Paid volunteers volunteer roles in london

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.

Do you have 1-3 hours every two months spare to become a Mencap befriender volunteer?

We support a gentleman who would like for somebody to visit him for company and friendship. He enjoys time at home, watching TV, playing board games and baking, but mostly enjoys being outside when the weather is fine. He enjoys taking walks, cycling, bowling and meals out and would love for a friend to spend time and enjoy doing this with him. He would like to meet a volunteer to get to know and eventually enjoy getting out and about.

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year to create a 1-2-1 connection, offer companionship, encourage people to do the things they enjoy and check-in on their wellbeing. In many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them.

This is a Stop and stay, let’s get busy visitor role which means the person you will be visiting can communicate actively with you and take part in choosing or planning activities. As you get to know each our you may choose to ‘go out’ either with or without support from the staff that supports the person you visit. Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions for things you can do. Visits will vary in length but tends to be around an hour or longer, depending on what you do.

In this role you will spend quality time with the person you visit and could do a range of different activities like: • Sitting and having a chat • Checking in on their well- being • Going out to a local café/pub for a meal/drink • Enjoying a walk • A craft activity at home • Reading a book/magazine together

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

• Friendly and approachable
• Accepting of others who might be different to yourself
• Reliable and patient
• Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

• Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit
• Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training
• Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed
• Meet new people
• Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

**About Mencap ** Mencap is the leading learning disability charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with people with a learning disability and their families to challenge prejudice and change laws, and we directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose. We have an ambitious vision for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

Volunteering with us is YOUR opportunity to help us achieve this, whilst having the chance to develop your skills, meet new people and join a passionate and dedicated team.

If you have questions about volunteering with Mencap, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

About the project 

We are the Guild Church for Workers in the City of London, building a multilingual community where those in often low-paid or precarious occupations are at the heart of our life and leadership.  As part of our support of workers, we provide free beginner English classes every Saturday morning in partnership with English for Action. As these classes have grown, we have provided a homecooked meal for everyone, to share conversation and build community. 

We believe in the power of shared meals to foster community and connection. We're looking for Volunteer Community Cooks to help us create a welcoming space on Saturday mornings, where everyone feels at home. 

Are you a passionate cook with a heart for community? 

St Katharine Cree is seeking warm and enthusiastic volunteers to join us on Saturday mornings to cook a delicious and nourishing meal for around 30 people to enjoy after their beginner English language class. 

More than just cooking 

This is more than just a culinary role! We're looking for people who love to create delicious, hearty meals that build community. You'll be responsible for preparing a meal that brings people together. 

Passion for building community

We want people who enjoy connecting with others and fostering a welcoming atmosphere. We welcome those who want to assist in the kitchen, regardless of their experience. Your patience and encouragement will be invaluable. This is a chance to be part of a vibrant community and make a real difference in people's lives. 

What you'll bring

A love for cooking and a desire to share your skills

A friendly and approachable personality.

A willingness to work as part of a team.

A genuine interest in connecting with others.

A food hygiene certificate would be a bonus, but it is not essential, we can help you obtain one.

What you'll do

Prepare delicious, healthy meals using the ingredients available to you in our community kitchen.

Help foster a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.

Work alongside community members who will assist with cooking and take care of the washing up.

What you'll gain

The opportunity to make a positive impact on your community.

The chance to share your passion for cooking.

The joy of building meaningful relationships.

A rewarding and fulfilling volunteer experience.

St Katharine Cree is a church, and our community activity is rooted in our Christian faith, but being a Christian is not required for this volunteer role. We welcome all who share our passion for community and service and ask that volunteers respect our values and ethos and help create a welcoming environment.

Safeguarding

St Katharine Cree is committed to safeguarding the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable adults throughout our work and in our partnerships with other institutions. This role is subject to the completion of a standard DBS check. The role will require undertaking relevant Diocese of London safeguarding training, if a current certificate is not already held, which will be arranged by the Line Manager or CSO. SKC’s full Safeguarding Policy will be provided to all new staff on joining the organisation and they are expected to read it and act in accordance with it at all times.

The Network of Wellbeing (NOW) is looking for two new Trustees to guide and support the NOW team (above). We’re particularly keen to find someone to act as our Company Secretary and another to advise and guide the management of our staff and volunteers. Do you think you could help? If so, we’d love to hear from you. The roles are unpaid but immensely rewarding. 

The Network of Wellbeing connects people, supports projects and inspires action for the wellbeing of people and the planet. We would love to bring on board two new Trustees who care passionately about our vision of people and the planet thriving together.

Trustees play an essential role in any charity and the Network of Wellbeing is no exception. Trustees are the supreme governing body in a charity. They determine its aims, its strategy and oversee all its operations. They are responsible in law for ensuring that it delivers its charitable objects.

Trustees also bring vital skills and experience to the charity’s management. We have reviewed the expertise and roles played by our existing Trustees – and found that they have strengths in business development, charity governance and environmental sustainability, to name but a few. They use their knowledge – and their wisdom – to guide the staff and inform key strategic decisions – and our existing Trustees gain a deep sense of joy and fulfilment from the role they play.

We are now looking for two new Trustees to complement and strengthen our existing Board. We are especially keen to find:

• someone to be our Company Secretary: This person will be responsible for:
  • advising Trustees and the Director on corporate governance and financial management;
  • overseeing the preparation of agendas and the taking of accurate minutes;
  • keeping up to date with regulatory or statutory changes and policies that might affect us;
  • liaising with our auditors, Companies House and the Charities Commission.
• someone to advise on and guide the management of our team of staff and volunteers. This would include:
  • advising Trustees and the Director on all matters relating to the management of staff and volunteers;
  • ensuring we have an up to date suite of policies and procedures;
  • guiding the management of the staff, including on pay, to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Trustees have the opportunity to use their skills and experience to help others and to further a cause they are passionate about – something wellbeing experts argue is key to living a meaningful life.

The commitment is four two-hour meetings per year – three of which meetings which are held online. We also like our Trustees to come and see us annually (in Devon) in person at least once.

We are committed to diversity, fairness and inclusion – and to building wellbeing together for everyone. We’re therefore keen to diversify our existing Trustee group to ensure it more broadly reflects the diversity of people in the UK. With that in mind, we’d welcome applications from people from a range of different backgrounds and experiences.

Could you be a Trustee of the Network of Wellbeing? If you are interested, please see here for the role profile and details on how to apply.

All applications will be considered by a panel of Trustees with advice from the Director.

Are you passionate about social impact and want to help companies make a meaningful difference? Unify Giving is transforming corporate giving by enabling companies to directly connect their donations to individuals facing adversity.

We’re building a dynamic volunteer sales team to engage with corporations and introduce them to our innovative platform, where donations go directly to individuals experiencing hardship, creating immediate and measurable impact.

Why Join Us?

 •  Be part of a mission-driven initiative revolutionising corporate giving
 •  Gain valuable experience in sales, corporate engagement, and social innovation
 •  Comprehensive training and mentorship from industry leaders
 •  Potential to transition into a paid, commission-based role with growth opportunities

What We’re Looking For:

 •  Passionate changemakers who believe in ethical innovation
 •  Excellent communicators with a knack for building relationships
 •  Motivated individuals who can engage corporates in CSR and ESG-aligned initiatives
 •  Team players who want to be part of a purpose-driven movement

Together, we can revolutionise how companies give back, making donations more transparent, impactful, and directly beneficial to individuals in need.

If you’re ready to be part of this movement and gain valuable experience in the process, apply now
Let’s change lives—one donation at a time 

Join Our Board of Trustees and Help Drive Positive Change!

Are you passionate about making a difference in people’s lives? Do you thrive in a team environment and want to give back to the community where you live, work, or study?

We are a local charity dedicated to providing social welfare advice, information, and support through our incredible team of staff and volunteers. We are now seeking two new Trustees to join our board and help guide our organisation forward.

Last year, we:

✅ Assisted over 15,000 clients in finding solutions to their challenges

✅ Addressed over 37,000 separate issues for those in need

✅ Secured nearly £2 million in additional income to support people during the cost-of-living crisis

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities across Cheshire West—your age, background, origins, or health conditions are not barriers. We actively seek diverse perspectives to better serve our community.

We are particularly interested in individuals with:

�� Experience in digital and AI solutions implementation
�� Expertise in volunteer engagement
�� A strong commitment to our mission, enthusiasm, and a supportive approach

However we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, skills and experience including lived experience.

What’s Involved?

As a Trustee, you will:

�� Attend at least five board meetings per year (in-person and remote, often in the evenings)

��Participate in one annual trustee development day

��Have opportunities for further involvement in shaping our work

This is a voluntary role, but all reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Volunteering does not affect state benefit entitlement.

If you’re ready to play a key role in shaping the future of our organisation, we’d love to hear from you! 

Are you passionate about helping women build their lives beyond crisis? We are recruiting for Urdu-speaking volunteers to support victims of Domestic Abuse on a 1 to 1 basis. This is a chance to empower other inspirational women by building their confidence and teaching them new Educational and employment skills in order to achieve their ambitions and goals. You will be supporting women and children to rebuild their lives free from fear!

What you will be doing

• To develop and promote a positive relationship with the service user through regular F2F meetings and phone calls, and facilitate their journey to achieve their goals that align with the aims of the Economic, Empowerment and Security Project.
• To support the service user in developing their educational and vocational aspirations, applying to university, translating previously held qualifications, helping with UCAS applications, researching relevant courses and colleges, helping with English and developing language skills OR/AND,
• To support the service user in developing their career goals and employment skills, including CV building, interviewing skills, work experience and job search. To encourage the service user to attend Economic, Empowerment and Security events ran by Hestia’s volunteering team.
• To encourage the service user to engage in further external and internal educational training and activities and supporting them in doing so.
• Manage appropriate boundaries 

The skills you need

• Compassionate, caring and patient nature Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Knowledge on educational opportunities in the UK, where to look, what is available.
• Knowledge on useful employment and job search skills
• Good communication skills
• Fluent in Urdu 

What's in it for you

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

The role of the Independent member is to provide the Safety Committee and the Movement with knowledge and experience for making key decisions. The role is pro bono, but reasonable expense will be paid in accordance with The Scout Association (TSA)’s Expenses Policy. The appointed candidate should expect to spend the equivalent of a day per quarter on The Scout Association’s work after the induction phase - this is based on preparation for and attendance at the scheduled Safety Committee meetings (four in each year, with the intention that two are held online and two face to face).

The Safety Committee reports directly to the Board of Trustees which has overall legal responsibility for TSA. The committee is Chaired by an external appointee who is a Trustee of the board. The safety committee comprises independent members with Health & Safety expertise across a range of sectors and members from the movement. The purpose of the committee is to hold to account those with responsibility for delivery of Health & Safety across Scouting.

Main responsibilities

The remit of the Committee is to support the Board of Trustees to fulfil its responsibilities in relation to Safety by: 

1. providing vision and direction for consideration and endorsement by the Board (as required), by identifying and contributing to the development of safety policies, procedures and guidance; 

2. ensuring that youth members, adult volunteers, parents and staff are engaged in contributing to the development of safety policies; 

3. developing and overseeing a performance framework to ensure that safety policies, procedures and practice are monitored to provide assurance to the Board (relating to members, staff and service users) and use this management information to inform and drive improvements; monitoring the local and national implementation of safety policies and procedures to ensure practice is effective and consistently applied; 

4. ensuring that appropriate connections are made with other areas of the Association’s work that may have an impact on safety (for example Adult Training by using incident data to highlight areas of success or concern); 

5. ensuring that members receive appropriate support and communication to aid understanding of their responsibilities to enable Safe Scouting; 

6. leading the process for Fatal Accident and/or Near Miss inquiries from commissioning through to completion; 

7. reviewing and overseeing actions from inquiry reports (this should be in conjunction with the respective staff functions, particularly where there is specific policy, procedure and/or practice changes that need to be recommended for consideration by the Strategy and Delivery Committee and/or Board (as required); 

8. identifying possible areas of development for the Association’s safety activities, taking into account relevant national agendas and learning from reviews whether this be external or internal to the Association. 

The person

Past or present membership of The Scout Association would be an advantage but is not an essential requirement.

What is essential is a commitment to the vision and values of Scouting and the ability to challenge the Association’s policies and practices positively.

We welcome applications from individuals with experience in a wide range of sectors, not just those from traditionally high-hazard industries. We are committed to diversity and actively seeking applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, in particular, Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.

Skills

Primary Technical Skills (Core)

1. Competence: Experience of application of safety principles, regulations, and best practices within hazardous environments.

2. Legal Compliance: Clear understanding of legal obligations related to health and safety in the workplace and how this translates across to Scouting to assure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

3. Application of Health and Safety Regulations: Experience of applying health and safety regulations and standards to ensure compliance. This should be combined with an understanding and ability to identify relevant health and safety regulations and standards applicable to the volunteering sector.

4. Risk Assessment and Audit and Assurance: Experience of identifying potential hazards, assessment, developing strategies to mitigate risk and audit and assurance in a work environment, including risk assessment methodologies and strategies.

Analytical Skills (Essential)

5. Analytical Skills: Capacity to analyse data related to safety performance, incident reports, and trends to identify areas for improvement.

6. Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify safety issues, evaluate alternative solutions, and implement effective corrective actions.

7. Continuous Learning and Professional Development: Commitment to staying updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in safety management.

Enabling Skills (Desirable)

8. Management Skills: Experience of leading safety initiatives and managing safety teams to influence organisational safety culture to prioritise safety – demonstrating an understanding of business operations and aligning safety practices with organisational goals.

9. Communication and Influencing Skills: Experience of effectively conveying safety protocols, policies, and procedures to employees to influence behaviour, management, and regulatory authorities, showing the ability to lead by example and inspire others to prioritise safety.

10.  Interpersonal Skills: Understands the need for building positive relationships with stakeholders, including volunteers and employees, management, regulatory agencies, and community members to improve safety culture.

Secondary Technical Skills (Desirable)

11.  Safety Training and Education: Experience of developing and or delivering effective safety training programmes to employees at all levels within an organization.

12.  Accident Investigation: Skill in investigating workplace accidents and incidents to determine root causes and prevent future occurrences.

13.  Emergency Preparedness and Response: Knowledge of emergency procedures and the ability to develop and implement emergency response plans.

Experience

• Experience of hazardous environments
• Experience of working in safety as a safety practitioner/holds a safety qualification
• Experience of leadership to achieve safety culture change within a complex organisation
• Expertise welcomed in mental health/wellbeing, human factors or occupational health
• Expertise welcomed in the application of strategic health protection principles (e.g. public health, food safety, and other health related safety issues)
• Experience from an activity-based sector (e.g. outdoor and adventurous activities) welcomed
• Experience of working or volunteering with charitable or youth organisations welcomed
• An understanding of governance structures and the role of boards and their sub-committees would be an advantage with experience of providing strategic advice and guidance at this level

Are you passionate about helping women build their lives beyond crisis? We are recruiting for Arabic-speaking volunteers to support victims of Domestic Abuse on a 1 to 1 basis. This is a chance to empower other inspirational women by building their confidence and teaching them new Educational and employment skills in order to achieve their ambitions and goals. You will be supporting women and children to rebuild their lives free from fear!

What you will be doing

• To develop and promote a positive relationship with the service user through regular F2F meetings and phone calls, and facilitate their journey to achieve their goals that align with the aims of the Economic, Empowerment and Security Project.
• To support the service user in developing their educational and vocational aspirations, applying to university, translating previously held qualifications, helping with UCAS applications, researching relevant courses and colleges, helping with English and developing language skills OR/AND,
• To support the service user in developing their career goals and employment skills, including CV building, interviewing skills, work experience and job search. To encourage the service user to attend Economic, Empowerment and Security events ran by Hestia’s volunteering team. To encourage the service user to engage in further external and internal educational training and activities and supporting them in doing so. Manage appropriate boundaries 

The skills you need

• Compassionate, caring and patient nature Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Knowledge on educational opportunities in the UK, where to look, what is available.
• Knowledge on useful employment and job search skills Good communication skills Fluent in Arabic

What's in it for you

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

                      While gaining invaluable experience, practice your passion within real-life scenarios. 

Join a group who aspire to think big, have fun, and create work that stands out. We’re looking for a passionate dedicated individual to join our team, who will play a key role in the growth of our brand messages and visions. The ideal candidate will assist us to conduct research and gather information on various projects.

Responsibilities
Conduct relevant research, gather information on various projects
Write research reports
Working closely with the communications team

Requirements
Good attention to detail.
Strong verbal, written and organisational skills.
Self-starter, dedicated and willing to learn. 
Microsoft Word and Excel skills.

Please note the role is a voluntary position and could be entirely remote. Any incurred reasonable expenses will be paid.
 
ABOUT TESYouth
TESYouth (Training, Employment Opportunities & Social Development for Youth) is a NFP social enterprise which focuses on improving the rate of youth employment, through volunteering, interactive and skill-based workshops, work-experience and training programmes. Together with our strategic partners, we collaborate with organisations to provide youth to develop their skills, and to assist in achieving their career aspirations.

Project Coordinator

Job Title: EPAfrica Summer Team – Project Coordinator (PC)
Location: Kakamega, Kenya 

Duration: Minimum 3 weeks during our summer programme, which runs from approximately 1st July – 13th September 2025.
Start Date: UK-based training and preparation begins in June, with travel to Kenya taking place several days before the start of your placement.

 Compensation: Non-salaried placement, with the following expenses covered:

• Travel: Project-related travel in and around Kakamega County is fully covered.

• Accommodation: Fully covered throughout the EPAfrica summer. 

• Programme delivery costs: All costs associated with programme delivery (travel to sites, partner meeting expenses, etc) paid for by the charity.

• Additional Costs: Round-trip flights to Kenya and limited subsistence costs, plus any personal travel elsewhere within Kenya (e.g., for your holiday week). 

About EPAfrica

EPAfrica (Education Partnerships Africa) is a volunteer-led charity working in partnership with rural secondary schools in East Africa. Our mission is to create sustainable change in education by investing in resources, infrastructure, and local capacity. Our volunteers are central to our work — building strong relationships, learning deeply about the local context, and delivering projects that matter.

Role Overview

As a Project Coordinator (PC), you will be a key part of the Summer Team, supporting the smooth operation of EPAfrica’s in-country summer programme. You’ll work alongside the Project Manager and other Project Coordinators to provide on-the-ground coordination, logistical support, and pastoral care for our Project Workers (PWs). This is a dynamic and rewarding role that gives you insight into international development, team leadership, and operational planning.

Key Responsibilities

• With guidance from the Project Manager (PM), support our team of Project Workers (PWs) in their school placements, including:

  • Monitor project progress and guide PWs to address any issues as they arise

  • Offering pastoral support and help maintain the wellbeing of Project Workers

  • Co-deliver trainings on topics such as project management, effective international development practices, safety and wellbeing, and cultural awareness

  • Coordinating key operational logistics relating to summer programme delivery.

• Facilitate communication between PWs, our in-country Summer Team, and the UK-based central charity team.

• Help deliver our in-country monitoring and evaluation programme, enabling us to effectively plan for and deliver future investments. This includes:

  • Monitoring visits to current & recent investment schools to gauge impact of EPAfrica’s work

  • Assessment visits to potential future EPAfrica participant schools

  • Staying up-to-date research into developments in the Kenyan education system and potential impacts on our work

  • Establishing and maintaining relationships with our network of local partners.

• Contribute to Summer Team planning, reflection sessions, and process documentation

• Help to maintain the safety, security, and wellbeing of the Kenya-based team, working within the charity’s risk guidelines.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong familiarity with, and demonstrated interest in, EPAfrica’s values and operating model.

• A demonstrated interest in grassroots international development is required; previous experience in this setting (volunteering, fieldwork, or prior work experience) preferred.

• Experience being a part of teams delivering project-based work, and leading with empathy. 

• Effective communication skills and the ability to work with stakeholders from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. 

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and solve problems under pressure.

• Willingness to operate in a challenging, fast-paced environment and to be involved in making decisions which affect the wider team.

• Experience as a Project Worker or previous Summer Team involvement preferred – but alternatively, relevant professional or volunteering experience in a similar context. 

What You’ll Gain

• Real, hands-on project management and delivery experience. 

• Exposure to international development at a grassroots level, with concrete opportunities to deliver meaningful work.

• A rich cultural experience and the opportunity to immerse yourself in semi-rural communities in Western Kenya. 

• Volunteers benefit from one week’s holiday in the middle of the programme, allowing the opportunity to explore the rest of the country (previous volunteers have travelled to Mombasa, Nairobi and the Maasai Mara). 

• Opportunity to work with a team of passionate, like-minded individuals and build a strong professional network within the charity and our wider community.

• A standout experience for your CV, and the chance to develop transferable skills in stakeholder management, communication, logistics, and more. Previous EPAfrica volunteers have leveraged their experience with us to secure roles with the FCDO, WHO, UN, Civil Service and in a variety of consultancies. 

Interested?

We’d love to hear from you! If you’re enthusiastic about education, development, and making a difference, this is a unique opportunity to get involved and get hands-on, meaningful experience delivering grassroots international development projects in Kenya. You’re also welcome to apply with a friend and complete a summer placement alongside them; just let us know in your application.

Who are we?

Switchboard LGBTQIA+ exists to provide members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as their friends, family and those supporting them, with a listening service that they can contact via phone, instant message and email between the hours of 10am to 10pm every day.

We are happy to talk to service users about any topic they wish. Topics we often talk to service users about include: sexual health, safer sex, relationships, coming-out, gender identity, transitioning, mental health, experiences of hate crimes, support for meeting other LGBTQIA+ people and making friends, and much more.

However, we want to also be upfront and transparent about the fact that not all of our conversations are positive or constructive. Our volunteers can also be exposed to abuse from the public, manipulative callers, sexual fantasies and safeguarding concerns.

What is our over 50's club?

Our over 50's club is a new initiative for Switchboard. 

We want to create a space that enables older members of the LGBTQIA+ community to volunteer with us on our phone lines and instant messaging service, whilst providing a social element that encourages volunteers to come together at our London HQ. 

This club will meet on both Mondays and Tuesdays during the day (you can choose which day works better for you), completing a shift either between 10am to 1pm or 2:00pm to 5:00pm. You can join us weekly or bi-weekly, whichever you prefer.

We then come together between 1pm and 2:00pm to have lunch (paid for by us) and a good natter! 

Volunteers who support Switchboard in this capacity are trained to take both phone calls and respond to instant messages. They do not respond to emails, however. 

Who are we looking for?

To ensure we can provide a high quality service to those who contact us, we are looking for volunteers who:

• Simply put, like communicating and chatting with other people (you’re most likely a people-person who feels energised by this type of communication)

• Feel comfortable taking calls and speaking over the phone to people you do not already know

• Are familiar with different instant messaging platforms (such as WhatsApp and other chat tools) and the types of communication they might receive

• Are able to read between the lines to decipher messages

• Are good listeners who let others lead conversations and instead create the space they need

• Are able to ask broad, open questions to keep conversations flowing

• Understand the importance of using the right tone when communicating in writing, and are able to flex their writing style to suit different people

• Have a strong attention to detail, with a particular focus on spelling and grammar

• Are able to evaluate sources of information and identify those that can be trusted, from those that cannot

• Know when to challenge and when to step back

• Have essential digital literacy skills (such as using email tools such as gmail and outlook, search the web for information and copy and paste website URLs)

• Understand and support our mission

• Have an awareness of the challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community

• Are empathetic in nature

• Agree to uphold our values of being non-directive and non-judgemental

We’re looking for a new fundraising volunteer and/or director! Are you passionate about securing funds for grassroot organisations?

This opportunity involves overseeing Fuel Poverty Action’s fundraising plans and strategy, reaching out to donors and promoting our vital campaigns through grant bids to help end fuel poverty in the UK. 

This role would require an average of 16-20 hrs per month and can be done remotely. We are also open to you joining FPA’s board of directors, subject to capacity and experience. 

This offers a chance to directly contribute to tackling fuel poverty and ensuring access to affordable energy for all whilst strategizing and learning alongside great activists. If you're eager to contribute, we’d love to hear from you!

Tasks:

• Organise and manage our fundraising planning and pipeline

• Reach out to potential donors and help build relationships

• Lead on grant applications

• Work closely with the team to develop new fundraising strategies

• Contribute ideas and experience to FPA campaigns

Closing date for applications:  April 20th 2025

This is a dynamic and evolving charity with a high profile locally. We anticipate continuing to evolve rapidly and therefore the contribution of individual trustees in shaping our next phase is key. Every new idea can make a difference.

What will you be doing?

The trustees' role is to provide guidance, governance and strategic direction. We have small paid staff (including a full-time CEO) who co-ordinate a large cohort (~150) of volunteers.

The commitment for a trustee is 6 meetings (early evening) per year plus an annual away-day. Periodically trustees will also be needed for other duties - eg interviewing potential employees.

Our funding comes from a variety of sources: local council, National Lottery and other major funders as well as many local people and businesses.

We our looking to boost our Trustee capacity with a need for both "general" trustees and in particular people with financial knowledge able in due course to take on the role of treasurer. Other specific skills desired are: HR, knowledge/experience in the homeless sector, property management.

Whilst we welcome people of all faiths and none, the charity has its roots in local Christian churches and we particularly welcome interest from people active in their local churches.

What are we looking for?

We are looking to add more than one trustee. 

We are particularly interested in people with: financial expertise, experience in the homelessness sector, experience in property management, HR. 

However what is needed above all is people with vision and commitment to what we do as an organisation and a lack of experience in those areas is not a bar to application.

Though we welcome people of all faiths and none as users of our service, the organisation has its roots in local Christian churches and we especially welcome expressions of interest from people active in their local church.

What difference will you make?

This is a small charity which has grown quickly from a traditional volunteer-only, seasonal night shelter, to something much bigger.

It's clear that what we do makes a huge difference to our guests and everything the trustees do is built around doing what will best benefit them.

We anticipate continuing to evolve rapidly and therefore the contribution of individual trustees in shaping our next phase is key. Every new idea can make a difference.