Environment volunteer roles

About The Role

Volunteers are integral to the running of our Welney reserve and visitor centre and without their help we wouldn’t be able to welcome our visitors to this amazing 1300 acre wetland of international importance. Our volunteer team are friendly and committed, and say they benefit by gaining new experiences, meeting new people and sharing the story of our work.

At WWT Welney Wetland Centre we want to ensure that our visitors receive a warm, friendly welcome to ensure they have a memorable visit to our Visitor Centre and Reserve. In this role, you will be helping to bring people of all ages and backgrounds closer to wetland wildlife, by providing assistance for visitors to explore the reserve and learn about WWT’s pioneering wetland conservation work, to save wetlands for wildlife and people. In this role you will support the delivery of a range of interactive visitor engagement activities, including guided walks, and other seasonal activities, drawing people in by telling engaging stories about our work and inspiring people to support us as members of the WWT.

On a day-to-day basis, you’ll be answering visitor questions, helping them to navigate the reserve, and identifying basic wildlife. You'll get regular briefings to keep you up to date with what's going on at the centre, and we can offer coaching to help you feel more confident talking to our visitors and leading guided activities.

Volunteers are an essential part of the WWT team. You'll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and anything else you need. 

If you are interested in volunteering for WWT but don't wish to apply online, please email us or leave us a message. 

About You

This role will suit you if you have a positive, friendly, can-do attitude and are committed to delivering excellent customer service. Welney has a close-working team, however, the ability to work under your own initiative and being self-motivated during quieter times is also needed. You’ll have a real interest in and enthusiasm for WWT’s work, nature and the outdoors and can share this with others. Having, or being happy to develop, the confidence to engage our visitors simply and effectively around their needs is also a key part of this role, being a good communicator in English (other languages are also useful!).

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you'll love volunteering at WWT

• Feel good knowing you are helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by like-minded wetland lovers
• Hear from the people who inject their energy, passion and expertise into wetlands and wildlife - talks, walks, webinars, tea and cake...
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Volunteer discount on shopping and memberships
• Access to webinars and practical information to help you manage daily life

Practicalities

Where will you be based? Welney Wetland Centre

Who will you volunteer with? Visitor Engagement Team, Events & Marketing Officer

Time commitment?  We are looking for volunteers who can ideally commit to one day a week on a regular basis. Shifts are from 9.15am to 3pm, with suitable breaks. However, we will mutually agree the hours that you can contribute.

We want your volunteering to be a positive and fun experience. You’ll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and other information you need. This will include risk assessments based on your role and any particular support you need. Volunteers receive access to our sites, and discounts in our shops and cafes. Some roles include a uniform or require the use of equipment or protective clothing. If you are based at a particular site or office location, you’ll need to be able to get yourself there and back. Information on locations can be found on our website. We will keep you up to date with what’s happening across WWT and the difference you will be helping to make happen.

We look forward to hearing from you! 

Housing for Women is a charity and a housing provider with a mission to empower women and challenge inequality. We support women through affordable housing, help women and children escaping domestic abuse, survivors of trafficking, women leaving prison and older women.

We are looking for a volunteer with finance and administration experience to support our energetic finance department.  This could be someone studying for their ACCA, AAT, CIMA or ACA qualifications, or someone recently qualified who wants some work experience.  Previous volunteers have gone on to get employment within the charity sector.

We are looking for a volunteer who can commit to volunteering at least two days a week for a minimum of six months.

This is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to use their finance skills on a regular basis.  If you are looking to gain hands on experience in charity finance in a supportive environment, this is the perfect opportunity for you! We will provide relevant training and help you to identify career development opportunities.

Would you like to become a Trustee?

Each year we seek new volunteers to join our board of trustees, bringing with them the skills and experience we need to work for a better future for nature, people and the green spaces we all love across Rotherham and Sheffield.

As well as an enthusiasm and passion for our work, we are looking for people with the skills to help govern the Trust.Experience of working in a decision-making group is very helpful as well as a good local knowledge of Rotherham and/or Sheffield. You would need to be able to commit to attending our Annual General Meeting (held in October) and at least four board meetings per year, which require some preparatory work..

This year we are especially keen to hear from people:

• Have expertise in strategic HR, staff health & wellbeing support
• Commercial, business acumen, profit for purpose experience (with reference to our consultancy)
• Have a good knowledge of communities and/or natural environment in Rotherham
• Can represent more of our diverse community in Sheffield & Rotherham

To find out more have a look at the role description visit our website

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

Unfortunately, thousands of cats each year are abandoned or have strayed and rely on charities like Cats Protection for help. Becoming a trap, neuter and return (TNR) volunteer is one way you can make a real difference to cats in your local area. Our TNR volunteers help reduce the number of feral cats by raising awareness of our TNR programmes, setting humane traps to safely capture cats, taking them to local vets to be neutered, and hopefully returning them back to their territory. Local TNR programmes are crucial, as feral and abandoned cats present a huge challenge for communities across the UK.

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
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Trapping cats using humane methods
• Taking cats to local vets to be neutered 
• Returning cats to their territory or finding a suitable alternative

The role might also include:

• Regular feeding of feral colonies
• Promoting neutering by building relationships with farmers, land owners and local businesses
• Liaising with vets to promote and arrange neutering 

Time expectation 

This is a flexible role and the hours will vary depending on the number of cats identified for specific TNR campaigns. Our current TNR volunteers spend about 2 to 3 hours per week in this role which can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed. 

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

As a stock volunteer, you'll be behind-the-scenes, sorting and organising donations to keep our retail spaces well-stocked. Your keen eye for detail and passion for helping others will ensure our customers always have a great choice of items to buy.

What you will be doing

• Undertaking shop related tasks agreed with the Manager, for example:
• Selecting, sorting, and pricing donated stock.
• Chatting to customers who drop off donations and other members of the team.
• Preparing stock to be put out on the shop floor, ready for sale.
• Researching valuable and vintage stock.
• Photographing and listing items for the online shop.
• This role may include occasionally lifting boxes. We prioritise a safe working environment and provide comprehensive health and safety training to all volunteers.

We are seeking enthusiastic and friendly volunteers to join our café team. As a Volunteer Café Assistant, you will play a vital role in creating a warm and inviting environment for our customers. Your efforts will help support the daily operations of the café and ensure that every visitor leaves with a smile.

Volunteer Impact and Support

As a Café Assistant, your contribution will directly impact the community by fostering a welcoming space where people can connect and unwind. Whether it’s brightening someone’s day with a smile or ensuring their favourite drink is served just right, your role supports the café’s mission of creating memorable experiences.

Why we need you:

This role is vital to the work of FareShare Merseyside. You will be preparing and cooking meals for our volunteers and staff, cleaning down the kitchen, and adhering to allergen, HACCP, and other compliance checks.

For the role of the Volunteer Kitchen Lead/ Chef, a background in food is essential. If you have experience leading a small team, and adhering to food hygiene, you would be a great fit for this role.

What will I be doing?

• Learning how to use our internal Warehouse systems to ‘book out’ food, ensuring a good level of stock is available at all time.
• Planning, creating, and cooking meals from surplus food for volunteer and staff lunches.
• Carrying out routine kitchen cleaning, health and safety checks, and completing all relevant paperwork.
• Assisting with one-off corporate or fundraising events.
• Representing FareShare in a courteous and professional manner at all times.

What we need you to be:

• Minimum of 18 years old
• Experience cooking for large numbers of people
• Passionate about food and saving surplus food from going to waste
• Inventive in the kitchen and able to cook for all dietary requirements
• Positive, friendly and personable, able to interact well with different people 
• Good with numbers, identifying different foods, writing clearly  
• Able to work effectively and use your initiative in a fast-paced environment 
• Able to work well in a team and on your own   
• Able to follow FareShare’s policies & procedures  

What will I get out of it?

· An active and sociable role 

· Development of skills such as menu planning, batch cooking, team leading

· Support and supervision from the Regional Volunteer Manager, and our Culinary Lead. 

• An induction and training for the role
• The opportunity to take on new challenges and support people in your community
• Reasonable travel expenses and a free lunch  
• A fun and friendly place to work  
• The opportunity to take on new challenges   
• A work reference for those who have satisfactorily committed to at least 3 months  
• The opportunity to support a great cause and give something back to your community  

Are you a creative, passionate fundraising wanting to make a differene to the lives of cats and kittens in York and the surrounding areas? Join us as a Fundraising Coordinator to support our charity's work! 

Role overview:

​As the Volunteer Fundraising Coordinator, you will play a vital role in helping us raise the essential funds that keep our cat rescue work going. This position is key to ensuring we can continue to provide care, veterinary treatment, food, and a safe haven to cats in need. You will take the lead on planning and delivering fundraising activities and work closely with the wider team to help grow support for our charity.

Key responsibilities:​​​

• Fundraising campaigns: Plan, lead and deliver creative fundraising initiatives (both online and in-person).

• Event coordination: Organise and promote fundraising events such as raffles, auctions, online events, and local community events.

• Donor engagement: Build and maintain positive relationships with donors, thanking them and keeping them informed about how their contributions are used.

• Grant applications: Identify grant and funding opportunities.

• Collaboration: Work closely with trustees, the social media team, and other volunteers to align fundraising with our campaigns and goals.

• Tracking and reporting: Keep accurate records of donations, event outcomes, and supporter engagement to help inform future planning. 

What we’re looking for:​

• Fundraising experience: Previous experience in fundraising is essential – whether in a charity, community group or similar role.

• Excellent communication skills: Confident in engaging with people online, over email, and in person.

• Creative thinking: Able to bring fresh ideas and identify new opportunities for income generation.

• Organisational skills: Able to manage your time well, plan ahead, and juggle a variety of small tasks or projects — all while working within the limitations and resources of a small, volunteer-led charity.

• Passion for animal welfare: A genuine desire to help cats and support their journey to safety and adoption.

Why Join us?​

• Make a difference: Your work will directly support the rescue, care and rehoming of cats in need.

• Use your experience for good: Put your fundraising knowledge to work in a role that creates visible impact.

• Supportive community: Join a warm, friendly team of passionate animal lovers.

• Enhance your skills in communication, organisation, teamwork, and problem-solving

• Gain a sense of purpose by supporting a cause you care about and making a real difference

• Networking opportunities with like-minded volunteers, local businesses, and donors

• CV-boosting credentials that stand out to employers and universities

• Leadership experience through coordinating events, managing tasks, and motivating others

• A great way to make friends and meet new people in a supportive, social environment

• Personal fulfilment from seeing the impact of your efforts

• Confidence building through events and community interactions

• Flexible volunteering hours to suit your schedule

• References and endorsements available.

Main activities/tasks:

- Plan, organize and run sessions for clients.

- Engage with clients in a positive manner and promote healthy habits.

- Report back to the project coordinator on session feedback and outcomes.

Who are we looking for?

- You will have some experience in leading Zumba classes.

- No fluency in Spanish or Portuguese needed.

- You will have a friendly and sympathetic personality and will be enthusiastic to work with a team of passionate volunteers.

- You will have the ability to listen, communicate and engage with people of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, cultures and abilities with a non-judgemental approach – that is culturally sensitive and aware of individual circumstances and needs.

- You will be sensitive when working with vulnerable people and will have a genuine interest in promoting their well-being and independence.

- Commitment of at least 3 months.

What the volunteer would gain from the volunteering opportunity:

- Volunteer as part of a team in a friendly and dynamic environment.

- Have the chance to work with a variety of different people and make a real difference to their lives.

- Learn and develop skills that could be helpful for future employment opportunities or further learning.

- Gain valuable knowledge and experience of working in the Charity sector.

- Have the possibility to practice other languages.

- A reference after 3 months of volunteering.

- Gain experience working in a multi-cultural/multi-lingual environment, which is highly valued by recruiters.

- Increase your own self-confidence.

- Attend social and cultural events organised by LADPP.

- Make friends and have fun!

Make a difference to the lives of cats and kittens in York and surrounding areas as an adoption coordinator. 

Role overview:​

As the adoption coordinator, you will oversee the rehoming process for cats in our care. This role is essential in matching cats with suitable adoptive families, ensuring a smooth transition from foster homes to permanent residences. You will work closely with fosters, adopters, the Trustees and the Home Visit Co-ordinator to facilitate successful adoptions that benefit both the cats and their new families.

Key responsibilities:​​

• ​Adoption management: Oversee the adoption process from home visit stage to adoption day, including participating in screening potential adopters, facilitating home visits, coordinating meet and greets and providing after care support. 

• ​Communication: Act as the primary point of liaison between prospective adopters and foster carers, providing information about available cats and addressing any questions or concerns with the aim of facilitating a smooth running adoption process. We use Facebook messenger and email as primary forms of communication so access to these is essential.

• ​Matchmaking:  Assess the needs and preferences of both cats and adopters to ensure the best possible matches for long-term success.

• ​Record keeping: Maintain accurate and organised records of adoption applications, follow-ups, and outcomes to track the progress of each adoption.

• ​Support and guidence: Provide resources and support to adopters on cat care, behaviour, and integration into their new homes to facilitate successful adoption. 

• ​Post-adoption support: Facilitate after care support for adopters and ensure the conditions of adoption agreements are upheld- for example sending out neutering reminders when adopted kittens are old enough  and sign adoptions off once fully complete. 

What we’re looking for:​

• Passion for animal welfare and a strong commitment to helping cats in need.

• ​Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• ​Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• ​Ability to handle cats safely and compassionately.

• ​Proficiency in basic computer skills with experience in using Microsoft Word, Teams, Excel and Docusign.

• ​Previous experience in animal rescue is preferred but not essential.

Why Join us?​

• Gain valuable experience in animal rescue.

• ​Make a direct impact on the lives of cats, our foster carers and the wider volunteer team.

• ​Be part of a supportive community of animal lovers and advocates.

• ​Receive ongoing support from the experienced Trustee team and volunteers.

The Corporate Justice Coalition (CJC) is seeking dynamic, motivated and experienced people who want to add their energy and expertise to pursuing our mission to end corporate abuses of human rights and the environment.

Corporate Justice Coalition’s (CJC) mission is to secure greater protection of human rights and the environment with regard to the global operations of UK corporations, including improved access to justice for those harmed by the activities of UK companies. We work with a diverse range of mainly civil society coalition partners from the fields of global poverty, environmental sustainability and human rights to: change government policies and the law; maintain and strengthen civil society advocacy and campaigning on corporate accountability; develop and promote shared policy solutions; promote public support for the rights of people affected by corporate abuses and solutions to this.

We are looking for two new trustees to join our board. We are looking for a treasurer and another trustee with experience of fundraising in the charity sector.

In addition to the time required to fulfil the responsibilities of any trustee, the role of treasurer would require around 1 additional hour a month.

We are seeking to deepen the diversity of our board and will take that ambition into account when appointing trustees. We would especially like to hear from people with lived experience of the impact of corporate wrongdoing - either overseas or in the UK. In addition, trustee members with experience or skills in running a small charity are always welcomed.

A bit about this role

At Cats Protection we passionately believe that neutering cats before they can breed is an essential part of cat ownership, and without neutering the UK’s cat population would quickly get out of control. Our neutering volunteers help spread positive neutering messages and make it easier for owners on low incomes to get their cats neutered. They help raise awareness of the benefits of neutering, promote our neutering schemes and respond to enquiries from members of the public.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Promoting the benefits of neutering and our neutering schemes
• Responding to enquiries about neutering
• Completing relevant neutering paperwork and distributing neutering vouchers
• Following up with cat owners to make sure that vouchers are used
• Ensuring all cats and kittens are neutered in line with Cats Protection policies and procedures  

A bit more information about this role and the team

Neutering issuer to support with the administration and issuing of neutering vouchers.

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 promoting our neutering scheme. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Good record keeping and administration skills
• Good organisational skills
• Willingness to be part of a team

Time expectation

Our neutering volunteers usually spend between two to four hours a week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

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.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Our social media volunteers use their passion and knowledge of social media to promote the activities of local volunteer teams though various channels. They directly help cats by raising awareness of Cats Protection. A higher profile can help us raise the funds we need for our work, ensure people know they can adopt a cat from us, help promote neutering and help as many people as possible learn more about feline welfare.
 

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
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

You'll be:

• Promoting the work of Cats Protection through various social media channels, for example, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
• Gathering information from across the organisation and locally within your team or volunteer group
• Writing and creating social media content, ensuring it complies with policies and guidelines
• Scheduling and posting social media content
• Monitoring activity and responding to comments on social media channels

Time expectation

Our social media volunteers can expect to spend between two to five hours per week in this role. This role is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

You may be just the volunteer we've been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Our social media volunteers use their passion and knowledge of social media to promote the activities of local volunteer teams though various channels. They directly help cats by raising awareness of Cats Protection. A higher profile can help us raise the funds we need for our work, ensure people know they can adopt a cat from us, help promote neutering and help as many people as possible learn more about feline welfare.
 

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
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

You'll be:

• Promoting the work of Cats Protection through various social media channels, for example, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
• Gathering information from across the organisation and locally within your team or volunteer group
• Writing and creating social media content, ensuring it complies with policies and guidelines
• Scheduling and posting social media content
• Monitoring activity and responding to comments on social media channels

Time expectation

Our social media volunteers can expect to spend between two to five hours per week in this role. This role is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

You may be just the volunteer we've been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.