Learning support volunteer volunteer volunteer roles in Nottingham

Job description:

We are looking for few candidates to join our volunteer human resource programme and gain real world experience in your chosen field. While we only have few vacancies available through this programme, other options are available if your skills match our criteria.

About the Role

The HR Programme Manager is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing the HR Programme and managing the HR Liaison. This position ensures the successful delivery of the HR Programme, aligning it with organisational goals and fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth. The Programme Manager will work closely with senior leadership, Heads of Department (HoDs), and the HR Liaison to design, implement, and refine the programme, ensuring it meets the needs of participants and the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Oversight of the HR Programme

• Develop and execute the strategic vision for the HR Programme, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.
• Collaborate with the Director: HRBP, Legal, IT & HR Programme to define programme goals, KPIs, and success metrics.
• Continuously evaluate and refine the programme to address emerging needs and industry trends.

2. Team Leadership & Management

• Manage and mentor the HR Liaison, providing guidance and support to ensure effective programme execution.
• Foster a collaborative and results-driven team culture, encouraging innovation and accountability.

3. Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Heads of Department (HoDs) and external partners to ensure programme relevance and impact.
• Act as the primary point of contact for senior stakeholders, providing regular updates on programme progress and outcomes.

4. Programme Design & Implementation

• Oversee the design and delivery of HR Programme content, ensuring it meets the developmental needs of participants.
• Coordinate with internal and external facilitators to deliver high-quality training sessions, workshops, and resources.
• Ensure the integration of feedback from participants and stakeholders to enhance programme effectiveness.

5. Monitoring & Evaluation

• Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track participant progress and programme impact.
• Analyse data to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare comprehensive reports for senior leadership, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

6. Communication & Advocacy

• Promote the HR Programme across the organisation, ensuring high visibility and engagement.
• Develop communication strategies to highlight success stories and programme benefits.

Required Skills

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align the HR Programme with organisational goals and adapt to changing priorities.
• Leadership & Team Management: Proven experience in leading and mentoring teams to achieve results.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional relationship-building skills to engage and influence senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Project Management: Strong organisational skills to manage complex programmes, budgets, and timelines.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate programme vision and outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in programme management, learning and development, or a related field.
• Experience in designing and implementing professional development programmes.

Job Types: Part-time, Volunteer

Benefits:

• Work from home

Application question(s):

• Are you sure you can commit to this being a non-paid role?
• Can you commit to 16 weeks ?
• Do you have access to personal PC or laptop?

Work Location: Remote

This flexible home volunteering role is worthwhile and rewarding. Make a real difference writing letters. As a Volunteer Penpal Writer you’ll be a key member of the Letterbox Team. Your letters will cheer someone up and establish a trusting, supportive relationship with a client who might be lonely or socially isolated.

What tasks can this role include (some or all of the following):

• Writing letters to clients
• Building trust and companionship with a client through correspondence. Omega befriends a variety of people including: caregivers, the lonely, isolated or people with ill-health.
• Liaising with the Letterbox Team by email or post.
• Respecting service standards, appropriate boundaries and recognising the policies and procedures that are necessary when befriending adults at risk.
• Making suggestions to help us improve the service we provide to clients and Volunteer Pen pal Writers.

This role could be for you, if you:

• Enjoy writing and receiving letters
• Are enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Associate strongly with Omega’s values and strategy
• Have knowledge or understanding about a variety of client issues including caring, feeling isolated and lonely and its impact on people and society
• Have satisfactory written and inter-personal communication skills
• Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can show this in practice
• Are committed to inclusion, treating people with dignity and respect

What support and training will be provided?

• Feedback from clients and colleagues
• Regular and ongoing support from Letterbox Team Leader
• Answering questions
• Stationary and pre-paid envelopes can be provided making the service free.
• Opportunity for peer support events and invitation to Omega events
• Reward system and opportunity for volunteer of the month rewards

What are the benefits for you?

• Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life by doing something you enjoy
• Joining the Omega Team, who are taking action against loneliness and isolation as well as helping people in crisis
• An opportunity to enhance your CV or learn new skills
• An opportunity to engage with your community

Location of the role:

• Mainly your home

When are you needed?

• At a time to suit you

About Career Compass

Career Compass is a UK social mobility charity that helps sixth-form students from underrepresented backgrounds access professional careers. We connect young people with employers through work experience, mentoring, employer insight events, employability workshops and careers advice.

Since launching, we have supported over 12,500 students from more than 500 schools across the UK, helping them build confidence, develop employability skills and access opportunities they may not otherwise have.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a creative and proactive Volunteer Social Media Manager to help grow our Instagram presence and engage more sixth-form students with the free opportunities we offer.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with previous experience managing Instagram accounts who wants to use their skills to make a genuine social impact. You’ll play a key role in increasing our reach, inspiring young people and helping more students access life-changing career opportunities.

What You’ll Do

• Plan and schedule engaging Instagram content.
• Create and publish posts, reels, stories and carousels.
• Grow our Instagram following and increase student engagement.
• Develop content that resonates with sixth-form students (16-18-year-olds).
• Promote work experience, mentoring, employer events and career resources.
• Monitor performance and recommend ideas to improve reach and engagement.
• Keep up to date with Instagram trends and suggest new content ideas.
• Work closely with the Career Compass team to ensure content aligns with our mission and campaigns.

We’re Looking For Someone Who Has

• Previous experience managing Instagram accounts (charity, business or personal brand).
• Strong understanding of Instagram trends, engagement strategies and best practice.
• Experience creating engaging social media content using tools such as Canva or similar.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Creativity, initiative and the ability to work independently.
• A passion for education, social mobility or supporting young people.

Time Commitment

• Approximately 1-2 hours per week.
• Fully remote.
• Flexible working around your schedule.

What You’ll Gain

• The opportunity to make a measurable difference to the lives of young people.
• Experience working with a growing national charity.
• Freedom to shape and develop our Instagram strategy.
• A professional reference upon successful completion of your volunteering.
• The chance to work alongside a passionate team committed to improving social mobility across the UK.

Why Volunteer With Us?

Every post you create has the potential to help a young person discover a career they never thought possible.

By helping Career Compass reach more students, you’ll play a direct role in widening access to professional careers and creating opportunities for thousands of young people across the UK.

If you’re passionate about social media and want to use your skills for good, we’d love to hear from you.

Are you a HR professional? Could you give an hour a week to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination? Then we need you!

Every year our fantastic HR Advice Line volunteers speak to hundreds women and parents experiencing challenges or pregnancy and maternity discrimination at work. The Advice Line provides hours of free support and HR advice every week, however the demand for the service is high and we know that getting through can be difficult. That’s why we’re trialling a new online Advice Forum to help improve access to support and flexibility of our volunteer roles. But before we can make the forum public, we need to bring in a team of volunteers who are ready and waiting to answer questions. 

We are looking for knowledgable HR professionals who want to tackle the Motherhood Penaltyand support mothers and parents by becoming an Advice Forum Volunteer.

As a volunteer advisor you’ll give an hour a week of your time to respond to questions on the Advice Forum. You’ll use your HR knowledge and experience to respond to posts and give advice that can help people identify and challenge pregnancy and maternity discrimination in the workplace. You’ll also be joining us at the start of this brand new service and will have an essential role in helping us monitor, evaluate and learn from the forum trial, with the goal of establishing it as a permanent PTS Support Service. 

About the role

Role Title: Advice Forum Volunteer
Location: Home-based (UK)
Reporting To: Head of Support Services

Time Commitment

The Advice Forum will be available online 24/7, and so volunteering as a forum advisor is flexible and can fit around your schedule. We ask that you are able to commit at least one hour a week for a minimum of three months.

Alternative time commitments can be considered and discussed, so please do include any information that might be useful in your application form.

Main Role Purpose

Advice Forum Volunteers play a vital role in providing accessible support and guidance to working parents facing unfair treatment or discrimination in the workplace. Volunteers will respond to forum questions and posts, offering advice and signposting information about employee rights. You will also coordinate with the PTS staff team and other volunteers to ensure all forum questions are responded to, and will have the opportunity to contribute to the forum’s development.

Essential requirements

• Minimum CIPD level 5 Diploma in People Management with one professional reference.
• Knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and policies related to pregnancy, maternity leave, and discrimination.
• Access to a reliable and secure WIFI or Internet connection and a mobile device or computer/laptop.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and concisely.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Comfortable using online communication tools.
• Commitment to completing all required volunteer training.

Key Responsibilities

• Respond to forum questions from individuals seeking support and advice.
• Provide HR advice and guidance in a clear and concise way to support forum users with their enquiries.
• Signpost to further information and other support organisations if necessary.
• Maintain professionalism in all interactions, adhering to all Pregnant Then Screwed guidelines and policies.
• Complete all training required by PTS. 

What you can expect from PTS

• The opportunity to use your skills and expertise to tackle the Motherhood Penalty and make a meaningful impact.
• An onboarding and induction period which can be completed at your own pace.
• Support from the PTS staff team and volunteer network.
• HR support from Bluestone HR.
• Access to our Volunteer Training Hub.
• CPD certified Samaritans Supportive Listening eTraining course.
• Opportunities to help us further develop and shape our Support Services.

�� Volunteer Safeguarding Officer – Kenningwell United Women’s Football Club (KUWFC) ��

Location: Dulwich/Peckham, South London
Hours: Flexible, around 6 hours per month
Reports to: Club Committee 

Be the Heartbeat of Safety & Inclusion

Do you believe every player deserves to feel safe, valued, and empowered? KUWFC is searching for a passionate champion of wellbeing to help us build a club where everyone can shine—on and off the pitch!

As our Volunteer Safeguarding Officer, you’ll be a guardian of trust, a voice for equality, and a cornerstone of our football family. Your impact will ripple through every training session, matchday, and community event. If you’re ready to make a real difference, this role is for you!

What You’ll Do

Protect & Empower:
  Make sure every player, coach, and volunteer feels safe, respected, and supported. Uphold our safeguarding and child protection policies with pride.

Inspire Awareness:
  Share knowledge, lead FA safeguarding training, and spark conversations that keep our community informed and vigilant.

Champion Inclusion:
  Foster a positive, welcoming culture. Promote our codes of conduct, whistleblowing policy, and wellbeing initiatives—where every voice matters.

Be the Trusted Contact
  Listen with empathy. Respond swiftly and sensitively to any safeguarding concerns, acting as the go-to person for guidance and support.

Build Connections:
  Collaborate with club leaders, She’s Got Skills collective, and partner clubs to spread best practice and nurture wellbeing across South London football.

Keep Us Accountable:
  Ensure DBS checks and safeguarding records are up-to-date, accurate, and confidential. Celebrate the highest standards in player protection.

Who You Are

- Driven by passion for equality, wellbeing, and community spirit
- A great communicator—someone who listens deeply and speaks up for others
- Responsible, trustworthy, and ready to handle sensitive information
- Willing to learn (FA safeguarding training provided)
- Organised, proactive, and full of positive energy

Bonus Points:
- Experience in safeguarding or child protection
- Knowledge of FA safeguarding procedures
- Experience in football or sports clubs
- Ready to make players feel like superstars—no matter their age or background!

Why KUWFC?

- Be part of a club that believes in changing the game—together
- Flexible volunteering—fit around your life
- Training, support, and professional references for your future goals
- Help shape a safer, stronger, and more inclusive football community in South London
- Your passion will leave a legacy—players will remember you for life

Ready to Be a Game-Changer?

Send a brief note about yourself or your CV  .
We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. Bring your passion—let’s build a club where every player thrives!

Kenningwell United WFC: Champions of equality, guardians of wellbeing, and creators of opportunity.

Lightup Impact

We equip and fund youth grassroots leaders in East Africa to scale community-led solutions.

Social Media Manager - Volunteer Support

Role Description Join Lightup Impact as a volunteer and be part of a passionate team driving real change for young people and women across East Africa — where your creativity, voice, and ideas truly matter!

What you’ll do:

• Manage Lightup Impact’s social media platforms and create engaging content.
• Work closely with communications team, especially designers.
• Improve and update content strategy.
• Ensure that content is posted timely on all channels.
• Strengthen overall social media visibility and engagement.

Skills we’re looking for:

• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Experience in social media management. 
• Experience in content creation for linkedin, instagram, facebook and twitter.
• Strong organization, project management and collaborative skills.
• Willingness to learn and a can-do changemaker attitude.

What you’ll gain:

• Be part of a creative, dynamic team.
• Contribute to positive change for young people and women across East Africa.
• Exposure to startup and impact-driven environments.
• Opportunity to network, develop new skills, and strengthen your professional profile.

Minimum Hours per Week:

7-9 hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

Help a not-for-profit reach more people who need affordable counselling. Run the outreach and listings that connect struggling adults to qualified, low-cost support.

What you will do.

Referral partnerships (the main task). Each week, email a small batch of relevant organisations (charities, social prescribers, advice services, housing providers, universities) to introduce Flourish as a referral option, using our ready-made templates and contact list. Follow up once and track responses. This is friendly relationship-building, not hard selling.

Directory listings. Create and keep Flourish's profiles up to date on counselling and wellbeing directories, using our master profile copy so everything stays consistent.

Reviews. Run our gentle, ethical review-request process and keep a simple record.

Drafting for the founder to approve. Draft short responses to journalist requests and occasional LinkedIn posts in the founder's voice, ready for her quick sign-off. We provide an expert toolkit, including bios and key messages, to make this easy.

Light reporting. Keep a simple tracker of activity and enquiries so we can see what is working.

You will not be asked to provide counselling, give clinical advice, or speak publicly as an expert yourself; the founder remains the named voice.

Who we are looking for.

Organised and reliable, comfortable working through a list methodically.

Confident, warm written English; able to write a friendly, professional email.

Comfortable with spreadsheets, web forms and email; quick to learn simple online tools.

Self-motivated and able to work independently and remotely.

In sympathy with our mission of accessible mental health support.

No counselling or marketing qualification is needed. Experience in admin, communications, community work, fundraising or customer service is welcome but not essential.

What you will gain.

Real, visible social impact: your work connects people to affordable support.

Practical experience in outreach, partnerships, digital marketing and communications.

Flexible, fully remote hours that fit around your life.

A reference and demonstrable results for your CV or portfolio.

Being part of a friendly, values-led not-for-profit.

Time commitment and format.

Around half a day to one day a week, flexible, at times that suit you.

Fully remote, anywhere in the UK.

Voluntary role (unpaid). We will cover any agreed expenses.

We ask for a minimum commitment of around three months so relationships can build.

Everything you create matters! Help us share stories that inspire hope, raise awareness and connect people with support.

About The Role
Our Campaigns and Storytelling Volunteers play a key role in how Doncaster Mind communicates its work, shares impact and connects people with support.

Through campaigns, digital content and storytelling, you will help us raise awareness of mental health, promote early support, and highlight the services available through Doncaster Mind, including prevention work, community services and our Rise Therapy service.

This flexible volunteer role can be carried out remotely from home, with a minimum commitment of just two hours per week, making it easy to fit around work, study or other commitments.

The role is suitable for people who want to apply existing communications skills in a meaningful setting, as well as those looking to build experience and develop a portfolio in campaigns, content and storytelling.

What You’ll Do
You’ll support a range of communications and campaign activities, which may include:

• Creating social media posts and digital content
• Supporting awareness campaigns and key messages
• Writing or adapting copy for different audiences
• Helping share stories, case studies and impact updates
• Supporting website or newsletter content updates
• Contributing ideas for campaigns and engagement activity
• Helping promote events, services and community activity

Choose What You Love
You can focus on one area or work across several depending on your skills and interests:

• Prevention & early intervention - supporting campaigns that encourage people to seek help earlier, challenge stigma and promote mental wellbeing.
• Rise Therapy Service - helping promote Doncaster Mind’s professional therapy and workforce wellbeing services, increasing awareness and understanding of support available.
• Community impact & supporter engagement - sharing stories, celebrating impact and helping inspire people, partners and communities to engage with Doncaster Mind.

What You’ll Contribute and Develop
This role offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful mental health work while developing or applying communications and storytelling skills.

Depending on your experience, you may develop skills in:

• Campaigns and content creation
• Social media and digital communication
• Copywriting and storytelling
• Community engagement and awareness raising
• Working within a values-led, ethical communications environment

You’ll also:

• Work alongside staff across communications, services and fundraising
• Build a portfolio of real-world content and campaign work
• Gain experience relevant to careers in communications, marketing or the charity sector
• Apply professional skills in a purpose-driven organisation

Support and training
We’ll ensure you feel welcomed, supported and confident in your role. You’ll receive:

• A structured induction to Doncaster Mind and the role
• Ongoing support from the development team
• Regular check-ins and feedback
• Guidance on safeguarding, confidentiality and ethical storytelling
• Access to relevant training and tools

We will never expect volunteers to manage sensitive situations alone or work outside agreed boundaries.

Who This Role Is For?
We welcome applications from:

• Experienced communications or marketing professionals looking to give back
• Students or early career individuals building experience and portfolios
• Anyone passionate about mental health, storytelling and community impact

You don’t need previous experience in a mental health setting, but an interest in communications and a willingness to learn are essential.We're particularly looking for people who:

• Communicate clearly and respectfully
• Are creative and audience-focused
• Work well independently and as part of a team
• Value inclusion, dignity and non-judgemental communication
• Are motivated by improving access to mental health support

Lightup Impact

We equip and fund youth grassroots leaders in East Africa to scale community-led solutions.

Policy Development & Compliance Volunteer

Role Description
Join Lightup Impact as a volunteer and be part of a passionate team driving real change for young people and women across East Africa — where your expertise can help strengthen the systems, governance, and sustainability of a growing grassroots movement.

What you’ll do:

• Develop and maintain a policy and user guide development plan aligned with organizational priorities.
• Review, update, and improve existing organizational policies and procedures.
• Support the creation of new policies, guidelines, and governance documents as needed.
• Ensure policies are practical, user-friendly, and aligned with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with leadership and team members to identify policy gaps and organizational needs.
• Support the development of simple user guides and implementation tools to facilitate policy adoption.

Skills we’re looking for:

• Background in law, governance, public policy, compliance, human resources, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, or implementing policies and procedures.
• Strong research, analytical, and writing skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to organize complex information clearly.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with diverse teams.
• Willingness to learn and a can-do changemaker attitude.

What you’ll gain:

• Be part of a dynamic and impact-driven team.
• Contribute to strengthening systems that support young people and women across East Africa.
• Gain experience in governance, compliance, and organizational development within a growing nonprofit.
• Opportunity to network, develop new skills, and strengthen your professional profile.

Minimum Hours per Week:

7-9 hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Unfortunately, thousands of cats each year are abandoned or have strayed and rely on charities like Cats Protection for help. Becoming a trap, neuter and return (TNR) volunteer is one way you can make a real difference to cats in your local area. Our TNR volunteers help reduce the number of feral cats by raising awareness of our TNR programmes, setting humane traps to safely capture cats, taking them to local vets to be neutered, and hopefully returning them back to their territory. Local TNR programmes are crucial, as feral and abandoned cats present a huge challenge for communities across the UK.

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:

• Trapping cats using humane methods
• Taking cats to local vets to be neutered 
• Returning cats to their territory or finding a suitable alternative

The role might also include:

• Regular feeding of feral colonies
• Promoting neutering by building relationships with farmers, land owners and local businesses
• Liaising with vets to promote and arrange neutering 

Time expectation 

This is a flexible role and the hours will vary depending on the number of cats identified for specific TNR campaigns. Our current TNR volunteers spend about 2 to 3 hours per week in this role which 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.

Job Title: Talent Enablement
Location: Remote
Department: People & Culture
Reports To: Manager: Talent Enablement

About QuilomboUK

QuilomboUK is a visionary organisation committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion (D&I), and social justice. Rooted in a People First philosophy, we strive to create workplaces where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. Join our People & Culture team to drive meaningful change through equitable HR practices and a culture of belonging.

Role Overview

As a Talent Enablement professional at QuilomboUK, you will support the planning, coordination, and delivery of training programmes that enhance employee skills and organisational development. You will help prepare training materials, assist with training sessions, track attendance and progress, and maintain accurate training records. Working closely with the Talent Enablement Manager and Team Leader, you will also manage shared inbox enquiries, contribute to team coordination, and provide reports on training activities, helping promote a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.

Key Responsibilities

 Talent Enablement - Specialist / Coordinator/ Assistant

• Prepare training materials for training sessions

• Tracks training attendance and progress

• Provide support in conducting training sessions

• Respond to the shared inbox emails appropriately.

• Send daily report to Team Leader/ Manager

Qualifications

• Skills:

  • Strong knowledge of UK employment law and ER best practices.

  • Ability to navigate sensitive conversations with empathy, discretion, and cultural competence.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills for policy drafting and stakeholder guidance.

  • Proficiency in HRIS systems and case management tools.

• Knowledge: Understanding D&I frameworks, restorative justice principles, and trauma-informed HR practices.

• Alignment: Commitment to QuilomboUK’s mission and passion for social justice.

Personal Attributes

• Fair-minded and principled, with a strong ethical compass.

• Collaborative team player who builds trust with employees and leaders alike.

• Proactive problem-solver who balances empathy with organisational needs.

• Resilient under pressure, with the ability to manage multiple priorities calmly.

Are you a dog lover with room in your home to look after a dog during evenings and weekends? This could be the perfect role for you!

As a Training Dog Fosterer, you’ll provide a loving temporary home to a dog in training, typically for a period of 12 to 20 weeks, as they begin their journey to become a guide dog. You’ll get to see the progress your furry companion is making in their training and be a vital part of their journey, without the commitment of looking after a dog full time.

What you’ll be doing:

In this rewarding role, your support for a guide dog in training will include:

• Doing the school run for your dog in training! This will typically involve dropping them off and picking them up at an agreed time Monday to Friday at one of our regional centres or community teams, however, some sites may vary. There are some locations where we will be able to collect and return the training dog from your home. 
• Caring for your dog in your home such as feeding, grooming, free running and playing, following the advice of our expert staff.
• Helping your dog keep up with their training by reinforcing the techniques at home from our first-class training programme.
• Making sure your dog is not left alone for more than four hours in a 24-hour period. If you’re planning on going on holiday, let us know at your initial phone call so we can plan alternative cover for your future life changer.

Can I foster a dog?

If you’re hoping to foster a guide dog in training, here’s what we ideally look for:

• Being close to one of our regional centres or community teams so that your dog can get to their training. 
• The agreement of your landlord to have a dog in your home if you rent your home.
• A safe and secure area outside for the dog to go to the toilet.

However, we try to be flexible – for example, you’ll still be able to foster a dog if you live in London, even if you don’t have access to outside space. 

What you’ll get:

• The opportunity to have a lovable canine companion!
• The satisfaction in knowing you’re supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
• The rewarding feeling of seeing your dog learn new training techniques to help them develop into a guide dog.
• An insight into our bespoke world-class training programme so that your dog’s training stays consistent at home, which can also help you train your own dogs or advance in a future career in dog handling.
• The opportunity to be part of the Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people in your area.
• A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.

Training and support

You’ll attend a training workshop to understand the basics of our bespoke training techniques so you can confidently support your dog’s training at home. You’ll also receive ongoing guidance from your volunteer manager. If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your initial phone call along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any pre-agreed expenses related to volunteering with us, including veterinary costs, dog food costs and other materials needed for your dog’s training.

Minimum age for volunteer is 18.

We also have a respite fosterer role available in some areas, where a dog would stay with you full time before moving on to the next stage of its journey.

Please check out our website to see what roles are available where you live.

Are you a dog lover with room in your home to look after a dog during evenings and weekends? This could be the perfect role for you!

As a Training Dog Fosterer, you’ll provide a loving temporary home to a dog in training, typically for a period of 12 to 20 weeks, as they begin their journey to become a guide dog. You’ll get to see the progress your furry companion is making in their training and be a vital part of their journey, without the commitment of looking after a dog full time.

What you’ll be doing:

In this rewarding role, your support for a guide dog in training will include:

• Doing the school run for your dog in training! This will typically involve dropping them off and picking them up at an agreed time Monday to Friday at one of our regional centres or community teams, however, some sites may vary. There are some locations where we will be able to collect and return the training dog from your home. 
• Caring for your dog in your home such as feeding, grooming, free running and playing, following the advice of our expert staff.
• Helping your dog keep up with their training by reinforcing the techniques at home from our first-class training programme.
• Making sure your dog is not left alone for more than four hours in a 24-hour period. If you’re planning on going on holiday, let us know at your initial phone call so we can plan alternative cover for your future life changer.

Can I foster a dog?

If you’re hoping to foster a guide dog in training, here’s what we ideally look for:

• Being close to one of our regional centres or community teams so that your dog can get to their training. 
• The agreement of your landlord to have a dog in your home if you rent your home.
• A safe and secure area outside for the dog to go to the toilet.

However, we try to be flexible – for example, you’ll still be able to foster a dog if you live in London, even if you don’t have access to outside space. 

What you’ll get:

• The opportunity to have a lovable canine companion!
• The satisfaction in knowing you’re supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
• The rewarding feeling of seeing your dog learn new training techniques to help them develop into a guide dog.
• An insight into our bespoke world-class training programme so that your dog’s training stays consistent at home, which can also help you train your own dogs or advance in a future career in dog handling.
• The opportunity to be part of the Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people in your area.
• A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.

Training and support

You’ll attend a training workshop to understand the basics of our bespoke training techniques so you can confidently support your dog’s training at home. You’ll also receive ongoing guidance from your volunteer manager. If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your initial phone call along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any pre-agreed expenses related to volunteering with us, including veterinary costs, dog food costs and other materials needed for your dog’s training.

Minimum age for volunteer is 18.

We also have a respite fosterer role available in some areas, where a dog would stay with you full time before moving on to the next stage of its journey.

Please check out our website by clicking 'redirect to recruiter' at the top or bottom of this page to see what roles are available where you live.

We are looking for a passionate and committed young parent to join the Board of Parents 1st UK as a Lived Experience Trustee.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of our organisation by ensuring the voices, experiences and perspectives of parents remain at the heart of our work, strategy and decision-making.

We welcome applications from young parents with lived experience of pregnancy, early parenthood and/or accessing support for their mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy or within the first two years of their child’s life.

You do not need previous trustee or Board experience to apply. We are committed to supporting and developing new trustees and will provide induction, mentoring, guidance and ongoing support to help you succeed in the role.

This role is a valuable opportunity to build confidence, develop leadership skills, gain experience in governance and make a meaningful difference for other parents and families.

As a Trustee, you will have opportunities to connect with staff, learn more about our programmes and see the impact of our work first-hand. You will work alongside the CEO and Programme Leads, helping to shape decisions and priorities that support parents, babies and families across the UK.

We understand that young parents may be balancing family life, work, education or other commitments, and we are committed to creating an accessible and supportive environment where you can participate fully.

Key Responsibilities

As a Young Parent Trustee, you will:

• Help ensure Parents 1st UK remains true to its mission, values and purpose
• Bring the voice and perspective of young parents to Board discussions and decision-making
• Share insight into the experiences and challenges faced by parents accessing services
• Contribute to discussions about strategy, policies and organisational priorities
• Attend and actively participate in Board meetings and discussions
• Work collaboratively with fellow Trustees, staff and volunteers
• Support good governance and help ensure the charity operates responsibly and effectively
• Act as an ambassador for Parents 1st UK and its work within communities and networks where appropriate

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a young parent with lived experience of pregnancy, early parenthood and/or perinatal mental health support
• Is passionate about improving outcomes for parents, babies and families
• Feels able to reflect on and share their experiences in a constructive and supportive way
• Is willing to contribute ideas, ask questions and learn alongside others
• Values inclusion, compassion, respect and collaboration
• Is committed to the aims and values of Parents 1st UK

Previous governance or Board experience is not required. We welcome applications from first-time trustees and will support you throughout your journey in the role.

Time Commitment

• Board Meetings: 6 per year (approx. 2 hours, held virtually)
• Away Days: 2 per year (in person in London, 10:00–16:00)
• Preparation: Reading papers and reports in advance
• Additional: Occasional strategy or planning sessions

Estimated total commitment: approximately 4–6 hours per month

Trustees must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Not be disqualified under the Charities Act

Parents 1st UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of families. All Trustees are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and appropriate due diligence.