Local development volunteer volunteer roles in leicester, greater london

If you're interested in a career in fundraising with a focus on trust fundraising, this role would provide the perfect foundation, giving you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop key skills.

Citizens Advice Barnet is a local, independently registered charity and member of the Citizens Advice network. We help people find a way forward with their problems by providing expert advice, enabling people to uphold their rights and access the help they need and are entitled to. While our services are available to everyone in our community who needs us, we prioritise those who need us the most, such as people with disabilities, a language barrier or those experiencing poverty.

A significant amount of our funding comes from trusts and foundations. It is only through the grants we receive that we're able to provide free specialist casework that helps the most vulnerable people with the most complex problems.

Duties include:

• Identifying funders we could approach, such as by searching funder databases
• Researching funders to clarify whether or not we are eligible to apply, how much funding we could apply for and which project they’d be most likely to fund
• Recording the above information in a spreadsheet and keeping this record up-to-date
• Updating a master document which collates key information for applications
• Writing applications for small grants with support from the Head of Business Development

About You

No previous experience or knowledge of trust fundraising is required; this role would suit you if you have the following skills and attributes:

• strong research skills
• analytical thinking skills
• high attention to detail
• IT skills, especially MS Word and Excel at a basic level (sort, filter, basic formulas) or willingness and ability to learn
• ability to present complex information in a clear and easily navigable format
• clear and persuasive writing skills

Join the Wheels for All Volunteer Team – Help Us Make Cycling Inclusive for Everyone!  

Do you want to make a difference in your local community? Are you passionate about inclusion, wellbeing, and having fun outdoors? Join Wheels for All, a national charity making cycling accessible for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. 

We believe everyone should experience the joy, freedom, and empowerment of cycling. Our inclusive cycling sessions are only possible thanks to a diverse team of dedicated volunteers—and that’s where you come in! 

 What You’ll Get Involved with: 

• Support people to use adapted cycles during sessions 

• Help with setting up and packing away equipment 

• Provide a friendly, welcoming environment for participants and families 

• Be part of a fun and supportive volunteer team 

Volunteer Benefits 

• Claim reasonable expenses in line with our Volunteer Expense Policy 

• Receive a Wheels for All branded uniform 

• Access volunteer training courses to support your development 

• Be part of an inspiring, positive, and supportive charity culture 

No experience? No problem! 

We provide full training, including disability awareness and safety, and ongoing support from our team and fellow volunteers. 

What are we looking for? 

• An approachable and friendly nature 

• Good interpersonal and communication skills 

• Empathy and an understanding of individual needs 

• Patience and an inclusive approach to engagement 

• Adaptability and flexibility in changing situations 

• A team-oriented attitude 

• Positivity, honesty, and integrity 

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to take initiative 

• Some cycling experience is helpful but not essential 

Why volunteer with us? 

“The best thing about volunteering is seeing the happy faces! The riders come back beaming—it’s amazing to be a part of that joy.” – Dave, Volunteer 

“People that aren’t normally able to get out cycling can come here and join in and enjoy the great outdoors. I really enjoy volunteering with Wheels for All because I can visibly see how the simple act of cycling brings a lot of happiness” - Vince, Volunteer 

You’ll Gain: 

• Confidence and new skills 

• Connections and friendships 

• Improved mental wellbeing 

• A chance to be part of a national movement for inclusive cycling 

• Recognition through social events, newsletters, and volunteer awards 

Join us—and help make cycling accessible for all!

Independent Visitor Role Description
Purpose: To appoint a volunteer to visit, advise, and befriend a young person in the care of the Local Authority, providing contact with someone independent of their professional network.

Accountable to: Independent Visitors/Mentors and Peer Mentoring Coordinator

Main Tasks

• Visit a young person monthly and build a positive relationship as an adult friend.
• Encourage participation in activities for social, emotional, and educational development.
• Provide timely written reports on visits.
• Maintain contact with responsible adults for the young person.
• Ensure the young person’s views are heard.
• Ensure the young person knows their rights and is encouraged to participate in decisions.
• Promote the young person’s unique needs related to their race, culture, language, religion, disability, gender, or sexual orientation, challenging discrimination.
• Abide by the confidentiality policy and report any safeguarding concerns.
• Keep secure records of visits and significant events.
• Safely destroy documents once no longer part of the scheme.

RBKC Values and Behaviour

• Putting Communities First: Inclusive, quality service.
• Respect: Value personal experiences and a fair approach.
• Integrity: Open, honest, and responsible communication.
• Work Together: Collaborate for better community impact.

Personal Attributes, Skills, and Abilities
Attributes:

• Committed - Ideally, relationships should last at least two years.
• Resilient - Building trust takes time and patience.
• Consistent - Develop trust through consistency.

Skills:

• Sensitivity to young people's needs.
• Ability to build positive relationships.
• Initiative and time management.
• Ability to travel.

Equal Opportunities
Independent Visitors/Mentors are recruited from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We actively recruit male and female volunteers from all religious faiths and socio-economic backgrounds. Independent visitors/mentors with disabilities are also welcome to apply.

Volunteers are expected to adhere to RBKC’s policies on diversity, equal opportunities, and anti-discriminatory practice. Training provided includes equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices to ensure that all Independent Visitors/Mentors are knowledgeable and can apply these in their role.

The Independent Visitor/Mentors Role is a valuable one, and if you choose to apply and are accepted onto the scheme, you could be a positive influence in a young person’s life.

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

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

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

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

Skills and experiences we seek

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

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

What happens next?

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

How to apply

Express your interest on email via the apply button. 

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

Our vision for volunteering

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

The difference you will make to cats and people

Unfortunately cats can occasionally stray or get lost, which can be extremely distressing for their owners. Our lost and found volunteers are passionate about reuniting lost cats and bringing families back together. They help cats and their owners by advertising lost cats and providing support, advice and guidance to people searching for their cats.

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

A bit more information about this role and the team

• Going out to scan cats; own transport is needed

• Delivering donated food to stray cats being fed by households, if required

• Providing a quarterly update report to the local volunteer committee

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Responding to enquiries from the public about lost and found cats
• Keeping up to date records of lost and founds cats
• Matching cats that are reported lost with those reported found
• Advertising lost and found cats
• Providing help and information to owners about their lost cats

Time expectation 

Our lost and found volunteers usually spend between 2 to 3 hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

​We hold new volunteer inductions at the start of each term, so apply ASAP to be in time to join our next induction.

Action for Refugees in Lewisham works to relieve poverty and isolation amongst refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants in Lewisham. At the Rainbow Club supplementary school we aim to help children between the ages of 4 and 11 to improve their literacy, numeracy and social skills in a friendly and supportive environment.  We need your skills and enthusiasm to assist the teacher in the delivery of a literacy and numeracy class and work with other volunteers to develop a programme of recreational activities. The Rainbow Club runs on Saturday mornings during term-time.

Your duties will include:

• Arriving punctually for the 9am briefing by the Rainbow Club Headteacher;
• Working in a team with other volunteers and teachers to deliver literacy, numeracy, arts, sport activities – this includes ensuring children remain engaged throughout the lesson and carry out set tasks as instructed by the teacher;
• Working one-to-one with specific children if and when required;
• Filing classroom work and homework in children’s individual files and keeping all materials and resources tidy and properly stored;
• Liaising with parents as and when required for example distributing leaflets and news about future meetings and events and also assisting with parents' day;
• Following the teacher’s policies on discipline and classroom management;
• Supervising the children during break times;
• Supporting the children during class trips;
• Ensuring classrooms are clean and tidy at the end of each day – this may include being part of a regular team rota;
• Providing feedback and comments to the Rainbow Club Headteacher when required.

Our amazing team of vibrant & diverse volunteers helps us run over 600 shops. Our stores sell lots of great donated & new goods to help raise vital funds to make a real difference to disadvantaged children, young people and families across the UK.

Our retail stores are the face of our charity on the high-street and in local communities. We have loads of amazing stock donated to us every week, and this all needs to be sorted, tagged and put on the shop-floor for sale!

Making sure our shops look fantastic is another task you can get involved with. You may also be required to help out on the till too, but we will show you how that works during your time volunteering with us. We value the contribution of everyone who supports Barnardo’s.

You will be a friendly face of Barnardo’s by volunteering in one of our shops. It would be great if you could volunteer one shift a week (or even more if you want) but we’re always happy to be flexible to work around your availability.

Why we want you

Our amazing team of vibrant & diverse volunteers helps us run over 700 stores. Our stores sell lots of great donated and new goods to help raise vital funds to make a real difference to disadvantaged children, young people and families across the UK.

What you will be doing

• Work on the till processing sales and returns
• Prepare stock, including sorting, steaming and pricing
• Create stylish window displays
• Replenish stock on the shop floor
• Stock-take and other administrative tasks

The skills you need

• Friendly and helpful
• Happy to be part of an amazing team of staff and volunteers
• Enthusiastic about the work of Barnardo’s
• Flexible and willing to do a variety of the shop tasks

What's in it for you

• Have fun and meet new people
• Develop skills for your CV including confidence, teamwork and problem solving
• Make a difference to the lives of children, young people and their families
• Learning and development opportunities through our Volunteer Academy which includes access to Level 2 Qualifications and other accredited courses
• Full training and experience of working in retail as a volunteer

Location:

2 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, Greater London, N8 9DE, United Kingdom

Minimum age: 14 years

Please note: we only accept applications from those residing in the UK

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. 

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

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

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

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

Skills and experiences we seek

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

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

What happens next?

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

How to apply

Express your interest on email via the apply button. 

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

Purpose

Our Associate Counsellors provide emotional support to adult members of families where there is a child or children with complex medical needs.

Tasks

Families who have been assessed by an experienced therapist from the project will be referred to the Associate Counsellor who will:

• Make contact with families, organising timing and frequency of sessions
• Provide counselling/therapy sessions to a member of each family
• Undertake a minimum caseload of 2 clients
• Attend monthly, mandatory, group supervision (2 hours)
• Undertake The Maypole Project initial training (20 hours)
• Work to The Maypole Project model of support (including flexibility in location of sessions)
• Complete client notes and The Maypole Project paperwork as required
• Liaise with supervisor or the Lead Therapist in case of questions/difficulties
• Follow The Maypole Project policies and guidelines at all times whilst volunteering
• Attend service-wide activities including family activity events and fundraising events

For students: Please check whether your course placement requirements would enable you to provide counselling at external venues (clients home, hospitals, hospices etc). This would occur only after a settling in period and with additional training and support provided by The Maypole Project.

Support

Whilst volunteering you will have support from our Family Support Co-ordinator for day to day issues and our Lead Therapist or another qualified counsellor for monthly clinical supervision.

Location

At our offices in Orpington and Greenwich or, after a settling-in period, in local schools, hospitals, hospices and client’s homes.

Time Commitment

Volunteers days and hours are negotiable but, due to the long-term promise of support to our clients, a most valued aspect of our service, we do ask volunteer applicants to be available to volunteer for a minimum of 6 months from acceptance onto the volunteering programme at The Maypole Project. We would ideally like volunteers to aspire to offering 2 years commitment to the role.

Note

STUDENT PLACEMENTS ONLY: We will review your work with the project throughout your placement to your graduation. If appropriate after either 2 years experience volunteering with us in therapies OR 3 months minimum experience post qualification with The Maypole Project you will be considered for a sessionally paid role with the organization.

Person Specification

Education & qualifications

• Good general education (essential)
• Placement: Final year student studying on a counselling diploma (level 4) or a degree/masters in counselling or counselling/clinical psychology or psychotherapy OR Qualified counsellor, therapist or clinical/counselling psychologist (diploma or first degree or masters) (essential)
• Courses must be accredited by BACP or approved equivalent (essential)
• Associate Counsellor (essential)
• Qualified as outlined above (essential)

Previous experience

• Student placement: 20+ hours of support to adult clients (essential)
• Associate Counsellor: 100+ hours of counselling support to adult clients (essential)
• 20+ hours of face to face counselling experience to adult clients (desirable)

Skills & knowledge

• Good communication and interpersonal skills (essential)
• Person-focused approach (essential)
• Experience of supporting children and families (desirable)

Attributes

• Self-motivated (essential)
• Able to work flexibly (essential)
• Approachable (essential)
• Ability to empathise with families in difficult situations (essential)
• Discreet and able to adhere to confidentiality procedures (essential)
• Commitment to equal opportunities and a non-judgmental attitude (essential)
• Commitment to further training and personal development (essential)

Exemption clause

• 2 years without significant loss (including divorce/diagnosis of chronic illness)

Thanks for your interest in volunteering for The Maypole Project

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.

InterVol is a student volunteering charity in the United Kingdom that connects students with volunteering opportunities locally and overseas. InterVol supports students to develop their skills with community projects in the UK and then use those skills to support the work of charitable partners overseas on health, education, refugee support, and conservation placements. Our project placements and volunteering opportunities are designed by our local partners and with the long-term needs of beneficiaries and communities in mind. InterVol supports a network of five student societies at English universities with around one hundred volunteers annually.

InterVol is looking for new trustees to join our board. Trustees are responsible for ensuring that InterVol follows our guiding principles and acts within the law. This includes the timely submissions to the Charity Commission, ensuring that volunteering is safe and appropriate, and developing and maintaining a long-term strategy for InterVol. InterVol is a small charity with no staff, so trustees also play an important role in maintaining institutional memory for student committees which change annually. 

We are recruiting for general trustee roles and for a treasurer. For the treasurer role, we are looking for applicants with a specialism in financial management to oversee our bank account, monitor our online donation platform, make grants, donations and payments, and report on our finances annually to the Charity Commission. Trustees in non-finance roles will be allocated roles most relevant to their own experience e.g. specific university group support, specific placements, or thematic areas such as training or research.

As a trustee you are expected to take on roles including:

• Attend termly meetings (three annually, online) and annual meetings, where possible.

• Provide advice to the trustee board and our committees. This is either by email, or through the Trustees WhatsApp group.

• Work on specific projects with other trustees and advisors, e.g. managing interns, setting up new placement partnerships, and conducting/reviewing risk assessments.

• Identify potential partnerships in both the United Kingdom and overseas to forward the goals of the charity and strengthen our existing university projects.

• Attend training and network events to represent InterVol, make new connections and bring new ideas into the charity.

• Commit to 2-3 years of supporting the charity before handing over or renewing your term.

• Be based in the United Kingdom to allow travel to meetings.

Person Specification:

• Significant experience of volunteering in either the UK or overseas

• Passionate about ethical volunteering practises

• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills

• Flexible and able to provide support on an ad hoc basis

• Understanding of international development issues (desirable)

• Accounting and finance experience (treasurer role)

Canine Partners are looking for volunteers who can provide loving homes for our young dogs, aged 14 months upwards, whilst helping to train them to be canine partners.

By volunteering you will:

• Be a valued member of our Charity
• Know that you are integrally involved in the care and training of a dog that will change the life of a person waiting for their Canine Partner
• Benefit from the companionship and enjoyment of having a dog in your life without lifelong commitment or costs associated with dog ownership
  • Meet like-minded people
  • Can develop your knowledge of puppy development and training.

 ‘With out the continued hard work and support from our volunteers, we would not be able to provide our clients with our life changing dogs.’

What is involved

• Commitment to providing a loving home, care, and training for a dog for the duration of their time in training.
• We consider this a full-time role as you, or another approved adult member of the household, will be required to care for the dog for much of the day and overnight.
• Our trainers need access to the dogs during weekdays for training purposes. We ask that you commute to and from our training centre when required to drop off/collect the dog. Drop off and collection times are between 7.30 - 9.30am and 4-6pm. We try to be as flexible as possible with the times that are best for you.
• Availability to attend pre-arranged training sessions at your home, in your local area, and at our training centre.
• Attend an Introduction session before we coordinate a dog into your care
• With our guidance, and using positive training methods, to continue the training of the dog in various areas. For example:
  • Home behaviour
  • Social behaviour
  • Behaviour around other animals
  • Walking on a lead
  • Off lead exercise
• Maintaining the dog’s health and welfare and, via support and training, to recognise behaviour/health concerns and report them immediately to the dog’s trainer.

What we require from you

• You live within a 30-minute drive of our training centre (post code LE12 9SR)
• That you, as the dog's main carer, are over 18 years of age
• You have a dog friendly secure garden
• Though desirable, prior dog ownership is not required.
• All members of the household are keen to foster.
• There is no more than one pet dog living in your home. The pet dog must be over 12 months of age and would need to undergo our pet dog suitability assessment
• Have the time and ability to commit to the training and care of a young dog. This is a physical role
• Have access to a suitable vehicle to transport the dog
• That you or other approved adult member of the household are at home most of the day, and overnight, to care for the dog
• Attend two training sessions each year
• Understand that the dog in your care remains under the ownership of Canine Partners

Support and Training

• Induction process which includes telephone assessment and home visit
• On-going Instruction and support from our dog trainers. This will be in person, via video link, phone calls, handouts etc.
• Holiday cover and appointments cover can be arranged.
• Payment of expenditure such as mileage to and from a training session with a Canine Partner representative
• Access to our volunteer portal with many resources for your use.
• Invitation to join our Official Canine Partners Community Facebook Group

Are you a committed environmentalist and a strategic thinker? Do you have skills in devising and managing or communicating about community based, environmental projects?

The Railway Land Wildlife Trust is seeking passionate and strategic individuals to join our Board of Trustees.

We’re particularly interested in those with skills in communications, fundraising or environmental projects. As a Trustee, you’ll help shape the future of our work, protecting and restoring habitats while deepening people’s connection to nature.

As a Trustee, you will:

- Support our strategic vision via one of our sub-committees (Project Strategy or Communications & Fundraising)
- Share your expertise to help us grow and diversify our impact
- Work collaboratively with a small, committed team driving grassroots environmental change

We are especially keen to hear from individuals based in East Sussex, as a strong local presence supports our hands-on, place-based approach. 
This is a voluntary role and a valuable opportunity to contribute to environmental leadership, gain experience in governance and be part of a meaningful local initiative.
 

Overall purpose

To support children (the child/ren who have complex medical needs and/or their siblings) in 1:1 sessions through the integration of counselling and play skills

Role responsibilities

Children, who have been assessed by an experienced therapist from the project and with parental consent, will be referred to the Child Therapist who will:

• Make contact with the client’s parent/guardian organising an initial 1:1 meeting with them to talk through the issues their child faces and establish the time, location and frequency of sessions
• Provide support through an integration of counselling and play skills
• Attend monthly group supervision (2 hours)
• Undertake The Maypole Project initial training (20 hours)
• Work to The Maypole Project model of support for children and young people
• Attend a training update session at least once per annum
• Complete client notes and The Maypole Project paperwork as required
• Liaise with their supervisor or the Clinical Supervisor in case of questions/difficulties
• Follow The Maypole Project policies and guidelines at all times whilst volunteering
• Attend service-wide activities including family activity events and fundraising events

For students: Please check whether your course placement requirements would enable you to provide counselling at external venues (clients home, hospitals, hospices etc). This would occur only after a settling in period and with additional training and support provided by The Maypole Project.

Support

Whilst volunteering you will have support from our Family Support Co-ordinator for day to day issues and our Lead Therapist or another qualified counsellor for monthly clinical supervision.

Location

At our offices in Orpington and Greenwich or, after a settling-in period, in local schools, hospitals, hospices and client’s homes.

Time Commitment

Volunteers days and hours are negotiable but, due to the long-term promise of support to our clients, a most valued aspect of our service, we do ask volunteer applicants to be available to volunteer for a minimum of 6 months from acceptance onto the volunteering programme at The Maypole Project. We would ideally like volunteers to aspire to offering 2 years commitment to the role.

Person Specification

Education & qualifications

• Good general education (essential)
• Final year student on counselling or therapies course; including study of child development and child therapies (essential)
• Courses must be accredited by BACP, IATE, BAPT or approved equivalent and require the student to engage in personal therapy across one year (essential)
• Qualified at diploma/degree or masters level in child and young person counselling or play therapy or equivalent (desirable)

Previous experience

• 20+ client hours supporting children and/or young people (essential)
• 20+ face to face client hours supporting children and/or young people (desirable)
• Experience of working with people impacted upon by complex medical needs/loss and bereavement (desirable)
• Working with people from a diversity of backgrounds (desirable)
• Working with diversity of disability in families (desirable)

Skills & knowledge

• Good communication and interpersonal skills with all ages – focusing on children and young people (essential)
• Child and Family centred approach (essential)
• Experience of supporting children and families (desirable)

Attributes

• Self-motivated (essential)
• Able to work flexibly (essential)
• Approachable (essential)
• Discreet, boundaried and able to adhere to confidentiality procedures (essential)
• Commitment to equal opportunities and a non-judgmental attitude (essential)
• Commitment to further training and personal development (essential)

Exemption clause

• 2 years without significant loss (including divorce/diagnosis of chronic illness)

Thanks for your interest in volunteering for The Maypole Project

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.