Community volunteer volunteer roles

Pets As Therapy is a national charity with a simple but powerful mission: to share the joy of pets with people who need it most. We support more than 4,500 volunteer teams across the UK. Together, they bring comfort, connection and companionship to tens of thousands of people every year.

We are looking for three new trustees to help guide our strategy, strengthen our governance and ensure that we remain true to our purpose of spreading joy, comfort and companionship through the magic of pets.

What will you be doing?

Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that PAT achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that PAT has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as importantly, they support and challenge the executive team to enable the charity to grow and thrive, and through this, achieve our mission.

Time commitment

• Attend all full Board meetings. The Board meets formally at least four times a year for between a half day and a day, depending on business. Two meetings are in-person and are held in central London. Two are virtual.
• Preparation for meetings – read papers, understand numbers, assimilate arguments.
• All trustees are asked to serve on one or more Board sub committees and working groups. This adds 3-4 shorter meetings a year.
• Trustees may be asked to chair sub committees on a rotating basis.
• At least two visits per year accompanying a PAT volunteer in a different sector and or attending/supporting an event with PAT volunteers.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our Board. We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with the following skills and experience: 

Animal Care and Behaviour - The wellbeing of the companion animals is of upmost importance to us. Someone with experience in veterinary care will help us develop best practice in our own operation and set an example to the sector. 

Education - Our volunteers visit over 1,600 schools. Someone with education experience will help us to ensure we deliver the best possible service to children and young people. 

Volunteer Management - A key part of our current strategy is improving our volunteer engagement and our volunteer experience. Therefore we’d welcome applications from people with a background in volunteer management and volunteer led organisations.

What difference will you make?

You will bring your own skills and perspectives to help us shape PAT’s next phase of growth. In return, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of a truly unique charity, one that harnesses the bond between people and their pets to transform lives every day.

Before you apply

The TrusteeWorks Team at Reach Volunteering are supporting Pets as Therapy with their Trustee recruitment. Applications should be made via TrusteeWorks in the first instance. To apply please submit your CV/LinkedIn Profile, along with a covering letter stating why you wish to join PAT, the skills and experience you will bring to the Board and what you would hope to get out of the role. If you’d like to have an informal conversation before applying, we’d be happy to speak with you. 

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You don’t need a military background, just some spare time occasionally, and an ability to get on with people from diverse backgrounds and age groups. If so, this could be the role for you.

What is a Helper?

SSAFA Helpers provide support to local SSAFA branches, so that the service to veterans and their families can run smoothly. Perhaps you could help out at an event, take care of some office admin, or give a talk about SSAFA?

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

We have peak times throughout the year when we need extra volunteers. Whether you enjoy organising behind the scenes or being out meeting the public, we need people who can offer some time on a flexible basis.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

This role will suit you if you are looking to volunteer on a flexible basis as and when you are available, and we need extra help. You may be based in an office, at home, or out and about at events.

What would you be doing?

• Helping at public events by staffing stalls, stewarding etc
• Helping to distribute Christmas hampers to clients.
• Giving talks about SSAFA to schools and local groups
• Helping with office tasks like stuffing envelopes, ordering marketing materials

The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.

What could you gain from this volunteering role?

• Support people in your community with a military background
• Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• Experience that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support would you receive?

• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
• Local induction
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable people with a cheerful attitude
• Good spoken English
• Ability to represent SSAFA and its values to potential clients, their families, other agencies, potential volunteers and potential funders.
• Ability to keep within the boundaries of the role with regards to safeguarding, giving advice etc.
• Reliable attitude, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely.
• Access to transport if needed for your role.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities to have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)

Is a criminal record check required? No

Perinatal Support Volunteers provide one-to-one support to parents during pregnancy and up to nine months after the birth. These parents either have mental health issues or are at risk of developing them.

Perinatal Support Volunteers visit these families once a week (usually weekdays during working hours) for 2-3 hours, providing emotional support and practical help in the family’s home or local community. Support is aimed at empowering parents and building resilience beyond the support period.

The type of support Perinatal Support Volunteers provide to parents may include:

• An empathetic and non-judgemental listening ear
• Support to prepare for parenthood
• Support to build confidence in parenting skills
• Support to develop a positive relationship with their infant
• Support to establish daily and weekly routines
• Support to take time for self-care
• Support to manage the things that are causing stress
• Support to access relevant services
• Support to access local green spaces
• Support to make connections with other parents

No special qualifications are necessary to become a Perinatal Support Volunteer, but Home-Start volunteers are usually either parents or grandparents themselves, or people with experience of young children and family life. We particularly welcome volunteers with lived experience of perinatal mental health challenges.

Do you know your Single Crochet from your Slip Stitch? Your Half Double Crochet from your Chain? Then you're the person for Crochet Club!

Our customers at Tentercroft Court would like to learn how to crochet and are looking for someone to teach them the basics.

You'll be helping them to learn how to crochet and maybe assist them to make a blanket or two! They're complete beginners, so even just learning some terminology and simple stitches would be super.

The residents are really flexible as to when they'd like to run the club, so this could be on a day and at a time to suit you. We see this being up to 2 hours a week maximum.

You must be over the age of 18 if you're doing this role on your own. However, we're happy to consider someone over 14 if they volunteer with a parent or guardian, who's over the age of 18.

Could you coordinate local SSAFA services in your area? You don’t need a military background, just basic I.T and admin skills, the ability to get on with people and good written and spoken English. If so, we’d love to hear from you.

What is a Branch Secretary?

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. These are divided into local areas that we call divisions. Each branch has a secretary to organise day-to-day activities. This is a key role involving administration and coordinating people. As the first point of contact for SSAFA in the area you will play a crucial part in promoting SSAFA locally, organising local events and ensuring the smooth running of SSAFA across the divisions in your branch.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

In recognition of our clients’ service to the Nation we aim to provide financial, practical and emotional support when it’s needed most. To do this we need local branches and volunteers who can match clients to volunteers and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

This role is about coordination and administration. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role would suit someone looking to offer a regular time commitment each week. You would also need to organise and attend a number of regular meetings each year.

What would you be doing?

• Managing the branch office (if applicable) and providing support to all volunteers, especially new ones
• Work with the branch Chairperson, treasurer, and others to ensure smooth running of the branch.
• Accepting referrals and coordinating SSAFA caseworkers, visitors, and helpers accordingly
• Oversee all SSAFA casework across the branch ensuring clients get support that is effective and timely.
• Monitor volunteer numbers against the demand for support and recruit new volunteers as needed
• Working with the local training officer to ensure all volunteers are kept up to date with the training and information they need.
• Build relationships with regional and central office staff to ensure an effective flow of information.
• Maintaining accurate records of volunteers and cases, submit accurate data to Central Office
• Providing administration for an annual programme of meetings including an AGM, recording, and implementing decisions
• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser.
• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)

The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.

What could you gain from this volunteering role?

• Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area
• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support would you receive?

• Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, caseworker IT system training, volunteer management – attracting, recruiting, and inducting volunteers, volunteer management – case management and quality. This training would take approx. 4 days.
• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
• Access to a range of e-learning courses as well as local opportunities to keep your training up to date.
• Support from the Chair of the branch
• Access to the Welfare Team and Volunteer Support Team based at our central office.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable people of any age (18+) with some experience of coordinating people and admin
• Good written and spoken English.
• Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues.
• Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
• Ability to coordinate a team of people volunteering.
• Willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the training course)
• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to reporting any safety concerns etc
• Reliable attitude, contact clients and volunteers promptly, keep appointments etc.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely.
• Access to public transport or a car to travel to meetings, events etc.
•  

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)

Is a criminal record check required? No

Why we want you

As branch treasure you will be key part of your local branch creating a range of

activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To

ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to

help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

What you will be doing

· Maintaining and reconciling local bank accounts and recording transactions and authorised payments.

· Providing and present reports to the branch committee and to SSAFA’s central office.

· Maintaining accurate records using our on-line finance management system.

· Preparing year end accounts and financial statements including arranging an independent review.

The skills you need

· Some experience of financial administration

· Great written and verbal communication skills

What's in it for you

· Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community

· Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others

· Support in your role from the team at SSAFA

· Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those

involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Looking for a rewarding opportunity to support young people in your community whilst developing your own skills and experience? 

At ReachOut, we believe that socio-emotional skills are overlooked foundational skills which improve success at school and the everyday, personal lives of children. Our aim is to transform outcomes for young people constrained by circumstance by building their socio-emotional skills. We define these skills as empathy, responsibility, problem solving, initiative, teamwork and emotion management.

We exist because not all children have the opportunity to just ‘pick up’ socio-emotional skills. Just like with maths or English, socio-emotional skills can be influenced by a wide range of formal and informal learning opportunities, which many children just don’t have access to the services and opportunities necessary to develop these skills. The 9-14 age bracket is a crucial juncture in childhood development, which is why we focus our efforts on this age range. Our approach combines positive peer support with supportive adult role models, allowing us to have the most impact. 

What do volunteer mentors do?  

• Volunteer on our after-school projects that take place for 2 hours a week over 12 weeks during term-time. Choose projects that work around your schedule, with projects at our partner schools running on different days.  

• Our sessions are led by our Youth Development Leads and involve collective mentoring activities from our curriculum and fun group games and activities that develop young people’s socio-emotional skills. The role of our volunteer mentors is to get stuck into session activities, typically supporting a small group of mentees, and helping the Youth Development Lead with facilitating activities with your fellow mentors.  

• Sessions are designed to be exciting and engaging for our young people, so by showing up weekly and bringing confidence and enthusiasm, you’ll be helping your mentees to grow in confidence, develop their skills and have fun! 

Here’s 5 reasons you’ll love to volunteer in our shops:

1. It's fun

2. It's flexible

3. You'll learn and share skills

4. You'll be making a difference

5. You'll work with a great team

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams are key to raising vital funds for our work and act as incredible advocates for the rights of children both in the UK and around the world.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

Volunteering in the shop

Our Allestree Shop Volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

It’s up to you how much you commit. We have volunteers who support for a couple of hours a week and some do more. Many people volunteer either a morning or an afternoon each week - this is something that will be discussed at the selection stage, after you’ve applied.

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

In over 110 countries, we support children to transform their lives. By providing live-saving short-term help, and pushing for deep-rooted social change, we help children take, their future into their own hands. We believe every child has the right to learn. Every child should have good food to fuel their bodies and every child should have medicine when they're sick.

Skills and experiences we seek

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 and to follow our policies as well as be an excellent representative for Save the Children.

We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities. Everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role that works for you.

What happens next?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal trial shift. It’s a great opportunity to visit the shop, meet some of our existing volunteers and have a go at some of the tasks that you would be supporting with as a shop volunteer. Hopefully allowing you to get a feel for the role and make sure it’s for you. We also ask for a couple of references (these don’t have to be formal workplace ones, just someone who has known you for over 6 months and isn’t related).

How to apply

Express your interest on email via the apply button.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

 We create sensory activities, challenges and games featuring our bespoke disabled characters and take them to a variety of events and other organisations. And this is where you come in! We need volunteers to do lots of different jobs from big too small. Whether it's preparing activities, setting up, speaking to people or helping pack up, there's plenty to do.

Why?

- Providing a safe space for families who would otherwise find bigger events difficult.

- Promote education and awareness of inclusion around disability.

Who are you?

We are not looking for robots, we want your uniqueness. Generally speaking you will have a;

- Fun loving personality

- Be Patient

- Enthusiastic even when your playing the same game for the 50th time that day.

What do we need from you?

- To have a DBS check (preferably be on the update system)

- Be willing to undertake our training programme

- Sign our volunteer contract (if you disagree with anything in the contract please feel free to discuss it with us.)

What can you expect from us?

- We don't currently ask us our volunteers to be on a rota. Your time is precious and we are thankful for however much you are willing to give to us.

- We have a proactive and positive approach to disability and illness. We will make any and all accommodations you require. If you would like to arrange a confidential conversation please contact us and we shall arrange to speak.

We are looking for volunteers with parenting or child caring experience to support families for 2-3 hours per week, for a minimum of one year upon completing the preparation course.

We provide a preparation course for all volunteers before they start to visit families, which covers all the essential training and information you will require.

The main task of a volunteer is to visit families in their own homes on a regular basis, to offer a combination of the following: Friendship / Practical Help / A listening ear / To accompany to appointments, or help access local amenities / The opportunity to share ideas of skills, leading to increased parental confidence / Links to community resources and support systems

Role Description

Barnet SASS is a community IDVA service, receiving multiple referrals for survivors every day. You will be supporting our duty team to process these referrals and key admin work. If you are interested, you can also be trained to contact clients, making initial welcome or check in calls.

Benefits

You will receive training and experience in using a case management system, safeguarding, talking to survivors and processing referrals. You will be part of an inclusive and dynamic team and have opportunities to shadow different roles to develop knowledge and skills. This is a great role if you are interested in joining the sector or working with survivors of domestic abuse.

Skills and Qualifications Required

No qualifications needed. Excellent written and communication skills. Excellent computer literacy. Good time management. A non-judgemental and open approach.

Training Opportunities

Volunteers will be able to access Solace Women’s Aid’s induction and internal volunteer training programme. Full support will be given to help volunteers understand and carry out any aspect of the role as appropriate.

Home-Start Croydon offers parents the support they need to help give their children the best start in life. As a Parent Champion Volunteer you will be engaging with families from your own community, providing peer to peer support and promoting services for children under 5 and their families. By connecting with other parents and carers, Parent Champions help communities thrive, breaking barriers and reducing isolation.

Key activities

• Engage with parents with children under 5 years old
• Build good knowledge of own community and links with local families
• Signpost parents to children’s centres and local organisations providing services for families
• Talk with parents in groups
• Facilitate parents to build peer to peer support groups
• Provide information on childcare options including the free early learning for two year olds
• Record accurate information manually
• Attend training and personal development activities
• Meet the Parent Champion Coordinator and other Parent Champions to share good practice

Person Specification

• Have experience of being a parent or carer
• Ability to talk and listen to other parents and understand their world
• Have a non-judgemental attitude
• Have an understanding of the difficulties parents face when looking for childcare
• Have a positive experience of using formal childcare and family services
• Have an understanding about confidentiality
• Have an awareness on the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
• Have knowledge of and commitment to equal opportunities, fairness and diversity
• Be able to keep basic records as requested by Home-Start

Trustees play a vital role in ensuring Skelmersdale & District Foodbank meets its core purpose by overseeing the management and administration of the charity and ensuring that the foodbank has a clear strategy in line with our vision and goals.

What will you be doing?

As a trustee you will share collective responsibility for the governance of the charity and all decisions made by the board, ensuring the organisation is well run, fulfils its mission, is compliant with charity law and that the charity is open and accountable. 

Trustees ensure that the food bank acts in conformity with its purpose and with charity legislation, and that good governance, best practice policies and rigorous financial supervision are in place. They will be required to work collaboratively, with other trustees and with the staff and volunteers of the foodbank, and other external agencies

Key tasks:

• approve, support and guide the charity’s purpose, vision, strategy, goals and objectives
• manage the charity’s resources responsibly and efficiently, ensuring the charity’s assets are used only to carry out its purpose, avoid undue risk, and do not over-commit the charity
• ensure the charity is accountable, actively complying with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and the law.
• ensure that key risks are identified, monitored and controlled appropriately
• ensure appropriate financial plans are in place, budgets are monitored, progressed and evaluated and ensure the charity is accountable, actively complying with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and the law
• ensure the charity has appropriate procedures to comply with current legislation and good practice, including employment, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding and GDPR compliance/data protection
• prepare for, regularly attend, and participate in board and subcommittee meetings and any trustee away days.
• act with reasonable care and skill, giving your time, thought and energy to your role.
• serve as an additional promoter of the food bank in the community, promoting the organisation to key stakeholders and beneficiaries, and present on behalf of the food bank at meetings and conferences as and when required

What are we looking for?

We are looking for people who want to help their local community. Our ideal candidates would demonstrate:

• a knowledge of and commitment to the work of Skelmersdale & District Foodbank
• a passion for combating poverty within Skelmersdale and its surrounding areas
• experience of working in a governance role
• willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• an ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• willingness to speak their mind
• the ability to think creatively

Applications are particularly welcome from people who live or work in West Lancashire and who reflect Skelmersdale’s diverse community. The food bank would particularly welcome applications from those with experience in one (or more) of the following areas: 

• Partnership engagement
• Benefits advice and support

Whatever your background, we want to make sure you are supported and empowered and enjoy your time volunteering with us. We know that having volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds, with varying experiences, can help to make what we do as effective as possible. As such, we welcome all applicants regardless of age, religion or beliefs, disability, ethnic background, gender reassignment, sex, or sexual orientation.

What difference will you make?

By supporting the governance of the food bank, you are part of a team providing a vital holistic support function in your local community, ensuring a dignified experience to anyone visiting or anyone who comes into contact with Skelmersdale & District Foodbank.

Finance Volunteer

We’re the MS Society – a community of people living with MS, scientists, campaigners, listeners, organisers, ambassadors and fundraisers. Our volunteers are a key part of achieving our goals and their support is vital. Join us.

About this opportunity
We are looking to recruit a Finance Volunteer for our Hambleton and Richmondshire Group. As a Finance Volunteer, you would be joining a coordinating team of volunteers to plan and deliver services and activities to support people locally.

You will maintain and approve income and expenditure records and explain financial information clearly to other group members. You would ensure our financial requirements and policies are followed, and that money is spent in a cost effective manner.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience with a large charity, 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 comfortable with figures, preferably with an accounting or business background. You will live in the immediate area of the Group, allowing you to meet with other volunteers from the Group.

Apply 

Read through the role description carefully

Please apply online

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