Learning support volunteers volunteer roles

Department: Fundraising

Location: Middlesbrough/ Off site venues

Time Requirement: Flexible to suit you (2 – 5 days per week)

DBS Check needed? No

Age Requirements: From 18 years old plus
 

Please note for this role you must have access to your own transport and provide the appropriate driver documentation.

Role Description: 

This is a voluntary role required to support the community and event fundraising team. The role involves assisting with planning, preparation and delivery of community fundraising activities, campaigns and fundraising events. You will work alongside professional fundraisers helping to raise funds for Teesside Hospice contributing to developing and growing our income to support local people with a terminal illness to live as well as possible, for as long as possible.  Activities and projects you might be involved with will include Christmas Campaigns such as Light up a Life and Rudolph Run, Coordinating Collection Tins and bucket collections and working on events such as Midnight Walk, Balls,and various community events.
 

Key Responsibilities

• Providing unpaid/voluntary help to assist with fundraising activities or events. 
• Research potential support and promote campaigns and events as appropriate
• Assist with promotional opportunities
• Assist with planning and preparation
• Recruit event participants and support with stewardship of people raising funds for Teesside Hospice through our campaigns and events 
• Supporting the work of the Community and Events Fundraisers
• Accepting and following Teesside Hospice policies and procedures
• Being willing to learn and participate in meeting and training programmes.
• Communicating when not able to attend a shift.
• Assisting with event set ups, supervision, and clear downs
• Helping with distributing marketing materials for campaigns and providing information to the public.
• Working with other volunteers as a team.
• To complete documentation relating to the role

Personal qualities: 

• Compassion and empathy
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work as part of team and occasionally independently
• Good attention to detail
• Polite and approachable
• Professional approach

Training Requirements:

As a Community and Events Volunteer you will complete the following training:

• Teesside Hospice mandatory training including cash handling and data protection training
• Volunteer induction training
• Any other training identified as appropriate to the role

Support and Supervision:

Your first line of support will be your manager will be a member of the Community and Events Fundraising team.

You will join a professional fundraising and marketing department and have the opportunity to learn and develop skills utilising the experience and expertise. This role offers a great work experience opportunity for those looking to explore and develop the skills of professional fundraising and communications.

Communication:

The Community and Events Fundraisers will regularly provide you with any information updates, training opportunities and upcoming events appropriate to your role.

You will be provided with a Teesside Hospice volunteer ID badge.

Benefits:

• 20% discount off purchases made in our shops
• The opportunity to gain fantastic skills and experience within a supportive and professional fundraising team.
• Valuable experience in fundraising and event management
• Opportunities for training and personal development
• Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses
• Provided lunch if you volunteer for more than 5 hours per day
• Access to discounts with other retailers and companies
• 10% discount in the Northgate Tea Rooms.

If you're friendly, reliable, and eager to contribute to our cause, we'd love to have you join our team!

Teesside Hospice is committed to eliminating discrimination and values diversity in the workplace.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Placement Volunteers at the British Red Cross are highly valued for the skills and energy they bring. We aim to provide our placement volunteers with an insight into the daily workings of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. They will have access to relevant in-house training and development opportunities during their placement with possible ad hoc opportunities to get involved in other areas of activity.

Our volunteers will help make a great contribution to the work of the British Red Cross and will be responsible for achieving specific agreed objectives within one of our various departments. While we don’t offer voluntary internships, we are happy for you to describe yourself as an intern on your CV, if you feel that would be helpful

The expected start date for the placement will be 1 September 2025 and the placement will run for 12 weeks, up to 3 days each week.

The placement location will be The British Red Cross office 5 Donnybrewer Road, Derry/Londonderry, (BT47 3PD).

About the role:

We are looking for a hardworking and passionate individual to support us with the development and delivery of the HumanKind Programme. This programme provides cross-community humanitarian engagement activities in the Londonderry~Derry and Strabane area we are hoping to work with local people who know the area to help us meet our objectives.

We are funded through Derry City and Strabane District Council who are funded by PEACEPLUS a programme managed by the Special EU programmes body (SEUPB). Our funding includes covering community activity days and community volunteering events, which you will be able to get involved with where you have availability.

We are looking for someone that works well in a team environment as well as handling tasks independently. This role does not require any prior experience or knowledge; you just need to be eager to learn and become part of the team. This is a versatile role that allows for flexibility and adaptability when it comes to working hours and tasks. We can work with you and make sure that you get as much out of the volunteer placement as possible.

We would like our programme to have as much impact as possible and to reach as many people as possible, having your support could play a huge role in helping us achieve this. You can help us in a variety of ways, with the delivery of our activities, with getting the word out to more people about our opportunities or in the development and planning of our programme.

Tasks include:

• In this role we are looking for someone to support the Project Manager on different elements of the programme.
• Direct delivery of activities.
• Supporting the recruitment of participants.
• Planning activities and developing the programme.

The skills you need:

You don’t need any qualifications but being willing to try something new, being flexible and being able to communicate well in-person, over the phone or over email will be important. We are also hoping that you are hard-working and have good time management skills, so that you can prioritise what needs to be done. You will also be working as a team with the Project Manager so we hope that you have teamwork skill but also can work independently on a project or task.

Bursary Scheme

The British Red Cross offers a bursary scheme to those placement volunteers from low-income households. Eligibility will be determined through a separate application process open to all short-listed candidates. All British Red Cross volunteers are entitled to out-of-pocket reasonable expenses. For this scheme we are defining low-income households as: Inside London: Living with family or partner £25,000 or under. Living independently £22.500 or under Outside London: Living with family or partner £18,500 or under. Living independently £16,500 or under

Young People and this role

Our placement volunteer opportunities are open to people at different stages of their career, aged 15 or above. Whether you’re student, a recent graduate or someone with more experience looking for a career change, we would be happy to hear from you. Anyone can volunteer with the Red Cross from the age of 15. An individual risk assessment, parental consent and safeguarding considerations will be required for those aged 15 – 17. The nature of the activities specific to your placement opportunity may mean that you need to be 18 years or older.

Diversity

We welcome applications from people of different backgrounds, experience and circumstances. We seek to ensure that our organisation and our services are relevant and accessible to all, with equality, diversity and fairness at the core of what we do. We invite applications from individuals regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or political belief and are committed to promoting fair participation and equality of opportunity for all of our applicants.

The British Red Cross is committed to being inclusive, with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences – including disabled and ethnic minority candidates. We value fresh perspectives and insights gained by involving and welcoming people from the widest possible diversity of background, culture and experience. This is to contribute to the breadth of experience we need to respond to people in crisis.

An ideal opportunity to make a lasting diference in the lives of vulnerable women those who have experienced some form of abuse, violence or trauma and sexual exploitation. To be part of a team providing practical help and support within a women's only space, offering compassionate care and a listening ear. To engage in and also opportunity to lead creative activities, exploring faith and helping build trustful friendships, providing hospitality and friendly conversations. The ability to identify women that may need extra support or referral to external agencies. 

The ideal person volunteering for this role should have the ability to relate sensitively to vulnerable women, with various needs, able to build rapport and boundaries in relationships. A commitment and compassion for our cause, preferably Christian, have good communication and listening skills. Good time management and able to work well as part of a team. Be friendly, approachable, a positive outlook and enthusiastic, with a willingness to learn. Preferably knowledge, understanding or lived experience of sexual exploitation and or domestic abuse, an awareness of the needs of the vulnerable.

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Getting the right support at the right time can make a world of difference.

In the challenging times following a terminal diagnosis or the death of a loved one, the Hospice has a range of support available. The Man Shed provides an alternative to formal support, enabling ‘Shedders’ to spend time with others in similar situations while engaging in a purposeful activity, learning new skills and enjoying friendship and support along the way. The primary aim of the Man Shed is to be a place to talk with others about anything and everything. Volunteers also help ‘Shedders’ to plan and safely work on their DIY projects, and make sure sessions run smoothly. 

We’re looking for Man Shed Session Leader Volunteers for all sessions but especially Mondays and Thursdays. This is a weekly commitment of 6 hours per week, you will commit to 2 sessions on 1 day per week. Sessions take place from 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm, with some time required to set up and leave the workshop tidy afterwards.

You’ll enjoy helping and teaching other users, be comfortable supervising the safe use of equipment, and offer a listening ear to the attendees.

Full training and support will be provided. You must be able to attend equipment training day.

If you’re motivated by the idea of joining a community where your time will make a difference to those who have experienced bereavement, we’d like to hear from you!

Lead Volunteer

Mind Retail

About the role

Without the help and support we receive from our Lead Volunteers and volunteer teams we wouldn’t be successful at what we do. Our Lead Volunteers play a key role by supporting the shop management team with the day to day running and management of our shops - helping us to raise crucial funds from the sale of pre-loved, donated stock to fund Mind's vital mental health support services.

Our shops are vibrant hubs in local communities across England and Wales. In our Lead Volunteer role, you’ll play a key part in building this community, helping to create a culture where every person is valued and supported - and where people have fun!

You can gain a wide variety of knowledge, skills and experience by becoming one of our valued Lead Volunteers, including:

· Experience working as part of, and leading, a diverse team

· Shop management, retail management and key holder experience

· Opportunities to improve your management, leadership and interpersonal skills

· Stock organisation, processing, pricing and merchandising skills

· Cash handling skills, including management cash functions

· Understanding of sales information, including takings

· Commercial knowledge and skills

· Understanding of policies and procedures

· Administrative skills

· IT skills

· Additional learning and development opportunities, including your own eLearning account with access to personal and professional development courses

Our Lead Volunteer roles are also flexible, so they're perfect for fitting in around your commitments. We value any time that you can give us, so whether it’s a few hours a week or a few days – we’d love to hear from you!

We need great people like you to help us in the fight for mental health. Will you join us?

Click on the role profile to find out more about our Lead Volunteer role and read on to hear some stories from our existing Lead Volunteers!

About You

• Commitment to our values & behaviours
• Enthusiastic and committed to achieving shop targets
• Flexible and adaptable approach
• Ability to work as a team and on your own initiative
• Able to build good working relationships
• Ability to work within Mind Retail’s policies and procedures
• Willingness to learn
• Good customer service skills
• Good communication skills

About Mind Retail

Mind Retail are a network of almost 200 shops across England and Wales, generating a net income of around £21 million per year. We have ambitious plans to grow over the next few years and we're going to be fighting for mental health in a way we never have before. We won't stop until everyone with a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve.

Safer Recruitment at Mind Retail

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our employees and volunteers and we expect anyone working or volunteering with us to share this commitment. This role may involve the supervision of young volunteers who are under 18. Because of this, the minimum age for this role is 18 and under our Safer Recruitment Policy, you’ll also be required to agree to an enhanced DBS check.

Our Commitment

We embrace the different perspectives that each of us bring. We want our staff and volunteers to be authentic and bring their whole selves to work. We want Mind to be a workplace that truly reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people we support. Where everyone is appreciated – regardless of race, gender, age, religion, identity and experience.

Hear from some of our existing Lead Volunteers…

Stuart, Lead Volunteer at our North Shields Mind Shop

Why did you want to become a Lead Volunteer?

I chose to volunteer at Mind, specifically because of the cause – I support the charity in what they want to achieve. Mind also supported me through the lockdown period during the pandemic, which I found very isolating.

I’ve volunteered for Mind for 20 years - I started volunteering for Mind in 2005. At the time, I had a full-time job, but I wanted to try volunteering. I’ve volunteered in a number of Mind shops, including Wallsend, Whitley Bay, Gateshead (which was where I became a Lead Volunteer) and finally, North Shields.

I wanted to become a Lead Volunteer to gain more experience, which I can then pass onto others. I now undertake key holder duties in my current shop. It was a little scary to begin with, but there was plenty of support from the wider region and I feel really proud to now be doing the role.

What knowledge and skills have you gained or developed whilst being in the Lead Volunteer role?

I’ve developed my technology skills – I’ve learnt how to use the till, how to use the computer including emails and Microsoft Teams, how to complete eLearning and the new Gift Aid hub. I struggled a bit before with technology, so it’s really helped me to be exposed to it more. I’ve also developed cash handling skills and how to deal with external contractors. My confidence has really grown and I’m also now able to cover local stores too!

What do you enjoy most about being a Lead Volunteer?

I really enjoy giving amazing customer service and working with the team of staff and volunteers – we have lots of fun whilst we work! The shop has a great atmosphere. My Shop Manager has said she couldn’t do without me! I would really recommend for anyone to come and volunteer with Mind – it’s a great way to meet new people.

Lead Volunteer at our Turnham Green Mind Shop

Why did you want to become a Lead Volunteer?

I wanted to become a Lead Volunteer because I wanted to take on more responsibilities and keep myself as productive as possible. By taking on more responsibilities, I’m able to support the wider team with certain activities within the shop. It’s also helped me become less focused on my myself and my own problems. I suffer from low self-esteem and felt that by becoming a Lead Volunteer, it would help strengthen my self-worth.

What knowledge and skills have you gained or developed whilst being in the Lead Volunteer role?

As I have never worked in retail, becoming a Lead Volunteer has given me more insight into how the retail industry and how Mind Retail operates day-to-day. I have become more patient and not as isolated as before. My communication skills have improved too.

What do you enjoy most about being a Lead Volunteer?

Certain customers are confiding in me about their mental health. I find it great to be able to assist and provide some support. We all just need an ear to listen…

It’s also great to be able to make decisions too. The team I work with at the shop are very supportive and understanding – they look after me and I feel like a belong to a small family. The team really understand that our shops are not just shops! They’re a place where everyone, including those with mental health problems, can feel safe and listened to.

Assist with the upkeep of ground support equipment and aviation artifacts.

Key Tasks:

• Clean, restore, and preserve historical support equipment.

• Carry out basic repairs and painting as needed.

• Help maintain safety standards and logs.

Skills Required:

• Hands-on DIY or mechanical skills.

• Comfortable using tools and handling equipment.

• Attention to detail and care with heritage items.

• Some basic knowledge of ground support equipment is desirable.

Ideal For:

· Practical people who like working with tools.

· Those with DIY, mechanical, or restoration skills (or wanting to learn).

· Retirees, veterans, tinkerers, or anyone who enjoys hands-on volunteering.

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Lead Volunteer

Mind Retail

About the role

Without the help and support we receive from our Lead Volunteers and volunteer teams we wouldn’t be successful at what we do. Our Lead Volunteers play a key role by supporting the shop management team with the day to day running and management of our shops - helping us to raise crucial funds from the sale of pre-loved, donated stock to fund Mind's vital mental health support services.

Our shops are vibrant hubs in local communities across England and Wales. In our Lead Volunteer role, you’ll play a key part in building this community, helping to create a culture where every person is valued and supported - and where people have fun!

You can gain a wide variety of knowledge, skills and experience by becoming one of our valued Lead Volunteers, including:

· Experience working as part of, and leading, a diverse team

· Shop management, retail management and key holder experience

· Opportunities to improve your management, leadership and interpersonal skills

· Stock organisation, processing, pricing and merchandising skills

· Cash handling skills, including management cash functions

· Understanding of sales information, including takings

· Commercial knowledge and skills

· Understanding of policies and procedures

· Administrative skills

· IT skills

· Additional learning and development opportunities, including your own eLearning account with access to personal and professional development courses

Our Lead Volunteer roles are also flexible, so they're perfect for fitting in around your commitments. We value any time that you can give us, so whether it’s a few hours a week or a few days – we’d love to hear from you!

We need great people like you to help us in the fight for mental health. Will you join us?

Click on the role profile to find out more about our Lead Volunteer role and read on to hear some stories from our existing Lead Volunteers!

About You

• Commitment to our values & behaviours
• Enthusiastic and committed to achieving shop targets
• Flexible and adaptable approach
• Ability to work as a team and on your own initiative
• Able to build good working relationships
• Ability to work within Mind Retail’s policies and procedures
• Willingness to learn
• Good customer service skills
• Good communication skills

About Mind Retail

Mind Retail are a network of almost 200 shops across England and Wales, generating a net income of around £21 million per year. We have ambitious plans to grow over the next few years and we're going to be fighting for mental health in a way we never have before. We won't stop until everyone with a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve.

Safer Recruitment at Mind Retail

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our employees and volunteers and we expect anyone working or volunteering with us to share this commitment. This role may involve the supervision of young volunteers who are under 18. Because of this, the minimum age for this role is 18 and under our Safer Recruitment Policy, you’ll also be required to agree to an enhanced DBS check.

Our Commitment

We embrace the different perspectives that each of us bring. We want our staff and volunteers to be authentic and bring their whole selves to work. We want Mind to be a workplace that truly reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people we support. Where everyone is appreciated – regardless of race, gender, age, religion, identity and experience.

Hear from some of our existing Lead Volunteers…

Stuart, Lead Volunteer at our North Shields Mind Shop

Why did you want to become a Lead Volunteer?

I chose to volunteer at Mind, specifically because of the cause – I support the charity in what they want to achieve. Mind also supported me through the lockdown period during the pandemic, which I found very isolating.

I’ve volunteered for Mind for 20 years - I started volunteering for Mind in 2005. At the time, I had a full-time job, but I wanted to try volunteering. I’ve volunteered in a number of Mind shops, including Wallsend, Whitley Bay, Gateshead (which was where I became a Lead Volunteer) and finally, North Shields.

I wanted to become a Lead Volunteer to gain more experience, which I can then pass onto others. I now undertake key holder duties in my current shop. It was a little scary to begin with, but there was plenty of support from the wider region and I feel really proud to now be doing the role.

What knowledge and skills have you gained or developed whilst being in the Lead Volunteer role?

I’ve developed my technology skills – I’ve learnt how to use the till, how to use the computer including emails and Microsoft Teams, how to complete eLearning and the new Gift Aid hub. I struggled a bit before with technology, so it’s really helped me to be exposed to it more. I’ve also developed cash handling skills and how to deal with external contractors. My confidence has really grown and I’m also now able to cover local stores too!

What do you enjoy most about being a Lead Volunteer?

I really enjoy giving amazing customer service and working with the team of staff and volunteers – we have lots of fun whilst we work! The shop has a great atmosphere. My Shop Manager has said she couldn’t do without me! I would really recommend for anyone to come and volunteer with Mind – it’s a great way to meet new people.

Lead Volunteer at our Turnham Green Mind Shop

Why did you want to become a Lead Volunteer?

I wanted to become a Lead Volunteer because I wanted to take on more responsibilities and keep myself as productive as possible. By taking on more responsibilities, I’m able to support the wider team with certain activities within the shop. It’s also helped me become less focused on my myself and my own problems. I suffer from low self-esteem and felt that by becoming a Lead Volunteer, it would help strengthen my self-worth.

What knowledge and skills have you gained or developed whilst being in the Lead Volunteer role?

As I have never worked in retail, becoming a Lead Volunteer has given me more insight into how the retail industry and how Mind Retail operates day-to-day. I have become more patient and not as isolated as before. My communication skills have improved too.

What do you enjoy most about being a Lead Volunteer?

Certain customers are confiding in me about their mental health. I find it great to be able to assist and provide some support. We all just need an ear to listen…

It’s also great to be able to make decisions too. The team I work with at the shop are very supportive and understanding – they look after me and I feel like a belong to a small family. The team really understand that our shops are not just shops! They’re a place where everyone, including those with mental health problems, can feel safe and listened to.

Are you a dog lover? Do you have the time to help raise a life-changing puppy? Would you like to make a difference to someone's life? If you've answered yes to these questions, then this role could be perfect for you! 

As a Puppy Raiser, you'll provide a 6-8 week-old puppy with the vital foundation for its future role as a guide dog. You'll be looking after a puppy for 12-16 months and will guide him or her through training, socialisation, the introduction of new environments and experiences while providing a loving home.

There might be the odd chewed slipper along the way, but nothing beats the rewarding feeling of loving and raising a puppy who will go on to make an enormous difference to someone living with sight loss.

What you'll be doing:

• Engaging with our world-class training programme to prepare your puppy for the next stages of becoming a guide dog.
• Providing care and support for your puppy at home e.g., loving, grooming and feeding him or her. 
• Socialising your puppy and introducing him or her to a variety of environments to increase confidence – this can be as simple as taking your puppy with you to the shops, office or park as you go about your everyday life.
• Teaching your puppy to be comfortable alone - gradually building up from a few minutes to a maximum of four hours.
• Taking your puppy to monthly puppy classes, and interacting with other puppy raisers in your community whilst refreshing your training and sharing tips.
• Meeting with your volunteer manager as frequently as needed to discuss any changes or issues with your puppy.
• Completing short questionnaires about your puppy’s development.

You'll ideally have:

• A loving home with enough time to invest in raising a puppy and attending to their needs (e.g. toilet training). If you work from home or have hobbies, you'll need to be available to give the puppy regular attention alongside these.
• Someone at home who is physically able to handle large breed dogs (around 25-40kg).
• Access to a car, so that you can get your puppy used to travelling.
• The agreement of your landlord to have a dog in the property if you rent your home. 
• A safe secure area outside for your puppy to go to the toilet.

What you'll get:

• The satisfaction of knowing you're supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
• The rewarding feeling of watching a mischievous puppy learn new training techniques to help them develop into a guide dog.
• The opportunity to participate in our bespoke world-class training programme – this can help you train your own dogs or advance a future career in dog handling.
• The opportunity to have a loveable, canine companion, proven to reduce feelings of stress and improve fitness – you’ll be out walking rain or shine!
• The chance to be part of the inspirational Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people and interacting with a community of puppy raisers in your area.
• A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.

s a volunteer you'll have access to our world-class training programme, to implement with your puppy in training, a great bonus for any dog owner! This is delivered in an interactive and engaging manner, using a mixture of different learning techniques virtually e.g., videos, documents and e-learning modules. Examples of the modules you'll have access to include:

• Food manners
• Greeting new visitors
• Being home alone
• Settling in new environments

You'll receive plenty of support from your volunteer manager who will help you work through these training modules with your puppy. We also offer puppy classes for puppy raisers in the local area to get together, share stories and provide refreshers on training techniques. 

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, food costs for the puppy and other materials needed for the puppy’s training. We will also pay an optional allowance of up to £100 a year to offset additional costs, and we have working agreements with certain bus and train operating companies, letting you take your puppy on short training journeys free of charge.

Minimum age of applicant: 18.

Why we want you

People consistently tell us that meeting others living with Parkinson's is the most important support they want locally. Volunteers run Parkinson's Cafes to provide an informal way of doing just that for a couple of hours each week.

As a Cafe Volunteer, you'll support the Cafe Coordinator to help the monthly cafe run smoothly.

What you will be doing

• Meet and greet attendees, keeping an up to date list of names
• With other volunteers, think of creative ways to add interest and value to the café sessions, such as arranging visits from relevant local health professionals
• Arrive early, helping to get the venue ready, and packing down as needed once people have left
• Help to serve refreshments, or show attendees where they can purchase theirs

The skills you need

• Warm and friendly; you'll be a good communicator, open to working and interacting with a range of people
• Patient and empathetic, in order to deal with sensitive issues and topics
• Motivated and reliable in order to ensure the coffee sessions run smoothly

What's in it for you

• You'll meet new people, forging friendships and connections in your area
• You'll be supporting your community, knowing that thanks to you people affected by Parkinson's have vital support
• We'll support you to learn more about Parkinson's, and you'll be able to develop your organisational and communication skills