Group support volunteer roles in milton keynes, bedford

Plateful Café works to relieve poverty and isolation amongst refugees, asylum seekers and ethnic minorities in Lewisham. Our commitment is to reach the most vulnerable people in our community and open a pathway to employment for people who have asylum here. Refugees will benefit from workshops, training skills and knowledge relevant for the catering industry. Plateful Cafe are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all volunteers and team members. We are an equal opportunities provider and actively encourage applications from people with a refugee background.

What will the role involve?

• Looking for partnership opportunities with the private sector.
• Assisting with the development and ongoing work of Businesses Fundraising Action Group.
• Assisting in planning fundraising strategies with local businesses.
• Reporting on businesses partnerships and recent developments at Plateful Café.
• Working in partnership with the Plateful Café fundraising team.

Essential:

• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience of working with corporates.
• Expertise in new project creation and developing business links.

Desirable:

• Previous experience in fundraising and/or marketing.

What difference will you make?

• Helping to establish a new Business support group and a sustainable long-term funding structure.
• Developing and maintaining a funding mix, not relying on only one stream of funding.
• Helping local refugees find employment and enter the workforce much sooner than they otherwise might.

Who are Guts UK Charity?

Guts UK Charity is committed to a world where digestive conditions are better understood, better treated and everyone who lives with one gets the support they need. Too many people are suffering or dying in silence or alone. They don’t know where to turn for information or support, diagnosis takes too long for many, and treatment can often come too late.​

We are the only UK charity that covers the entire digestive system. We raise vital awareness of digestive conditions, fund life-saving research, and provide patients and loved ones with expert information and support – we are informed by evidence and expertise, our community, and the patient voice.​ 

Our mission is simple: to improve the lives of millions of people affected by digestive conditions 

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking an experienced treasurer who has a comprehensive understanding of charity finances, requirements and regulations and will actively support other board members to fulfil their collective responsibilities around finance.

You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Gut UK’s ambitious growth plans are achievable, and sustainable for the long term. As a charity we need to do more, fund more, and support more people and we need a treasurer who shares our passion in achieving this. 

As treasurer, you will play a vital role in ensuring our financial health, sustainability, and transparency. You guide and advise the Board on financial strategy, budgeting, and risk management, Chair the Finance, Fundraising, Audit & Risk Committee, ensuring robust oversight of financial and operational matters, support the CEO and COO, offering expert insight and challenge on financial planning and reporting, and champion good governance, transparency, and accountability across the organisation. 

We’re looking for three new members to join the Board of Directors at Hackney School of Food. This is a chance to help shape a dynamic, community-driven organisation that’s improving health and building skills through food education.

Who we are
Hackney School of Food is a food education hub in Clapton, founded in partnership with the LEAP Federation of Schools and the charity Chefs in Schools.

We believe learning to cook and grow food is a vital life skill, and sharing this knowledge builds healthier, more resilient communities. We’re on a mission to provide children, families, and our local community with the tools to improve their diets and well-being. By building knowledge and confidence in growing and cooking nutritious food, from seed to spoon. Our programmes include curriculum-linked lessons, after-school and holiday clubs, family cooking and growing projects, and adult workshops.

We transformed a former caretaker’s house on the site of Mandeville Primary School into an award-winning teaching kitchen and turned tarmac into a flourishing garden. A once-disused classroom is now our Garden Room, where we host educational workshops and dining events for our community.

In 2023, we became a Community Interest Company (CIC) – a not-for-profit social enterprise – meaning our work is driven by the needs and interests of our community. Since opening, we’ve welcomed thousands of people through our doors, working with schools, community organisations, and local residents.

To see more about what we do visit our website.

New board members 

We want to recruit Directors with a diversity of skills and experiences. We are particularly interested in applications from people with one or more of the following skills/experiences:

• Fundraising and income generation expertise

• Business development or growth strategy experience

• Knowledge/experience in social enterprises or start-ups

• Strong network connections, particularly in Hackney / East London

To make an effective board member, it’s also important you are:

• A good communicator with sound judgement

• Open-minded, collaborative and willing to listen

• Confident engaging with different people and perspectives

• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

You don’t need to tick every box. If you’re committed to Hackney School of Food’s mission and the communities we work with, we’d love to hear from you. Previous board experience is welcome but not essential. We are keen to support first-time board members.

Our commitment to creating a diverse board 

We encourage anyone interested to apply.  But we also want to make extra sure our board represents and reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applicants of any gender but do encourage men to apply, to improve gender balance on our board. We welcome applications from black and global majority people and people living locally in Hackney. If you feel comfortable sharing this, we would really like to know if you have any lived experience of food insecurity or health inequalities in your application. 

What Does Being a Board Member Mean?
Our Board of Directors provides oversight, strategic direction, and support to  the team at Hackney School of Food. Board members:

• Provide leadership, helping to set strategic goals and priorities

• Support fundraising and networking efforts

• Act as ambassadors for the CIC

• Oversee compliance and legal and regulatory obligations

• Ensure we are financially sustainable and stay true to our CIC objectives

• Offer advice and support to the managing director and the wider team.

• Bring expertise, ideas, and lived experience to guide our development
   

Time Commitment
On average, the role will take 1–2 days a month, including:

•  quarterly board meetings

• occasional working group or fundraising meetings

• offering advice or support and reading papers in between meetings

Benefits
Being a board member is a valuable way to broaden your professional experience, including management and leadership skills. As a board member, you’ll:

• Play a meaningful role in improving access to food education.

• Gain experience in governance, leadership, and strategy

• Work alongside passionate, committed people who care about making a difference

This is a voluntary (unpaid) role. We will reimburse reasonable travel and subsistence expenses so that income is not a barrier to participation.

The Practical Bits

To apply, please send your CV and a short covering letter (maximum one A4 page) to us directly by Sunday 11 January 2026. You'll find our email on our website.

In your covering letter, please tell us:

• Why you’re interested in joining the board

• What skills, experience, or lived experience you would bring

• How you connect with Hackney School of Food’s mission

What happens next

• Applications will be reviewed by our Managing Director and current board members.

• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an informal interview in late-January.

• You’ll then have the chance to meet current board members to ensure the role is the right fit for both sides.

All Directors will need to complete an enhanced DBS check before starting.

Founded in 2013, Release Counselling and Therapy for Women is a charity that has supported the mental health of thousands of women across Sussex.

Over the last decade, we have developed a skilled and experienced therapy team, who offer a range of services to help women address the issues life throws at them.

Our support is unique as everything we do is created and led by qualified counsellors, and we have become best known for our Therapeutic Groups and Wellbeing Days for mums.  We also run a 1:1 counselling service for women, supporting them through those other challenges in life and are in the process of setting up couples counselling.

We are looking for qualified female counsellors or CBT therapists to provide 1-1 or couples therapy online and to deliver weekly sessions for up to 18 weeks for 50 minutes.

For counsellors/CBT therapists offering over 3 client sessions per week, we can arrange a free monthly peer supervision group.

What are we looking for?
We are looking for a volunteer who:

Deliver counselling sessions via our online system Cliniko.
Write factual client notes that are stored within Cliniko.
Raise any safeguarding issues with the Clinical Lead.
Skills

Please note we do not have a student counselling placement as all of our counsellors are qualified.

Qualified counsellor/CBT therapist at a minimum of level 4 from one of the below-accredited organisations
Registered practitioner with BACP, UKCP, BABCP, BPS or HCPC
Current DBS check or willing to have one carried out
Experience of safeguarding procedures
Experience working with female clients with a range of issues

What difference will you make?

Your support will help improve the mental health and wellbeing of women by reducing isolation and empowering women to bring about positive change in their lives.

* This post is only open to female applicants as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

The successful candidate will join a highly regarded women-led, women-centred, and trauma-informed charity 

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Qualified Counselling Supervisor to provide online supervision for our counsellors.

Responsibilities:

• Group Supervision:
  • Facilitate fortnightly group supervision sessions for trainee counsellors.
  • Create a safe, supportive, and reflective learning environment.
  • Facilitate discussions around client work, ethical dilemmas, and professional development.
  • Encourage self-awareness, critical thinking, and the integration of theory and practice.
  • Provide constructive feedback and guidance to trainees.
  • Monitor trainee progress and identify areas for development.
• Ethical and Professional Practice:
  • Ensure supervision adheres to the ethical guidelines of the [Relevant Professional Body, e.g., BACP, UKCP].
  • Maintain accurate and confidential records of supervision sessions.
  • Stay up-to-date with current counselling theory, practice, and ethical guidelines.
  • Recognise and manage potential conflicts of interest.
  • Contribute to the development of the counselling service.
• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Liaise with placement coordinators and other relevant staff as required.
  • Provide timely feedback to trainees and placement coordinators.
  • Maintain professional boundaries.

Person Specification:

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified and experienced counselling supervisor with a recognised supervision qualification.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP) and adherence to their ethical framework.
• Significant experience in providing counselling supervision, particularly in a group setting.
• Demonstrable knowledge of counselling theory, practice, and ethical guidelines.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to create a safe and supportive learning environment.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Ability to maintain clear and accurate records.

What difference will you make?

Ongoing Professional Development:

• Your support will help our counsellors stay up-to-date with the best practices 

Client Safety:

• You will help to protect clients, ensuring that counsellors are working ethically and effectively

Quality Assurance:

You will help us ensure that our counselling services are delivered to a high standard

Sight loss can be a big deal for many people: It often comes later in life and throws up many challenges. There can be a lot to get your head around and new things to learn. In this role you will help people who have had an initial contact with RNIB by sharing with them relevant information, including available services, ways to connect with others in a similar situation, and opportunities to play a positive role in removing barriers in society. In support of your conversation you will make brief, accurate notes in the customer contact record. In short, you’ll play an important role in helping people on the journey to living well with sight loss.

You will join a well-established, friendly team that make outbound calls to RNIB beneficiaries and supporters. This role can be done from home, with the ability to make calls at times that fit in with your schedule. We’re seeking a minimum commitment of four-six hours per week. Calls can be made between 12pm and 7pm. Full training will be given before you start making calls. We are seeking to recruit a group of volunteers that includes some individuals with lived experience of sight loss.

How you will be supported in your role
Comprehensive training will be given before you start making calls, and support will continue throughout your volunteering. The team you are joining is located across the UK. There are opportunities to connect with other volunteers and colleagues via MS Teams, including social “Kettle catchups”. The team meets twice a year in person, and you will be very welcome to take part.

Reliable broadband or ethernet as calls will be made through your internet connection. You’ll need a quiet and confidential space at home when making calls, so that neither your screen nor conversations are visible / audible to others in your household.

How often will I be needed?

• 4 Hours per Week

Key requirements

• You must be aged 18 or over. This opportunity requires two references.

Location

Region

• Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, South West, South East, North West, North East, Greater London, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, East Midlands, East of England

Home based

• This role is home based

Additional location information

• Homebased

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• You will have a friendly, empathetic and non-judgemental disposition and be able to listen well – acknowledging and building rapport. A sociable nature and the ability to put people at ease are important qualities. You will be confident with IT and will have experience of MS Windows and common software.

Could you speak up for hungry children?

What is the role of a Speaker Volunteer?

Help us share the story of Mary’s Meals and our life-changing work feeding hungry children at school in some of the world’s poorest communities by giving Mary’s Meals talks to local community organisations, schools, churches and faith groups to raise vital awareness and funds.

What difference will i make?

• You will enable us to reach more people with the story of Mary’s Meals
• You will support our staff in their work to feed the next hungry child
• You will promote Mary’s Meals’ in your community 
• You will ensure our records are up-to-date and accurate
• You will help us provide a good service to supporters

What support and resources will i receive?

• Support, encouragement, and guidance from your local Supporter Engagement Officer
• Resources to fulfil your role, including presentation slides, notes and talk scripts
• A comprehensive induction to Mary’s Meals
• Public speaking training
• A regular volunteer update e-mail
• Opportunities to join online or in person volunteer meetings and briefings

What are the benefits of volunteering for Mary's Meals?

• Feeling part of the global Mary’s Meals movement to end world hunger
• Learning new skills and gaining experience as part of a growing and vibrant organisation
• Meeting new like-minded people
• Increasing confidence and team-working skills
• Developing communication skills (verbal and written)
• Feeling empowered to have your voice heard, knowing that you are playing an active role in changing the lives of those who need it the most.

East London Waterworks Park is looking for volunteers to lead social media and content creation for communications and campaigning for our community-owned park.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for social media and content creator leads to participate in our community-led working group who are promoting public awareness and support of the project. 

There is opportunity to lead on projects across communications, content creation, social media, PR, newsletters, film, podcasts or any other channels of interest, and facilitate the direction of the working group.

The Comms Circle currently meets every 4 weeks on a Tuesday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

You will be at the forefront of our digital strategy to create a huge new biodiverse park and natural swimming ponds. We’re looking for creative and strategic thinkers who can craft compelling narratives and visually stunning content. You should have a deep understanding of social media platforms and analytics tools to measure and optimize our campaigns. Your ability to build and engage with online communities is crucial, as is your skill in managing media relations. We value individuals who are passionate about our mission and can bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the role. You will be comfortable with community-led processes. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role. 

Contribute to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. Your strategic content creation will be instrumental in fostering a strong connection between our community, the park, and its biodiversity. Your input will help us craft compelling narratives that inspire, educate, and engage our service users, stakeholders, funders, and the general public, ultimately driving support for the park's mission and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

Zumba is an upbeat and lively dance that will put a smile on everyone’s face. Are you qualified to deliver an online Zumba class and would like to give back to the community?

We are recruiting for a volunteer to bring some positive energy, fun and demonstrate the health benefits of Zumba through online sessions!

What you will be doing

• Coordinate and set up a weekly Online Zumba class
• Inspire and motivate members to take part in the sessions and take a role in planning/designing upcoming sessions
• Create a fun and safe space for individuals to express themselves through Zumba
• Encourage members of the group to connect and relate to each other through expression of Zumba

The skills you need

• Qualified to teach Zumba
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages participation
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun.

Who We Are  

Causeway supports marginalised and vulnerable people to recover from trauma and develop safe and fulfilling futures. Our Modern Slavery and Crime Reduction services include safe houses, outreach, community programmes, holistic crisis interventions and signposting into counselling, training and employment.

We drive change nationally through research, campaigning and strategic partnerships. Causeway’s four crime reduction services provide crime and violence reduction programmes for those committed to breaking their cycle of criminality. Our trauma-informed approach to supporting those who commit crime has proved successful in reducing rates of reoffending, which not only benefits the individuals involved, but reduces the number of victims and creates a safer society for all.

Role Summary  

How this role fits into the vision and objectives of Causeway  

Our trustees bring strategic oversight and direction; to ensure Causeway is true to its purpose and effective in its strategic objectives, whilst ensuring all governance responsibilities are fulfilled. They champion the people we support, promote the charity and its work and bring expertise to purposefully develop Causeway and its impact.

Who are we looking for? 

Causeway are looking to recruit a Treasurer to the Board who is willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and support the strategic growth of the charity. We are particularly looking for our Treasurer to have:

• A relevant accounting qualification.

• Experience of charity accounting and relevant accounting standards.

• Ability to maintain overview of the financial affairs of the charity, ensuring its viability and proper financial records and procedures.

• A confident networker who will bring relevant connections and facilitate introductions for the benefit the charity.

• Experience in working with a Charity Board and subcommittees.

• Someone with at a minimum of two years governance experience

It is important that trustees reflect our geographical reach in the North, and that we have diversity of knowledge, experience and background on the trustee board. If you have lived experience relevant to our work or can bring a perspective that is under-represented, we strongly encourage you to come forward.  

Web developers and designers wanted to support East London Waterworks Park in continuing to improve its website and digital infrastructure.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for web developers and designers to contribute to our community-led working group who are working on coordinating content and infrastructure for the East London Waterworks Park website. 

There is opportunity to lead on projects across web development and UX and web design, and facilitate the direction of the working group.

The Circle currently meets every 4 weeks on a Tuesday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

You should be experienced in HTML, PHP, CSS, Javascript and SQL, and or UX and web design. You should be comfortable with community-led processes. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role. 

Contribute to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. Your skills in web design and development will be crucial in creating a visually engaging and user-friendly online presence that effectively communicates the park's biodiversity and mission. By designing engaging websites and interactive platforms, you'll help us connect with our community, inspire action, and secure the necessary support for the park's future.

Could you help shape Mind in Kingston’s future and support more people with mental health needs?

We’re a passionate, independent local charity working across the Royal Borough of Kingston, affiliated with national Mind. Our vision? A world where everyone experiencing a mental health problem receives the support and respect they deserve — and we won’t stop until that happens.

We’re now looking for new Trustees to help lead us forward. We’re looking for people who can:

•  Think strategically and creatively
•  Lead the organisation towards fully achieving its commitment and ambition
•  Scrutinise the impact we’re having
•  Communicate clearly and sensitively in large group discussions
•  Use independent judgement to make decisions on behalf of the organisation
•  Be committed to our mission, vision and values.

Role Highlights:

•  Time Commitment: 4–8 hours per month (meetings held online)
•  Voluntary role with expenses paid
•  Trustees receive: Induction, training, expenses, and skill-building opportunities.

How to Apply:

To find out more about both roles and how to apply, please visit our website:
Mind in Kingston – Current Volunteer Opportunities

Fundraising team leader volunteer

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

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising team leaders have the exciting and varied role of inspiring our fundraising volunteers to plan and deliver local fundraising events. Using their passion and imagination, they oversee a small team of fundraising volunteers who come together to raise the vital funds needed to cover costs such as veterinary bills and food. Our fundraising team leaders support their team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure our volunteers are happy, confident and supported.

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:

· supporting and encouraging a team of fundraising volunteers

· planning fundraising events and activities with your team

· allocating tasks before and during fundraising events

· keeping financial records from fundraising events

· encouraging and promoting a professional image of Cats Protection 

· following policies and guidelines and ensuring licences and permits are obtained for events

Time expectation

Our fundraising team leaders usually spend three to four hours per week in this role, which 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.

Learning and curriculum designers wanted to help East London Waterworks Park deliver its environmental learning goals.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for volunteers to develop learning content and resources, such as lesson plans and educational materials, to support our environmental learning goals. This role will focus on creating school-friendly resources for our website and collaborating with educators to enhance our offerings.

The role would include:

• Developing online learning resources for our website (on-going project)
• Designing or tailoring existing lesson plans and activities for schools 
• Supporting the creation of ELWP’s Under 18s volunteering policy
• Supporting outreach efforts to promote ELWP’s existing learning programmes

Schools, universities and youth groups we've collaborated with include:

• Waltham Forest College 
• Henry Maynard Primary School, Walthamstow
• Buxton School, Leytonstone
• Kingsmead Primary School, Hackney
• Daubeney Primary School, Hackney
• UCL 
• Royal College of Art
• University of Westminster 
• Project Zero
• Voyage Youth 
• Loyola University Chicago 
• Vanderbilt University Nashville

We're looking for people to lead on these projects and facilitate the direction of the learning working group.

The Learning Circle currently meets monthly on a Wednesday evening at 8pm for an hour on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

Ideal candidates have experience in curriculum design, teaching, or educational resource development. Creativity, strong writing skills, and an understanding of outdoor or environmental education will be valuable. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role.  

Your support will help young people and learners improve their environmental knowledge of design and research as well as contributing to our community-owned park. This will in turn provide a sense of stewardship over the land once the park is created and student's ideas have been built into the park. Creating learning projects with educational institutions will also help our charity with the strategy to buy the land through showing the value of our environmental education programme before we create the park. 

You will have a significant impact on the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. By volunteering in this role, you will help shape the future of East London Waterworks Park as a community-led environmental learning space. This will also help our charity with the strategy to buy the land through showing the value of our environmental education programme before we create the park. If you’re interested in joining us, we’d love to hear from you!