English language teaching volunteer volunteer roles
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About UK Reads
UK Reads is the UK-based charity of the global non-profit World Literacy Foundation, which works to eradicate illiteracy and promote equitable access to education worldwide. In the UK, we focus on closing the literacy gap for children from underserved communities, ensuring that every child has access to the literacy support they need to thrive academically and personally.
We deliver high-impact literacy programmes, distribute free books, and partner with schools, libraries, and community organisations to foster a lifelong love of reading.
About the Pen Pal Project
The Pen Pal Project empowers children aged 7–16 to become confident communicators by engaging them in creative, meaningful letter writing. UK pupils are matched with peers in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries to exchange letters over six structured sessions throughout the academic year.
The project supports pupils in:
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Developing core literacy skills (reading, writing, sentence structure, vocabulary)
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Strengthening confidence, empathy, and communication through storytelling
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Learning about different cultures, family structures, traditions, and daily life in another part of the world
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Practising both written and spoken English in an encouraging, low-pressure environment
Each school cohort follows a themed session plan exploring topics such as identity, youth culture, food, heritage, health, and hobbies.
Sessions are delivered by trained volunteers, with support from teachers and UK Reads staff.
Role Overview
As a Writing Session Coordinator, you’ll play a key role in supporting literacy, creativity, and inclusion in schools. You’ll work directly with students to help them explore personal expression, read incoming pen pal letters, and craft thoughtful responses.
This role is ideal for someone passionate about education, communication, cultural exchange, and making a difference at a grassroots level.
Responsibilities
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Facilitate six themed writing sessions at a primary or secondary school in London (sessions take place during school hours)
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Create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere where all students feel safe to write and express themselves
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Support pupils with varied literacy levels, including those with special educational needs (SEND), English as an additional language (EAL), or lower confidence in reading/writing
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Guide pupils in reading and responding to letters received from international pen pals
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Encourage vocabulary development, sentence structure, and narrative skills using the provided facilitator resources
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Use creativity and cultural awareness to promote engagement and curiosity
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Complete light administrative tasks (~1 hour per session), including:
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Reviewing students’ letters for safeguarding
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Submitting short post-session reflections or feedback forms
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Attend a short online training session and stay in communication with the UK Reads team
Time Commitment
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Approx. 6-8 hours/month over the academic year
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Each session includes:
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~1 hour in-school delivery time
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~1 hour admin/reflection time
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Plus training, planning, and communication time as needed
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Sessions are typically spaced two per academic term (six total)
Volunteers are matched with one school and are expected to complete the full six-session cycle to ensure continuity and build rapport with pupils.
Who We're Looking For
We welcome volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds. You don’t need formal teaching experience — just commitment, empathy, and a passion for helping young people thrive.
Essential:
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Strong spoken and written English
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Comfortable working with children and young people in a school setting
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Reliable, organised, and able to follow session plans
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Open-minded, culturally sensitive, and adaptable to different learning styles
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Able to commit to a minimum of 6 sessions over the academic year (during school hours)
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Based in London or able to travel to schools across the city
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Willing to complete a DBS check and safeguarding training
Desirable (but not required):
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Experience in education, youth work, creative writing, literacy support, or mentoring
What You’ll Gain
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A highly rewarding volunteer experience with visible impact on young learners
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Full training and a ready-to-use facilitation guide
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Support from a dedicated project coordinator throughout your placement
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Reimbursement of reasonable travel costs
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A reference upon successful completion
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The opportunity to be part of a meaningful international exchange project
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Connection to a network of volunteers and educators working toward literacy equity
Safeguarding & Inclusion
We are committed to child protection, safeguarding, and inclusive learning environments. All letters are reviewed by facilitators before being exchanged. Volunteers must complete a DBS check and basic safeguarding training before beginning their placement.
We value lived experience and encourage applications from those who reflect the communities we serve, including volunteers from Black, African, Caribbean, and diaspora backgrounds.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This is an exciting opportunity to influence and impact the educational experience and outcomes of children in east Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Hartlepool. At the heart of our trust is the aim to nurture, educate, achieve and transform the lives of all young people within the communities we serve across the North East.
We are a mixed Multi-Academy Trust, with eight schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) and a mix of community and Church of England schools. We are a fully inclusive, working with a range of stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes and destinations for our pupils.
NEAT is looking for people to join our Local Governing Committees (LGCs) as school governors. We're open to hear from any candidates who are motivated to contribute to the enhancement of education in our schools, whether that be with years of education experience, or with new insights and innovative thinking about how schools and Academy Trusts can and should support learners and other stakeholders.
Our LGC members (school governors) come from a wide range of backgrounds. What they have in common is that they want to help our schools be the best they can be and our pupils to succeed. People who know our local communities bring real insight to the LGC.
We're especially keen to support people who may not have much opportunity to be involved in governing bodies, and those from underrepresented groups. If you have a passion for supporting pupils and some relevant skills or experience, we're keen to hear from you.
As a governance volunteer, our LGC members have the opportunity to use and develop their skills in:
- building relationships and networks
- teamwork
- communication and influencing
- strategic thinking
- problem solving
- using data
- leadership and Board practice
- specialist areas such as Careers, Health & Safety, Special Educational Needs (SEND), or Safeguarding
Being a school governor is not only a great way to use your existing experience and expertise in your community, but is a great way to learn new skills, receive training in leadership and board skills, upskill and make a difference. There's a wealth of opportunities for personal and professional development, networking, and working with a range of people from different backgrounds, professions, and life experience.
Our governance volunteers (school governors) have direct impact in the community through:
- decision making in the best interests of pupils to improve their education, wellbeing and future prospects and raise community aspirations
- shaping school policies and aims, allowing teachers to focus on delivering high-quality educational experiences
- stakeholder engagement to ensure that the voices of staff, parents, pupils and other stakeholders are heard
Most LGC members have a four-year term of office, except for co-opted members who are appointed for one year. They attend around four meetings each year, which are usually held late afternoon/early evening during term-time. LGC members are also involved in scrutiny activities in school, which usually happen once or twice a term during the school day. LGC members also participate in decision-making panels (for admissions and exclusions) for schools in the Trust. The average time commitment for our LGC members is 8-12 hours per month.
NEAT takes safeguarding seriously, and all governance volunteers are required to undertake a vetting process (including DBS check) during appointment to best safeguard our pupils and schools.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role title: Trustee
Location: Flexible (travel to London will be required at least three times a year for in person board meetings)
Salary: N/A (Volunteer role)
Time commitment: Attend 3 in person board meetings annually and 3 online sub committees. Exceptional board or sub-committee meetings may be scheduled when necessary.
Contract: The Trustee is appointed for an initial 3-year term with the option of renewal for up to 3 terms. The maximum term for all trustees (including the Chair) is 9 years.
Purpose of the role:
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to join an impact-focused and ambitious charity supporting refugees to access meaningful employment and build a new life.
The board’s role is to govern Breaking Barriers effectively, in service of our vision and mission. Trustees provide support and challenge to the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and are ambassadors for the charity.
Essential Duties of the Trustee Role:
- Ensure Breaking Barriers is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
- Comply with Breaking Barriers' governing document and other laws that apply
- Act in Breaking Barriers' best interests: prioritise Breaking Barriers' objectives, avoid conflicts of interest, and follow procedures to manage any conflicts
- Ensure Breaking Barriers is accountable: meeting legal, accounting and reporting requirements
- Manage Breaking Barriers' resources responsibly: managing risks, protecting assets and people, getting the resources we need, having appropriate controls and procedures
- Act with reasonable care and skill using your skills and experience, deciding when you need professional advice, ensure Breaking Barriers remains solvent
Other Responsibilities:
- Understanding the vision, mission, goals and values of Breaking Barriers together with a good grasp of the operational context and the expectations of partners
- Strategic leadership and vision: help to guide the organisation with a strategic vision, aligning the board and staff's efforts with the mission. Ensure that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets
- Facilitating discussions: Lead conversations when necessary, ensuring focus on key issues and decisions
- Leveraging opportunities: Support and participate in fundraising strategies, leveraging networks, and engaging with donors and stakeholders to secure necessary resources for the organisation's work
- CEO and SLT support: Maintain a constructive relationship with the CEO and SLT, creating a positive and strong working relationship to jointly set and achieve appropriate targets, staying in regular contact and acting as a sounding board to discuss strategic or staffing related matters, issues - coaching, supporting and challenging as necessary
- Ambassadorship: Act as an ambassador, representing and promoting the organisation's mission, values, and interests to external stakeholders, enhancing its reputation, and fostering collaboration, fundraising and promotional opportunities
Person Specification:
We are seeking board members with a passion for the mission, vision and values of Breaking Barriers, and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience which we define as people from a refugee background, with first hand experience of seeking sanctuary or migration to the UK.
In addition, we actively seek candidates who bring any of the following:
- Prior fundraising expertise: focusing on corporate and high-end individual funding to generate leads, ability to contribute to active fundraising efforts, introductions to relevant networks and relationships
- Leadership experience at a senior level within corporate organisations and a commitment to actively making introductions to relevant networks and contacts
- Refugee/forced migration sector experience: leading or developing initiatives/programmes in areas relevant to the mission, such as employability or recruitment
To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accessible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.
Other considerations
- As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.
- Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action.
How to apply
If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. To apply, please submit a CV and statement (up to approximately 500 words/1 A4 page) outlining:
- Why you are interested in the role
- What skills you would bring to be successful in this role
- Any experience you would like to highlight
- Any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process
Please note that applications without a covering letter will not be considered.
Closing date for applications is 11:30pm on Tuesday 09 September. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Breaking Barriers exists so that every refugee can access meaningful employment and build a new life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This is an exciting opportunity to influence and impact the educational experience and outcomes of children in east Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Hartlepool. At the heart of our trust is the aim to nurture, educate, achieve and transform the lives of all young people within the communities we serve across the North East.
We are a mixed Multi-Academy Trust, with eight schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) and a mix of community and Church of England schools. We are a fully inclusive, working with a range of stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes and destinations for our pupils.
NEAT is looking for people to take a leadership role as Chairs/Vice Chairs of our Local Governing Committees (LGCs). We're open to hear from any candidates who are motivated to contribute to the enhancement of education in our schools, whether that be with years of education experience, or with new insights and innovative thinking about how schools and Academy Trusts can and should support learners and other stakeholders.We are looking for people who can work with a range of people to support our schools, leading the governors and coordinating with school and trust leaders and external stakeholders.
Our LGC members (school governors) come from a wide range of backgrounds. What they have in common is that they want to help our schools be the best they can be and our pupils to succeed. People who know our local communities bring real insight to the LGC.
We're especially keen to support people who may not have much opportunity or experience with governing bodies, and those from underrepresented groups. If you have a passion for supporting pupils and some relevant skills or experience, we're keen to hear from you.
As a governance volunteer, our LGC members have the opportunity to use and develop their skills in:
- building relationships and networks
- teamwork
- communication and influencing
- strategic thinking
- problem solving
- using data
- leadership and Board practice
- specialist areas such as Careers, Health & Safety, Special Educational Needs (SEND), or Safeguarding
Being a school governor is not only a great way to use your existing experience and expertise in your community, but is a great way to learn new skills, receive training in leadership and board skills, upskill and make a difference. There's a wealth of opportunities for personal and professional development, networking, and working with a range of people from different backgrounds, professions, and life experience.
Our governance volunteers (school governors) have direct impact in the community through:
- decision making in the best interests of pupils to improve their education, wellbeing and future prospects and raise community aspirations
- shaping school policies and aims, allowing teachers to focus on delivering high-quality educational experiences
- stakeholder engagement to ensure that the voices of staff, parents, pupils and other stakeholders are heard
Most LGC members have a four-year term of office, except for co-opted members who are appointed for one year. They attend around four meetings each year, which are usually held late afternoon/early evening during term-time. LGC members are also involved in scrutiny activities in school, which usually happen once or twice a term during the school day. LGC members also participate in decision-making panels (for admissions and exclusions) for schools in the Trust. The average time commitment for our LGC members is 8-12 hours per month.
For LGC Chairs, there is need to be involved in contact with a range of stakeholders within the school, the community, and across the trust. This will include more frequent meetings in school, possibly during the day, although many of these may be outside normal school hours. Depending upon school priorities, we would expect the typical Chair time commitment to be around 15-20hrs per month, although some of this can be done online and by phone around work and home commitments.
NEAT takes safeguarding seriously, and all governance volunteers are required to undertake a vetting process (including DBS check) during appointment to best safeguard our pupils and schools.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Help transform access to classical education in state schools. Join Classics for All as a Trustee and support our mission to advance social mobility and educational equity across the UK.
Classics for All is a national charity working to ensure that every young person - regardless of background - has the opportunity to study Latin, Ancient Greek, ancient history and classical civilisation. Since 2010, we’ve supported over 1,300 state schools and reached more than 185,000 pupils, many in areas of high deprivation.
We are now seeking new Trustees to join our engaged and collaborative Board as we enter an exciting new phase of growth. Our focus is on expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and embedding social mobility and inclusion at the heart of everything we do.
We are particularly interested in individuals who bring:
- A strong commitment to educational equity and social justice
- Lived experience of the barriers we aim to address
- Skills in legal, digital transformation, or marketing and communications
- Strategic thinking and a collaborative mindset
We welcome applications from first-time trustees and are especially keen to hear from people based outside London and the South East, and from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the charity sector and Classics education.
This is a general trustee role. All Trustees contribute to strategic planning, support the executive team, and act as ambassadors for our mission. Board meetings are held quarterly (mostly online, with one in-person meeting per year), and we host an annual away day.
If you believe in the power of education to change lives - and want to help make classical subjects accessible to all - we’d love to hear from you.
Registered Charity
6 - 10
We want a future where every child can unlock the wisdom, wonder, and imagination of the ancient world, regardless of background or circumstance.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.