Develop strategies to ensure active engagement (e.g., interactive workshops, milestone celebrations).
• Reporting
• Prepare progress reports for senior leadership, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

Required Skills

• Keen Eye for Detail: Ability to manage complex schedules, track progress meticulously, and maintain accurate records.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication to liaise effectively with participants, HoDs, and stakeholders.
• Relationship Building & Networking: Proven ability to foster trust and collaboration across departments.
• Organizational Agility: Skilled in multitasking, prioritization, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Problem-Solving: Proactive approach to addressing challenges and improving programme delivery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in coordinating professional development programmes or similar initiatives.
• Familiarity with data analysis to assess programme effectiveness.

Job Types: Part-time, Volunteer

Benefits:

• Work from home

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Work Location: Remote

About Us:

The Orpheus Centre is a specialist further education college and charity working to support young disabled adults, who are passionate about the arts, to achieve their potential and lead independent lives.

Set up by musician and songwriter Sir Richard Stilgoe, Orpheus offers learning, supported housing and personal care on the same site in Godstone, Surrey.

Volunteer Role:

Evening & Weekend Enrichment Volunteer – Monday-Friday 4pm-8pm Weekends 10am-4pm

Why volunteer:

Through volunteering with us you will gain a greater sense of purpose by supporting our learners to access evening and weekend activities and encouraging them to participate. You can also bring your own skills and knowledge of a particular area like (but not limited to) baking, gardening, exercise – football/basketball and much more.

If you are someone who is reliable, an excellent communicator, have a friendly and enthusiastic personality and committed to helping, as well as being kind and caring, then this could be the role for you.

You will have a mentor who will help and guide you when you first start volunteering at Orpheus.

Training:

Role relevant training, including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Safeguarding will be given prior to start date. There is also the opportunity to attend our Learning Support training.

On-going support will be available throughout your time at Orpheus.

Benefits/What you’ll get:

• Experience of volunteering in an education setting.
• Working within a team as well as independently.
• The opportunity to meet new people and having fun.
• Develop confidence, empathy, listening and communication skills through working with our students.
• Gain experience in the charity sector.
• Opportunities to volunteer at other fundraising or on site events at Orpheus.
• Free on-site parking and expenses claimed back.
• Discounted lunches.
• Volunteer social events, like our Volunteer Tea Party.

Safeguarding:

Orpheus is committed to safeguarding and promotes the welfare of all service users. We are committed to the promotion of equal opportunities.

This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  It is therefore subject to an Enhanced disclosure through the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS).

Equality & Diversity:

• To enforce the zero tolerance policy of all forms of victimisation, discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
• To be tolerant of differences and use respectful language.
• Ensure professional standards and boundaries are clear.
• To treat everyone respectfully.

Application Process:

Once your application has been received it will be reviewed, you may then be invited in for an informal interview.

Your references will be checked and you will need to complete the online DBS application before bringing the relevant documents in to be checked.

You will then need to attend all of our training. This can all take 3-4 weeks to be completed before you start volunteering with us.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Hope Springs Health Foundation Uganda

Hope Springs Health Foundation Uganda promotes community health equity among young people in underserved communities within Uganda

Hope Springs Health Foundation (HSH) Uganda addresses a range of pressing social and health challenges affecting vulnerable groups, particularly children, adolescents, and women in low-resource settings.

One of the core issues is the high HIV prevalence and teenage pregnancy in Mayuge District, where HIV rates are at 7% and teenage pregnancy stands at 27%, both higher than national averages. These challenges are often driven by transactional sex, early sexual debut, misinformation, and power imbalances in relationships particularly with older men. Adolescent girls face limited access to accurate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation and disease.

Another persistent challenge is menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Nearly half of Ugandan girls miss up to three days of school each month due to lack of menstrual products and adequate sanitation. This leads to increased absenteeism and school dropout rates, ultimately compromising their educational and economic futures.

Additionally, gender-based violence (GBV) remains widespread in Uganda, with women and girls disproportionately affected. Many communities lack the capacity to identify, report, and prevent GBV, leading to unreported cases and prolonged cycles of abuse.

For children living with chronic illnesses such as Type 1 Diabetes, limited awareness and lack of access to proper nutrition and physical activity pose serious health risks, especially in low-resource rural settings.

Hope Springs Health (HSH) Foundation responds to these intersecting challenges with innovative and community-centered health promotion interventions.

To combat HIV/AID and teenage pregnancies, HSH works with communities to implement UNICEF’s evidence-based intervention; “Sugar Daddy Awareness Classes” in schools. These sessions empower adolescent girls with knowledge about the dangers of cross-generational relationships and equip them to advocate among peers, promoting informed choices and reducing risky behaviors.

On the menstrual health front, HSH trains girls to make, use, and distribute reusable sanitary pads. This not only addresses a critical hygiene need but also provides a source of income and resilience for the girls. Environmentally, the use of reusable pads reduces plastic waste, contributing to greener communities. Socially, this empowers girls to stay in school, confident and informed.

To address gender-based violence (GBV), HSH conducts trainings targeting community stakeholders such as local leaders, religious leaders, police, health workers among others. These trainings strengthen the capacity of community members to detect, respond to, and prevent GBV through coordinated referral systems and advocacy.

For children with Type 1 Diabetes, the “Active Hearts, Healthy Lives” program supports them through community education on physical activity and nutrition. This program helps improve their quality of life by promoting healthier lifestyles in contexts where resources are scarce.

Finance Volunteer

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

Finance Volunteer – Hope Springs Health Foundation Uganda

Responsibilities:

Support resource mobilization and fundraising through donor outreach and networking

Assist in writing grant proposals and funding applications

Research and identify potential funding opportunities

Help maintain donor records and communications

Provide administrative and finance-related support to the team

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

6+ months

Volunteer:  Volunteer Community Outreach Officer

Location: Off-site with occasional in-person activities

Reports to: Volunteer Manager

Support Connect and Inspire Local Volunteers for ROLDA UK!

Are you interested in animal welfare and want to make a positive difference in your community? ROLDA UK are now seeking Volunteer Community Outreach Officer to help reach out to local volunteers, facilitate small activities in the community, and raise awareness of our charity's mission to rescue and rehabilitate stray and abandoned animals.

Your Role

• Help ROLDA UK build a local presence within your community by networking and growing local volunteers who are interested in animal welfare and ask them to join you.

• Create new opportunities within your local community and grow a network of volunteers who can get involved in local fundraising events like charity walks, bake sales, and helping to run local stalls etc.

• Inspire and encourage local volunteers to join your community group, collaborate, share ideas, and plan effective activities.

• Help raise awareness about ROLDA UK within your community by recruiting for volunteers to join your hub and help build local networks.

• Support your local community hub by organising regular online and in-person gatherings. Attend community events to discuss ROLDA UK’s work and encourage others to support the cause.

What We’re Looking For

• Friendly and approachable people who enjoy meeting and engaging with people.

• Good communicators who can share information and encourage others to get involved.

• Passionate about animal welfare and interested in fundraising locally to help support stray and abandoned animals.

• Organised and enthusiastic to help with planning local activities, promotion and helping out at local events.

Who Should Apply?

• Anyone interested in helping animals and becoming a part of their local community.

• Individuals who enjoy working with others and bringing people together.

• People looking for a rewarding way to volunteer and make a difference at home.

Time commitment and what’s in it for you

•  Flexible volunteer hours (for this role we just ask for a minimum of 5 hours+ a week) and give as much or as little time as you like.

• Meet like-minded people and be part of a friendly and supportive team.

• Gain valuable experience in community engagement, activities, and event planning.

• Make a difference by helping ROLDA UK grow its local presence and support more animals in need.

If you’d like to connect with others, support a great cause, and help make a difference for animals, we’d love to hear from you!

Join us today and be part of something special.

ROLDA does not support visa applications for volunteers. All in-person volunteers must have the legal right to volunteer in the country where they are located. It is the volunteer's responsibility to ensure they meet the necessary visa and work authorisation requirements before participating in any activities with ROLDA. However, remote volunteer roles do not require a visa, as they can be performed from anywhere.

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 CARAS ESOL Team:

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to adults at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling people to attend college and access other services in the future.

About the Role:

CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our face-to-face adult ESOL classes in Tooting. Volunteers in this role are required to commit to at least one 2-hour session every Wednesday during these times: 

• Mondays ESOL 9:30 to 13:30

• Tuesday 9:30 to 11:30

• Tuesday One-to-one employability and language learning support 15:00 to 17:00 

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities:

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources;

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential: 

• To be 18 years or older; 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• An interest in education and English language teaching; 

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

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• The ability to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of three months; 

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• *Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; 

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role. 

 *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK. 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• 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 obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering; 

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

Are you passionate about singing and would like to empower others to use their voices in a choir? We are recruiting for a Choir Lead Support Volunteer in Ealing. Choirs have shown to reduce stress levels and depression as well as creating a sense of togetherness. Your role will be to participate in the choir and support the Choir lead as and when needed to provide necessary guidance and direction on tone, rhythm, pitch, tempo, and harmony to the rest of the choir in their absence.

Volunteering with Hestia will mean that you will play a key role in promoting strategies for positive wellbeing and recovery through music and singing! 

What you will be doing

• Participate in the choir and support in the absence of the Choir Lead.
• Direct choir members in warm-ups prior to practices and performances
• Decide on appropriate musical pieces for the choir to perform depending on the occasion and setting and Choose individual choir members to perform solo pieces.
• Build a structure, choir harmony, Determining voice types
• Provide necessary guidance and direction during choir rehearsals to help choir members in attaining the correct tone, rhythm, pitch, tempo, and harmony.
• Direct choir members during musical performances
• Craft appropriate choir formations for rehearsals and performance
• Selects music to meet the needs of the performance while also taking into account the group's aptitude and abilities

The skills you need

• Patient, passionate, creative, and assertive and knowledge and experience of working with individuals that live with mental health issues
• Music Education, or related field is preferred
• Experience of directing choirs
• Can interpret various styles of music
• Bold leadership and listening capabilities
• Strong communicator

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

Music has long been held as an effective and soothing way to help relieve stress and improve mental health. Do you have a passion for playing the guitar and would like to teach others?

Playing a guitar in a group allows for time to focus on the here and now, providing total mindfulness. This enables us to forget about the past or our future worries for a while, providing time without any distractions!

Support others to learn to play chords and push their worries to the back of their mind and an opportunity to engage with people that have a similar interest!

What you will be doing

• To facilitate guitar lessons for beginners on a 1:1 basis
• Plan each session, in collaboration with those you are supporting
• Lead on logistics and organisation of the sessions alongside the staff team
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Experience teaching playing a guitar and the ability to teach at beginner level
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• 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

Summary

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces at our sites across Hertfordshire and Bucks including

Brindle Court, Watford
Northgate End, Bishop's Stortford
Our smaller sites in Stevenage, Hoddesdon and Hemel Hempstead 
Crest Rd, High Wycombe

Detailed description

Having access to a secure garden or outdoor area can be crucial for providing opportunities to socialise and relax, which can be invaluable for the mental well-being of our residents.

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces, including:

·Weeding

·Sweeping

·Pruning

·Clearing leaves and large twigs

·Watering plants

·Planting bulbs and tidying up flower beds

We would love for this to be an opportunity to involve our residents and potentially lead a gardening activity with them, equipping them with knowledge and skills to maintain their own green spaces in the future. 

You will need:

• Enjoy working outside in all weathers.
• An interest/basic knowledge of gardening
• Role requires some degree of physical work and lifting/manual handling
• To work under your own initiative.
• Good communication skills
• Opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills

A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided as well as access to training and events throughout the year!

Some sites have basic tools however any additional tools and material required can be discussed with your volunteer manager .

What volunteers need:
You will be required to under go a Disclosure and Barring Service check and provide details of 2 x referees

What we will provide to volunteers:

• Reimbursement of costs
• Full training and induction
• Access to events and celebrations throughout the year 

Volunteer your time at Hestia to make our gardens a beautiful place for adults and children to enjoy all year through! Are you green fingered and have a passion for gardens and outdoor spaces?

At Hestia we have gardens and outdoor spaces which require your support to bring these back to life by keeping them maintained. We are recruiting for volunteers to motivate and inspire staff and people living in our services to get involved in gardening. Engaging in gardening has shown to have both immediate and long-term effects on mental health. Gardening for several hours has been known to reduce depression, stress and anxiety.

At Hestia we also have a PIPE programme where we encourage service users to work collaboratively and get involved in taking control and making decisions about physical environments across the organisation.

What you will be doing

• Inspire and motivate staff and people in the services to get involved in maintaining and growing the garden
• To provide tips on how to maintain and grow the garden - sowing seeds, planting bulbs, taking cuttings
• Provide basic maintenance such as cutting the grass, emptying bins, managing weed control and leaf raking
• Lead in planting and nurturing new trees, flowers, and various plants
• Provide best practice on how to use the correct gardening tools
• Inspire people in our services and staff to maintain a clean garden
• Advise staff on the costs of plants and garden necessities

The skills you need

• A basic knowledge/ experience of plant care and use of gardening tools7
• Calm and patient approach
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation

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

Do you love Bollywood dance? Would you like to inspire others to find their rhythm and get moving? If so, we have the perfect role for you! Through dance you will be helping others to boost their mood, releases endorphins and get active whilst socialising! Dance and movement have many positive benefits for our physical and mental wellbeing and allows us to express ourselves and let loose!
We are recruiting for a volunteer to facilitate a group for women to come together and have fun each week!

What you will be doing

• Coordinate and set up a weekly dance class
• Inspire and motivate individuals to participate in the sessions and take a role in planning/designing upcoming sessions
• Create a safe space for individuals to express themselves
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Calm and patient approach
• Experience in teaching dance classes desirable but not essential
• Dance Qualification

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 - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

INDEPENDENT READING GROUP VOLUNTEER (FACE-TO-FACE) 

CARAS Youth ESOL Programme – Monday, Wednesday mornings  

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 ESOL: 

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

• CARAS is looking for Reading Group Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.
• The reading group is in Tooting and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education.
• Students will be supported to read at length and complete challenges that are adapted to their ability level.
• The reading group aims to foster independence and a joy of reading among the young people and requires volunteers to learn about the young peoples' interests in order to help them select an appropriate text.
• The ESOL teacher will provide volunteers with tips to support reading and understanding for emerging learners of English, such as phonics and elicitation strategies.
• Volunteers will work with 1-5 students, mostly reading out loud with them or helping them to decode unfamiliar language.
• Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates. 

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities: 

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within the Reading Group sessions; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources; 

• Contributing to debriefs to inform the ESOL teacher how each student found the lesson/task and the students’ areas of greatest challenge and success;  

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Listening and supporting students to select, read and understand a text; Showing flexibility to the wide range of ability levels in the classroom; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential

• To be 18 years or older; 

• An interest in education and English language teaching;

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• * Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK.  

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• An interest in books and stories, writing and poetry 

• The ability to volunteer on Wednesday during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of four months; 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish; 

• Experience of reading with young people or learners of English, or teaching ESOL or phonics. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

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

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English; 

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

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering. 

A bit about this role

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising volunteers use their passion for cats and people to raise the vital funds needed to help more cats and kittens in need. As a fundraising volunteer we want to support you to fundraise in whatever way suits you best – whether that’s organising a fundraising event, fundraising online, promoting fundraising activities on social media, completing administration or supporting the development of new fundraising ideas! Whatever your skill set, this could be the role for you!

What can you expect to be doing?

This is a really flexible role – you can choose what you’d like to get involved with:

• Face-to-face fundraising – organising or helping with fundraising events, running supermarket collections and fundraising stands, monitoring collection tins
• Online fundraising – setting up online appeals, increasing social media engagement to maximise funds raised
• Marketing – spreading the word about our fundraising activities, for example on social media and with the local press  
• Championing our work – getting involved with developing new fundraising ideas and increasing community engagement

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping raise vital funds through fundraising activities. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated group of volunteers. Whether you’d rather be out and about, or volunteering from your own home, there are so many ways to fundraise.

We’re looking for someone with

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to be part of a team
• Good organisational skills
• Flexible approach
• Knowledge of local community networks (would be an advantage)

Time expectation

This is a flexible role that can fit around your other commitments. You’ll be part of a team all working together to raise vital funds while having fun in the process!

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.