Community group volunteer 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!
Could you help your local SSAFA branch recruit volunteers in your area? You just some basic I.T and admin skills, patience, the ability to get on with a wide range of people and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.
What is a Recruitment Coordinator?
Recruitment Coordinators help us find local people interested in supporting SSAFA and take them through our recruitment and selection process.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our beneficiaries come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
To offer the best possible service to our clients we need to match the right volunteers to the right role. Could you spare a few hours a week to help recruit new volunteers and welcome them to SSAFA by supporting them through their induction phase? We’d love to hear from you if think you could help with this important role.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
The role is about recruitment and so will involve attending local recruitment fairs a few times a year as well as meeting volunteers both face-to-face and virtually. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but the administration part of the ole can be done form home.
What would you be doing?
- Be the first point of contact for all volunteering enquiries, ensuring that all potential volunteers receive a timely response.
- Supporting volunteers through the recruitment and induction process and ensuring volunteers are communicated with throughout.
- Arranging informal interviews for new volunteers conducted in-line with SSAFA policies.
- Conducting ID checks (where relevant) so the volunteer can begin the vetting process
- Supporting volunteers to book onto role specific training and ensuring they complete their mandatory training.
- Working with the VDM to ensure branch vacancies are advertised on the branch website and national websites and support any national recruitment campaigns
- Maintaining good relationships with local Volunteer Centres and other local sources of volunteer promotion and attend local recruitment fairs.
- Evaluating volunteer recruitment activity, experimenting with creative ways to recruit volunteers from a variety of sources to create a diverse network of volunteers.
- Treating all potential volunteers inclusively with respect and sensitivity, regardless of age or background
- Supporting any volunteers facing barriers to find a suitable role.
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Use your skills, knowledge, and experience to benefit others.
- Appreciate that your role has a positive impact on the quality of service we can provide to beneficiaries as well as providing volunteering opportunities.
- Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - volunteer management – attracting, recruiting, and inducting volunteers. This training would take approx. 3 hours.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Access to a range of e-learning courses.
- Support from the Volunteer Development Manager and Trainer (per region)
- Access to the Volunteer Experience Team based at our central office.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable people, with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude
- Good communication skills, both written and verbal
- Good written and spoken English.
- Respectful and non-judgemental with potential volunteers, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
- Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and during the role, including accessing and responding to emails and using Microsoft offices software.
- Ability to encourage and motivate all volunteers to undertake training.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely., in line with SSAFA policies.
- Access to public transport or a car to travel to meetings and events and t meet volunteers.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? No
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Provide a welcoming and supportive first point of contact for clients and visitors across our Dudley and Wolverhampton offices.
Role Responsibilities:
• Provide reception cover and welcome clients into the Information Hub.
• Carry out initial triage by listening to clients’ needs and directing them appropriately.
• Book in clients who have appointments with advice staff
• Handle calls and emails, and record client information accurately.
About You:
• Friendly, approachable, and empathetic.
• Good communication and basic IT skills.
• Organised, reliable, and able to work independently and in a team.
• Willing to travel between Dudley and Wolverhampton offices.
Commitment:
• Volunteer 1 day a week (you can volunteer if you want up to 5 days a week), volunteering between the hours of 9am – 3pm, for minimum 6 months commitment.
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED, FULL TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED
Plus, we'll reimburse your travel expenses (fuel or bus fares, car parking), so volunteering won't cost you anything but your time.
Why Volunteer with Us?
✨ Valuable Experience: Gain practical skills and a sense of fulfilment with a trusted charity that has over 80 years of experience.
✨ Training and Support: Enjoy comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you succeed.
✨ Social Connection: Meet like-minded individuals and become part of our wonderful team.
✨ Personal Fulfilment: Experience the joy of making a real difference in someone's life.
✨ Flexible Hours: We offer flexible volunteering hours to suit your lifestyle.
✨ Health and Wellbeing: We prioritise the wellness of our volunteers, contributing to professional success.
✨ Professional Development: We're committed to continuous development and growth opportunities.
✨ Diversity and Inclusion: We embrace individuals from all walks of life and encourage authenticity.
What Our Volunteers Say:
"Now that I am retired, volunteering at Citizens Advice gives me a purpose in life. I feel I can serve my community and make a difference to local people who are in difficulty. I learn a lot, use my skills and discover new skills as well as having new and varied experiences every day."
-Volunteer Generalist Advisor
"I now feel braver when looking at new job opportunities. I can utilise my skills and experience from volunteering in the hubs."
-Cost of Living Support Hub Volunteer
Ready to make a difference?
For further information about the individual roles, please visit our website:
If you require any of the information in an alternative accessible format, please let us know and we will be happy to assist.
Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy?
Volunteers are essential to Shannon Trust and bring their energy, ideas and skills to train mentors in prisons, support learners in the community and enhance our business support team.
We are looking for volunteers to provide training and support to our mentors in prison. There may be some additional preparation and/ or administrative tasks in between volunteering days at the prison.
Our prison volunteers nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by delivering training sessions for prison mentors and offering ongoing advice, guidance and support through mentor meetings.
Volunteer recruitment dates
The closing date for applications to attend our next round of training is 26 April 2026. In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare. We will respond to all applications. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview between 27 April and 8 May 2026. This is an opportunity for you to meet our regional team, to find out more about you and for us to share more information about the volunteering role.
Training:
You'll be given high quality training to prepare you for volunteering with Shannon Trust. This takes place over 4 training sessions and via our online training portal. We ask that volunteers aim to complete the training in one course as this means that you will be ready to start actively volunteering. The next training sessions for volunteering for people applying to be a prison based volunteer will take place as follows.
Please check that you can attend all of the training the dates prior to applying:
-
27 May 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)
-
3 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)
-
10 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)
-
1 July 2026, 10am-4pm (in person session, London)
You’ll also receive the opportunity to attend ongoing training sessions and peer support meetings during your time as a volunteer to build your skills and experience.
Why we want you
Shannon Trust’s vision is of a future where everyone can experience the positive impact of learning. As a prison volunteer your role will be at the heart of our organisation as you support our mentors in prisons. This will include delivering training to new mentors and supporting existing mentors to develop and deliver our Turning Pages and Count Me In programmes. You will be volunteering alongside Shannon Trust facilitators and / or frontline prison staff to empower mentors and ensure no one is left out of learning.
What you will be doing
- Delivering initial, and ongoing, training to mentors in prisons
- Supporting and encouraging the Shannon Trust facilitator and mentors to attract new learners and expand the reach of the Shannon Trust programme
- Arranging and leading mentor meetings to develop mentors’ skills, share good practice and to provide support to mentors to find solutions to concerns
- Supporting facilitators to engage prison staff and people in prison to set-up, maintain and develop the Shannon Trust reading and numeracy programmes across the whole prison, and contributing to progress planning for how to progress and achieve this
- Using your skills to build positive relationships with frontline prison staff, people in prison and other organisations
- Training and supporting mentors to collect and submit data and learner feedback
- Supporting with the planning of, and attendance at, celebration events
- Collecting and sharing good news stories and feedback
- Attending area meetings and sharing good practice with other volunteers
- Engaging with quarterly reviews to receive support and discuss progress
- Acting as an ambassador for Shannon Trust in all that you do, sharing the vision and values of the charity throughout your volunteering
The skills you need
- A commitment to providing non-judgemental support to people in prison
- Able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and have flexibility to visit the prison at times required
- Strong communication skills and are able to use these to inspire others
- Able to deliver engaging training and identify training and support needs for mentors
- Able to manage own time and prioritise
- Able to keep up to date with Shannon Trust news and communications and share relevant information with the wider prison team
- Able to use IT
What's in it for you
- Developing and growing your understanding of the HMPPS structure and prison system
- Reasonable, out of pocket, volunteering expenses are
- You will receive induction training and ongoing training to support and develop you in your role
- All volunteers receive ongoing support and quarterly reviews to enable you to gain the most from your volunteering experience
- We recognise and are grateful for the added value that volunteers bring to our organisation
- We provide flexible volunteering opportunities, subject to the requirements of your role
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!
Could you help your local SSAFA branch recruit volunteers in your area? You just some basic I.T and admin skills, patience, the ability to get on with a wide range of people and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.
What is a Recruitment Coordinator?
Recruitment Coordinators help us find local people interested in supporting SSAFA and take them through our recruitment and selection process.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our beneficiaries come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
To offer the best possible service to our clients we need to match the right volunteers to the right role. Could you spare a few hours a week to help recruit new volunteers and welcome them to SSAFA by supporting them through their induction phase? We’d love to hear from you if think you could help with this important role.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
The role is about recruitment and so will involve attending local recruitment fairs a few times a year as well as meeting volunteers both face-to-face and virtually. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but the administration part of the ole can be done form home.
What would you be doing?
· Be the first point of contact for all volunteering enquiries, ensuring that all potential volunteers receive a timely response.
· Supporting volunteers through the recruitment and induction process and ensuring volunteers are communicated with throughout.
· Arranging informal interviews for new volunteers conducted in-line with SSAFA policies.
· Conducting ID checks (where relevant) so the volunteer can begin the vetting process
· Supporting volunteers to book onto role specific training and ensuring they complete their mandatory training.
· Working with the VDM to ensure branch vacancies are advertised on the branch website and national websites and support any national recruitment campaigns
· Maintaining good relationships with local Volunteer Centres and other local sources of volunteer promotion and attend local recruitment fairs.
· Evaluating volunteer recruitment activity, experimenting with creative ways to recruit volunteers from a variety of sources to create a diverse network of volunteers.
· Treating all potential volunteers inclusively with respect and sensitivity, regardless of age or background
· Supporting any volunteers facing barriers to find a suitable role.
· Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
· Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
· Use your skills, knowledge, and experience to benefit others.
· Appreciate that your role has a positive impact on the quality of service we can provide to beneficiaries as well as providing volunteering opportunities.
· Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
· Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
· Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
· Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - volunteer management – attracting, recruiting, and inducting volunteers. This training would take approx. 3 hours.
· Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
· Access to a range of e-learning courses.
· Support from the Volunteer Development Manager and Trainer (per region)
· Access to the Volunteer Experience Team based at our central office.
· Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
· Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
· Friendly and approachable people, with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude
· Good communication skills, both written and verbal
· Good written and spoken English.
· Respectful and non-judgemental with potential volunteers, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
· Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and during the role, including accessing and responding to emails and using Microsoft offices software.
· Ability to encourage and motivate all volunteers to undertake training.
· Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely., in line with SSAFA policies.
· Access to public transport or a car to travel to meetings and events and t meet volunteers.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? No
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.
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!
Make a real difference in a carers life. Give someone the break they never get.
Your time can help an adult carer breathe, reset, and feel human again.
As an Adult Carers Activities Volunteer, you support adults aged 25 and over who juggle demanding caring roles. You help them enjoy time for themselves through group sessions, meet ups, wellbeing activities, workshops, and social events across Solihull. Your support creates calm, safe spaces where carers can connect with others and focus on their own wellbeing.
What you do
• Help staff set up and run planned group activities.
• Welcome carers and support them through each session.
• Take on simple tasks that keep sessions running smoothly.
• Follow safety guidance and respond to rota requests.
• Join short online check ins every two months.
• Take part in training linked to the role.
• Report concerns or incidents to the Lead Worker.
• Encourage carers to join in and feel comfortable.
What helps you succeed
• At least two years’ experience in a community or people focused setting.
• A friendly and confident way with groups.
• An adaptable approach that supports different needs.
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!
Holding On Letting Go needs General Duties Volunteers to join our team on either a Saturday or Sunday. Your day would be made up of helping all of our activities run smoothly at our bereavement support days for children in Kent. Tasks to be undertaken on the day could be moulding clay balls, laminating, photocopying, washing up paint pots and interacting with children on during their lunch and break times and this would ential kicking a football with the children outside, playing lego or pool or general chatting. You would be paired up with another volunteer and full training will be provided. You can choose the days that suit you (we ask all volunteers to commit to atleast 6 days a year with us) and you can pick which of our venues you would like to attend. We have venues at Sittingbourne, Ramsgate, Sheppey and Sevenoaks. Mileage, food and refreshments are provided.
We would ask you to complete a Volunteer Application Form with us and then we will have a chat with you over the phone and then meet you at one of our events.
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!
Our shops help raise vital funds, and volunteering with us is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, and join a fantastic team. Volunteering in our shops offers a variety of exciting tasks. From sorting, steaming, and pricing donations to spotting hidden gems, you'll roll up your sleeves in the backroom and assist on the shop floor. Engaging with customers is key, whether you're serving with a smile, working the till or helping donors complete Gift Aid forms.
Creating a warm, friendly and inviting space is just as important. You'll help design eye-catching window displays, keep the space tidy, and use your creativity to ensure everything looks its best, encouraging customers to return.
No special skills are needed as we’ll show you what to do, and we provide all the training you’ll need.
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!
Our shops help raise vital funds, and volunteering with us is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, and join a fantastic team. Volunteering in our shops offers a variety of exciting tasks. From sorting, steaming, and pricing donations to spotting hidden gems, you'll roll up your sleeves in the backroom and assist on the shop floor. Engaging with customers is key, whether you're serving with a smile, working the till or helping donors complete Gift Aid forms.
Creating a warm, friendly and inviting space is just as important. You'll help design eye-catching window displays, keep the space tidy, and use your creativity to ensure everything looks its best, encouraging customers to return.
No special skills are needed as we’ll show you what to do, and we provide all the training you’ll need.
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!
Our shops help raise vital funds, and volunteering with us is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, and join a fantastic team. Volunteering in our shops offers a variety of exciting tasks. From sorting, steaming, and pricing donations to spotting hidden gems, you'll roll up your sleeves in the backroom and assist on the shop floor. Engaging with customers is key, whether you're serving with a smile, working the till or helping donors complete Gift Aid forms.
Creating a warm, friendly and inviting space is just as important. You'll help design eye-catching window displays, keep the space tidy, and use your creativity to ensure everything looks its best, encouraging customers to return.
No special skills are needed as we’ll show you what to do, and we provide all the training you’ll need.
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!
Open Country is a Charity that helps people with disabilities to access and enjoy the countryside. We are always looking for volunteers to support our conservation and gardening groups, walking group and our weekend outings.
- Conservation group meet on a Tuesday and is made up of adults with learning disabilities who carry out practical conservation tasks each week at various locations. We work with organisations like Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and RSPB. Tasks can include meadow creation, tree planting, pond maintenance and invasive species removal to name but a few.
- Walking group meet on a Thursday and is made up of adults with learning disabilities or sensory impairments. We walk between 5-7miles each week at different locations around Yorkshire and normally finish the walk with a pub or cafe stop.
- Gardening and arts group meet on a Friday, and is made up of adults with learning disabilities, where we learn about gardening and various natural craft like willow weaving. We also regulary work with organisations like the National Trust and the National Coal Mining Museum.
We also run weekend outings for people with all kinds of disabilities providing experiences and a chance to socialise and explore new places. Our activities range from a gentle amble round a country house and gardens, wildlife watching at a nature reserve to axe throwing and abseiling.
As a volunteer you would be helping our members stick together as a group, or carry out the conservation tasks, making sure they are happy and safe.
No experience is required, just a willingness to get stuck in! We will provide all relevant training for the role.
We meet at Thornes Park Nursery, Wakefield at 10am and head out in our accessible minibus to site.
Open Country exists to help people with disabilities to access and enjoy the countryside.



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!
Description
You'll be raising awareness, & improving understanding of sight loss through delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions in your local community. Through these engaging sessions, you'll inspire participants to make small changes to their behaviour that make a massive difference in the day-to-day lives of people with sight loss. As a Community Change Champion, this will involve:
• Talking directly with community leaders, businesses, & local groups about ways they can get involved & inviting them to join an Awareness to Action session.
• Delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions either in person or online, using our resources. You may do this on your own or with a team of other local volunteers, both sighted and with sight loss.
• Sharing RNIB’s information & initiatives so people know we’re here for them.
• If you have a personal link to sight loss, sharing your experience during the session to help give a tangible example of how local people can make a real difference.
• Telling us about any activities you have engaged in via a Microsoft form.
What will you gain from the role?
• First-hand experience in grassroots community engagement & charity outreach.
• The opportunity to develop communication & networking skills.
• Support to learn & or use presentation skills to deliver the Awareness to Action Session in person and virtually.
• If you have lived experience of sight loss, support to tell your story to make the most positive impact.
• Know that your efforts are improving the public’s understanding, perceptions & behaviour towards blind and partially sighted people.
We will provide:
• Induction to the role & organisation.
• Training and support to help you thrive in your role.
• A resource pack/toolkit to help deliver the message.
• Opportunities to connect with other RNIB volunteers across the UK.
• The chance to get involved in other activities that interest you & to apply for our internal-only job vacancies.
• Support from a volunteering manager.
How often will I be needed?
- 4 Hours per Action
Key requirements
- One reference
-
Additional location information
-
Home and local area.
-
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!
Description
You'll be raising awareness, & improving understanding of sight loss through delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions in your local community. Through these engaging sessions, you'll inspire participants to make small changes to their behaviour that make a massive difference in the day-to-day lives of people with sight loss. As a Community Change Champion, this will involve:
• Talking directly with community leaders, businesses, & local groups about ways they can get involved & inviting them to join an Awareness to Action session.
• Delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions either in person or online, using our resources. You may do this on your own or with a team of other local volunteers, both sighted and with sight loss.
• Sharing RNIB’s information & initiatives so people know we’re here for them.
• If you have a personal link to sight loss, sharing your experience during the session to help give a tangible example of how local people can make a real difference.
• Telling us about any activities you have engaged in via a Microsoft form.
What will you gain from the role?
• First-hand experience in grassroots community engagement & charity outreach.
• The opportunity to develop communication & networking skills.
• Support to learn & or use presentation skills to deliver the Awareness to Action Session in person and virtually.
• If you have lived experience of sight loss, support to tell your story to make the most positive impact.
• Know that your efforts are improving the public’s understanding, perceptions & behaviour towards blind and partially sighted people.
We will provide:
• Induction to the role & organisation.
• Training and support to help you thrive in your role.
• A resource pack/toolkit to help deliver the message.
• Opportunities to connect with other RNIB volunteers across the UK.
• The chance to get involved in other activities that interest you & to apply for our internal-only job vacancies.
• Support from a volunteering manager.
How often will I be needed?
- 4 Hours per Action
Key requirements
- One reference
Minimum age
- You must be at least 18 years old to apply
What skills and experience are needed?
- • Positive attitude towards blind and partially sighted people. • Effective communication skills. • An outgoing friendly approach to meeting new people. • A willingness and ability to complete the Microsoft feedback form.
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!
Description
You'll be raising awareness, & improving understanding of sight loss through delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions in your local community. Through these engaging sessions, you'll inspire participants to make small changes to their behaviour that make a massive difference in the day-to-day lives of people with sight loss. As a Community Change Champion, this will involve:
• Talking directly with community leaders, businesses, & local groups about ways they can get involved & inviting them to join an Awareness to Action session.
• Delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions either in person or online, using our resources. You may do this on your own or with a team of other local volunteers, both sighted and with sight loss.
• Sharing RNIB’s information & initiatives so people know we’re here for them.
• If you have a personal link to sight loss, sharing your experience during the session to help give a tangible example of how local people can make a real difference.
• Telling us about any activities you have engaged in via a Microsoft form.
What will you gain from the role?
• First-hand experience in grassroots community engagement & charity outreach.
• The opportunity to develop communication & networking skills.
• Support to learn & or use presentation skills to deliver the Awareness to Action Session in person and virtually.
• If you have lived experience of sight loss, support to tell your story to make the most positive impact.
• Know that your efforts are improving the public’s understanding, perceptions & behaviour towards blind and partially sighted people.
We will provide:
• Induction to the role & organisation.
• Training and support to help you thrive in your role.
• A resource pack/toolkit to help deliver the message.
• Opportunities to connect with other RNIB volunteers across the UK.
• The chance to get involved in other activities that interest you & to apply for our internal-only job vacancies.
• Support from a volunteering manager.
How often will I be needed?
- 4 Hours per Action
Key requirements
- One reference
-
Who this opportunity will suit
Minimum age
- You must be at least 18 years old to apply
What skills and experience are needed?
- • Positive attitude towards blind and partially sighted people. • Effective communication skills. • An outgoing friendly approach to meeting new people. • A willingness and ability to complete the Microsoft feedback form.
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!
Description
You'll be raising awareness, & improving understanding of sight loss through delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions in your local community. Through these engaging sessions, you'll inspire participants to make small changes to their behaviour that make a massive difference in the day-to-day lives of people with sight loss. As a Community Change Champion, this will involve:
• Talking directly with community leaders, businesses, & local groups about ways they can get involved & inviting them to join an Awareness to Action session.
• Delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions either in person or online, using our resources. You may do this on your own or with a team of other local volunteers, both sighted and with sight loss.
• Sharing RNIB’s information & initiatives so people know we’re here for them.
• If you have a personal link to sight loss, sharing your experience during the session to help give a tangible example of how local people can make a real difference.
• Telling us about any activities you have engaged in via a Microsoft form.
What will you gain from the role?
• First-hand experience in grassroots community engagement & charity outreach.
• The opportunity to develop communication & networking skills.
• Support to learn & or use presentation skills to deliver the Awareness to Action Session in person and virtually.
• If you have lived experience of sight loss, support to tell your story to make the most positive impact.
• Know that your efforts are improving the public’s understanding, perceptions & behaviour towards blind and partially sighted people.
We will provide:
• Induction to the role & organisation.
• Training and support to help you thrive in your role.
• A resource pack/toolkit to help deliver the message.
• Opportunities to connect with other RNIB volunteers across the UK.
• The chance to get involved in other activities that interest you & to apply for our internal-only job vacancies.
• Support from a volunteering manager.
How often will I be needed?
- 4 Hours per Action
Key requirements
- One reference
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Additional location information
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Home and local area.
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Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy?
Volunteers are essential to Shannon Trust and bring their energy, ideas and skills to train mentors in prisons, support learners in the community and enhance our business support team.
We are looking for volunteers to provide training and support to our mentors in prison. There may be some additional preparation and/ or administrative tasks in between volunteering days at the prison.
Our prison volunteers nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by delivering training sessions for prison mentors and offering ongoing advice, guidance and support through mentor meetings.
Volunteer recruitment dates
The closing date for applications to attend our next round of training is 3 May 2026. In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare. We will respond to all applications. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview between 4 May and 15 May 2026. This is an opportunity for you to meet our regional team, to find out more about you and for us to share more information about the volunteering role.
Training:
You'll be given high quality training to prepare you for volunteering with Shannon Trust. This takes place over 4 training sessions and via our online training portal. We ask that volunteers aim to complete the training in one course as this means that you will be ready to start actively volunteering. The next training sessions for volunteering for people applying to be a prison based volunteer will take place as follows.
Please check that you can attend all of the training the dates prior to applying:
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27 May 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)
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3 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)
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10 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)
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1 July 2026, 10am-4pm (in person session, London)
You’ll also receive the opportunity to attend ongoing training sessions and peer support meetings during your time as a volunteer to build your skills and experience.
Why we want you
Shannon Trust’s vision is of a future where everyone can experience the positive impact of learning. As a prison volunteer your role will be at the heart of our organisation as you support our mentors in prisons. This will include delivering training to new mentors and supporting existing mentors to develop and deliver our Turning Pages and Count Me In programmes. You will be volunteering alongside Shannon Trust facilitators and / or frontline prison staff to empower mentors and ensure no one is left out of learning.
What you will be doing
- Delivering initial, and ongoing, training to mentors in prisons
- Supporting and encouraging the Shannon Trust facilitator and mentors to attract new learners and expand the reach of the Shannon Trust programme
- Arranging and leading mentor meetings to develop mentors’ skills, share good practice and to provide support to mentors to find solutions to concerns
- Supporting facilitators to engage prison staff and people in prison to set-up, maintain and develop the Shannon Trust reading and numeracy programmes across the whole prison, and contributing to progress planning for how to progress and achieve this
- Using your skills to build positive relationships with frontline prison staff, people in prison and other organisations
- Training and supporting mentors to collect and submit data and learner feedback
- Supporting with the planning of, and attendance at, celebration events
- Collecting and sharing good news stories and feedback
- Attending area meetings and sharing good practice with other volunteers
- Engaging with quarterly reviews to receive support and discuss progress
- Acting as an ambassador for Shannon Trust in all that you do, sharing the vision and values of the charity throughout your volunteering
The skills you need
- A commitment to providing non-judgemental support to people in prison
- Able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and have flexibility to visit the prison at times required
- Strong communication skills and are able to use these to inspire others
- Able to deliver engaging training and identify training and support needs for mentors
- Able to manage own time and prioritise
- Able to keep up to date with Shannon Trust news and communications and share relevant information with the wider prison team
- Able to use IT
What's in it for you
- Developing and growing your understanding of the HMPPS structure and prison system
- Reasonable, out of pocket, volunteering expenses are
- You will receive induction training and ongoing training to support and develop you in your role
- All volunteers receive ongoing support and quarterly reviews to enable you to gain the most from your volunteering experience
- We recognise and are grateful for the added value that volunteers bring to our organisation
- We provide flexible volunteering opportunities, subject to the requirements of your role
Disclaimer
In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early.
