Live volunteer roles

We are looking for a passionate individual with skills and expertise in Finance/Treasury.

We will welcome applications from anyone who is keen to transform lives and join us on this exciting journey with us. You don’t need prior experience of sitting on a Board, a dance background or specific qualifications to become a Trustee. What matters most is your passion for supporting people with learning disabilities, your commitment to building a more equitable society and your willingness to contribute to our work, our vision and our future success.

Trustees play a crucial role in shaping what we do, helping us stay clear on our purpose and offering ideas that guide our organisation as we grow. We’re looking for Trustees who can bring fresh perspectives and valuable insights from their lived and professional experiences. We want our Board to reflect the diversity of our work, our participants, and our supporters.

We are based in Lancashire, with national and international reach, and we welcome applications for remote Trustees. We currently have Trustees based in Portugal and the Netherlands.

The role of Trustee is a volunteer role and is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although reasonable expenses for travel may be claimed.

The role requires attendance & contribution at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and four Board meetings per year (plus any required preparation and pre-reading). Quarterly Board Meetings take place mostly online and periodically in person at a North West location.

There will also be potential additional engagement in strategy work and sub working groups throughout the year and occasional representation of the charity at various events with key stakeholders.

Trustee at The Abbeyfield Norwich Society

Do you have a passion for supporting older people? Do you want to improve the lives of people wishing to live together for companionship and support in an independent living arrangement? Have you worked with vulnerable older people and wish to uphold and improve the governance as a trustee? If you do, then The Abbeyfield Norwich Society invites you to apply for the Role of Trustee of the Board.

Located in the beautiful city of Norwich, the only English city that is in a National Park, part of the Norfolk Broads, with the river Wensum winding through the heart of the city, Abbeyfield House is a stunning Victorian property nestled within the magnificent grounds of Norwich Cathedral.

We have been providing sheltered housing in our Grade II listed building since 1973 and have nine good sized rooms each with their own en-suite or designated private bathroom. Our dedicated, caring and professional team of staff make the home friendly and welcoming.

The Abbeyfield Norwich Society is looking to expand its board of trustees, with particular interest in applicants who have knowledge, expertise and a general background in Adult Social Care, supported living and working with older people. Further skills such as a working knowledge of how local authorities, operate and impact on the lives of older people, or legal, financial knowledge.

The main duty for this role is to attend 6, in person board meetings. These may require reading and research prior to the meeting itself, which will be provided for you.

The successful candidate would have an understanding of Abbeyfield England’s ethos, culture, aims and ambitions for older people. As well as an insight into Abbeyfield England, we would expect the successful applicant to have a proven background in a management or senior management setting.

If you believe you have the skills and qualities outlined, we would like to here from you and invite you to complete an application form and send in to -

The Abbeyfield Society Norwich NR1 4EH

Changing Lives, One Step at a Time ✨

Julian House is a charity committed to supporting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society. Through a range of life-changing projects, we help thousands of people each year—providing pathways out of homelessness, offering refuge from domestic abuse, and supporting individuals into employment and independent living.

Our mission is simple: to transform lives by delivering high-quality housing and tailored support services, empowering people to build brighter, more stable futures.

Role: Board Member (Trustee)    

Role type: Trustee - Volunteer

Location: Bath 

The Role:

We're looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to join our Board of Trustees!

As a trustee, you'll play a key role in shaping our strategy, providing strong governance, and ensuring we stay true to our mission. You'll help guide our long-term vision, support leadership, and ensure our resources are used effectively to maximise impact. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference and help us adapt, grow, and create lasting change.

Apply now by submitting your application, including your CV and a supporting statement.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Fulfil the legal duties of the trustee role. 
• Define the strategic direction and agree on business and financial plans.
• Oversee risk management at Julian House, ensuring potential risks are identified, assessed and effectively mitigated. 
• Shape and champion the culture of Julian House, ensuring that all decisions and behaviours align with our core values and that these values are deeply embedded throughout the charity.
• Monitor and evaluate performance, ensuring that all actions and resources are effectively directed toward achieving Julian House’s charitable objectives.

Commitment

Trustees serve an initial three-year term (extendable up to nine years) and attend four in-person board meetings annually in Bath or Bristol. Meetings start at 4 PM and last around four hours. Trustees also join at least one committee or the subsidiary board, with four online meetings per year (5:30 PM start, 2.5 hours). Additionally, there is one full strategy day each year.

What we are looking for:

We are seeking a dedicated individual with exceptional communication skills to champion our cause. The ideal candidate will possess strong listening abilities, be receptive to feedback, and appreciate diverse perspectives.

Creativity is essential—you should think innovatively, bring fresh ideas, and be willing to challenge the status quo. If you are a natural influencer with a passion for making a meaningful impact, we would love to hear from you.

In addition, we are looking for individuals who can bring at least one of the following specialisms to the board:

• Deep understanding of charity fundraising, most likely from having held senior leadership fundraising positions in charities. 
• Deep understanding of charity retail, most likely from having held senior leadership retail positions in charities. 
• Strong networks and relationships with donors, sponsors, and partners, with the potential to leverage connections to benefit Julian House. 
• Direct lived experience of the types of services that Julian House provides. 

Please note, that board experience is not a requirement, the selected candidate will be assigned a ‘buddy’ on the Board and will be fully inducted into the trustee role. 

Trustee appointments are subject to eligibility and vetting checks, if you would like further information on this please get in touch.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about this role, please get in touch with the recruitment team at Julian House. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Please note: We reserve the right to close our vacancies once the perfect candidate has been found. We recommend submitting your application as soon as possible so that you don’t miss out!

The River Waveney Trust are seeking new trustees. We are a charity founded in 2012 with a mission to ‘protect, enhance and promote the health of the River Waveney for nature and people’. 

If you have a passion for the river, we'd love to hear from you.  We are seeking those with experience in business, finance, HR, H&S, angling, ecology and farming. We’d also like to see younger people on the board. Living or working within the river’s catchment is preferred but not essential. 

We meet 6 times a year for full meetings and in-between times we may meet for sub-committee meetings. Most meetings are in-person, with some held online. 

Help us to make a difference tackling loneliness in Oxfordshire.

We are a pioneering charity who have been changing lives for more than 40 years.

If you have experience in fundraising and would like to help us to develop our income generating approach, we would love to hear from you. Your expertise in fundraising will be instrumental in ensuring the financial sustainability and growth of our organisation.

Job description available on the Archway Foundation website (details attached).

If you'd like to discuss the role with the CEO, please call our office to arrange a call or email (details attached).

We actively encourage applications from individuals belonging to underrepresented groups.

Title: Dementia Support Volunteer

Hours:  Tuesday mornings 10am – 12.30 & Tuesday afternoons 12.30 – 3pm (Mytchett) also Thursday mornings 10am – 12.30 & Tuesday afternoons 12.30 – 3pm (Japonica Court, Ash)

Supported by: Dementia Outreach Worker / Charlotte Lawrence (Manager) and Beverley Caldwell (Coordinator) at both locations.

Tuesdays:  The Mytchett Centre, 140 Mytchett Road, Camberley, GU16 6AA (Ash Vale / Aldershot / Farnborough Area)

Thursdays:  Age UK Surrey office, Japonica Court, Shawfield Road, Ash, GU12 6QX

Main Duties:

Morning - Assisting Dementia Outreach Worker to facilitate a Memory Lane session for people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (sessions to help maintain memory and mental functioning), this could involve helping with a range of activities such as art, music and reminiscence. Making tea & coffee. 

Afternoon – Assisting Dementia Outreach Worker to facilitate group activity attended by people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and their carers – activities could range from quizzes to bingo to arts and crafts. Making tea & coffee. 

Training would be ‘on the job’ learning and specialist Dementia training if necessary; online DBS registration with Age UK Surrey will be provided at no cost. You can choose either location to volunteer.

Personal Qualities:

Patience with older people

Good communication skills

Empathy with older people

Compassionate towards others

Are Reliable and Adaptable

Skills Desirable:

Organised

Resourceful / Creative

Some experience with dementia or older people would be desirable but not essential.

Transport and Expenses

Unless in walking distance then your own transport will be needed for The Mytchett Centre or Japonica Court. Transport costs reimbursed (keep receipts / record mileage).

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and low numeracy amongst people across the UK?

Shannon Trust’s vision is of a future where everyone can experience the positive impact of learning. We recently developed an online version of our Turning Pages reading programme, and we are currently in the process of doing the same with our Count Me In numeracy programme. As a community admin support volunteer, your role will help support the day to day running and ongoing development of both these platforms, ensuring that we are effective in responding to the needs of our users.

This is a new role to Shannon Trust and we are open to developing the role with the volunteer.

‍We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. 

‍Closing date for applications 26 May 2025. In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare.

Interview date: 2 June 2025

Shannon Trust fulfils an unmet need around adult learning, supporting people who’ve fallen through the cracks in formal education.

We know a lot of people have had negative learning experiences in the past, so our programme is designed to be different, with no exams and no classrooms. Our unique, evidence-based Turning Pages reading manuals and Count Me In numeracy manuals are used by thousands of learners in prisons and the community to improve reading and numeracy skills. 

Prison volunteers live near to their local prison so that they can visit about once a month during the working week to nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by offering advice, guidance, training and support to prison staff and prisoner mentors who help other prisoners to improve their skills 1 to 1.

We are looking for volunteers who are able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and able to deliver engaging training to groups of people in prisons. Volunteers do not need to be teachers or qualified traininers, full training will be given. Due to the nature of the role, prison security vetting will be required.

We provide training for the role via e-learning and 4 training sessions which are a mix of live, online and group training.

Volunteer to make a difference with VoiceAbility  

VoiceAbility supports people to have their say in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing.   

Could you give a few hours a week to help people speak up and be heard? We welcome applications from people who have lived experience and from anyone looking to make a positive difference.

We're recruiting for the following voluntary positions in Bradford:

• Support Session Volunteers

How you can help  

Support Session Volunteer 

Could you help someone file a complaint about their housing or GP? Could you help someone find local services? Could you help someone understand the information they have been given about their care and support? 

You could help improve the quality of someone’s life. 

This role is ideal for social work students, an interest in the care sector or retired professionals. 

Why volunteer?  

Volunteering with VoiceAbility is ideal for people who have or want experience in human rights, health, care and wellbeing - but we care more about your values and empathy than your level of experience.  

Accountant Ben’s priorities changed after a serious illness. “I wanted to give something back. It’s really rewarding as you get to use your knowledge and skills for a really good purpose.”   

You’ll develop skills in communication and confidentiality, add experience and knowledge to your CV, and know you’re making a genuine difference to people’s lives.  

As a volunteer you’ll receive full training, support from the volunteer team and your local advocates, and paid expenses.  

To find out more click “apply now”. 

Shannon Trust fulfils an unmet need around adult learning, supporting people who’ve fallen through the cracks in formal education.

We know a lot of people have had negative learning experiences in the past, so our programme is designed to be different, with no exams and no classrooms. Our unique, evidence-based Turning Pages reading manuals are used by thousands of learners in prisons and the community to improve reading skills. 

Prison volunteers live near to their local prison so that they can visit about once a month during the working week to nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by offering advice, guidance, training and support to prison staff and prisoner mentors who help other prisoners to improve their skills 1 to 1.

We are looking for volunteers who are able to work alone, able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and able to deliver engaging training to groups of people in prisons.  Due to the nature of the role, prison security vetting will be required.

We provide training for the role via e-learning and 4 training sessions which are a mix of live, online and group training.

Please note: this role covers areas in Worcestershire and Herefordshire only.

A Community Advocacy Volunteer can support people in Herefordshire  who are vulnerable in a variety of ways. Community Volunteer Advocates help them to make a complaint about a service or situation they are unhappy with, such as a housing or a benefits issue. This service helps people live independently by helping them deal with issues with utility providers or setting up a bank account or assisting them to access services that support with financial matters. 

We are looking for people who are or have:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Empathetic
• You will have, or be willing to learn, basic computer literacy skills in order to log your contact / work on our database system.
• Comfortable completing forms and applications
• Organised 

Benefits of volunteering with the Advocacy Services

• Be part of a growing charity with ever expanding exciting new projects!
• You are provided with FREE training
• Reimbursed for public transport fair and/ or partial mileage costs
• Get experience in the field of mental health
• References are available from us on request
• Fulfilment in helping your local community
• Meet new and likeminded people - we hold regular volunteer catch ups to have your say and meet other volunteers
• Access to Employee Assistance programme benefits

Overview of Onside

ONSIDE is an independent charity promoting the rights and interests of people facing disadvantage. We believe that everyone is entitled to fair, equal treatment and opportunity. Our skilled staff and volunteers make a real difference to the lives of over 11,000 people a year across Worcestershire and Herefordshire. 

Shannon Trust fulfils an unmet need around adult learning, supporting people who’ve fallen through the cracks in formal education.

We know a lot of people have had negative learning experiences in the past, so our programme is designed to be different, with no exams and no classrooms. Our unique, evidence-based Turning Pages reading manuals and Count Me In numeracy manuals are used by thousands of learners in prisons and the community to improve reading and numeracy skills. 

Prison volunteers live near to their local prison so that they can visit about once a month during the working week to nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by offering advice, guidance, training and support to prison staff and prisoner mentors who help other prisoners to improve their skills 1 to 1.

We are looking for volunteers who are able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and able to deliver engaging training to groups of people in prisons. Volunteers do not need to be teachers or qualified traininers, full training will be given. Due to the nature of the role, prison security vetting will be required.

We provide training for the role via e-learning and 4 training sessions which are a mix of live, online and group training.

Founded in 1997, the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants provides a place for refugees, migrants, and people seeking asylum to rebuild their life with support and community. From classes to casework to financial assistance, the Centre has a wide offering available for our community of over 200 people. Our approach is compassionate and human and the support we offer is long term - on average people stay with us around four years.

The current Board brings a wide range of charity and public body experience including strategy and fundraising and we are looking for skills to both enhance and complement these strengths.

The Centre has a dedicated and talented staff team led by our CEO, Andy Ruiz Palma, who joined in 2000 as an English teacher. In addition to this staff resource we have around 40 volunteers who provide direct support through activities. We also have in place accountancy support to the executive and a dedicated fundraising team.

We are looking for people who can demonstrate a strong empathy with our client group and who understand how to work with organisations rooted in a local community. You will bring excellent people and communication skills and demonstrate good team-working.

You will demonstrate this through your experience working with marginalised communities (either in a frontline operational role, a policymaking role, or on the Board of another organisation) or personal lived experience as a member of a marginalised community.

We are open to applications from people looking for their first Trustee role or who may not have considered being a Trustee before and will provide mentoring to help trustees find their feet.

We are looking to recruit 2- 3 new trustees and have a strong preference for any of the following or a combination of these skills:

• Finance/Accountancy qualification – we have an excellent Treasurer Trustee and are looking for a deputy
• HR
• Fundraising
• IT/Data management
• Lived Experience as a refugee or migrant

Asylum Welcome is an extraordinary local charity supporting asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants who seek refuge in and around Oxford.

With a strong reputation both locally and nationally, our team of approximately 30 staff and 200 volunteers offer a range of services from food and clothes to advice, visits, legal support, education and assistance. Asylum Welcome aims to transform the lives of those it serves.

We are looking for a new Treasurer to join our Trustee Board and support our ambition. This is a challenging and rewarding role, helping to ensure the organisation continues to fulfil its mission, and remains sustainable.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in strategic financial management and of working for or within a Board. Equally important is a belief in our mission, commitment to our values and a collaborative style, able to draw out the skill and potential within our team.

As an organisation we are committed to reflecting our diverse and vibrant Oxford community, and we particularly welcome people with lived experience of being a refugee or migrant to join our Board to help strengthen our governance and our  approach. Lived experience in this context means that you have come to this country as a refugee or asylum seeker or have lived with or grown up alongside people who did.

Job description

As a Trustee you will:
a) Be an important part of the body that governs the charity and ensures it delivers its mission effectively.
b) Actively participate in meetings, offering guidance and support to ensure that Asylum Welcome delivers the vital work it was set up to do, in the best possible way for clients.
c) Scrutinise Asylum Welcome’s budgets, plans and financial reports, ensuring they meet the organisation’s needs and the relevant regulatory requirements.
d) Ensure Asylum Welcome is complying with its governing documents and relevant laws, as well as updating and reviewing its own policies and procedures.
e) Bring a particular skill, experience or insight that helps develop Asylum Welcome as an organisation.
f) Act with care and skill in Asylum Welcome’s best interests.

As a Trustee you share, with all the Trustees, equal responsibility for the charity. 

Person Specification

Prospective Trustees will:
a) Be committed to the rights and welfare of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants and to Asylum Welcome’s vision, mission and values and determined to use your skills and experience to make a difference for others.
b) Have experience of developing good relationships with people and organisations, stakeholders and supporters.
c) Be able to work in a team, recognising and respecting the difference between the Trustees’ role and that of staff or volunteers.
d) Be able to contribute to and ensure Asylum Welcome’s future plans and strategic development and/or financial stability.

The prospective Treasurer will have:
a) A recognised accounting qualification.
b) Significant experience of financial management, budgeting and reporting.
c) An understanding of the financial, strategic and operational risks and their mitigation in a charity context.
d) Be familiar with charity accounting and statutory reporting requirements.

As Chair of the Finance Committee, the Treasurer leads on all financial matters. The Finance Committee is responsible for making budget recommendations and financial reports for the Board and for agreeing and overseeing financial and related policies. They liaise closely with the Finance Manager to provide quarterly financial reports, the annual budget and annual
statutory accounts to the Board. Input is also required during the annual audit process. 

The Board

Asylum Welcome is governed by a Board of between 5 and 13 (currently 11) Trustees, who are elected at the Annual  General Meeting (AGM) in September. Trustees normally serve for at least 3 years. Additional Trustees may be co-opted between AGMs.

Trustees are not paid but travel expenses may be claimed for attending meetings.

The Board meets (via Zoom and in person) 5 - 6 times a year, usually early evening on a Thursday. Regular dates are agreed a year in advance.

Individual Trustees also join or lead the Board’s Committees. There are currently a Finance Committee (which meets 5 times a year, a week or so ahead of Board meetings) and a People and Governance Committee. We also have occasional task groups for short-term items.