Operations volunteer volunteer volunteer roles in Birmingham

From touchdown to takeoff and everything in between, here at Travel Radar we don’t just report on aviation and air-travel news, we take off with it! Since 2015, we’ve soared from being a small startup to one of the world’s leading sources for commercial aviation and air-travel coverage, and we’re only just getting started! With a remote crew of over 50+ enthusiasts, we deliver fresh content 24/7, 365 days a year to over 30 million readers across the globe.

Travel Radar is growing; We are looking for 2x Operations Managers to join our team and support our growth by supporting our contributors, interns and volunteers in the smooth operations of the organisation. You will have a hands-on role managing a busy team within the organisation, composed largely of volunteers and interns.

Responsibilities and A Little More About the Role:

• Coordinate management activities and operations to secure efficiency and compliance to company policies
• Supervise department staff and divide responsibilities to ensure KPIs are met
• Hold a monthly department meeting with team members
• Handle a team inbox and handling internal correspondence as required
• Submit timely reports and prepare presentations/proposals as assigned
• Other administrative tasks to support the smooth running of the department

Who We're Looking For:

• Passion for Business/Organisation Management, Administration and Office Management is ideal
• Willingness to learn new skills, software and (likely) a new industry - Aviation and Air-Travel
• Great communication and teamwork skills
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office365 Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Interpersonal skills and ability to interact and work with staff at all levels

Why volunteer at Travel Radar?

• Fully remote position
• Perkbox / Discount Program with over 4,000 deals and discounts
• Great Training and Learning Resources, including a CPD Level 5 Accreditation in Business Administration
• Option to gain a recognised CIPD award (through experience) funded by the company
• Latest Tech including free subscription to Office365, Grammarly Premium, Adobe Photoshop and Canva Pro, as well as access to company Chromebook devices and Virtual Machines

Additional Information:

Commitment per Week: 6-12hrs per week (Approx)

Reports to: Senior Operations Manager

Description
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Direct Working Relationships: C-Level Executives, National Research, Policy, Ethics, Research Reporting, and Local Operations
Location: Remote, UK-based
Time Commitment: Part-time | Flexible hours | Long term commitment

About the Role
We are seeking a volunteer Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide strategic and operational leadership across our national and local operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will play a pivotal role in ensuring effective delivery of projects and research, maintaining ethical and operational standards, and driving continuous improvement across all organisational systems and processes.

This is a senior voluntary position ideal for an experienced operations or strategy leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and wants to make an impact in the not-for-profit or research sector.

Please note: This is a voluntary and unpaid role. There is no direct financial compensation or future paid opportunity attached.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide executive oversight of Policy, Ethics and Research Reporting, National Operations, and Local Operations (including projects and research).

• Oversee operational delivery to ensure smooth, ethical, and effective implementation of all projects.

• Lead the optimisation of systems, structures, and processes to maximise organisational efficiency.

• Ensure resource allocation is effective and aligned with strategic goals.

• Support and collaborate with C-Level colleagues to drive organisational progress.

• Attend high-level meetings and provide regular operational updates and recommendations.

• Act as a key decision-maker in operational strategy, compliance, and performance management.

• Support and coach department heads and senior managers to strengthen internal leadership capacity.

• Step in to provide hands-on support to other C-Level officers and direct reports when needed.

What We're Looking For
We’re looking for a confident, experienced, and adaptable leader who can bring structure, strategy, and calm to a dynamic environment. You’ll be most successful in this role if you have:
• Significant experience in operations management, project delivery, or organisational leadership.
• Proven ability to oversee multiple teams or departments in complex environments.
• Strong ethical grounding and commitment to compliance and transparency.
• Excellent organisational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• A hands-on, solutions-focused approach with the ability to balance strategy and execution.
• Experience mentoring or managing senior leaders or functional heads.
• Comfort working remotely with cross-functional, volunteer-led teams.
• A collaborative, supportive leadership style and openness to learning and adaptation.
• An understanding of the not-for-profit, research, or policy sectors (advantageous but not essential).

What You’ll Gain
• The opportunity to lead national operations for a values-led organisation making a tangible impact.
• Executive-level experience within a collaborative, mission-driven C-Suite.
• The chance to refine strategic and operational leadership skills in a complex, real-world setting.
• Recognition through:
o LinkedIn testimonial and reference
o A public thank you post
o Permission to list the organisation as an employer on your CV/LinkedIn
o A written reference upon completion of your commitment

Important Information
This is a voluntary position. There is no financial payment, benefits, or employment status. This opportunity is ideal for seasoned operations leaders or executives seeking to contribute their expertise to a meaningful, values-driven mission and support the growth of an impactful organisation.

Apply Now
If you’re ready to help shape the strategic and operational backbone of a growing organisation and support our mission through effective leadership, we’d love to hear from you.

Volunteer Role: Head of Business Development & Operations

Unlock YOUR Potential — Social Mobility Charity

Drive growth, build partnerships, and shape the operational backbone of a movement transforming lives across England.

Unlock YOUR Potential is a passionate, volunteer‑run social mobility charity supporting adults from working‑class, low‑income, and underserved communities. We break down barriers, open doors, and equip people with the skills, tools, networks, and confidence to thrive.

We are now seeking a strategic, ambitious Head of Business Development & Operations to lead two critical pillars of our growth: expanding our reach through partnerships and ensuring our internal operations run smoothly, sustainably, and with excellence. This is a defining leadership role for a charity with national ambition — perfect for someone who wants to build systems, relationships, and opportunities that unlock long‑term impact.

About the Role

As our Head of Business Development & Operations, you will shape the charity’s growth strategy while building the operational infrastructure that keeps everything running smoothly. You will help us form powerful partnerships, secure opportunities, and create the systems that allow Unlock YOUR Potential to scale across England.

You will lead on:

1. Business Development & Growth

• Identifying and securing partnerships with employers, funders, community organisations, and stakeholders.

• Developing new opportunities that expand our programmes, reach, and impact.

• Supporting income‑generation activities, including grants, sponsorships, and collaborations.

• Representing the charity in meetings, pitches, and networking spaces.

2. Operational Leadership

• Designing and implementing efficient, scalable operational systems.

• Overseeing day‑to‑day coordination across programmes, volunteering, and administration.

• Ensuring smooth communication and workflow between teams and functions.

• Supporting data management, reporting, and operational documentation.

3. Strategic Planning

• Working closely with the Founder and leadership volunteers to shape long‑term strategy.

• Helping prioritise projects, manage capacity, and align operations with our mission.

• Ensuring that growth is sustainable, ethical, and mission‑aligned.

4. Quality & Delivery Oversight

• Supporting programme planning, scheduling, and quality assurance.

• Ensuring volunteers and facilitators have the tools and information they need.

• Monitoring delivery to ensure consistency, professionalism, and impact.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy, relationships, and operations — someone who wants to build both the engine and the runway for a movement with national reach.

What You Bring

You don’t need charity experience — just strong organisational skills, strategic thinking, and a passion for social mobility. We welcome people from all backgrounds, especially those with lived experience of the barriers we aim to break.

You are likely someone who is:

• Strategic, proactive, and able to see the bigger picture.

• Skilled at building relationships and spotting opportunities.

• Organised and comfortable designing systems and processes.

• Confident representing a mission‑driven organisation.

• Passionate about equity, empowerment, and community impact.

• Excited to help build a charity with national reach and long‑term legacy.

What You’ll Gain

• A senior leadership role shaping the future of a national‑ambition charity.

• Experience in business development, partnerships, operations, and organisational growth.

• The chance to build systems and relationships from the ground up.

• A supportive, purpose‑driven community.

• The knowledge that your work directly empowers adults to grow, thrive, and unlock their potential.

Time Commitment

Flexible and shaped around your availability. We value your time and will work with you to create a sustainable, enjoyable leadership role.

Join Us

If you’re passionate about growth, partnerships, and building strong operational foundations for a movement that changes lives — we’d love to connect with you.

Help us build an organisation that opens doors, champions ambition, and unlocks potential across England.

Do you have experience in digital and social media? Can you help us improve our communications and raise the profile of the work we do?

We are seeking an expert, creative Volunteer Digital and Social Media Lead. You will help us promote our programmes supporting people in prison and young people at risk of entering the justice system, as well as our Community Bike Shop, which funds and strengthens this work.

What you’ll do:

• Design and schedule engaging posts, stories, and reels across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more to grow our audience.

• Develop strategies for viral campaigns and collaborations to boost awareness and donations and share your expertise with our team.

• Analyse metrics (engagement, reach, growth) and refine tactics based on what resonates.

• Create eye-catching visuals using tools like Canva.

• Update our website as required and make suggestions for improvements.

• Work with our expert Trustee to consider how we can use online retail platforms to sell our refurbished bikes.

What we’ll provide:

· Creative freedom within agreed priorities and tone of voice.

· Access to the right tools plus shared photos, stories and impact stats.

· A named contact, light-touch sign-off, and occasional check-ins to remove blockers.

Time commitment: we’ll agree a realistic scope with the right volunteer based on their availability.

Reasonable agreed expenses will be paid.

Thank you

Mark Flannagan
Chief Executive

About us

UpCycle, works with individuals in prisons and young people at risk in marginalised communities.  We use bicycle maintenance workshops to help build life skills, enhance employability, prevent offending and reoffending, and foster social reintegration.  We also offer lead rides, bike fit-it sessions and other ways to engage with vulnerable people.

In prisons

· We delivered 956 un-refurbished bikes and received back 768 refurbished bikes across eight prisons and one Young Offenders Institution, training over 238 individuals.

In the Community

· Over 1034 bikes were donated to our Community Bike Shop, of those we refurbished and distributed more than 612 to underserved communities locally and overseas.

· Workshops in Bradford engaged 361 participants in diverse cycling-related activities across the area.

· "Bike to the Future" and other initiatives reached 220 young people with more complex needs.

Volunteer Role: Volunteering Manager

Unlock YOUR Potential — Social Mobility Charity

Shape a volunteer experience that empowers a movement.

Unlock YOUR Potential is a passionate, volunteer‑run social mobility charity supporting adults from working‑class, low‑income, and underserved communities. We break down barriers, open doors, and equip people with the skills, tools, networks, and confidence to thrive.

We are now seeking a dedicated, people‑focused Volunteering Manager to build, coordinate, and nurture our volunteer community. This is a pivotal role for a growing charity — perfect for someone who loves people, values purpose, and wants to create a joyful, empowering volunteer experience.

About the Role

As our Volunteering Manager, you will lead the full volunteer lifecycle — from recruitment and onboarding to training, engagement, and retention. You will help shape a culture where volunteers feel valued, supported, and connected to our mission.

You will lead on:

1. Volunteer Recruitment & Onboarding

• Designing and delivering an inclusive, welcoming recruitment process.

• Coordinating interviews, inductions, and role matching.

• Ensuring every volunteer feels confident and prepared to contribute.

2. Volunteer Experience & Engagement

• Creating a positive, empowering volunteer culture.

• Supporting volunteers throughout their journey.

• Developing recognition, appreciation, and wellbeing initiatives.

• Building community through events, check‑ins, and communication.

3. Volunteer Coordination & Operations

• Managing volunteer rotas, schedules, and role allocations.

• Ensuring volunteers have the tools, information, and support they need.

• Maintaining accurate volunteer records and safeguarding compliance.

4. Learning & Development

• Supporting the creation of training pathways and development opportunities.

• Helping volunteers grow skills, confidence, and leadership potential.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on connection, organisation, and creating meaningful experiences for others.

What You Bring

You don’t need formal HR or volunteer‑management qualifications — just passion, people‑skills, and a commitment to equity and social mobility. We especially welcome individuals with lived experience of the barriers we aim to break.

You are likely someone who is:

• Warm, organised, and people‑centred.

• Skilled at building relationships and supporting others.

• Able to coordinate processes and keep things running smoothly.

• Passionate about creating inclusive, empowering environments.

• Excited to help volunteers feel connected, valued, and inspired.

What You’ll Gain

• Experience in volunteer management, coordination, and people development.

• A leadership role in a growing social mobility charity.

• The chance to shape a volunteer journey from the ground up.

• A supportive, purpose‑driven community.

• The knowledge that your work directly empowers adults to grow and thrive.

Time Commitment

Flexible and shaped around your availability. We welcome volunteers who can commit consistently, but we will design the role around the right person.

Join Us

If you’re passionate about people, community, and creating environments where volunteers can shine — we’d love to connect with you.

Help us build a movement that opens doors, champions ambition, and unlocks potential.

The Animal Partnerships team, based at Battersea's London site, is a team who are there for dogs and cats who require a different, specialised environment. For those under socialised cats, for whom a traditional ‘pet home’ wouldn’t be suitable, the Animal Partnerships team are on hand to provide rural homes; often on farms and stables, with the Working Cats Coordinator working in the community finding new homes.

We are looking for volunteer support based in and around Essex. This volunteer will support in researching and sourcing suitable homes in and around Essex, likely on farms, stables and other rural settings for working cats. They will support in positively promoting our Working Cat Programme to achieve happy outcomes for both the cats and their new owners, whilst being supported by the Working Cat Co-ordinator.

This volunteer role is a non-animal facing role meaning it would have no interaction with Battersea Working Cats.

What the role would entail?
This role is based in Essex with very occasional travel into Battersea, London. Please take this into consideration before applying. It is essential for the role that the candidate has a full clean driving licence and an own vehicle. An ideal candidate would live in Essex or within a short distance of Essex.

• Researching and sourcing rural homes within Essex, suitable for potential working cats rehoming.
• Passing on new contact details to the Battersea Working Cat Team.
• Informing and educating members of the public about Battersea’s Working Cats Programme.
• Helping working cat homes to understand how to securely settle and maintain working cats, through sharing advice and support.
• Attend country shows and events to promote Battersea's Working Cat Programme.
• Supporting members of the public in completing applications, via the website, to rehome a Battersea Working Cat.
• Observe the Working Cat Co-ordinator settle working cats into their new homes, in which you were monumental in sourcing.

What skills and experience would be useful?

• Full clean driving licence.
• Your own vehicle – travel expenses will be reimbursed.
• Good cat welfare and behaviour knowledge.
• Good personal skills to communicate well with potential homes and members of the public.
• An interest in Battersea’s Working Cats Programme and a passion to support by finding homes.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with the support of a volunteer mentor.
• Basic computer skills.

What skills will I gain?

• All volunteers will have an induction with the volunteering team and then a role related induction and training with the Animal Partnerships Team.
• You will learn about working cats, their behaviour, their needs husbandry and habitats.
• You will learn how to positively interact with the farming/equestrian community.

Where and when would I be volunteering?

• One day a week, driving to rural areas in Essex.
• The role will be based in Essex – an ideal candidate would live in Essex or within a short distance of Essex.
• Trial for 6 months with regular check ins with the Working Cat Co-ordinator and Animal Partnerships Officer (Cats).
• Induction and training will take place at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, London.

We strive to create an inclusive environment and ensure that our volunteers are involved in all aspects of our work, are valued for their commitment, and recognised for the extraordinary things they do for us. We are accredited by ‘Investing In Volunteers’, the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and value diversity for all current and prospective employees, volunteers, and Trustees. We aim to ensure that this commitment, reinforced by our values, is embedded in our day-to-day working practices and our work together. At Battersea, we provide reasonable adjustments for those with disabilities or neurodiversity to ensure individuals can achieve the best out of their role.

If you require support with your application or wish to discuss reasonable adjustments further please email us. Any declaration of any disabilities or differences will be treated confidentially and compassionately.

KEY DATES:
26/01/26 - Application Deadline
W/C 02/02/26 - Volunteer Interview
W/C 09/02/26 - Volunteer Induction & Start Date

GHRI is seeking a Remote Volunteer Administrative Assistant to support daily operations and coordinate other volunteers. This role is key to keeping communication smooth, tasks organized, and volunteers aligned across projects.

✨ Important part: You’ll help manage and support volunteers remotely, not just handle admin tasks.

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��️ Key Responsibilities

Handle remote administrative tasks (scheduling, documentation, follow-ups)

Coordinate and oversee other volunteers remotely

Assist with internal communication and task tracking

Maintain accurate digital records and reports

Support GHRI programs and ongoing initiatives

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✅ Requirements

Strong communication and organizational skills

Ability to work independently in a remote environment

Basic knowledge of Google Workspace / Microsoft Office

Experience managing or coordinating people is a plus

Passion for humanitarian and health-focused work

(No commuting. No traffic. Just responsibility.)

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�� What You’ll Gain

Remote work experience in a global humanitarian organization

Leadership and administrative skill development

Exposure to digital health and nonprofit operations

Volunteer certificate and recommendation (where applicable)

A meaningful experience you’ll actually be proud of

Volunteer Role: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Unlock YOUR Potential — Social Mobility Charity

Build the operational engine of a movement transforming lives across England.

Unlock YOUR Potential is a passionate, volunteer‑run social mobility charity supporting adults from working‑class, low‑income, and underserved communities. We break down barriers, open doors, and equip people with the skills, tools, networks, and confidence to thrive.

We are now seeking a strategic, organised, and mission‑driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the operational heartbeat of the charity. This is a defining leadership role for a movement with national ambition — perfect for someone who wants to build systems, structures, and processes that empower real, lasting change.

About the Role

As our Chief Operating Officer, you will oversee the day‑to‑day running of the charity, ensuring our programmes, people, and operations work seamlessly together. You will build the systems, processes, and infrastructure that allow Unlock YOUR Potential to grow sustainably and deliver high‑quality support to adults across England.

You will lead on:

1. Operational Leadership

• Designing and implementing efficient, scalable operational systems.

• Overseeing daily operations across programmes, volunteering, and administration.

• Ensuring smooth coordination between teams, roles, and functions.

2. Governance & Compliance

• Supporting the Founder and Trustees with governance processes.

• Ensuring policies, procedures, and safeguarding standards are followed.

• Maintaining compliance with charity regulations and best practice.

3. Programme & Delivery Oversight

• Supporting programme planning, scheduling, and quality assurance.

• Ensuring volunteers and facilitators have the tools and information they need.

• Monitoring delivery to ensure consistency, professionalism, and impact.

4. Systems & Infrastructure

• Setting up digital tools, platforms, and workflows.

• Improving efficiency through smart processes and accessible systems.

• Managing data, reporting, and operational documentation.

5. Leadership & Collaboration

• Working closely with the Founder and leadership volunteers.

• Supporting the development of a positive, empowering organisational culture.

• Helping shape strategic decisions as the charity grows.

This role is ideal for someone who loves structure, clarity, and making things work beautifully behind the scenes.

What You Bring

You don’t need charity COO experience — just strong organisational skills, strategic thinking, and a passion for social mobility. We welcome people from all backgrounds, especially those with lived experience of the barriers we aim to break.

You are likely someone who is:

• Highly organised, proactive, and systems‑minded.

• Skilled at coordinating people, processes, and priorities.

• Comfortable building structure in a start‑up environment.

• Passionate about equity, empowerment, and community impact.

• Excited to help build a charity with national reach and long‑term legacy.

What You’ll Gain

• A senior leadership role shaping the future of a national‑ambition charity.

• Experience in operations, governance, systems design, and organisational development.

• The chance to build an operational framework from the ground up.

• A supportive, purpose‑driven community.

• The knowledge that your work directly empowers adults to grow, thrive, and unlock their potential.

Time Commitment

Flexible and shaped around your availability. We value your time and will work with you to create a sustainable, enjoyable leadership role.

Join Us

If you’re passionate about operations, systems, and building a strong foundation for a movement that changes lives — we’d love to connect with you.

Help us build an organisation that opens doors, champions ambition, and unlocks potential across England.

The Children's Book Project is a national charity on a mission to tackle book poverty. We passionately believe that every child should have the opportunity to own a book and have, in the last year, celebrated gifting our 1 millionth book! We are looking for some wonderful volunteers to help us in managing book sorting and packing with a range of amazing corporate volunteers at our three HQs in Birmingham, Leeds and London.

We gift beautiful pre-loved and new books to schools and we gift within prison settings in order to reach children who may not otherwise have access to book ownership.

We are looking for volunteers in Birmingham, Leeds and London able to help us in the running of our book sorting days at each of our three HQs.  Ideally you will be able to commit to 2-3 days per half term.  (We work term-times only).  Our hours are 10am - 2:30pm.

We work with a range of amazing corporate volunteer teams who come to organise, sort and then pack our books in preparation for delivery. These corporate days are always full of energy and fun and we are looking for energetic and passionate people to support these events as Volunteer Coordinators - helping to make sure that there is a warm welcome, a clear plan for the day and that our one-off visitors can contribute productively.

What is required:

• On average, a commitment to 2 days per half term 
• Flexibility to travel to your local HQ for sorting and corporate volunteering days
• A can-do attitude and enjoyment of working as part of a team.

In return, you’ll get to be part of an extraordinary family of volunteers as we make a real and lasting difference to young lives – there is almost an immeasurable benefit to empowering a child to read for pleasure and we believe that no child should be denied access to a book through poverty. We would love your support!

Who We Are

MINDSET Charity is a new, volunteer‑run organisation dedicated to transforming men’s lives across England. We will support men on their journeys of mental wellbeing and self‑improvement through workshops, creative programmes, and community‑building activities.

We are building a movement of resilience, dignity, and brotherhood. To make this possible, we need a committed Admin and Service Support Lead to ensure our operations run smoothly and our services are delivered with care, clarity, and professionalism.

The Role of Admin and Service Support Lead

As our Admin and Service Support Lead, you will:

• Oversee day‑to‑day administrative tasks that keep MINDSET organised, efficient, and responsive.

• Support the coordination of workshops, programmes, and community activities, ensuring volunteers and participants have what they need.

• Manage inboxes, enquiries, and communications with warmth, clarity, and respect.

• Maintain simple, accessible systems for record‑keeping, scheduling, and service delivery.

• Work closely with the leadership team to ensure our services are safe, smooth, and aligned with our mission.

• Uphold our values of integrity, dignity, empowerment, and brotherhood in every interaction.

This is a volunteer role, but your leadership will be the quiet engine that keeps MINDSET moving — ensuring our services are reliable, our volunteers are supported, and our community feels held.

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds who share our passion for men’s mental wellbeing and community empowerment.

Experience in administration, coordination, customer service, or operations is valuable, but what matters most is your organisation, reliability, and commitment to supporting others.

If you’re someone who loves structure, enjoys helping things run smoothly, and takes pride in creating order and clarity, this role will feel deeply meaningful.

Why Join Us

• Shape the operational foundations of a pioneering charity at its earliest stage.

• Play a vital role in ensuring our services reach and support men across England.

• See your work directly impact the quality, safety, and accessibility of our programmes.

• Collaborate with passionate volunteers united by vision, purpose, and brotherhood.

• Help build a movement rooted in resilience, dignity, and hope.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to support MINDSET Charity’s services and help build a smooth, welcoming, and reliable operational backbone, we’d love to hear from you.

This is more than admin. It’s about creating stability, offering care behind the scenes, and ensuring every man who reaches out to MINDSET feels supported from the very first moment. Join us, and let’s build MINDSET together.

We’re looking for reliable, tech-savvy people who’d like to use their digital or IT skills to help improve our online systems and website.

As a Web and IT Support Volunteer, you’ll help us keep our website up to date, support digital record-keeping and assist with maintaining efficient systems that help us work effectively. You’ll play an important role in helping us stay connected, accessible and organised across our programmes.

This role is ideal for someone with an interest in IT, websites or digital operations who wants to make a practical contribution to community-focused work.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Updating website pages with new events, news and programme information
• Supporting the layout and accessibility of website content
• Uploading photos, articles or updates to digital platforms
• Helping staff and volunteers use digital tools
• Assisting with digital forms, data collection and record management
• Providing basic troubleshooting support or referring technical issues to the appropriate person
• Helping test and improve the digital tools and systems used by the team

Skills and Qualities We’re Looking For

• Confidence using websites, IT systems and digital tools
• Good understanding of basic data management and online platforms
• Problem-solving and attention to detail
• Clear communication and teamwork skills
• Reliable and organised approach to tasks
• Awareness of data protection and confidentiality principles

What You’ll Gain

• Experience supporting the digital operations of a community charity
• Opportunities to develop IT, web management and problem-solving skills
• Insight into digital tools used in the voluntary sector
• The satisfaction of helping improve online access and efficiency

About Us

We are a community-led charity tackling poverty at its root by empowering people and communities to overcome barriers and build sustainable futures.

Our programmes support children, young people, adults and families through education, employability, wellbeing and social inclusion activities that promote confidence, connection and opportunity.

Safeguarding and Inclusion

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults involved in our work.

Safeguarding training will be provided for all volunteers and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check may be required for this role.

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments to support participation wherever possible.

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You just need the ability to listen, strong IT skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.

What is a Caseworker?

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of support they need. You will listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help those serving, who have served and their families to navigate life in and beyond military service. Some examples of support are securing funding for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical, and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can complete the administration part of the role from home as long as you have access to IT equipment and the internet.

What would you be doing?

• Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time.
• Meeting beneficiaries and completing a form to assess their circumstances, using good communication skills, empathy and understanding.
• Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice.
• Applying for funding on the behalf of the beneficiary through a specific process and system  
• Arranging for the purchase of goods and services
• Keeping the beneficiary informed of their case progress.
• Liaise with the branch and regional office, regarding your availability.
• Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
• Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.  

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support would you receive?

• Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, and caseworker IT system training. The caseworker training takes 3 days and a further half a day for the other training.
• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
• Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
• Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
• Regular opportunities to meet and share best practice with other caseworkers.
• Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.
• Good communication skills both written and verbally.
• Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
• Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and to enter cases on the Casework Management System. Willingness and ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
• Ability to make enquires on behalf of beneficiaries by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms.
• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice
• Reliable, prompt and trustworthy.
• Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)

Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including checks against the children and adults barred list)

*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered. 

The opportunity

We are seeking a dynamic Chair of Trustees to lead East London Waterworks Park for three years, with the possibility to remain on the board for two further terms of three years. This is a rare opportunity to join a pioneering environmental charity and to work with the first paid Chief Executive Office to shape this next phase of our development.

The new Chair will have the opportunity to recruit new and additional trustees to create a board that provides appropriate strategic scrutiny of the charity’s work, strengthening our ability to realise our ambition to purchase the Thames Water depot side in East London, and our capacity to deliver community-led rewilding and nature-recovery projects across London in partnership with landowners, local authorities and other stakeholders. This could involve appointing Nature to the board.

About East London Waterworks Park

East London Waterworks Park is a community-led charity working to reconnect people and nature. Starting from nature-first principles, and with inclusivity at the heart of everything we do, we work with communities to co-design spaces to unlock a chain of positive changes that culminate in the long-term transformation of people and place.

Our work includes:

• co-designing East London Waterworks Park with the East London community, working towards purchasing a 14-acre Thames Water depot in Waltham Forest and transforming it into a biodiverse urban park with free, accessible wild swimming and welcoming community spaces

• co-designing other nature-first spaces on disused or brownfield land in London, returning land to nature in collaboration with local communities to encourage long–term community stewardship

• hosting engagement, education, and empowerment activities that build skills, confidence and deeper connections to nature.

East London Waterworks Park is a sociocratic organisation, with a decentralised organisational structure and a transparent and collaborative approach to decision making. We have grown organically since 2019, responding flexibly to the challenges we have encountered but always committed to our core vision: creating a new kind of urban green and blue space: one that is ecologically rich, inclusive, and shaped by the people and wildlife who use it.

East London Waterworks Park is currently entirely run by volunteers, and volunteers involved in day-to-day operations also sit on the board of trustees. However, we recognise the need to transition to a more sustainable structure and introduce a formal separation between the board of trustees and day-to-day operations. We are recruiting for a paid Chief Executive Officer and also want to appoint a new Chair of Trustees to ensure we have the capacity and strategic oversight to deliver the exciting projects planned in 2026 and beyond, while retaining our strong community-led ethos.

More information

If this sounds exciting, please review the attached recruitment package.

Volunteer with us!

At Acorns we provide care and support for life limited or life threatened children and their families. We are a charity, so most of the care that we provide is funded through fundraising and through our shops.

To help us to continue to provide the care that we do, we are looking for fun and enthusiastic volunteers to join us in our Cotteridge shop. Our shops are exciting and dynamic, with no two days being the same. From our walk-in customers, to receiving donations, and everything in between

As a Lead Shop Volunteer with us, you will be:

• Supporting the daily operation of the shop and stepping up to run it when needed.
• Delivering outstanding customer service and creating a warm, welcoming experience for every visitor.
• Guiding and supporting our amazing volunteers, offering direction and encouragement.
• Handling cash and completing banking tasks — full training provided, of course.
• Getting creative with merchandising, ensuring our displays always look their best.
• Maintaining high standards of housekeeping and helping with the smooth, day-to-day running of the store

Our shops are open Monday to Saturday (some open on Sundays too) 9am to 5pm.  You can volunteer the hours that suit you, but it would be great if you could support in the shop for at least 3 hours a week.

Why Volunteer at Acorns?

• Achieve a sense of wellbeing that you are helping your local community
• To connect with like-minded people and make new friends
• To enhance your CV by learning new skills and gain valuable experience
• We’ll give you a reference for future work or volunteering
• You’ll get Invites to social events and participation in our volunteer recognition schemes and awards
• You’ll receive free mandatory and role specific training

Full training will be provided