Family Worker Volunteer Roles in Edinburgh
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!
Wellbeing Facilitator - Scotland
We’re looking for compassionate individuals to join us as Wellbeing Facilitators in our Living Well with MS programme in Scotland. This is a meaningful opportunity to support others while developing new skills and meeting like-minded people.
About the Role
The Living Well with MS programme is a series of peer-led sessions designed to empower people affected by MS to manage their health and wellbeing. As a Wellbeing Facilitator volunteer, you will:
- Help plan and co-deliver in person and virtual sessions alongside a member of MS Society staff. This includes delivery of our mental health courses; Change, Transition and Loss, which is a pilot course funded by the Scottish Government’s Neurofund as well as our Managing Stress and Anxiety course.
- Foster a positive and supportive environment for sharing and learning.
- Work closely with MS Society staff to prepare and deliver these impactful sessions.
Time Commitment
Our roles are flexible to suit your availability. Here’s what to expect:
- In-person sessions: Two half-days (2.5 hours each).
- Virtual sessions: Three 1-hour sessions.
- Planning time: Up to 1 hour, virtually with MS Society staff.
To provide flexibility, we’re especially keen to hear from volunteers available on evenings and weekends. We ask for a minimum commitment of two sessions per year to maintain familiarity with the content and ensure consistent support for participants
Our face-to-face sessions will be held in the Lothians, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire, so we would be looking for volunteers who are within the area or live very close to these areas.
Training & Support
You’ll receive full training to prepare you for the role:
- Training will be delivered virtually via online platform Zoom, so you can join from the comfort of home.
- We’ll provide ongoing support, resources, and annual refresher training to help you succeed and grow in your role.
Who we’re looking for
Volunteers who:
- Are living with MS and willing to share their lived personal experiences positively.
- Have a compassionate and understanding approach.
- Want to support others affected by MS in navigating mental health challenges.
Ready to Join Us?
Apply by Monday, 31st March 2025. Please provide details explaining your suitability for the role.
Spaces are limited, so don’t wait! Successful applicants will be invited for an informal chat online over Zoom.
Make a difference. Share your story. Be a Wellbeing Facilitator!
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!
Family Lives was formed over forty years ago by volunteers with the aim of ensuring that all parents had somewhere to turn before they reach crisis point.
Remote Family Support Volunteer – Live Chat
We know that the right support at the right time makes all the difference. Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families who are struggling.
Organisational values:
Mission: We build better family lives together.
Vision: Families should have access to active support and understanding.
Values: Trustworthy, Compassionate and Collaborative
Purpose of the role: To be part of a flexible team providing empathic, caring and informed support to families, carers and others who use our services.
Live chat: is a free confidential service that is accessed via our website. Service users are offered emotional support, information and advice and guidance on a broad range of family issues.
Supervised by: The Shift Supervisor
Activities: The volunteer will be fully supervised, supported and trained to provide the following activities:
·Provide emotional support to family members via our live chat service
·Use the Family Lives support model and tools to provide an empathic responses
·Ensure that all service users receive a high quality experience
·Sign post users to other agencies for information and additional support
·Complete conversation data records
·Alert the shift supervisor to any difficult situations
General: Volunteers should be willing to:
·Attend the relevant volunteer training
·Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the other policies and procedures of the organisation
·Participate in regular support, supervision meetings and learning sessions as agreed
For home based volunteers only:
·Volunteers will need a Laptop/PC, plug in headset with microphone, fast broadband and a private place to work from home
·Volunteers need to be IT/PC literate and confident troubleshooting should they have technical difficulties
Time: We would be looking for volunteers to commit to one four-hour shift per week, plus attending training and supervision.
Location: working remotely from home
You need to be a UK resident
Supervision and Support:
·Supervision during shifts
·Debrief after every shift
·1 to 1 supervision every 6 months
·Staff available outside of shift within office hours
·Annual review
The Benefits of Volunteering:
·Satisfaction in making a real and lasting difference to families who are struggling
·An opportunity to develop experience for CV and references. Family Lives is committed to helping volunteers develop their own learning and development, gaining new skills, knowledge or work experience
·Being part of a team of Family Lives volunteers and staff
·Personal development
·Opportunities to meet and interact with a wide range of people
·Out of pocket expenses reimbursed to a maximum of £10 per session if working from a centre
·Flexible hours
Volunteer Person Specification. We are looking for individuals who:
·Have experience of parenting/being in a parenting role or demonstrable experience of working with parents or children e.g. in their work, previous volunteering or a previous role
·Have an ability to respond empathically to emotional content
·Good written and verbal communication
·Have good keyboard skills and IT skills, with a minimum of 50 wpm
·Can demonstrate a willingness to question their own attitudes e.g. toward different forms of parenting
·Have a fluent, descriptive and expressive use of English
·Can remain open minded and non-judgemental
·Willing to commit to work within Family Lives’ policies, in particular our Confidentiality Policy and Risk of Harm Procedures
·Willing to commit to attending regular supervision and support sessions
·Willing to work as part of a team
·Willing to commit to a mutually agreed period or ideally a 12 months commitment to the organisation.
Typing Task Prior to Application for Live Chat
Prior to you submitting your application for a Live Chat Volunteer, we will require you to do a speed test, we ask for a minimum speed of 50 words per minute.
Please take a screen shot and send it across with your application
You can have up to 3 attempts and decide which result you would like to forward as part of your application
Typing task
Go to the website typingtest
You are required to take the one minute typing test recording all of the results (speed, number of errors and adjusted speed).
We have remote voluntary call taker training groups the dates are below are you would need to be able to attend all 5 Modules from the training group.
Module 1 – Wednesday 12th March
Module 2 – Wednesday 19th March
Module 3 – Wednesday 26th March
Module 4 – Wednesday 2nd April
Module 5 – Wednesday 9th April
10am to 2pm
Or
Module 1 - Saturday 8th March
Module 2 - Saturday 15th March
Module 3 - Saturday 22nd March
Module 4 - Saturday 29th March
Module 5 - Saturday 12th April
10am to 2pm
Please note that all roles offered are subject to a satisfactory DBS being obtained, you will receive details of documentation required prior to your training and this must all be in no later than the second session of your training.
Typing Task Prior to Application for Live Chat
Prior to you submitting your application for a Live Chat Volunteer, we will require you to do a speed test, we ask for a minimum speed of 50 words per minute.
Please take a screen shot and send it across with your application
You can have up to 3 attempts and decide which result you would like to forward as part of your application
Typing task
Go to the website typingtest
You are required to take the one minute typing test recording all of the results (speed, number of errors and adjusted speed).
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Family Lives operate a free confidential helpline for anyone experiencing difficulties in their family or relationship.
Our volunteers take calls from parents and carers on a wide range of subjects, whether that might be issues around separation and divorce, isolation, depression, bullying and abuse, dealing with behavioural problems, etc. You can find out more about our services on our website.
We are a national service with home-based call takers county wide and we also have a call centre in Old Hatfield Hertfordshire. Once trained volunteers sign up for a weekly 4-hour shift comprising 3 hours ‘online’ followed by a debrief session with your supervisor which can lasts around half to one hour.
We recruit volunteers with a range of backgrounds and experiences though we ask that volunteers have experience of parenting or working with children and young people, are good listeners and have a willingness to learn. Being remote it will be very important that you have a PC/laptop, plug in headset with microphone, good Wi-Fi and a private place to work from home.
You need to be a UK resident.
Our training programme is excellent and will give you the opportunity to develop the skills needed to offer empathic support and guidance to callers whatever their circumstances; all shifts are overseen by a regular shift supervisor who provides ongoing remote support. We ask our volunteers to make a commitment of 1 year (with time off for holidays), obviously we understand that circumstances sometimes make that an impossibility but can be helpful to know at the outset that is the general expectation.
We have call taker training sessions that run over five sessions and is done remotely connecting you via a Microsoft Teams link.
You would need to be able to attend all five sessions from one of these remote training groups and be available on four occasions to listen into calls, this can be organised remotely.
Module 1 – Wednesday 12th March
Module 2 – Wednesday 19th March
Module 3 – Wednesday 26th March
Module 4 – Wednesday 2nd April
Module 5 – Wednesday 9th April
10am to 2pm
Or
Module 1 - Saturday 8th March
Module 2 - Saturday 15th March
Module 3 - Saturday 22nd March
Module 4 - Saturday 29th March
Module 5 - Saturday 12th April
10am to 2pm
Please note that all roles offered are subject to a satisfactory DBS being obtained, you will receive details of documentation required prior to your training and this must all be in no later than the second session of your training.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
We are looking for social workers to join our social worker and safeguarding team to give background help and advice to members who are in need of this.
Someone who can work as part of a team but also on their own when needed, we will take on trainees as we have a supervisor in this team
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!
Pet Foster Carer (Thirsk)
You can make a difference to pets
Opening your heart and home to Blue Cross pets is more than just providing shelter – it's about offering love, companionship, and a temporary haven in their time of need. Pet fostering offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the companionship of pets without the long term commitment, while directly contributing to their welfare and providing a safe haven until they find their forever homes. As a Pet Foster Carer, you'll experience the joy of making a real difference in their lives, knowing that your care and support are helping them on their journey to finding forever homes.
And in return
You'll be part of an incredible community of animal lovers, all here for pets. We provide comprehensive training and all your expenses are covered so you can experience the love of a pet without the cost. Fostering is flexible enough to fit into your life; you can take a break at any time. We'll support you every step of the way with your own dedicated Foster Coordinator.
You can change the future for pets in need. Join us in spreading warmth and happiness for pets awaiting their forever families.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
The Salusbury World advice team have been successfully helping clients to navigate welfare benefits, immigration problems, housing support and to find work for 20 years. 70% of our clients require an interpreter.
We particularly need interpreters to support our Arabic-speaking clients.
Some appointments take place virtually and some are face-to-face appointments, usually in the London borough of Brent.
Your main tasks will be to:
*offer clear independent interpreting of the client’s issue and responses from the advice worker to the client.
*support clients from a variety of Arabic-speaking countries, many with almost no English.
Experience of interpreting is desirable but not essential. You need a warm personality and an ability to build a rapport with people quickly, a high standard of English, and a non-judgemental and supportive approach.
Commitment: this is an irregular commitment, as and when needed. It is likely to be 2 or 3 hours per month but may be less.
We offer induction training, support and reimburse travel costs.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Would you like to have fun in your local area and get reimbursed for your time? We are always looking for caring and compassionate people to take out a local child or young person for fun activities.
Right now we are looking for applicants in the South Wales area for a fabulous young person who enjoys marvel, climbing, cinema, food and chats. They would prefer a male, but we have other young people who would fit well with a female volunteer.
Activities can include things like: playing football in the park, trampolining, cinema, food, swimming, climbing, play centres, beach, cycling, board game cafes, escape rooms, circus, shows, concerts, go karting etc.
We reimburse reasonable expenses, including travel, for you and your young person up to around £40 a month.
Preferred experience:
- Driving and use of a car due to sometimes rural locations. (We are unlikely to be able to find you a suitable match if you do not drive.)
- Ability to communicate in English.
- Basic IT skills for completing reports and submitting receipts via an easy to use App.
Benefits:
- Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
- Gain valuable experience in supporting children and families.
- Access to online training portal with hundreds of courses. - Access to local authority training.
- All travel and reasonable documented expenses reimbursed.
If you are passionate about helping others and making a positive impact, we would love to hear from you.
At NYAS, we listen to what children, young people and vulnerable adults want. We empower them to have their voices heard.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Marie Curie is expanding its Community Companion service to support people at end of life in/across Bournemouth
Drawing upon their volunteer training, community knowledge and networks, Community Companions visit people identified as end of life in a place of their choosing e.g., their own home, care home, community venue or surgery etc. and empower them to decide what support if any, they would like.
Support may be a one-off activity or an ongoing engagement providing different aspects of support over a longer period of time.
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING
The support a Community Companion provides is unique to each person and their individual circumstances, but is likely to include:
- visiting people identified as end of life in a place of their choosing and outlining the support that is available to them and to the people closest to them
- providing emotional support to people at end of life and the people closest to them
- providing practical information, support, and signposting to other local services to people at end of life and the people closest to them
- supporting and empowering people at end of life to create an advanced care plan (ACP) which considers, documents, and clearly communicates what is important to them
- providing carer support including pre and post bereavement support, ensuring the right local provision-based support is in place for people within caring roles
- providing support around fuel poverty and accessing available resources
- promoting the Community Companion service within the local community
- completing and returning a short report at the end of each session
- attending and participating in regular volunteer wellbeing sessions, team meetings, and refresher training
THE SKILLS / EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEED
- Friendly and approachable
- Patient, empathetic and sensitive to the needs of others
- An active listener and an ability to build a rapport with others
- Self-aware and emotionally resilient
- Adaptable and open to learning and developing
- Able and willing to operate within Marie Curie’s boundaries and to follow all processes, procedures and guidelines including using a lone worker device
- Committed, reliable and trustworthy
- An understanding of confidentiality
- Inclusive and respectful
- A mature perspective on life and death
- Access to a PC, laptop, Tablet or Phone and basic IT skills e.g. the ability to type on word and email attachments
WHAT YOU CAN GAIN FROM THIS OPPORTUNITY
- Becoming an important part of Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity
- Making a real difference to people at end of life and to the people closest to them
- Connecting with new and interesting people with a common goal
- Building and developing your skills in a supportive environment
- Continued training, development, and support
- Access to other opportunities within Marie Curie
- Agreed reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
THE NEXT STEPS
- Complete a volunteering application form or submit an expression of interest
- Attend an informal interview with a member of the Marie Curie team either face to face or online via Microsoft Teams
- Supply the details of two people (not family members) who can provide you with a reference
- Consent to a DBS (criminal record) check and submit the appropriate documentation online for the check to be completed
- Attend a face-to-face volunteer induction
- Complete core and role specific Marie Curie training
Marie Curie is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of patients and their families and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Marie Curie will treat all volunteers fairly and with respect. We will not discriminate on the basis of disability, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, sex (i.e. gender), sexual orientation, religion or faith, or gender reassignment. We will not discriminate on the basis of age, unless the responsibilities of a role require us to do so in order to safeguard our volunteers and/or service users.
For more information or if you have any questions regarding this volunteer role, please us.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Volunteers are an essential part of the work we do at YANA.
Many people involved within agriculture can feel isolated, depressed or unable to cope as well as normal.
95% of farm workers under 40 cite poor mental health as the biggest problem they face today. Farm Safety Foundation (2023)
That’s why the YANA helpline is a vital service for our agricultural communities in East Anglia.
Listening makes a difference
We are looking for empathic and sensitive individuals who want to make a positive difference to people’s lives.
Training for our Volunteers
With full training and support, our Helpline Volunteers develop their skills and knowledge, while offering compassionate, real-time support to over 18’s on the phone through our Helpline.
Could you be part of our Helpline team?
If you want to make a real difference, are happy listening and talking on the telephone, and are able to offer at least 3-4 hours of your time each month have a look at our recruitment pack to see how you can make a difference as a Helpline Volunteer.
The role of a Helpline Volunteer is to provide confidential support to people who contact YANA for help, alongside the wider team, ensuring the services maintain YANA’s high standards and provides effective support to those in need.
You will be part of a team who provide a professional and responsive helpline service, supporting people in agriculture and rural businesses struggling with poor mental health and other matters which may include things such as work issues, relationship problems, and financial pressures.
“Ultimately, what I’ve learned the most is that the impact of a simple phone call can be life changing. For me, that’s the reason I volunteer on the YANA Helpline.” Current Helpline Volunteer
This is a home working role with a wider team available to support remotely.
Improving mental health within agriculture and rural businesses in East Anglia.




The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
CISWO, The Coal Mining Charity, is seeking additional trustees to strengthen and widen the scope, expertise and diversity of our Board. We would particularly welcome applications from individuals who are a qualified accountant and a member of a recognised institute.
Since 1995, we have been improving lives and reducing disadvantage in former coal mining communities. With services provided across the country in all former coalfield areas, our reach is extensive.
CISWO is a service provider, grant maker, and custodian of one of the largest portfolios of recreational land in the UK. Our aim is to reduce disadvantage in communities impacted by the coal mining industry and to leave a legacy of community facilities for future generations.
We are proud of the impact we make with former miners and mining communities. With over 2,400 individuals, and over 200 other mining charities supported in 2023, we can demonstrate the difference we make. We are however ambitious to achieve more and recognise that as our client groups change, we need to increase and adapt our delivery to meet these needs.
This is an exciting time to join the organisation. We at the start of our third year of our current 5 year strategy which will build on the past work of CISWO, drive the current work of the charity and set strong foundations for the future to ensure we meet the changing needs of our different client groups.
Trustee Responsibilities
As a Trustee of CISWO you will:
· Be responsible for providing governance to administration and management of the organisation.
· Ensure the financial stability and viability of CISWO.
· Actively contribute to the Board by giving strategic direction including defining and setting overall policy, and evaluating performance against this.
· Ensure compliance with the charity’s governing document, and any legal requirements.
· Act in the best interests of the charity at all times.
· Safeguard the reputation and values of the organisation.
· Use specific skills and knowledge of topics relevant to their areas of expertise to lead discussions, provide advice and guidance, identify key issues, and help the Board to reach sound decisions.
Essential Skills and Knowledge
· Relevant knowledge to contribute to the charity’s core areas of delivery.
· Credibility and evidence of effectiveness in their chosen field.
· Operating a senior level in either a paid or unpaid capacity in a significantly sized and / or complex organisation.
· Experience of strategic thinking and planning with a good understanding of risk.
· A well–rounded understanding of the charity sector and the responsibilities of trustees.
· Analytical and evaluation skills, demonstrating good judgement.
· Highly numerate with the ability to understand budgets and charity finance.
· Team orientated with a collaborative and solution focused approach
· A critical understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion and a commitment to applying these to the role.
· The ability to commit the necessary time and engagement to be an effective member of the Board.
Desirable Skills and Knowledge
· Understanding of the issues faced by former coal miners and mining communities.
· Recent experience working as a qualified accountant in a professional capacity.
· Previous experience as a charity trustee or working with a board of trustees.
How to apply
To be considered for the role, please supply the following:
· An up to date CV clearly detailing your career history with key achievements
· A supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role and the value that your expertise will add to the Trustee Board
Full candidate information pack attached.
Improving the lives of individuals and communities facing disadvantage due to the impact of the coal mining industry.


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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 help lead Big Leaf Foundation in the next phase of its development, as we transition our self-employed contractors to employee contracts and explore new multi-year core funding opportunities to build greater sustainability in our work. We are looking for someone with direct experience in financial management and/or charity finance and fundraising to fill this role. Ideally you will have experience of moving people onto employee contracts. You will use your skills and knowledge to make a lasting difference to the lives of displaced young people in Surrey.
In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee, duties of the treasurer include:
- Overseeing, approving and presenting budgets, accounts and financial statements.
- Being assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs.
- Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate reserves policy.
- Preparing and presenting financial reports to the board.
- Ensuring that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
- Liaising with any paid staff and volunteers about financial matters.
- Advising on the financial implications of the organisation’s strategic plans.
- Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate ethical funding policy.
- Ensuring that there is no conflict between any funding sources and the aims and objects of the charity.
- Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, for example the Charity Commission.
- Ensuring that the accounts are scrutinised in the manner required (independent examination or audit) and any recommendations are implemented.
- Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities.
- Contributing to the fundraising strategy of the organisation.
- Ensuring the accounts are presented in a coherent and easily understandable way in our annual review.
- Sitting on appraisal, recruitment and disciplinary panels as required.
In addition, with other trustees to hold the charity “in trust” for current and future beneficiaries by:
- Ensuring that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these.
- Being responsible for the performance of the charity and for its “corporate” behaviour; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
- Acting as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application.
- Ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.