Peer mentor volunteer roles

Volunteer Peer Mentor (Lived Experience of Substance Use) 

Make a Difference Through Your Recovery Journey 

We are looking for passionate individuals with personal lived experience of substance use recovery to join our team as Volunteer Peer Mentors within the RhEST (Regional Homeless Engagement with Substance Treatment) service. 

As a Volunteer Peer Mentor, you will help bring visible recovery to people experiencing homelessness and substance misuse. Your lived experience can inspire hope, build trust, and help others take meaningful steps toward change. 

In this role, you will: 

• Accompany individuals to appointments and group activities 

• Provide one-to-one peer support 

• Help shape and improve the services we deliver 

This role is open only to those with personal lived experience of substance use and recovery. We believe that your insight and experience are vital to the work we do. 

Join us to: 

• Support others in their journey 

• Build your skills and confidence 

• Be part of a compassionate and dedicated team 

• Find out more by contacting us at  or emailing

Service Area 

RhEST – Regional Homeless Engagement with Substance Treatment 

Town 
London 

Status 
Part-time 

Contract Type 
Volunteer 

About RhEST 

The RhEST service recruits, trains, and develops Peer Mentors and Volunteers to support and engage individuals who sleep rough in London. Our work removes barriers to accessing treatment, helping clients navigate substance misuse services from scripting to inpatient care. 

Our Peer Mentoring Program is a key part of RhEST. Built on compassion, empathy, and empowerment, it enables individuals with lived experience to help others on their journey toward recovery and reintegration into society. 

Purpose of the Role 

As a Peer Mentor Volunteer, you will: 

• Support the running and delivery of services. 

• Facilitate group sessions and activities. 

• Provide support and encouragement to people accessing community services. 

• Use your lived experience to help design and co-produce services and support new initiatives. 

• Offer one-to-one peer mentoring to service users referred to the program, where appropriate. 

What We Offer 

• Comprehensive six-day training and ongoing support for Peer Mentors. 

• Regular supervision every 4-6 weeks. 

• Opportunities to develop new skills in communication, group facilitation, and leadership. 

• The chance to contribute to meaningful change in the lives of others and your community. 

Role Description:

Nova Roots is a new out of hours community space for women 18+ leaving forensic mental health services, open 3 days a week; Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. We offer a safe, warm, non-judgemental social environment for women to build meaningful connections and have access to free activities and resources.

As a volunteer your role will be to support individuals using a peer approach by co-facilitating peer-led workshops, offering emotional and social support. By doing this, it provides an opportunity for service users to develop and manage meaningful and purposeful choices in an independent and empowered way.

We are looking for someone who

• Has lived experience of being in prison / mental health wards / rehab and recovery communities
• Are a non-judgemental and friendly individual
• To be able to provide a welcoming, authentic, and positive experience for all, being inclusive and embracing diversity
• To feel comfortable engaging with women with mental health challenges / difficult life experiences, by validating strengths and experiences and using empowering language to overcome negative self-talk
• Are empathic and understands the stigma / social bias's surrounding forensic leavers and their experiences
• Are willing to tap into their lived experiences and use their stories to inspire hope in others when appropriate
• Are comfortable with co-producing and co-facilitating peer led workshops
• To assist the Forensic Project Coordinator in the daily running of the Forensic Women’s hub
• Are able to take on any ad hoc admin/support responsibilities within the Forensic Women’s Hub

 

Time commitment and expenses:

• Flexible hours (Weds, Sat and Sun) Please indicate your preferred volunteering day(s) on your application.
• We will provide volunteers with an induction, training, and ongoing mentoring to support them in the role 
• Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

What's in it for the volunteer?

Volunteering at Mind is a fantastic opportunity to get involved with a nationally recognised charity, and volunteering in Safe Space is an opportunity to experience and get involved in crisis support. We provide initial and ongoing training, as well as plenty of opportunities for progression within the organisation. You will also be a part of a supportive team with great awareness of wellbeing and the mental health sector.

How to Apply:

Please attach your recent CV and expression of interest

Do you enjoying talking with people and helping them based on your life experiences?

Are you able to volunteer a few hours a week?

Yes? We’d love to hear from you.

What is knus?

knus is the UK’s first free, confidential, mental health peer support and coaching online chat service. knus offers mental health educational plans, relaxation experiences and live workshops.

What does knus mean? 'hug' in Danish.

Here’s some further information on what’s needed:

Are you over 18 and living in the UK?

You must be over the 18 years of age and live permanently in the UK.

Do you have a laptop?

A laptop and a quiet space to volunteer is essential.

How much time can you give?

A minimum of 3+ hours per week is required. We are flexible and like to work around you.

Do you like to learn?

We provide training for all volunteers that join us. Our peer support training is CPD accredited.  20-25 hours of volunteering training is required and is self led online.

If you’re interested head over to our website and we can have a chat or apply here.

Please note - all successful volunteers are required to donate the cost price of £20.60 for an Enhanced DBS check.  If you've got a current Enhanced DBS on the update service, this cost will not apply.

You must be a UK resident to apply for this role.

£Volunteer - allowance of travel and luncheon voucher
Minimum 7 hours pw, up to 21 hrs depending on availability

Ref: VPR-251

Are you a proactive, collaborative and approachable individual with the desire to support others to develop improved employability skills and progress towards employment?  Do you have the patience and willingness to work with sometimes vulnerable, talkative and demanding clients?

If so, St Giles is looking for a Volunteer Peer Advisor to work collaboratively with staff across St Giles Trust and externally to develop a flexible, holistic and personalised pathway towards employment for clients.

About St Giles Trust
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need.  Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

About this key role
As directed by the Caseworker or Team Leader, you will carry out promotional and engagement activities to recruit participants, as well as individual needs assessments with participants, obtaining information from referral agencies where possible.  You will support participants in carrying out individual and group activities to implement their plans and make progress towards employment, plus act as a Peer Advisor to participants, providing ‘support from someone who has been there’.

We will also count on you to act as a positive role model for what participants can achieve, help develop their confidence and make referrals for specialist help, including what is available within the project, plus, as skills develop, take on a small caseload of participants.

What we are looking for

• Knowledge of support needs and the issues facing individuals with barriers to work
• Ability to work in line with relevant legislation, policies and procedures
• Level 3 Advice and Guidance or equivalent or willingness to work towards
• Commitment to promoting equality and celebrating diversity
• Commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal.

Please note: this role requires that successful candidates must undergo an Enhanced Adult DBS check, on the basis that the post involves contact with vulnerable participants and colleagues.

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

Closing date: 10 August 11PM

Purpose of the role

To provide a positive, informative, sensitive and safe environment for those affected by EDS to share, learn and form a community.

What will you be doing? • Facilitating and hosting a minimum of 4 support group meetings in your local area every year, in a disabled friendly venue or virtually, using an allocated fund to cover the cost. • Checking your local social media regional group (Facebook) for messages and replying or signposting to the office or a local service. • Keeping up to date with training implemented by EDS UK and having guidance meetings as needed. • Giving facts and figures to your CM after each meeting • Checking your EDS UK email accounts at least once a week and responding to queries • Encouraging attendees to join The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK as a member • Signposting members to other support services • Liaising with fellow Area Coordinators in your region or in the UK

Skills and qualities needed Organised and self-motivated Good communication skills Compassionate and enthusiastic about helping others IT literate (email, Social media) A basic knowledge of EDS/HSD or understanding of chronic illness

Time commitment Quarterly support group meetings of 2/3 hours in length Checking in on the regional Facebook group a few times a week (30 mins per week) Checking and responding to emails as necessary (30 mins per week) Attending occasional Area Coordinator meetings (1 hour once a month) Some Area Coordinators run meetings more regularly, but there is no requirement to do so.

Mandatory Training Adult Safeguarding Fully enhanced DBS check

Benefits Helping others in need of support within the EDS community Making a difference to those around you Bi-annual Fragile Links magazines free of charge Training in relevant subjects Support from your allocated CM as well as from the charity Benefits guides if required Agreed expenses covered Develop your own management and facilitation skills Improve confidence

Support in the role • A full induction programme • We have a closed Facebook peer support group for Area Coordinators only to share experience and ask for information. • The CM’s and office staff will be there to support you within your role and can be in contact with you as much or as little as you need during office hours, and we encourage regular contact with us. We use the AC Facebook group and email to update all volunteers on any information we think they might find useful. • Monthly virtual Area Coordinator support group meeting on Zoom open to all volunteers. • Monthly Manager led AC meetings sharing information, best practice and taking feedback from volunteers. • A dedicated volunteer's website • Regional Messenger volunteer groups • Peer mentoring with an experienced Area Coordinator if requested

We are an award winning charity that provides a school-based 1-2-1 mentoring programme for vulnerable young people, helping them to realise their full potential no matter what their circumstances.

Our mentors are volunteers who give just 1 hour a week to mentor the young person they are carefully matched to.

Through no fault of their own, young people who are care-experienced or facing challenges experience a significant gap in outcomes compared to their peers. They aren’t reaching their potential - but 1-2-1 mentoring can change that. Just one hour a week with a consistent, caring adult can boost confidence, academic performance and open doors to a brighter future. 

We’re transforming the lives of the young people we support, recognising their talent, we help them to grow and utilise their abilities. We want everyone to get a fair chance at life. 

As a mentor you would provide encouragement, reassurance and a safe space to build confidence and self worth, ultimately helping the young person to unlock their potential.

No prior experience is required - we say that if you care, you qualify! If you are good at listening and keen to make a difference, you can mentor. We will provide excellent training and on going support. 

By volunteering as a mentor you really can transform the life of a young person who is facing challenges. You will be a caring, positive, consistent adult , a supportive friend, a role model, and a trustworthy listening ear. We are sure that you will also find the role incredibly rewarding whilst also developing your skills in active listening and empathy.

"Everybody's got something to offer. Everybody's got life skills. It doesn't matter where you come from. It was the best thing that I've ever done."

We are looking to recruit volunteer mentors in different locations in Ealing.

If you would like to help young people flourish and make a positive difference to your local community, please do get in touch! 

An hour a week - a lifetime of impact! 

We are an award winning charity that provide a school-based 1-2-1 mentoring programme for vulnerable young people, helping them to realise their full potential no matter what their circumstances.

Our mentors are volunteers who give just 1 hour a week to mentor the young person they are carefully matched to.

Through no fault of their own, young people who are care-experienced or facing challenges experience a significant gap in outcomes compared to their peers. They aren’t reaching their potential - but 1-2-1 mentoring can change that. Just one hour a week with a consistent, caring adult can boost confidence, academic performance and open doors to a brighter future. 

We’re transforming the lives of the young people we support, recognising their talent, we help them to grow and utilise their abilities. We want everyone to get a fair chance at life. 

As a mentor you would provide encouragement, reassurance and a safe space to build confidence and self worth, ultimately helping the young person to unlock their potential.

No prior experience is required - we say that if you care, you qualify! If you are good at listening and keen to make a difference, you can mentor. We will provide excellent training and on going support. 

By volunteering as a mentor you really can transform the life of a young person who is facing challenges. You will be a caring, positive, consistent adult , a supportive friend, a role model, and a trustworthy listening ear. We are sure that you will also find the role incredibly rewarding whilst also developing your skills in active listening and empathy.

"Everybody's got something to offer. Everybody's got life skills. It doesn't matter where you come from. It was the best thing that I've ever done."

We are looking to recruit volunteer mentors in different locations in Hertfordshire: Stevenage, Tring, Hertford, Cheshunt, and Hemel Hempstead.

If you would like to help young people flourish and make a positive difference to your local community, please do get in touch! 

An hour a week - a lifetime of impact! 

We are an award winning charity that provide a school-based 1-2-1 mentoring programme for vulnerable young people, helping them to realise their full potential no matter what their circumstances.

Our mentors are volunteers who give just 1 hour a week to mentor the young person they are carefully matched to.

Through no fault of their own, young people who are care-experienced or facing challenges experience a significant gap in outcomes compared to their peers. They aren’t reaching their potential - but 1-2-1 mentoring can change that. Just one hour a week with a consistent, caring adult can boost confidence, academic performance and open doors to a brighter future. 

We’re transforming the lives of the young people we support, recognising their talent, we help them to grow and utilise their abilities. We want everyone to get a fair chance at life. 

As a mentor you would provide encouragement, reassurance and a safe space to build confidence and self worth, ultimately helping the young person to unlock their potential.

No prior experience is required - we say that if you care, you qualify! If you are good at listening and keen to make a difference, you can mentor. We will provide excellent training and on going support. 

By volunteering as a mentor you really can transform the life of a young person who is facing challenges. You will be a caring, positive, consistent adult , a supportive friend, a role model, and a trustworthy listening ear. We are sure that you will also find the role incredibly rewarding whilst also developing your skills in active listening and empathy.

"Everybody's got something to offer. Everybody's got life skills. It doesn't matter where you come from. It was the best thing that I've ever done."

We are looking to recruit volunteer mentors in different locations in Surrey: Guildford, Sunbury, Ash, Esher, Horley, and Redhill. 

If you would like to help young people flourish and make a positive difference to your local community, please do get in touch! 

An hour a week - a lifetime of impact! 

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.

�� Volunteer Opportunity: Make a Difference in the Lives of Women and Children Recovering from Narcissistic Abuse ��

Are you passionate about supporting women and children affected by emotional and psychological abuse? Do you believe in the power of community, compassion, and healing? Join us at RISE Scotland, a non-profit organization who are pre-launch and pre-funding, dedicated to helping survivors of narcissistic abuse rebuild their lives with dignity and strength.

We’re looking for empathetic, reliable, and motivated volunteers to support our mission. Whether you have professional experience or simply a desire to help, there’s a place for you in our community.

Current Volunteer Roles Include:

• Support Group Facilitators (in-person or virtual)

• Peer Mentors for survivors rebuilding their lives

• Social Media & Awareness Campaign Assistants

• Fundraising & Event Volunteers

• Admin Support

• Childcare Support during workshops and group sessions

What You’ll Gain:

• A chance to make a real difference in survivors’ lives

• Training and ongoing support

• A compassionate and purpose-driven community

• Valuable experience in trauma-informed care, advocacy, and nonprofit work

What We’re Looking For:

• A deep sense of empathy and respect for survivors’ journeys

• Good listening and communication skills

• A commitment to confidentiality and creating a safe space

• Reliability and a willingness to learn

• Experience with narcissistic abuse (personally or professionally) is a plus, but not required

Help us empower survivors. Help us break the cycle.

Districts within York and North Yorkshire
Ref: CYP-251
 
Are you a personable, resilient and reliable individual with the commitment – and, above all, the understanding – to build trusted professional relationships with vulnerable children and young people?

If so, St Giles has opportunities to join us in the volunteer role of SOS North Yorkshire Peer Advisor – working on an award-winning project that educates children and young people around the risks and signs of exploitation, serious violence, and gangs, through group facilitated sessions and tailored one-to-one intervention sessions in schools and other community settings.

About St Giles Trust
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

About this key role
You’ll join us in mentoring children and young people who are victims of, or have been affected by, sexual or criminal exploitation, or who are frequently missing from home. Receiving full training, including a Level 3 Information Advice and Guidance qualification, you’ll provide support to SOS caseworkers developing and delivering educational sessions to children and young people between the ages of 10-25 years, on topics such as: weapons awareness; the reality of prison; gangs; county lines; and child sexual exploitation.

We positively encourage applications if you’ve previously worked on a client-led support project, and/or have had personal adverse experiences such as homelessness, substance misuse, debt, involvement with gangs, etc. This includes having had experience of the criminal justice system and serving a prison sentence. (You will need to demonstrate how your lived experience supports your ability to benefit our clients).

What we are looking for

• Relevant knowledge/understanding, preferably with lived/personal experience of the Criminal Justice System, and/or having been affected by criminal or sexual exploitation.
• Experience with socially excluded children, young people and/or adults.
• Experience of providing advice and guidance and/or mentoring (not essential).
• Award in Education & Training and/or Mentoring Level 3 qualification (or willingness to work towards).
• Ability to communicate and understand different experiences and perspectives without judgement.

Please note: this role requires that successful candidates must undergo an Enhanced DBS check, on the basis that the post involves contact with vulnerable participants and colleagues.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

Closing date: 11pm on 20th July 2025
Interviews: 28th July 2025 in York

The Role

Our Lotus Community works alongside the City of Edinburgh Council to provide accommodation for 14 young people (aged 16-18), who are unaccompanied asylum-seekers. They come from a variety of different countries.

The community is a step towards independent living, whilst they await a decision about their ‘leave to remain’ in the country. The asylum procedure can be a long, complicated, overwhelming and challenging process. We support the young people in the best way during this stressful time (and after). They are supported by social workers and a guardianship service as well.

What will you do as a volunteer?

We are looking for highly motivated individuals who work well independently, are proactive and can get involved in community activities. You will support the residents of the community and help look after your shared spaces in the flats. Most of the residents have basic living skills, including cooking, cleaning and budgeting. We offer further support where needed.

We can also help them gain confidence and knowledge of the local area. This is to enable them to take further steps towards independence and integration in the local community. This is also with the purpose of them moving on to accommodation that better suits their needs in the future.

Depending on the season, and interests and abilities of the residents, your tasks can include:

• Being a peer mentor and staying in touch with the residents via WhatsApp
• Organise our monthly community meeting
• Organise activities, which can be walks, cycling, board games night, karaoke, tea and cake (whatever your interests) for the residents to come along.
• Reporting issues with the flat, repairs etc.
• Making sure that all rooms always have the equipment needed (cleaning products, toilet roll, hand sanitiser, condoms etc).
• Updating your (online) calendar for the week, so everyone knows when you are volunteering and not.
• Working together with your fellow volunteer(s) to organise activities and arrange rota.

What you get:

Location: You will live in a studio bedroom in the flat alongside the young residents. You will not pay for rent or bills (including internet).

Time: 20 hours per week for minimum 6 months. These are during the evening and weekends, with exception for a few hours spent in meetings and alike.

You can volunteer and work part time at the same time. You will organise your volunteering hours with the other volunteer.

We will provide support and training needed for you to engage with the tasks and young people in a safe manner. Support, supervision and team meetings are every month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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