Social work volunteer volunteer roles

We’re looking for enthusiastic, motivated people who’d like to help raise awareness and vital funds for local projects that make a real difference.

As a Fundraising Volunteer, you’ll support our fundraising activities, from community events and local partnerships to online campaigns. You’ll help inspire support for our programmes that empower people, promote wellbeing and build stronger communities.

This is a flexible, rewarding opportunity for anyone who enjoys connecting with people, being creative and helping a good cause grow.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting the organisation and delivery of fundraising events and activities
• Helping prepare materials such as posters, donation forms and thank-you messages
• Promoting campaigns and community events online or in person
• Engaging with local businesses, schools or groups about partnerships or sponsorships
• Assisting with donation recording and simple reporting tasks
• Helping share stories that highlight how donations make a difference

Skills and Qualities We’re Looking For

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Confidence speaking with the public and representing the charity positively
• Creativity and enthusiasm for community fundraising
• Teamwork and reliability
• Basic digital skills (social media or online tools)
• Attention to detail when handling information or donations

What You’ll Gain

• Experience supporting fundraising and community engagement activities
• Opportunities to build confidence and communication skills
• Insight into how charities raise funds and engage supporters
• The satisfaction of helping local projects continue and grow

About Us

We are a community-led charity tackling poverty at its root by empowering people and communities to overcome barriers and build sustainable futures.

Our programmes support children, young people, adults and families through education, employability, wellbeing and social inclusion activities that promote confidence, connection and opportunity.

Safeguarding and Inclusion

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults involved in our work.

Safeguarding training will be provided for all volunteers and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check may be required for this role.

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments to support participation wherever possible.

Do you live in Wales and want to gain valuable skills, have new experiences, and support vulnerable people? We are offering 1 young person aged 18–25 the opportunity to volunteer for up to 4 months with the Portuguese Red Cross in Guimarães, Portugal from April - August 2026.

The Portuguese Red Cross in Guimarães supports the local community through a wide range of voluntary activities focused on social inclusion, education, health, and youth engagement.

Volunteers will be involved in several impactful projects, including:

• Supporting elderly people through digital inclusion and companionship
• Promoting healthy lifestyles and safety awareness among children and teenagers
• Assisting in shelters for homeless individuals and long-term care patients
• Organising creative and educational activities in schools, hospitals, and foster homes
• Helping with social media, fundraising, and community events.

Volunteers will stay in a shared house near the city centre, just a short walk from the Red Cross headquarters. The house includes shared bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and a terrace. Volunteering hours will not exceed 35 hours per week, and volunteers are entitled to two consecutive days of rest. While most weekends are free, occasional weekend activities may take place.

This is a fantastic opportunity to explore your interests, develop new skills, and make a difference in a vibrant and historic city. For more details on the role and the projects available, please refer to the full role description. The most important thing we want to see is your motivation for this placement!

Typical tasks may include:

• Assisting with educational games and workshops in schools and hospitals
• Supporting digital literacy sessions for elderly people
• Helping manage donations of clothes, food, and essentials
• Creating engaging content for social media and awareness campaigns
• Participating in climate change and health awareness projects
• Designing and leading your own community-based initiatives.

The volunteers will be working in a range of projects, which will give them the chance to explore the different kind of social action that the Portuguese Red Cross undertake in Guimarães.

This is a great opportunity to get involved in social action projects and find out what you are interested in. For more details on the role and the projects available, have a look at the role description. The main thing we want to see is your motivation for this placement!

Please note that only young people (aged 18-25) based in Wales can apply for this role. Depending on the situation at the time, we will either run an in-person selection day or run Teams interviews with shortlisted candidates.

Here’s 5 reasons you’ll love to volunteer in our shops:

1. It's fun

2. It's flexible

3. You'll learn and share skills

4. You'll be making a difference

5. You'll work with a great team

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams are key to raising vital funds for our work and act as incredible advocates for the rights of children both in the UK and around the world.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests. Candidates must be over 18.

Volunteering in the shop

Our Ballycastle Shop Volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

It’s up to you how much you commit. We have volunteers who support for a couple of hours a week and some do more. Many people volunteer either a morning or an afternoon each week - this is something that will be discussed at the selection stage, after you’ve applied.

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

In over 110 countries, we support children to transform their lives. By providing live-saving short-term help, and pushing for deep-rooted social change, we help children take, their future into their own hands. We believe every child has the right to learn. Every child should have good food to fuel their bodies and every child should have medicine when they're sick.

Skills and experiences we seek

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and to follow our policies as well as be an excellent representative for Save the Children.

We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities. Everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role that works for you.

What happens next?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal trial shift. It’s a great opportunity to visit the shop, meet some of our existing volunteers and have a go at some of the tasks that you would be supporting with as a shop volunteer. Hopefully allowing you to get a feel for the role and make sure it’s for you. We also ask for a couple of references (these don’t have to be formal workplace ones, just someone who has known you for over 6 months and isn’t related).

How to apply

Express your interest on email via the apply button.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

Here’s 5 reasons you’ll love to volunteer in our shops:

1. It's fun

2. It's flexible

3. You'll learn and share skills

4. You'll be making a difference

5. You'll work with a great team

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams are key to raising vital funds for our work and act as incredible advocates for the rights of children both in the UK and around the world.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests. Candidates must be over 18.

Volunteering in the shop

Our Hendon Shop Volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

It’s up to you how much you commit. We have volunteers who support for a couple of hours a week and some do more. Many people volunteer either a morning or an afternoon each week - this is something that will be discussed at the selection stage, after you’ve applied.

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

In over 110 countries, we support children to transform their lives. By providing live-saving short-term help, and pushing for deep-rooted social change, we help children take, their future into their own hands. We believe every child has the right to learn. Every child should have good food to fuel their bodies and every child should have medicine when they're sick. 

Skills and experiences we seek

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and to follow our policies as well as be an excellent representative for Save the Children.

We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities. Everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role that works for you.

What happens next?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal trial shift. It’s a great opportunity to visit the shop, meet some of our existing volunteers and have a go at some of the tasks that you would be supporting with as a shop volunteer. Hopefully allowing you to get a feel for the role and make sure it’s for you. We also ask for a couple of references (these don’t have to be formal workplace ones, just someone who has known you for over 6 months and isn’t related).

How to apply 

Express your interest on email via the apply button.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

About Circular Kitchens

Circular Kitchens is a social enterprise and membership platform designed to help restaurants, cafés, pubs, food stalls, and other catering businesses become fully circular: Plastic Free, Ecological, Local, and Zero Waste.

By working with the hospitality sector, we are helping regenerate local communities, strengthen regional food systems, and increase demand for ecological and regenerative agriculture in the UK. Our current focus is launching Circular Kitchens in Whitstable and supporting our first mover restaurants to achieve 3 Star Circular Kitchens certification. Based on learnings from this pilot, we are preparing to scale across the UK, growing our environmental and social impact.

Role Description

We are seeking a volunteer to support our operations and early-stage platform development, with a focus on how we manage restaurant tools, pledges, and audits using Coda.

Initially, the volunteer will have the opportunity to support updates to our existing Coda database to reflect new language, helping ensure outdated wording is replaced in line with our latest templates and that language is consistent across the platform.

As they become familiar with the structure, the volunteer may also contribute to the design of a Master Coda Document to help centralise data currently spread across multiple sections. This work supports the early foundations of a scalable platform designed to support hundreds of Circular Kitchens members over time. The role may also include light “vibe programming,” using AI tools to assist with formulas and logic within Coda tables.

An Ideal Candidate Will Be:

• A student or recent graduate with an interest in computer science, sustainability, business, data analytics, or a related field

• Technically confident (e.g. comfortable working with digital tools, spreadsheets, or information management platforms like Coda)

• Comfortable working with evolving, early-stage systems

• Well organised with strong attention to detail

• Interested in digital systems, platforms, or operational design

• Curious about startups, social enterprise, and/or sustainability

• Interested in learning and using AI tools to support “vibe programming” and contribute to more complex platform development over time

This is a voluntary role with a flexible time commitment, offering the opportunity to contribute to the operational backbone of a growing social enterprise and work closely with the founding team on systems designed to have real-world impact.

To apply, please share your CV along with a short note outlining your interest, any relevant experience, and your desired time commitment.

NICOLA Arts is an artist-led charity and community space based in London, supporting young creatives, artists and local communities through art, culture and social projects. We are looking for volunteers to support our shop and community space, helping with daily activities, customer service, visual displays and the organisation of events, exhibitions and creative workshops. This is an ongoing volunteering opportunity with flexible shifts, ideal for students, creatives and anyone interested in gaining hands-on experience in an arts and community-led environment. Details Volunteers will support different aspects of the NICOLA Arts space, including: welcoming visitors and assisting customers helping with shop organisation and visual presentation supporting events, exhibitions, jam sessions and workshops assisting the team with day-to-day activities No previous experience is required — just enthusiasm, reliability and an interest in arts and community work

Why we want you

As branch chair you and your branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

What you will be doing

• Overseeing an appropriate programme of awareness raising activities so that potential beneficiaries, volunteers and supporters are aware of SSAFA as first in mind for support.
• Building relationships with the regional and national SSAFA team, local voluntary organisations and, if applicable, SSAFA serving community teams, local military establishments, etc.
• Attending events as a key SSAFA representative.
• Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s central office
• Overseeing a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc.
• Working with other volunteers, regional and national team members to attract and recruit new volunteers as required.
• Work closely with the community engagement co-ordinator to recruit, welcome, induct, support, and manage volunteers in line with SSAFA policies, such as the Volunteering Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct, Data Protection Policy, and Safeguarding Policy.

The skills you need

• Motivating leadership with an ability lead a team of volunteers.
• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area.
• Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community.
• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment

West London Welcome (WLW) is a community centre and registered charity run for and with refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum, working together with local people to provide a safe, positive experience of community to reduce isolation, build inclusion and confidence, and challenge injustice.

Each week at WLW brings unique joys and challenges. We support hundreds of people from 70 different countries with a range of immigration statuses, providing English classes, advice, casework, hot food, a foodbank, clothing, childcare for those in classes, and social and creative activities. We take a holistic approach to support the needs of our members, from the practical and social to the emotional and playful.

We’re looking for someone with lived experience of seeking refuge or migration to join our Board of Trustees.

—

Our ongoing work with people with lived experience of seeking refuge and migration

At WLW we are striving to ensure our staff, volunteers and Board of Trustees are reflective of the communities we work with.

Our staff team includes five people with lived experience of refuge or migration, all of whom work in a wide variety of ways on a weekly basis with the refugees, migrants and asylum-seeking people who come to our centre. Our Board of Trustees includes one person who we supported through the asylum system, and five of our nine Trustees have lived experience of refuge or migration.

Amongst our 100+ volunteers, many are our beneficiaries whom we also support, who work collaboratively with us to run our centre. A fifth of our volunteers have lived experience of refuge or migration. From cooking and organising our foodbank to running our creative activities and translating for our advice team, this collaborative work ensures our community members have a stake in the way we practically run our organisation day-to-day and have a sense of ownership over the space.

We are now looking to recruit a new Trustee with lived experience of seeking refuge or migration.

The Role
 

We are looking to recruit a trustee with some or all of the following skills and/or experience:

• Lived experience of the challenges of seeking refuge or migrating to the UK from another country. We welcome applicants who have either moved to the UK recently, or decades ago.

• Refugee/migrant sector experience – experience of volunteering or working within the refugee and migrant NGO sector in the UK or another country. This could include either volunteering or working directly for an NGO, or in another related capacity such as with a campaign.

• Somebody who is passionate about the work of West London Welcome and supporting people in our community. 

It is not necessary for applicants to have previous experience of being a Trustee.

Trustee roles are unpaid voluntary positions, but we offer travel and other relevant expenses.

Trustee Duties
 

The general duties of a trustee are to:

• Ensure that WLW complies with its governing document (its constitution), charity law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

• Ensure that WLW pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.

• Ensure WLW applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects, i.e. it must not spend money on activities which are not included in the objects, however worthwhile they appear to be.

• Contribute actively to the Board’s role in giving firm strategic direction to WLW, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

• Safeguard the good name and values of WLW.

• Ensure the financial stability of WLW.

• Protect and manage the property of WLW and to ensure that proper investment of WLW’s funds.

• Support WLW’s Directors and monitor their performance.

• In addition to the above general duties, a trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, evaluation or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Minimum Time Commitment

• The Board generally holds meetings at least four times per year. These normally take place in the early evening and last approximately two hours. There may also be additional occasional trainings.

• Trustees should also support WLW at informal fundraising and other events as part of their ambassadorial role as well as making make regular visits to the WLW centre.

• This is a voluntary position, but trustees can claim out of pocket expenses such as those incurred in travelling to meetings.

• Occasionally quick decisions on urgent matters need to be made. Trustees should be available via WhatsApp as well as at regular board meetings to provide needed input/advice.

Person Specification
 

Each trustee must have:

• A commitment to the mission of WLW;

• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort;

• Integrity;

• Strategic vision;

• Good, independent judgement;

• An ability to think creatively;

• A willingness to speak their mind;

• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship;

• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good of WLW;

• A satisfactory DBS disclosure;

• Satisfactory references.

Interested applicants should review the duties and person specification detailed here, and apply via CharityJob by 11.30pm on Monday 9 February 2026.

Here’s 5 reasons you’ll love to volunteer in our shops:

1. It's fun

2. It's flexible

3. You'll learn and share skills

4. You'll be making a difference

5. You'll work with a great team

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams are key to raising vital funds for our work and act as incredible advocates for the rights of children both in the UK and around the world.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests. Candidates must be over 18.

Volunteering in the shop

Our High Wycombe Shop Volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

It’s up to you how much you commit. We have volunteers who support for a couple of hours a week and some do more. Many people volunteer either a morning or an afternoon each week - this is something that will be discussed at the selection stage, after you’ve applied.

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

In over 110 countries, we support children to transform their lives. By providing live-saving short-term help, and pushing for deep-rooted social change, we help children take, their future into their own hands. We believe every child has the right to learn. Every child should have good food to fuel their bodies and every child should have medicine when they're sick.

Skills and experiences we seek

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and to follow our policies as well as be an excellent representative for Save the Children.

We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities. Everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role that works for you.

What happens next?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal trial shift. It’s a great opportunity to visit the shop, meet some of our existing volunteers and have a go at some of the tasks that you would be supporting with as a shop volunteer. Hopefully allowing you to get a feel for the role and make sure it’s for you. We also ask for a couple of references (these don’t have to be formal workplace ones, just someone who has known you for over 6 months and isn’t related).

How to apply

Express your interest on email via the apply button.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

Why we want you
As branch secretary you help coordinate a range of activities and a calendar of events to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

What you will be doing

• Communication with branch volunteers
• Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s central office
• Co-ordinating a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc..

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Strong administration skills
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews

Disclaimer
SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Why we want you
As branch secretary you help coordinate a range of activities and a calendar of events to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

What you will be doing

• Communication with branch volunteers
• Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s central office
• Co-ordinating a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc..

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Strong administration skills
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews

Disclaimer
SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Inclusive Boards is delighted to support Scope in their search to appoint two new Trustees. 

Scope is the UK’s disability equality charity. They campaign to transform attitudes to disability, tackle injustice and inspire action. They create opportunities and provide information and support that empowers.

About Scope

Scope wants a society where all disabled people enjoy equality and fairness. We provide practical advice and emotional support to people and families who need it most. We use our collective power to deliver social change and end injustice for disabled people. We do this by working to change attitudes. We inspire policy change, by both local and national government. We work with organisations as employers and product or service providers. Our shops are at the heart of communities around the country, each one increasing impact. Last year, we supported over 4 million disabled people through our services, our online advice and online community forum. This also importantly gives us the authority to speak to power on behalf of disabled people and their families across the country.

Scope’s new strategy was approved by the Board in 2023 and focuses on achieving seismic change for and with disabled people and their families. We want to build on the impact we have achieved over the last few years. We want to go further in driving social change, achieving equality for all disabled people. Our work is underpinned by our commitment to diversity and inclusion in everything we do, and our values. We are pioneering, courageous, connected, fair and open.

About the Trustee opportunities:

Scope is seeking to strengthen the Trustee Board further and want to welcome 2 new Trustees with expertise in the following areas:

• A qualified accountant with audit/risk or governance experience
• Fundraising

Trustees act as ambassadors for the organisation, engaging with stakeholders such as donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries. They foster relationships, build networks, and advocate for the organisation’s mission, enhancing its visibility and impact.

The Trustees we appoint will work closely with other Trustees, the Chief Executive and the Executive Leadership Team. Together they will oversee the delivery of our ambitious new strategy. They must be committed to equality, and to involving disabled people in decision making.

Why we want you
As branch secretary you help coordinate a range of activities and a calendar of events to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

What you will be doing

• Communication with branch volunteers
• Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s central office
• Co-ordinating a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc..

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Strong administration skills
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews

Disclaimer
SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

We support a lovely gentleman living in Wokingham who would like a volunteer to visit him for a relaxed check in. He enjoys watching the telly, looking at pictures, eating chocolate (of course!) and perhaps colouring or painting from time to time. He is deaf and non-verbal, so a calm, friendly and kind approach is key. If you’re someone who values quiet connection and meaningful moments, we’d love to hear from you.

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year and, in many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them.

This is a Check in visit role, meaning that your visits are likely to be short - on average 30 minutes or less. Some of the people we visit may be unable to communicate with words. Sometimes the person might choose not to meet with their visitor. Your visit is however very important, and these are some of the things you could be doing on a visit: • Checking in on their well-being and speak to support staff to get an update on how the person is doing • You might be able to bring a treat that the person enjoys, like chocolates or fruit. • Some people we support enjoy sensory experiences so items that will stimulate their senses can also help you create a sense of connection with the person you visit. Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions.

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

• Friendly and approachable
• Accepting of others who might be different to yourself
• Reliable and patient
• Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

• Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit
• Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training
• Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed
• Meet new people
• Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

About Mencap Mencap is the leading learning disability charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with people with a learning disability and their families to challenge prejudice and change laws, and we directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose. We have an ambitious vision for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

Volunteering with us is YOUR opportunity to help us achieve this, whilst having the chance to develop your skills, meet new people and join a passionate and dedicated team.

If you have questions about volunteering with Mencap, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.