Community volunteer roles in abbey wood, greater london

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

From elderly moggies to energic kittens, every day across the UK cats and kittens are in need of a temporary place to stay, and lots of love and TLC! We need more fosterers like you to provide a safe, temporary haven for cats and kittens and provide them with everything they need before they get their chance to land on their four paws and make a house a home.

You can expect us to 

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Ensure you have all you need in place to foster the cat(s) in your care, for example equipment and food
• Cover all your foster cats’ expenses and agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

Are you creative? Would you like to support others to express their emotions through arts and crafting?

Art plays a valuable role in mental wellbeing with research showing that crafting, regardless of the medium you use can boost your mood, self-confidence and reduce stress overall. Taking part in art-based activities increases our resilience and engages us in the here and now. You will be supporting people to express their emotions, provide a time for people to relax and feel proud of their final art products!

We are recruiting for a volunteer to support and facilitate an art and craft group.

We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.

In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.

We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.

What you will be doing

• To prepare arts and craft sessions, involving individuals in the planning process where possible
• Inspire and motivate individuals to develop their arts and craft skills, assisting them in the creation of their projects and supporting them to brainstorm and use their own initiative
• Encourage individuals to continue independent activities

The skills you need

• Experience of arts and/or crafts either in a professional, educational, or personal level
• Able to collaborate with individuals to plan an art group session and facilitate confidently
• A calm and patient manner
• Ability to provide a trusting, open, kind-hearted atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• An effective communicator with a patient and sympathetic nature

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

Link Age Southwark is a vibrant local charity providing support to over 800 older people in Southwark who are feeling lonely or isolated. Our vision is for friendly local communities where older people and those living with a diagnosis of dementia can thrive in their later years.

All our volunteering opportunities are within the London Borough of Southwark, predominantly south of the borough - Camberwell, Peckham, Nunhead, Dulwich and around. 

Befriending is at the very heart of Link Age Southwark's services. Lots of the older people we work with are feeling lonely and in need of a little extra social company. Our fantastic volunteer befrienders visit an older person once a week, sharing a cup of tea and a chat together.

Demand for our befriending service continues to grow and we are looking for new people to join our existing team of volunteers so that we can support as many older people as possible. 

This role requires:

• volunteering for approximately 1 hour a week to visit an older person
• a commitment to volunteer for a minimum of 6 months
• a cheerful and friendly personality
• good communication/listening skills
• attendance at a volunteer induction and other relevant training opportunities
• completion of a full Disclosure Barring Service and character reference check
• a commitment to working within the policies of Link Age Southwark, in particular health & safety, confidentiality, safeguarding and equality and diversity

Becoming a volunteer with Link Age Southwark is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and get to know more about your local community.

We cover all reasonable expenses and we are happy to provide references for volunteers who have completed 6 months of volunteering with us.

Please note that all our volunteering opportunities are within the London Borough of Southwark, predominantly south of the borough - Camberwell, Peckham, Nunhead, Dulwich and around. 

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Fundraising Volunteer for the Lambeth and Southwark Group. As our Fundraising Volunteer you’ll support your Group Coordinator to organise local fundraising activities and events throughout the year.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your organisation, communication and team working skills.Most importantly you’ll inspire your local community to raise funds that help make sure no one has to face MS alone.

Time Commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

We have 250 local groups which play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS across the UK. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Group Coordinator for our Asian MS group. As our Group Coordinator you’ll take the lead in making sure your local group works as effectively as possible. You’ll recruit, induct and support other group volunteers to make sure your group’s activities meet the needs of your local MS community. You can see a video about one of our Group Coordinators here.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your leadership, management, communication, organisation and motivation skills. 

Time Commitment

We estimate this role will need around 5 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in the UK to carry out this role.

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

As the welcoming face of the food bank you’ll be sociable, enjoy meeting people and able to offer friendly and caring support to those in crisis. You’ll receive and check food vouchers, prepare food parcels and make refreshments for the people who visit the food bank. You’ll provide a listening ear and support people in accessing other services with compassion and dignity.

Why we want you

We are committed to ensuring anybody visiting a food bank is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity.  Volunteers take time to share a warm drink, discuss food requirements, offer a listening ear and, when appropriate, signpost people for further support and help.  

As a Food bank centre helper you will play a vital role giving direct support to people who use food banks, meeting and greeting people coming into the food bank, packing their food parcels, making them feel comfortable and providing further signposting support where appropriate.

In this role you can make a real difference to people’s lives providing vital help and support to those in crisis in your local community.

What you will be doing

• Welcome clients to the foodbank centre
• Receive vouchers, check validity, and prepare food parcels according to the standard packing lists
• Make refreshments and tidy up as required during the session
• Offer a listening ear and signpost clients, as required, to further support, using information from the signposting folder/leaflets
• Work under the guidance of the session leader and report any health & safety or safeguarding concerns to the project manager/session supervisor

The skills you need

• Strong team player
• Excellent communication skills
• Empathetic
• Has an eye for detail
• Organised and self-motivated

What's in it for you

• Using your existing skills to make a difference
• Meet new people who share your passion to eradicate poverty in the community
• Make a real difference to the running of your food bank

About us

Age UK is the country's leading charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. The over-60s is the fastest-growing group in society and there are more of us than ever before. Ageing is not an illness, but it can be challenging. At Age UK we provide services and support at a national and local level to inspire, enable and support older people. We stand up and speak for all those who have reached later life, and also protect the long-term interests of future generations..

The role in a nutshell:

Volunteers help to keep our UK charity shops running like clockwork and are an essential part of everything that we do. Our charity shops raise vital funds that support the wide range of services Age UK delivers, so if you have some free time available and would like to help, we’d love to hear from you! Whether you are looking to gain new skills and experiences, use those you already have or are just looking for a way to get out and meet new people, then we have flexible options to suit you! What will you be doing?

Volunteer Shop Assistants carry out a wide range of tasks in their roles. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, keeping our shop floor full and organised or supporting with raffle ticket sales and promoting gift aid.

How would you be supported in this role?

When you begin your role, you will receive a mix of e-learning and in-person training to get you started. Throughout the role, you will receive refresher training as required as well as ongoing support, reimbursement for role-related expenses and the opportunity to further shape the volunteering you do.

Why do we need volunteers in this role?

Age UK operates charity shops to raise funds for the delivery of services for older people in need. Volunteers play a key role in the shop team, ensuring our shops are welcoming places in the community and selling the items that are generously donated to our organisation.

Additional information:

We offer a variety of flexible shifts for volunteers.

What skills, interests or experience might be helpful in this role?

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning, will follow Age UKs policies and be an excellent representative for the charity. We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities, so we will do what we can to find a role which works for you.

About us

Age UK is the country's leading charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. The over-60s is the fastest-growing group in society and there are more of us than ever before. Ageing is not an illness, but it can be challenging. At Age UK we provide services and support at a national and local level to inspire, enable and support older people. We stand up and speak for all those who have reached later life, and also protect the long-term interests of future generations..

The role in a nutshell:

Volunteers help to keep our UK charity shops running like clockwork and are an essential part of everything that we do. Our charity shops raise vital funds that support the wide range of services Age UK delivers, so if you have some free time available and would like to help, we’d love to hear from you! Whether you are looking to gain new skills and experiences, use those you already have or are just looking for a way to get out and meet new people, then we have flexible options to suit you! What will you be doing?

Volunteer Shop Assistants carry out a wide range of tasks in their roles. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, keeping our shop floor full and organised or supporting with raffle ticket sales and promoting gift aid.

How would you be supported in this role?

When you begin your role, you will receive a mix of e-learning and in-person training to get you started. Throughout the role, you will receive refresher training as required as well as ongoing support, reimbursement for role-related expenses and the opportunity to further shape the volunteering you do.

Why do we need volunteers in this role?

Age UK operates charity shops to raise funds for the delivery of services for older people in need. Volunteers play a key role in the shop team, ensuring our shops are welcoming places in the community and selling the items that are generously donated to our organisation.

Additional information:

We offer a variety of flexible shifts for volunteers.

What skills, interests or experience might be helpful in this role?

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning, will follow Age UKs policies and be an excellent representative for the charity. We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities, so we will do what we can to find a role which works for you.

Are you qualified to teach Yoga and passionate about promoting wellness? We are looking for dedicated volunteers to facilitate Chair Yoga sessions on Mondays at 7pm in our Tooting Recover Café. If you would like to promote relaxation and reduce others anxiety through mindful breathing and movement, we would like to hear from you!

about the service

We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.

In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.

We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.

What you will be doing

• Lead engaging chair yoga sessions for participants of mixed ages and abilities
• Assisting participants with the correct movements and breathing techniques
• Provide a supportive and welcoming environment, encouraging participation
• Provide guidance and support to help individuals to enhance their flexibility, strength and relaxation

The skills you need

• Qualified to teach Yoga
• Patience, empathy and a positive attitude

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.
• Good communication skills

Disclaimer

Hestia is proud to be a Disability Confident employer. Should you require our role pack in an alternative format or wish to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need for your interview, please contact hestia. As part of the process of volunteering, all applicants will need to complete a DBS and references. If you have any convictions/cautions, this does not mean that you cannot apply for any of our roles, however we do require a DBS for all positions. We ensure that all positive disclosures on DBS records are discussed with our volunteers and fairly assessed.

The ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Service

Our ESOL provision is part of the Centre’s Employment and Learning Service, which also includes digital inclusion and employment support.

We have qualified volunteer ESOL teachers providing 1:1 support to clients who want to improve their English.  We also have a couple of volunteers running small conversation classes at the Centre, within our Family Services.

We now want to expand our ESOL offer to include learning opportunities offsite in a group setting to adults and young people in temporary accommodation, mainly asylum-seeking families.

What will you be doing?

• Conversational English with a small group
• Find out from your students what areas they want to cover and what skills they want to develop
• Encourage a positive atmosphere where students feel they can make mistakes
• The aim of the groups is to help our clients to become more independent and to pursue their social and professional goals. 
• Be aware of the variety of levels within the class, providing support for weaker students and challenge for stronger ones
• Give students encouragement and constructive feedback
• To liaise with the manager of Family Services and communicate any issues that arise with the class 

How does this role make a difference?

This support provided by volunteers to our clients really helps them progress with their English. Often clients do not have opportunities to learn English or interact with an English speaking person, so this opportunity is invaluable to them. Improving our clients English also enables individuals to access our other services such as welfare rights and Immigration advice services, digital inclusion, which will in turn, improve their employment prospects and assist in integration in their local community.

Who will you be helping?

Our clients are refugees, migrants and asylum seekers who are unable to afford or access English classes at colleges. We have many clients at the Centre who need support with their English.

What are we looking for?

• Experience in teaching English as a second language to adults in a group setting and to mixed abilities and a range of languages.
• A recognised ESOL/EFL teaching qualification such as CELTA.
• Good communication and organisational skills.
•  An awareness of some of the issues that affect refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
• A commitment to upholding the Centre’s values of valuing each person, welcoming, encouraging potential, working together, reflecting and improving.

Time Commitment:

The class will run on Wednesdays from June 2025, from 10.30am – 12/12.30pm. We ask for a commitment to run this 90 – 120-minute class for at least two terms ideally. 

How will you be supported?

•  You will be supported by our Volunteer Coordinator, the Manager of Family Services and the wider team
•  You will receive a Centre induction.
•  You will have access to e-learning modules on a range of topics.
• You will be reimbursed for reasonable and agreed ‘out of pocket’ expenses such as travel.
• You will be invited to social and other events

Link Age Southwark is a vibrant local charity providing support to over 800 older people in Southwark who are feeling lonely or isolated. Our vision is for friendly local communities where older people and those living with a diagnosis of dementia can thrive in their later years.

All our volunteering opportunities are within the London Borough of Southwark, predominantly south of the borough - Camberwell, Peckham, Nunhead, Dulwich and around. 

By becoming a Digital Buddy, you’ll help bridge the digital divide, ensuring everyone can stay connected and navigate the digital world confidently. Are you able to support our service users and help build their digital skills with sessions at home on their mobile phones, tablets, or laptops? Our Digital Buddies provide up to six weekly home visits, each lasting 1-2 hours.

Some examples of what a Digital Buddy can assist with:

• Accessing online services
• Setting up a new digital device
• Mobile messaging
• Sending emails 
• Picture messaging
• Problem solving
• Staying safe online

No need to be a tech expert—support with the basics so our older friends can communicate and navigate their devices. Please note that our Digital Buddies are not able to support with online banking, advice on purchases, or fixing hardware.

Becoming a volunteer with Link Age Southwark is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and get to know more about your local community.

We cover all reasonable expenses and we are happy to provide references for volunteers who have completed 6 months of volunteering with us.

Please note that all our volunteering opportunities are within the London Borough of Southwark, predominantly south of the borough - Camberwell, Peckham, Nunhead, Dulwich and around. 

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit an Activities Volunteer for the West Central London Group. As our local group Activities Volunteer you’ll help us to set up activities in the area. Whether you’re serving refreshments, talking to people, registering attendees or collecting payments, you’ll be making sure everyone feel welcome.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your organisation, communication and team working skills. Most importantly you’ll be supporting your local group to run activities that bring friendship and fun to your local MS Community.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the area the group to carry out this role.

Time Commitment

We estimate this role will need up to two hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

Inclusive Boards is delighted to be supporting We Belong in their search for their next Chair.

We Belong is the UK’s first migrant youth led organisation, building the power of 16 to 25 year old migrants to challenge the UK’s hostile environment and advocate for immigration reform. Based in London and working nationwide, the charity supports young people through campaigning, leadership development, advice and digital engagement.

We Belong emerged from the Let Us Learn campaign in 2014, which successfully overturned a government policy preventing over 2,000 young migrants from accessing student finance. Inspired by the US Dreamers, the campaign developed a network of more than 300 young changemakers, proving the power of lived experience to drive systemic change.

With lived experience embedded across its staff, volunteers and governance, We Belong continues to push for structural change, tackling both the barriers young migrants face and the root causes behind them.

About the Chair Opportunity

We Belong seeks a professional with experience of working within the migration field to serve as voluntary Chair of the We Belong board of Trustees. The Chair will work closely with the CEO of We Belong as well as other board members to ensure the ongoing success of the charity.

As Chair, you will have the following knowledge and experience:

• Ability to think strategically and critically assess opportunities and threats in line with We Belong’s charitable purpose.
• Experience supporting the development of effective organisational strategies 
• Previous governance experience.
• Experience as a Chair. (highly desirable)
• Demonstrated experience, skills, commitment and time to lead We Belong through its next phase of growth.

Knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Immigration law, policy, and advice
• The charitable sector and relevant law or policy
• Research and policy influencing
• Campaigning and community activism
• Leadership and youth development

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Over past decades, enormous advances have been made in our understanding of MS. Research has got us to a critical point, and we can see a future where nobody needs to worry about their MS getting worse. Our Stop MS Appeal needs to raise £100 million to find treatments for everyone with MS.

Our Stop MS Champions help us reach more people and inspire them to get involved in our Stop MS Appeal by encouraging raising funds and awareness by delivering presentations, attending events and identifying new audiences to speak to. They inspire people to engage with and influence fundraisers and groups, enthuse people and make sure our community’s voice is heard.

As our Lead Stop MS Champion, you’ll motivate your team of Stop MS Champions to help reach more people and inspire them to get involved in our Stop MS Appeal.

By using your ability to motivate and support, you will oversee and lead a team of 5-10 Stop MS Champion volunteers, encouraging them to engage the people they know to raise funds and awareness, and provide reliable information and guidance.

You’ll also network to engage with and influence fundraisers and community groups, enthusing people by delivering presentations at events and finding new audiences to speak to. In this role, as well as developing your leadership, networking, influencing, communication, organisation and presentation skills, you’ll have a chance to be part of something amazing – you could help us stop MS.