Learning volunteers volunteer roles in sevenoaks, kent

Could you inspire children from across Hestia’s domestic abuse refuges to get active? We are recruiting for a qualified Sport’s coach to support us over the summer holidays! During the school summer holidays, Hestia runs a six-week Summer Play Scheme providing activities and outings for mothers and their children across our refuges. Funded through generous donations from the public, the Summer Play Scheme provides women and children with a safe and supportive space to reconnect by having fun and sharing happy memories together as family.

What you will be doing

• To develop positive relationships with the children and women, maintain professional boundaries and keep accurate records.
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team
• Coordinate a weekly timetable of sports and active games to engage children
• General knowledge about wellbeing and how sport affects physical and mental health
• Support the children to maintain their physical health through exercise
• Support the children to learn/play and work as a team
• Plan activities or sports in collaboration with the children

The skills you need

• Understanding of Domestic abuse and its impact on children and women
• Good interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with people from different backgrounds
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation.
• Calm and patient approach
• A skilled and qualified sports coach/fitness instructor working with children

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

The Crisis London Volunteer Fundraising Group consists of a small team of volunteers raising awareness and money for Crisis' vital services and work towards ending homelessness. The current focus of the group is preparing for and implementing the Walk to End Homelessness fundraising event, recreating an original walk held in London which led to the formation of Crisis in 1967. By joining the group you'll contribute towards inspiring local people to fundraise for Crisis while honing your skills in event management and logistics.

Group meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month in the evening with the option of attending in-person or online via Teams.

How will I be ending homelessness?

Joining a group of dedicated, passionate, empowered volunteer fundraisers to help raise the funds needed for our vital services. You will use your communications, events, and teamwork skills to deliver local fundraising events and collections in aid of Crisis.

The monies raised by your Fundraising Group will help fund services such as one to one support in finding a home or a job, helping people achieve learning goals, or supporting our Christmas events where we offer hot meals, access to essential services, and an introduction to our year-round services to leave homelessness behind for good.   

You will be inspired by our vision to end homelessness, and in turn will inspire others to act. As well as raising vital funds you will be helping us to influence your community and their beliefs, challenging the stigma around homelessness.  We need people who genuinely believe that if society works together, we can end homelessness. 

What will I gain?

• Fundraising in your local community is fun, a good way to meet people and gives a great sense of achievement.  
• You'll have lots of opportunities to learn about the causes and effects of homelessness and how to engage others in the conversation to end homelessness.  
• Fundraising and networking experience for a national organisation.  
• The opportunity to share your existing or develop new skills in a friendly and supportive environment. 
• Support from your Fundraising Group Lead to help you achieve your fundraising goals. 
• Being part of a wide network of staff, volunteers and supporters all working together to end homelessness 
• A reference for volunteering at a national organisation

What will I be doing?

• Attend regular Fundraising Group meetings to work collaboratively with the Fundraising Group lead and other members.  
• Use your skills and knowledge to play an active role in making fundraising events and activities happen.  
• Representing Crisis in your community, using your own networks to raise awareness of what needs to be done to end homelessness. This includes sharing our broader activities such as our campaigns.
• Represent Crisis by attending fundraising and engagement events organised by others. 
• Ensure group activities comply with relevant fundraising regulations and Crisis policies and procedures; including ensuring monies raised are accounted for in line with agreed financial processes.  

Who are we looking for?

• A strong team member, with a proactive positive approach to working as part of a group 
• Willing to actively participate in group meetings, contribute ideas and be active in helping to make fundraising events happen 
• Interest and experience in organising events (desirable) 
• Good communication skills, confident talking to new people and representing Crisis 
• Good organisational skills and reliability 
• Non-judgemental, patient, and friendly 
• An understanding of the importance of adhering to policies and processes. Including confidentiality, data protection principles and maintaining boundaries 
• A commitment to completing any training (including e-learning) required for the role 
• You will need access to a computer and broadband/data to undertake this volunteering role

Additional information

To provide a safe, welcoming environment for everyone we provide volunteers with a code of conduct (how we work together). This will be found within your volunteer policy sign off document. We ask all volunteers to read our policy document and always comply with those policies.

Reasonable out of pocket expenses for lunch and travel (where appropriate) will be reimbursed in line with our expenses policy.

We strive to ensure that our services are welcoming, remain relevant and are fully accessible to everyone that we help and support. We are keen to receive applications from volunteers from diverse and other marginalised communities as this helps us ensure the best experience for those that we are here to help. This includes those with lived experience of homelessness.

Volunteer your time at Hestia to make our gardens a beautiful place for adults and children to enjoy all year through! Are you green fingered and have a passion for gardens and outdoor spaces?

At Hestia we have gardens and outdoor spaces which require your support to bring these back to life by keeping them maintained. We are recruiting for volunteers to motivate and inspire staff and people living in our services to get involved in gardening. Engaging in gardening has shown to have both immediate and long-term effects on mental health. Gardening for several hours has been known to reduce depression, stress and anxiety.

At Hestia we also have a PIPE programme where we encourage service users to work collaboratively and get involved in taking control and making decisions about physical environments across the organisation.

What you will be doing

• Inspire and motivate staff and people in the services to get involved in maintaining and growing the garden
• To provide tips on how to maintain and grow the garden - sowing seeds, planting bulbs, taking cuttings
• Provide basic maintenance such as cutting the grass, emptying bins, managing weed control and leaf raking
• Lead in planting and nurturing new trees, flowers, and various plants
• Provide best practice on how to use the correct gardening tools
• Inspire people in our services and staff to maintain a clean garden
• Advise staff on the costs of plants and garden necessities

The skills you need

• A basic knowledge/ experience of plant care and use of gardening tools7
• Calm and patient approach
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Do you have a coaching qualification, or are you working towards one? Would you like to help managers across our organisation develop their skills and confidence? As a coach, you will support managers to improve their leadership abilities, build confidence, and enhance their effectiveness in their roles. Your coaching will help them tackle challenges such as personal effectiveness, leadership credibility, career development, and conflict resolution. By providing guidance and encouragement, you will play a key role in helping managers grow, develop new skills, and lead their teams more effectively.

What you will be doing

• Deliver coaching sessions for managers at various levels, from team leads to department heads.
• Provide a safe, open, and confidential space for coaching conversations focused on leadership, communication, conflict resolution, managing change, and interpersonal skills.
• Use clear and effective coaching methods and models.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow Hestia’s coaching programme guidelines.
• Define clear roles for both the coach and coachee, ensuring there are no conflicts of interest.

The skills you need

• A recognised coaching qualification (or currently studying towards one), such as ICF or EMCC, or significant coaching experience at a management level.
• Experience in the social care sector (desirable but not essential).
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Willingness to participate in supervision and continuous learning.
• A friendly, approachable, and supportive manner.
• Understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries.

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About the CARAS ESOL Team:

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to adults at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling people to attend college and access other services in the future.

About the Role:

CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our face-to-face adult ESOL classes in Tooting. Volunteers in this role are required to commit to at least one 2-hour session every Wednesday during these times: 

• Mondays ESOL 9:30 to 13:30

• Tuesday 9:30 to 11:30

• Tuesday One-to-one employability and language learning support 15:00 to 17:00 

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities:

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources;

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential: 

• To be 18 years or older; 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• An interest in education and English language teaching; 

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

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• The ability to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of three months; 

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

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

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role. 

 *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK. 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

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

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies; 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

Maker Mindz

Maker Mindz is a nonprofit organization. At our core, our mission is simple yet powerful: to ignite children's natural curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of the world around them. By building this foundation, we help cultivate a lifelong love for learning.

Challenges: 92% of boys and 97% of girls lose interest in STEM if not engaged by the 5th grade.

Only 33% of eight graders are interested in STEM majors.

Only 6% of high school seniors will get a bachelor's degree in a STEM field.

Our approach is centered on hands-on, interactive learning experiences. We design immersive environments and develop engaging educational materials that encourage exploration, experimentation, and critical thinking. We aim to empower children to ask questions, seek answers, and discover the joy of learning on their own terms. Through a combination of innovative learning kits, online & in-person workshops, we strive to create an environment where curiosity thrives, and a lifelong love for learning is born.

We believe in the power of the community to ignite change. As Seth Godin says, "A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate."

We are building a tribe of passionate individuals who share one powerful mission—making STEM education accessible to all. Whether you're an educator, an engineer, a creator, a designer, a parent, a student, or simply someone who believes in the future of science, technology, engineering, and math, you belong here.

Let's communicate, collaborate, and create a brighter future through STEM!

Google Ads Specialist

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

We’re seeking a Google Ads Volunteer to help manage, optimize, and track our Google Ads campaigns (Google Ad Grants). This volunteer will help increase awareness of our programs, drive traffic to our website, and support our fundraising and engagement goals.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Set up and manage Google Ads campaigns.
2. Monitor ad performance and optimize for click-through and conversion rates.
3. Conduct keyword research and write compelling ad copy.
4. Ensure campaigns comply with Google Ad Grants policies.

Qualifications:

1. Experience with Google Ads and Google Ad Grants.
2. Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret campaign performance data.
3. Understanding of nonprofit marketing strategies is a plus.
4. Detail-oriented and self-motivated.
5. Passionate about STEM education and making a positive impact.

Weekly Time Commitment

2-3 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

3-5 months

The Safeguarding Helpline Volunteer will support our award-winning Safeguarding Helpline Team, helping us to offer a high-quality service to people in need of advice and support.

Our helpline takes over 8000 calls a year, with call volume increasing 25% each year. 75% of our calls are from people in crisis and 20% involve children at risk of harm. To help us maintain an efficient service, we need volunteers to help administer our calls, you would not be expected to give expert advice. This role is instrumental in helping us to work in a more efficient way and ensuring an excellent service is given to our customers.

Specific Responsibilities

• Answer incoming calls as a first point of contact.
• Open a referral and complete basic details about the caller, passing call to an appropriate team member.
• Open emails and transfer information to a referral, before passing on to an appropriate team member.
• Answering basic questions when taking a call.
• Assisting safeguarding team with general administration.

Person Specification

We are looking for someone who will not only suit the role, but who also fits our culture. Although this role does not require the volunteer to be a Christian, Thirtyone:eight are a Christian charity. 

Essential Personal Characteristics and Qualities:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Openness
• Collaborative
• Solution-focused
• Learning
• Creative
• Fair
• Committed
• Passionate

Skills, Experience and Motivation:

• IT proficient and confident using different microsoft systems (all necessary training will be given though).
• Thorough approach to work and a good attention to detail.
• Ability to remain motivated during repetitive tasks.
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality.
• Demonstrate an excellent level of customer service, care and empathy.

Please note that this position is not deemed to meet eligibility for an enhanced level DBS check. However, the post-holder will be expected to supply a self-declaration and a Basic Criminal Records Disclosure Certificate prior to commencement of employment as part of our Safer Recruitment Policy.

Play your part in harnessing the value of the UK’s natural environment for everyone 

Recently celebrating its 10 year anniversary, the Ecosystems Knowledge Network (EKN) has gained widespread recognition as a trusted source of insight for all with role in the stewardship of land, water and nature. Through our events, resources, advice and communications, we support a wide range of people, from volunteers in small local environmental initiatives to representatives of big businesses. Our job is to help them harness the value of the environment for everyone’s wellbeing and prosperity. We are a registered charity and a growing social enterprise. 

From architecture to agriculture, ecology to engineering and finance to fisheries, EKN is a diverse network of professionals. We run pioneering events on ‘frontline’ topics not addressed by others, enabling mutual understanding, collaboration, and action between different sectors and interests.  For example, convening events on the role of games and gamification in nature recovery, and running the renowned series of conferences on the rapidly growing topic of nature finance (now into the sixth year).  

We think the natural environment has huge untapped potential to help resolve issues of concern people and businesses in this part of the 21st Century. The current Board is now recruiting up to three new trustees to guide EKN in this endeavour and to deliver to its 4,000+ members and stakeholders. The role includes attending quarterly Trustee meetings (normally online) and we are seeking candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas: 

1. Skills and knowledge development 

1. Treasurer - financial and commercial oversight 

1. Rural land and communities 

We are looking for people who are committed to using their expertise and professional networks in support of our charitable objectives and social enterprise goals. 

In accordance with Charity Commission rules, Trustees are not entitled to receive remuneration. All reasonable expenses incurred in relation to the role will be reimbursed. The positions are open to anyone who resides in the UK and has the right to work in the UK. 

New members of the Board will be asked to complete a declaration of their business interests. They will need to fulfil their role in accordance with the rules and guidance set of charity trustees in the UK. It is important that they are able to safeguard the independence and impartiality of EKN. 

At EKN we know that diversity of thoughts, perspectives and lived experience fosters innovation. We are committed to fairness, equal opportunity and inclusion and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, abilities and identities across all UK nations

Role: Welcome volunteer

Team: Tooting Hub – CARAS ESOL (Youth/Adult)

Supervised by: Team Project Coordinator

Location: Tooting Hub site

Activity times: Monday or Wednesday

Time commitment: 2 hour shifts on a rolling basis.

We ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 4 months

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.

Our values are at the centre of all our work:

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests.

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society.

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes.

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do.

About the Role:

We are currently recruiting a team of volunteers to join our new Welcome team at Tooting Hub. This is a new role. Welcome volunteers will provide a friendly face to existing community members attending our regular projects. They will also be the important ‘face of CARAS and our welcome at the door’ to people attending projects for the first time, to visitors and to people dropping in unannounced to enquire about CARAS’s service. Volunteers will meet and greet, and ensure all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting. There will be an administrative element to the role (updating registers and emailing enquiries to CARAS staff, for example).

Who will you be?

We work hard to ensure our services feel welcoming and inclusive. It is important that this new team is representative of our diverse local and internal CARAS community. Whether you are new to volunteering with CARAS or are a regular volunteer looking to vary your role or a community member wanting to develop some leadership skills or volunteering experience, this might be the exact project for you.

Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities: 

· Signing up to a shift/s on the Tooting HUB welcome team rota

· Able to be at Tooting Hub in person to complete agreed shifts

· Welcoming staff, volunteers, existing and potential new community members and visitors

· Ensuring all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting

· Ensuring everyone completes the onsite register on arrival to comply with safeguarding, health and safety and fire evacuation policies

· Taking agreed initial intake information for new / drop in visitors wanting to attend a taster activity

· Conducting induction tours of the building and introductions to facilities, key staff, and partners

Requirements (all experience can be from paid or voluntary roles): 

Essential: 

· A calm, friendly, kind, and patient approach

· Happy and confident to meet new people and put them at their ease

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

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

· Confidence in using one’s own judgement to follow agreed policy

· Good IT admin skills in using Microsoft office, outlook, Google search, online forms etc

· A commitment to confidentiality and data protection

· Punctual and reliable

· To be able to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays for a minimum of four months

Desirable:

· Lived experience of seeking sanctuary and/ or the UK immigration system.

· Personal experience of working with people seeking asylum.

· Proficiency in one or more of the following community languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu, or Vietnamese.

We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process.

Benefits to Volunteering:

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

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team.

· Develop your skills and competencies.

· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.

· Obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months’ regular volunteering

· All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. *

· You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.

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. This role will be co-ordinating our monthly Parkinson's Rochester Cafe and we'd love to hear from you if you can spare a few hours each month. 

What you will be doing:
-Ensure the cafe gathering takes place on the first Friday of the month from 1-3pm, and that those attending are warmly welcomed.
-Work with the chosen venue effectively, which would include reserving a table in the cafe (this has been organised so just needs monitoring) and having a space to layout relevent leaflets to support those with Parkinson's. 
-Provide updates and feedback to relevant Parkinson's UK staff members about how the cafe session are going
-With other volunteers, think of creative ways to add interest and value to the cafe sessions, such as arranging visits from relevant local health professionals
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.
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.

Could you be a star baker, master chef or perhaps you simply enjoy baking or cooking! We are recruiting for a volunteer to join our team supporting individuals to learn new recipes together as a group.

Baking and cooking helps to relax, get creative and indulge in our senses. Often, it can spark nostalgia and helps us to recreate positive experiences or memories. Inspire and motivate people in our services to do something that brings joy, an opportunity to learn new skills whilst connecting with others over sharing baked goods and delicious meals.

What you will be doing

• Research and plan new recipes for cooking/baking sessions in collaboration with the group each week
• Encourage individuals to participate in the sessions and delegate cooking tasks
• Support individuals to shop for ingredients needed for the session
• Support individuals each week in setting up for the sessions and tidying away afterwards
• Encourage individuals to participate in all aspects of the planning and attendance
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Food Safety Certificate/knowledge or willingness to complete relevant training
• Passion and knowledge of healthy eating and cooking
• Ability to engage, encourage and motivate individuals to participate in sessions
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

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. 

Volunteering in the shop

Mary's Living & Giving for Save the Children is unique - a vibrant result of the generous gifts of local individuals and companies being turned around by the skills and passions of volunteer teams, to create a destination retail experience. Selling womenswear, menswear, shoes, and bags to household goods, our shops can be found in the London villages and bring in vital funds for Save the Children.

Our Blackheath 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 we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this post. 

Are you passionate about fitness and the positive impact it can have on others? Do you hold a fitness qualification and interested in volunteering your time to support people in crisis? If so, we have the perfect role for you!

We know that exercise releases happy endorphins that support us to improve our mood. It also helps us to get out in the world, reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation, provides an opportunity to connect with others and build friendships. Volunteering with us at Hestia, will mean you will play a vital role in supporting people’s overall wellbeing!

We are recruiting volunteers to coordinate and facilitate fitness and general wellbeing sessions at our services.

What you will be doing

• Design session plans which will enable group members to increase fitness and their general well-being
• Able to recognise the needs of beginners and mixed age/ability groups
• Ensure that everyone taking part has completed a health and wellbeing form, which includes referring those with existing health issues to their GP
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• A skilled and qualified Fitness Instructor
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Calm and patient approach
• Willing to participate in supervision and to liaise with Hestia staff as required

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Do you enjoy singing and listening to all genres of music? We have an exciting opportunity to facilitate a singing and music group in our domestic abuse refuges over the summer holidays! You will be supporting our women and children to get involved and have some fun! During the school summer holidays, Hestia runs a six-week Summer Play Scheme providing activities and outings for mothers and their children across our refuges. Funded through generous donations from the public, the Summer Play Scheme provides women and children with a safe and supportive space to reconnect by having fun and sharing happy memories together as family.

What you will be doing

• To develop positive relationships with the children and women, maintain professional boundaries and keep accurate records.
• Facilitate a weekly singing and music group
• Provide opportunities for the group to collaborate on agreed themes/ songs for future groups
• Coordinate and plan group sessions
• Inspire and motivate people to attend and get involved in the group
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team
• To use a range of skills and tools to make sessions interesting and fun for a range of ages.

The skills you need

• Understanding of Domestic abuse and its impact on children and women
• Good interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with people from different backgrounds
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality
• Calm and patient approach
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Experience in music in either a professional, educational or personal level

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun