Information support volunteer volunteer volunteer roles

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and people seeking asylum who live in south London. We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a background of forced migration, providing them with tools to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for young people currently include: ESOL classes (English for Speakers of Other Languages), study group, youth club, swimming lessons and football.

About Youth Club:

Youth Club is a place for young people aged 14-19 to come and play games, learn new skills, make and strengthen friendships and build a sense of belonging. Regular activities include classic youth club games such as table tennis, pool, foosball, board and card games. We also work in partnership with a range of organisations to run a rich programme of workshops within our youth club. Some of these have included creative visual arts, drama, music and workshops on rights and entitlements of young asylum seekers. We also cook a hot meal from time to time and offer a range of snacks each week. Our casework team are also on-site to support young people with a range of advice and signposting needs, usually by-appointment.

Youth club takes place at Furzedown Youth Centre. Welham Rd, London SW16 6TJ

About the role:

As a Youth Club volunteer, you would be helping young people to feel welcome, join in with activities and be a great role model.

Youth Club takes place every Wednesday at 6.00-8.30pm. We ask for a commitment of at least 2 sessions per month for a minimum of 6 months.

Tasks and responsibilities:

· To attend and contribute to volunteer de-briefs which occur 15 minutes after each session.

· To act as a positive role model and set standards of behaviour when volunteering with young people.

· To encourage and inspire young people to reach their full potential.

· To assist young people to both recognise and celebrate their achievements.

· To challenge young peoples’ negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manner.

· To adhere to CARAS Child Protection procedures, Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant.

Requirements:

To be 18 years or older;

· To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds;

· To be reliable and punctual;

· Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English;

· The ability to volunteer on Wednesday evenings for a minimum of six months;

· Current resident of the UK;

· Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check;

· Able to attend compulsory volunteer induction training (online) general and safeguarding prior to the start of role

Volunteer induction training currently takes place online once a month on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 6pm - 8pm. we offer the same trainings on Tuesday and Wednesday daytimes online between 12noon - 2pm once every 3 months.

Your availability to attend 1 general and 1 safeguarding online training session at these times within 3 months of your application would be a prerequisite of being accepted as a volunteer at CARAS.

Desirable:

· Knowledge of community languages, such as (including Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali and Spanish).

Through volunteering with us you will:

· Meet new members of your local community;

· Learn about different cultures;

· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;

· Develop your skills and competencies;

· Be able to access relevant training;

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. 

The purpose of the role is to design and facilitate gardening activities at our community allotment with refugees and people seeking asylum, alongside our other gardening volunteers.

The role includes:

• planning and facilitating seasonal gardening activities with small groups
• supporting participants to bring their own ideas, work independently or lead their own activities where appropriate, providing support and guidance as needed
• fostering a positive culture of support and community
• raising any safeguarding or support concerns with our People Support Team
• setting up/packing down around sessions, generally contributing to the smooth running of sessions
• maintaining tools
• contributing to overall running of the charity (attending monthly online meetings, taking on organisational tasks)
• maintaining participant confidentiality
• attending training sessions as needed

At the garden we run gardening, art and craft activities. Through these sessions we maintain our beautiful community garden, grow and harvest vegetable/fruit crops and create wildlife and social areas. We always try to make sure there are a range of activities to choose from to fit with a range of energy/ability levels. All new ideas for activities to do at the garden are welcome!

Our sessions are on Tuesday mornings and afternoons and Friday mornings

Gardening expertise is not necessary for this role, although it is always very welcome.

As this is an on site role we will consider applicant who are based in Greater Manchester,UK. 

We are looking for volunteers to help our administration function. 

The People's Kitchen support our local community by providing a safe and positive environment where we serve a warm meal 365 days a year for the homeless and vulnerable.

Our admin team help primarlily by signposting enquiries to the different teams in the The People's Kitchen and help the public to organise and process donations including food, any items useful in assisting rough sleepers, and any financial support.

Our team currentlty operates on a tuesday afternoon, once a week, and a day can look like managing the inbox, processing gift aid on donations and ensuring communications such as our quarterly newsletter reaches our friends and external partners. 

Do you want to make a difference? Can you spare 2 hours a week?

We are currently looking for Befriender Volunteers in East Sussex.

(Telephone Based work from home, but can lead to face-to-face befriending)

Please get in touch and come and join our amazing Befriending team.

Older persons are at risk of becoming isolated and losing their community connections. As a mainly Telephone Befriender Volunteer, you'll work flexibly from the comfort of your own home and contact older persons to understand their service needs. If you love talking to others, are polite and empathetic, and have access to a phone, we'd love to hear from you. There may also be the opportunity for a physical meeting, but only if relevant and where it is something you want to do.

Become a fundraising volunteer team leader!

Help make a difference 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.

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

 Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

 Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

 Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

· Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time

· Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances

· Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance

· Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support

· Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

· Friendly and approachable

· Great written and verbal communication skills

· Non-judgemental

· Reliable

· Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

· Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others

· Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team

· Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews

· Access a range of training and learning opportunities

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.

The Widening Participation Officer tries to recruit, engage and support as many 16-18 year old volunteers as possible across all of our chapters, with particular focus on those that’d benefit the most from additional WP volunteers, often those
chapters doing the most events.

Due to the sizable scope of the role, the WP Subcommittee is there to help as needed. This is primarily through admin work. You should ensure that you have a suitable number of keen volunteers within the subcommittee that you can delegate tasks to, ensuring that they were well informed, supported and any tasks followed up. This is likely to involve plenty of messaging and occasional meetings.

A primary part of the role that you can delegate is to conceptualise and write the policy for managing 16-18 year old volunteers. This should have a focus on appropriate safeguarding and you can get input from the subcommittee and other Trustees/Officers but should include things like recruitment methods, required paperwork, risk assessments, management at events etc. These policies need to then be communicated effectively to committee and volunteers. 

There are several ways that WP volunteers should be recruited. Schools/6th Forms should be proactively reached out to and a long-term connection formed, ideally through a named person such as a head of year, head of medicine applications or career progression advisor. They can then pass the information on to their students using a range of methods ranging from email to sending a video to, if the local chapter is keen or a member of the subcommittee is nearby, an  in-person visit to an assembly or lunchtime/after-school training session.  

Efforts should be made to build relationships with National bodies that provide volunteering or work experience to 16-18 year olds such as In2MedSchool and Medic Mentor, working closely with them to advertise our volunteering to their
students. 

Once students are interested, they should be able to register as volunteers and attend an Introduction Training session. This can be a WP-specific session with particular focus on benefits and support for WP volunteers such as Duke of Edinburgh hours.

Once volunteers are involved, they should be supported through their time with us including email updates, check-ins, social media posts and training sessions around key times such as university applications.

Finally, of particular note, you should work with the Conference Officer to ensure that WP volunteers are supported in attending the Annual National Conference, in a safe way and have talks of interest to them.
 

Become a Fundraising Volunteer!

Help make a better life for cats – because life is better with cats

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is, and always will be, at the heart of Cats Protection. It’s joyful, inclusive, and driven by people working together to transform the lives of cats, people, and communities. When you volunteer with us, you become part of something truly meaningful.

The difference you’ll make

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Cats Protection helps thousands of cats every year. Our fundraising volunteers play a vital role in making this possible. By using your passion for cats and people, you’ll help raise the funds needed to support more cats and kittens in need.

As a fundraising volunteer, we’ll support you to get involved in a way that suits you best. Whether you enjoy organising events, fundraising online, promoting activities on social media, helping with administration, or coming up with fresh ideas — there’s a place for you here. Whatever your skills or interests, this could be the perfect role.

What you can expect from us

• A warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment in line with our values and behaviours
• Support to help you have a positive and impactful volunteering experience
• Agreed out-of-pocket expenses covered in line with our Expenses Policy
• Access to learning, development, and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

This is a highly flexible role, and you can choose how you’d like to get involved. Opportunities include:

• Face-to-face fundraising – organising or helping at fundraising events, running supermarket collections and fundraising stands, and monitoring collection tins
• Online fundraising – setting up online appeals and writing engaging cat case studies to maximise donations
• Marketing and promotion – spreading the word about fundraising activities via social media and local press
• Administration – processing donations, sorting and recording donated goods, and completing Gift Aid paperwork
• Championing our work – helping to develop new fundraising ideas and increasing community engagement
• Photography – capturing images of cats in care, cats we’re helping, fundraising events, and all things Cats Protection

Time commitment

This role is flexible and designed to fit around your other commitments. You’ll be part of a friendly team raising vital funds — and having fun along the way.

You could be just the volunteer we’re looking for

We’re committed to building a diverse, compassionate, and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. Together, we’re courageous and compassionate in helping people see the world through cats’ eyes.

Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats. Together, we are all for cats.