Person to person volunteer volunteer roles in wakefield, england

Lead Volunteer

Mind Retail

About the role

Without the help and support we receive from our Lead Volunteers and volunteer teams we wouldn’t be successful at what we do. Our Lead Volunteers play a key role by supporting the shop management team with the day to day running and management of our shops - helping us to raise crucial funds from the sale of pre-loved, donated stock to fund Mind's vital mental health support services.

Our shops are vibrant hubs in local communities across England and Wales. In our Lead Volunteer role, you’ll play a key part in building this community, helping to create a culture where every person is valued and supported - and where people have fun!

You can gain a wide variety of knowledge, skills and experience by becoming one of our valued Lead Volunteers, including:

· Experience working as part of, and leading, a diverse team

· Shop management, retail management and key holder experience

· Opportunities to improve your management, leadership and interpersonal skills

· Stock organisation, processing, pricing and merchandising skills

· Cash handling skills, including management cash functions

· Understanding of sales information, including takings

· Commercial knowledge and skills

· Understanding of policies and procedures

· Administrative skills

· IT skills

· Additional learning and development opportunities, including your own eLearning account with access to personal and professional development courses

Our Lead Volunteer roles are also flexible, so they're perfect for fitting in around your commitments. We value any time that you can give us, so whether it’s a few hours a week or a few days – we’d love to hear from you!

We need great people like you to help us in the fight for mental health. Will you join us?

Click on the role profile to find out more about our Lead Volunteer role and read on to hear some stories from our existing Lead Volunteers!

About You

• Commitment to our values & behaviours
• Enthusiastic and committed to achieving shop targets
• Flexible and adaptable approach
• Ability to work as a team and on your own initiative
• Able to build good working relationships
• Ability to work within Mind Retail’s policies and procedures
• Willingness to learn
• Good customer service skills
• Good communication skills

About Mind Retail

Mind Retail are a network of almost 200 shops across England and Wales, generating a net income of around £21 million per year. We have ambitious plans to grow over the next few years and we're going to be fighting for mental health in a way we never have before. We won't stop until everyone with a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve.

Safer Recruitment at Mind Retail

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our employees and volunteers and we expect anyone working or volunteering with us to share this commitment. This role may involve the supervision of young volunteers who are under 18. Because of this, the minimum age for this role is 18 and under our Safer Recruitment Policy, you’ll also be required to agree to an enhanced DBS check.

Our Commitment

We embrace the different perspectives that each of us bring. We want our staff and volunteers to be authentic and bring their whole selves to work. We want Mind to be a workplace that truly reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people we support. Where everyone is appreciated – regardless of race, gender, age, religion, identity and experience.

Hear from some of our existing Lead Volunteers…

Stuart, Lead Volunteer at our North Shields Mind Shop

Why did you want to become a Lead Volunteer?

I chose to volunteer at Mind, specifically because of the cause – I support the charity in what they want to achieve. Mind also supported me through the lockdown period during the pandemic, which I found very isolating.

I’ve volunteered for Mind for 20 years - I started volunteering for Mind in 2005. At the time, I had a full-time job, but I wanted to try volunteering. I’ve volunteered in a number of Mind shops, including Wallsend, Whitley Bay, Gateshead (which was where I became a Lead Volunteer) and finally, North Shields.

I wanted to become a Lead Volunteer to gain more experience, which I can then pass onto others. I now undertake key holder duties in my current shop. It was a little scary to begin with, but there was plenty of support from the wider region and I feel really proud to now be doing the role.

What knowledge and skills have you gained or developed whilst being in the Lead Volunteer role?

I’ve developed my technology skills – I’ve learnt how to use the till, how to use the computer including emails and Microsoft Teams, how to complete eLearning and the new Gift Aid hub. I struggled a bit before with technology, so it’s really helped me to be exposed to it more. I’ve also developed cash handling skills and how to deal with external contractors. My confidence has really grown and I’m also now able to cover local stores too!

What do you enjoy most about being a Lead Volunteer?

I really enjoy giving amazing customer service and working with the team of staff and volunteers – we have lots of fun whilst we work! The shop has a great atmosphere. My Shop Manager has said she couldn’t do without me! I would really recommend for anyone to come and volunteer with Mind – it’s a great way to meet new people.

Lead Volunteer at our Turnham Green Mind Shop

Why did you want to become a Lead Volunteer?

I wanted to become a Lead Volunteer because I wanted to take on more responsibilities and keep myself as productive as possible. By taking on more responsibilities, I’m able to support the wider team with certain activities within the shop. It’s also helped me become less focused on my myself and my own problems. I suffer from low self-esteem and felt that by becoming a Lead Volunteer, it would help strengthen my self-worth.

What knowledge and skills have you gained or developed whilst being in the Lead Volunteer role?

As I have never worked in retail, becoming a Lead Volunteer has given me more insight into how the retail industry and how Mind Retail operates day-to-day. I have become more patient and not as isolated as before. My communication skills have improved too.

What do you enjoy most about being a Lead Volunteer?

Certain customers are confiding in me about their mental health. I find it great to be able to assist and provide some support. We all just need an ear to listen…

It’s also great to be able to make decisions too. The team I work with at the shop are very supportive and understanding – they look after me and I feel like a belong to a small family. The team really understand that our shops are not just shops! They’re a place where everyone, including those with mental health problems, can feel safe and listened to.

Sustainability Research Volunteer
People & Planet is looking for volunteers to assist with compiling its 2025/26 People & Planet
University League; the only higher education ranking that classifies based on ethics and climate
justice criteria.
Universities impart skills and knowledge, form life-long beliefs and behaviours, act as centres of
communities, employ, house and feed large numbers of people and promote the creation and
sharing of knowledge. We believe this makes them uniquely placed to lead on environmental and
ethical issues. For this reason the People & Planet University League has been running since 2007
and has been published by high-profile media partners such as The Guardian (2021, 2022. 2023,
2024) and whose data is used in the Sunday Time Good University Guide.
Volunteers will research publicly available university documents and assess universities against
our marking criteria, which cover a wide range of climate and social justice issues including
decarbonisation, fossil fuel divestment, ethical banking, workers’ rights and environmental
management among others. This work will help to incentivise the university sector towards taking
immediate and appropriate action on the climate crisis and upholding the rights and wellbeing of all
people internationally.

The role will develop and improve the following areas:
●​ Qualitative research skills
●​ Attention to detail
●​ Use of data collection software
●​ Time management and keeping to deadlines
●​ Working independently and remotely
●​ Communication skills
●​ Knowledge of environmental management processes and sustainability reporting.

Training is provided for the role. We believe the skills and experience gained could be valuable for
a number of career paths, including working in NGOs, corporate sustainability, estates
management, higher education policy making, research and campaigning among many others.
People & Planet would like to support volunteers in their future careers, so will give all volunteers
an official reference letter on successful completion of their placement and will act as a referee for
future positions for which you may apply. From last year’s cohort, 100% said they would
recommend this position to someone who wanted to add experience to their CV.

Feedback from previous volunteers
‘I think as someone looking for relevant experience to bolster a CV, this is a helpful and
not-too-time-consuming position. It had exactly the kind of flexibility that I required at this point in time.’
‘It's a really great opportunity to hone one's research skills, learn more about what our universities can do to
improve their impact on the planet, and make a small but real difference.’

Person Specification -the following are essential:

• Access to a computer or laptop and internet connection.
• Familiarity with desk-based research.
• Ability to work accurately and efficiently to agreed standards.
• Reliability and commitment to completing work to deadlines.Sustainability Research Volunteer
• Able to communicate needs with staff at People & Planet and if needed, ask for appropriate
• support to complete tasks in time.
• Ability to search policy documents for specific information in English.
• Ability to assess information against standardised frameworks.
• Ability to work remotely and independently

The following are desirable:

●​ Awareness of current issues in sustainability and ethics.
●​ Experience of research and data collection.
●​ An interest in higher education policy.
You will need to commit to
●​ Two 25 hour weeks of remote work in July and August.
●​ 5 hours work per day for the two week period. Volunteers can manage their own time
flexibly and will receive support from People & Planet, but must meet task deadlines on a
weekly basis and attend a short daily meeting.
●​ One half day of remote training and induction the week prior to your 2 week engagement.
●​ Attending a brief meeting in the morning or afternoon each day and one individual check-in
meeting in week 1.

Summer timetable
June 30th-July 11th Ethical Investment and Banking, Ethical Careers and Recruitment,
Education for Sustainable Development. Training and induction w/c 23rd June
July 21st-1st August Sustainable Food, Staff & HR, Environmental Policy and Strategy
Training and induction w/c 14th July
August 11th-August 22nd Managing Carbon, Workers’ Rights, Staff and Student
Engagement, Environmental Management and Auditing. Training and induction w/c August
4th

Application

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until positions are filled, so please apply early to
avoid disappointment. The deadline for applications is Friday June the 6th 2025
Candidates will need to attend a non-competitive group recruitment session and complete an
online self-access task before being invited to volunteer with us.
Please let us know if you have specific access needs and what we can do to make the interview,
training and volunteer experience more accessible to you, including organising a one-on-one
interview. We welcome people with hearing loss, deaf and or disabled people to apply for thisSustainability Research Volunteer volunteer opportunity -unfortunately we don't use BSL so would need to make alternative support provisions for the training, unless a BSL interpreter can join you. If you have specific needs where
we might support you by making this volunteering opportunity more accessible, please let us know via email
People & Planet welcome applications from BAME folks and people of colour, from disabled people, from LGBTQI*people, from people who speak English as a second language, from people who identify as non-binary gender, from women, from people of different ages, from people with caring responsibilities and from people with irregular migration status, people seeking asylum in the UK or with a migrant background, folks with a working class background, and everyone else.

Jumble Sales Organiser Volunteer

Would you like to raise funds, have fun and join a super team of volunteers who together make our Jumble Sales in Thatcham a great success?  As Jumble Sales Organiser you would be helping to make everything run smoothly for the team.

Time Expectations:  1 Saturday every other month (plus preparations)

This could be a shared role and tasks may include:

· Booking the hall for future Jumbles

· Contacting the Jumble team before events to check availability

· Set up stalls, running a stall and packing away at the end

· Collecting any items/resources needed from the centre the day before

Without volunteers, Cats Protection Berkshire Cat Centre simply wouldn't exist. Our amazing, friendly volunteers are a diverse group with a shared love of cats who fit volunteering around their home lives and personal commitments.

We're often looking to welcome new volunteers to join our brilliant team. As well as meeting great people and making an incredible difference to the cats of Berkshire.

Please note:  Although we do welcome everyone, unfortunately our centre is not set up to accommodate young volunteers under the age of 18, including those on the Duke of Edinburgh programme.

Full training and support will be given for all roles.  We look forward to hearing from you!

The Great Autistic CIC is Newly-Founded and exists to tackle rising mental health concerns, hypermobility, inadequate support systems, limited awareness and inclusion, educational barriers and community disconnection faced by neurodiverse individuals, particularly those with autism and learning difficulties. 

“

We believe that every neurodiverse brain has its own superpowers. Our organisation turns challenges into opportunities by offering tailored educational support, creative social activities like art clubs and nature walks, and strong advocacy that gives voice to those with autism. We’re a community built on lived experience and on a mission to help every unique individual shine.  

”

Are you a creative whiz with a knack for web design? Do you want to make a real difference in your community?

The Great Autistic CIC is looking for a passionate and talented Volunteer Web Designer to join our team! We're a friendly bunch dedicated to supporting the autistic community, and we need your help to make our online presence shine.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Help us create a beautiful and user-friendly website: We want our website to be a welcoming and informative space for everyone.
• Work on exciting projects: You'll get to use your design skills on real projects that make a difference.
• Learn and grow: We're a supportive team, and you'll have the chance to develop your skills and learn new things.

What We're Looking For:

• Someone with a passion for web design: Whether you're a beginner or a pro, we'd love to hear from you!
• A friendly and reliable person: We're looking for someone who's easy to work with and committed to helping out.
• Someone who's kind, honest, and understanding: We value these qualities in all our volunteers.

What You'll Get:

• The chance to build your portfolio: Showcase your skills and experience with real-world projects.
• Connect with a wonderful community: Meet new people and make a difference.
• Feel good about giving back: Your work will help us support autistic individuals and their families.

Interested: please email us!!

and tell us a bit about yourself and why you'd like to volunteer with us!

Fundraising Events Organiser Volunteer

Would you like to be part of a dedicated and friendly team of volunteers and make a real difference to the lives of cats and kittens in our care?  Do you enjoy planning and organising for events?  Maybe you have a particular skill that you would like to put to use?
 
Then this could be the role for you! 
 
Our Fundraising Events Team are at the heart of what we do, raising essential funds for the cats. 

Our Fundraising Events Organisers share ideas, tasks and inspiration, planning and delivering local events, with the support of the Fundraising events helpers, such as Open Days (usually 2 per year) at the centre and our annual Christmas Bazaar. 

Time Expectation:  This role can be varied and time commitment can be flexible. 

Without volunteers, Cats Protection Berkshire Cat Centre simply wouldn't exist. Our amazing, friendly volunteers are a diverse group with a shared love of cats who fit volunteering around their home lives and personal commitments.

We're often looking to welcome new volunteers to join our brilliant team. As well as meeting great people and making an incredible difference to the cats of Berkshire.

Please note:  Although we do welcome everyone, unfortunately our centre is not set up to accommodate young volunteers under the age of 18, including those on the Duke of Edinburgh programme.

Full training and support will be given for all roles.  We look forward to hearing from you!

About VoiceAbility

VoiceAbility is an independent charity and one of the UK’s largest providers of advocacy and involvement services. We deliver a wide range of service contracts funded by local authorities, health trusts and other voluntary and private sector organisations. 

We’ve been supporting people to have their say in decisions about their health, care, and wellbeing for over 40 years. We make sure people are heard when it matters most.  For more information on what Advocacy is and the services offered then please visit our website.

Why Volunteer with VoiceAbility

Volunteering with VoiceAbility gives you the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community by helping others ensure their voices are heard and valued. The roles we offer are deeply rewarding and may challenge you in new ways. You’ll develop your communication skills, meet new people, and gain a greater understanding of others, while enjoying a sense of personal fulfilment along the way!

Whether you're looking to give back to your community, learn something new, or simply enjoy connecting with others, we’d love to have you on board!

Service Team Volunteer

Our service team volunteers undertake an administrative role that provides support to our advocacy service teams in a variety of ways. 

As a service team volunteer in England, you might: 

• support the local advocacy team as needed, for example administrative tasks

• drop off promotional materials at various locations 

• attend events with other staff or assist in organising small local events

• support staff with presentations

• accompany advocacy staff on visits 

You will need to be over 18 years old and be living in the UK. Please note that the Independent Visitor Volunteers generally volunteer at evening and weekends due to the children’s and young person’s availability.

Safeguarding Commitment Statement

VoiceAbility are committed to safeguarding all clients who access our services. All Volunteers will be required to undertake a DBS check at the appropriate level and provide contact details for a minimum of two referees in line with our safer recruitment practice.

ED&I Statement

VoiceAbility believes in fostering an inclusive workplace which welcomes, values and celebrates the diversity of its staff and partners, treats all on a basis of equality and encourages all to meet their maximum potential.

VoiceAbility are a Disability Confident employer, any applicant that identifies themselves as having a disability and can demonstrate that they meet all the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview. If you need to apply in a different way, please contact the Volunteering team for further options.

To find out more click “Apply Now”. 

Leeds Church Institute (LCI) is an ecumenical faith-based learning organisation, with an office in Leeds city centre.

LCI exists to be an active and progressive agent in city life for the benefit of all, working through events, publications and social media. It is a registered charity operating as a company limited by guarantee.

The Board of Trustees of the charity, also known as the LCI Council, serves as the board of directors of the company, and to help the organisation grow they are seeking experienced members of the public to join the LCI Council.

Due to a forthcoming retirement from the Board, the Trustees are eager to recruit someone with the financial skills and experience to serve as the organisation’s Treasurer, ensuring the organisation's financial health and stability. They will advise trustees on financial responsibilities, including the budget, and monitor the charity's finances, while also liaising with staff as needed. In addition, the Board’s most recent skills audit has shown that we would especially welcome applications from people who have professional knowledge and or experience in the area of communications. We are also keen to increase diversity within LCI’s Board, particularly welcoming expressions of interests from people with ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTIQA+, people with disabilities and younger people as these are currently under-represented on our Board.

The Board helps the organisation’s Director and staff set the strategy and policies for LCI, supports the staff team fulfil LCI’s vision, mission and its operational plans.

Trustees are appointed for a three-year term of office, renewal for a further term of three years, with an additional further term under exceptional circumstances. This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

LCI Council meetings are held in the daytime on five occasions per year, with a separate (evening) AGM and two Staff / Council (daytime) away half-days.

If you believe you would add value to our board, we would be keen to hear from you. If you would like to have an informal chat to understand more about the organisation and the role, please email the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Revd Paul Maybury Similarly, if you would like to visit LCI, please also speak to Paul Maybury to arrange a suitable date to visit.

If you would like to apply for the position, please email Alistair Cheetham (Finance & Compliance Officer) who will send you the recruitment pack which contains further information about the organisation and the role of an LCI Council Member. As an inclusive charity, if you require any reasonable adjustments to help you with your application and through the assessment process, please let us know.

The role will necessitate a Disclosure and Barring Service DBS check.

National Helpline Volunteer Role

Join our team of dedicated helpline volunteers and help change the lives of bereaved people. 

Volunteers have always been, and remain at the very heart of Cruse, supporting thousands of bereaved people every year and playing an incredible role enriching so many aspects of our organisation.  The National Helpline is a key service within Cruse, enabling us to support bereaved people with compassion and empathy. 

As a Helpline Bereavement Volunteer, you will join a thriving volunteer community to provide emotional support, information and signposting over the phone to bereaved people. You provide this through a person-centred, empathetic and non-judgemental approach to supporting all our callers, in accordance with Cruse Bereavement Supports policies and procedures. This role is home-based only, so you must have a quiet and private space to work in, access to a computer (Tablets or iPad’s will not be suitable) and a stable Wi-Fi connection. 

You must be open to communicating with a diverse range of clients over the phone and understand that some of the content of the calls may be distressing to hear. Although it may be difficult at times, the reward of being able to support someone is one of our volunteers’ main motivations for doing this role. 

Want to find out more? 

We will be holding an open day on the 22nd May where you can join our Zoom session to find out more about the role, the training involved, meet with other volunteers and hear from members of the helpline team. 

Please note that should you wish to become a Helpline Volunteer after attending the open day, we will be holding informal interviews from 2nd June to the 23rd of June during office hours. 

https://buytickets.at/crusenationalservices/1659153 - 1.30pm Link 

 https://buytickets.at/crusenationalservices/1659160 - 6pm Link 

As a Group Leader, you’ll play a key role in delivering our life-changing therapeutic services by co-facilitating weekly self-help groups. Using a proven model rooted in Exposure-Response Therapy and CBT, you'll help guide members through understanding their conditions and moving toward recovery.

We’ll train you to confidently co-lead sessions with another volunteer. All you need is empathy, warmth, and a genuine desire to support others. Lived experience of anxiety, OCD, or phobias is a bonus, not a must. We ask for a commitment of just 2 hours a week for at least 12 months.

You’ll be part of something truly meaningful—helping others while growing personally and professionally.

What will you be doing?

Therapeutic Responsibilities

• Co-facilitate therapeutic guided self-help groups every week.
• Interact with relevant service users to arrange their initial attendance at therapeutic groups.
• Consistently work within the scope of your training and recognise the limits of your practice.
• Liaise closely with the organisation's Clinical Director to discuss challenging cases and clinical concerns.
• Inform the Clinical Director of any expected instances of absence two weeks before the event. 
• Administrative Responsibilities
• Record service users' attendance every week.
• Maintain service user attendance databases to the highest possible standards of accuracy and detail.
• Disseminate psychometric measures to service users by the organisation's evaluation strategy
• Promote a culture of evaluation amongst service users attending your groups to enhance the amount of individualised feedback available to them.
• Respond to service user enquiries, and organisational communications, in an appropriately timely manner.
• Actively engage in the initial training workshops that are provided by the organisation.
• Maintain a commitment to continual personal development and engage in additional training opportunities when provided.
• Actively engage in organised peer reflective practices
• Make use of the organisation-wide digital communication channels to share and learn therapeutic practices. 

• Safeguarding - It is every volunteer's responsibility to safeguard and protect adults and children from abuse, regardless of the setting in which your care takes place. It is the volunteer's responsibility to be aware of the charity's policies and procedures and proactively maintain safeguarding procedural knowledge.

Additional Responsibilities

• Adhere to all organisational policies and procedures.
• Support the organisation's promotion of a positive approach to diversity and inclusion, treating others with dignity and respect.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with colleagues, taking account of their age, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, marital or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or maternity status and any disability.
• Maintain an approachable nature, ensuring that your conduct towards colleagues is open and honest, dealing with differences in opinion in ways which avoid offence.

Shout is the UK’s only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. When people text 'Shout' to 85258, they are connected to a Shout Volunteer for a text conversation. Our volunteers provide a safe space for people to share what's causing them distress, while showing warmth and compassion.

Tasks and Responsibilities

If your application is successful, you’ll be enrolled in a training group. New groups start every two weeks.

Shout Volunteers receive 25 hours of free training in communication, listening, managing and assessing risk, and problem solving. The training is self-paced and done online. You’ll learn how to bring people in distress to a place of calm and practice skills that will be useful to you throughout life.

As we are investing in you throughout your time with us, our hope is that you will complete the training in a timely manner and look at this as a longer term commitment. The experience you gain over time is valuable and our goal is to have volunteers commit to 200 hours on the platform, which can take up to two years to complete, as we ask you to take one 2-4 hour shift per week. 

Our Volunteer Training Support team is here to support you, answer any questions and provide feedback during training and throughout your time with Shout. You’ll be joining an incredibly supportive volunteer community and have access to the resources you need to do your role.

As a volunteer, you’ll be supporting people in distress, so it’s important we see the skills required to do that while you are in training. While most trainees complete the training and go on to volunteer, not everyone will pass the training. If this happens, there are other ways you can still support us.

Selection Criteria

A Shout Volunteer is kind and compassionate, a good listener, and has the ability to remain calm when supporting people in crisis. You will also:

• Understand the difference between being friendly and being a friend

• Be aware of your own mental health and wellbeing

• Be open-minded

• Be supportive

• Be reliable

• Be discreet and able to respect confidentiality at all times

• Be accepting and non-judgemental

• Be passionate about contributing some of your time to a cause such as Shout

• Adopt a growth mindset, and be willing to accept feedback

Requirements

• You must live in the United Kingdom or New Zealand while volunteering. 
• You must be over 18 years of age.
• You will need a reliable internet connection and a private place to take your shift.
• All of your volunteering must be done using a laptop or desktop computer and Google Chrome.

It’s worth spending time thinking about the nature of the role, and whether it’s right for you. We support all texters, regardless of race, religion, sexual identity or issue. You will need to be comfortable addressing topics frequently discussed with texters (suicide, self-harm, depression, etc.) without compromising your own mental health. 

Before you apply, please consider whether either of the following applies to you:

• Have you recently experienced grief, loss or change issue/s? For example; someone close to you has been ill or has died, you’ve lost your job, your relationship has ended.

• Is your current mental health and wellbeing in a place such that the stress and pressure of listening to the challenges of others would bring additional burden to you personally?

Benefits to Volunteers

The role is rewarding and can save lives. Shout Volunteers tell us they gain a sense of pride, satisfaction and purpose from taking conversations. They also tell us that their own wellbeing increases, they learn valuable skills and gain experience they can use at work and in their personal lives.

Volunteering can also be a great addition to your CV. You do not need to have any past experience in mental health to be a Shout Volunteer - we’ll provide you with all the training and support you need to do the role.

Application Process

You will need to create your account and fill in the application using a laptop or desktop computer and in a Google Chrome browser. This is a standard requirement for all of our systems at Shout, from the application through to the platform.

You should leave up to an hour to complete the form. As Shout is a text based service and we do not conduct in person interviews for our volunteer candidates what you write in your application and the strength of your references are how we get to know you. 

We appreciate when candidates take the time to write thoughtful, considered answers. We recommend you review your application with an eye toward things like spelling, grammar and punctuation. While some of our texters will occasionally reach out using more informal text speak, our volunteers respond in full sentences and double check their messages for accuracy before hitting send. 

Your application will be reviewed once we have received responses from both of your references. We ask for a personal reference and a professional reference. The personal reference can be a friend or colleague but the other must be someone who knows you professionally or has supervised you in some way. 

This could be a manager or supervisor from where you work or a teacher or educator from where you study. We recommend you choose references who are able to speak to your ability to fulfil the selection criteria outlined above.

We do not accept references from family members. This includes your partner or their relatives, your children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents or godparents. 

Please allow up to a month for us to review your application and return a decision. 

If your application is approved, you can book your place on training. Training groups usually start every two weeks and spaces are available to book a couple of months ahead. While you are in training and before you are allowed on the platform we will carry out a background check.

Volunteer:  Volunteer Community Outreach Officer

Location: Off-site with occasional in-person activities

Reports to: Volunteer Manager

Support Connect and Inspire Local Volunteers for ROLDA UK!

Are you interested in animal welfare and want to make a positive difference in your community? ROLDA UK are now seeking Volunteer Community Outreach Officer to help reach out to local volunteers, facilitate small activities in the community, and raise awareness of our charity's mission to rescue and rehabilitate stray and abandoned animals.

Your Role

• Help ROLDA UK build a local presence within your community by networking and growing local volunteers who are interested in animal welfare and ask them to join you.

• Create new opportunities within your local community and grow a network of volunteers who can get involved in local fundraising events like charity walks, bake sales, and helping to run local stalls etc.

• Inspire and encourage local volunteers to join your community group, collaborate, share ideas, and plan effective activities.

• Help raise awareness about ROLDA UK within your community by recruiting for volunteers to join your hub and help build local networks.

• Support your local community hub by organising regular online and in-person gatherings. Attend community events to discuss ROLDA UK’s work and encourage others to support the cause.

What We’re Looking For

• Friendly and approachable people who enjoy meeting and engaging with people.

• Good communicators who can share information and encourage others to get involved.

• Passionate about animal welfare and interested in fundraising locally to help support stray and abandoned animals.

• Organised and enthusiastic to help with planning local activities, promotion and helping out at local events.

Who Should Apply?

• Anyone interested in helping animals and becoming a part of their local community.

• Individuals who enjoy working with others and bringing people together.

• People looking for a rewarding way to volunteer and make a difference at home.

Time commitment and what’s in it for you

•  Flexible volunteer hours (for this role we just ask for a minimum of 5 hours+ a week) and give as much or as little time as you like.

• Meet like-minded people and be part of a friendly and supportive team.

• Gain valuable experience in community engagement, activities, and event planning.

• Make a difference by helping ROLDA UK grow its local presence and support more animals in need.

If you’d like to connect with others, support a great cause, and help make a difference for animals, we’d love to hear from you!

Join us today and be part of something special.

ROLDA does not support visa applications for volunteers. All in-person volunteers must have the legal right to volunteer in the country where they are located. It is the volunteer's responsibility to ensure they meet the necessary visa and work authorisation requirements before participating in any activities with ROLDA. However, remote volunteer roles do not require a visa, as they can be performed from anywhere.

The role: Our scholars are eager to meet graduates and professionals who can support them in achieving their ambitions. Mentors are mainly responsible for providing support and career advice to pupils. Mentors must also be committed to supporting us at our events, which take place in the evenings and on Saturdays throughout the term. These events include our scholar enrichment days, our parent and pupil information sessions and our volunteer social events which are held in London. 

Availability: Mentors must be available for approximately 2-3 hours a month to meet with their mentee, and discuss via phone, email or in person. There is a minimum commitment of one year (three terms).

In addition to this, you will need to support a minimum of 2 events throughout the year. Enrichment and skill-building events for our scholars usually take place in the evenings and at weekends, with events ranging from 2-8 hours in length.

Location: Mentoring sessions and events can take place online or in person.

Responsibilities: 

• Working collaboratively with parents to give students guidance and advice on how to achieve their aspirations

• Informing pupils of opportunities to them so that they can achieve their aspirations

• Meeting with pupils for one to one mentoring sessions

• Supporting pupils with university, sixth form or job applications

• Monitoring and reporting on each pupils progress

• Giving feedback to parents and programme coordinators

• Working collaboratively with other tutors and mentors

• Supporting at events including:

  • Collaborate effectively with other volunteers within the events team

  • Assist with setting up and clearing up at events

  • Support workshop facilitators with managing groups of young people or parents

  • Assist with the coordination of lunch or refreshments for attendees

  • Assist the event coordinator with ensuring the health and safety of attendees and overall risk management at events

  • Give feedback to the event coordinators and programme managers at the end of each event.

Person specification:

• Be passionate and committed to tackling educational inequality

• Enjoy working with children and young people

• Be educated to a minimum of degree level or equivalent

• Possess strong communication skills both written and verbal

• Be punctual and organised

• Be able to remain calm under pressure

• Have excellent time management skills

Our challenge
The Community Fundraising Team is an integral part of The Charity Fundraising Portfolio, with an income target of £3.6 million in 2024/25 and the team consists of Community Fundraisers based across the UK. Our role is to provide fundraising advice and support to our DIY individual fundraisers, Supporter Groups, Community Organisations and Regional Corporates.

How can you help?
We are recruiting a team of Community Fundraising Volunteers to help us provide our amazing DIY individual fundraisers with the best possible experience when contacting The Charity for information or fundraising advice. We want to be able to engage with our fundraisers and respond to queries efficiently, whilst also spotting further fundraising opportunities 
for our expert team of regional Community Fundraisers.

As part of a team of Community Fundraising Admin Volunteers, you’d help us to: 
• Manage the Community Fundraising Team inboxes.
• Respond to our Fundraisers by their preferred choice, including phone, email etc.
• Identify opportunities for further engagement by the relevant Regional Community Fundraiser.
• Update our CRM with details of the Fundraiser, their DIY event and any action taken in response to their contact with us.

What impact will you have?
You’ll play a vital role in the Community Fundraising Team, helping us provide the best possible experience to our fundraisers. 

We’re looking for...
Someone who is passionate about The Charity and our vision. You’ll also need to be: 
• Proficient with IT— including CRM software & MS Outlook
• Confident and friendly with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Able to identify new opportunities to raise awareness and funds 
• A good team player who understands the importance of collaboration

The Brain Tumour Charity is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals belonging to minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ communities, people 
with disabilities, and other underrepresented communities.

What can you gain from volunteering? 
• You’ll have the opportunity to utilise your existing skills, while developing and learning new ones to take forward into the future 
• You’ll join a friendly, passionate team and develop an understanding of how this team at The Charity operates. 

Time commitment
We’d ideally be looking for volunteers to commit to volunteering for one day per week (either one full day or two half days), as ideally we are looking for cover across the full working week. The role is home based.

Practical considerations
You will receive a full induction to The Brain Tumour Charity and specific training for the role, as well as ongoing direction from one of our Senior Community Fundraisers, who will be your key contact. We carry out reference checks for all individuals who will be volunteering with us on a regular basis. Volunteers may be required to complete some internal data protection and disclosure documentation before commencing the role. Volunteers must be over 18. We encourage volunteers to claim for any reasonable expenses that are incurred in the course of their volunteering with the Charity. 

Need support with the application process? 
We are committed to being inclusive and recognise that there may be a number of ways we could support you through the application process. If there’s any adjustments we can make to help you fully engage in the process, please do get in touch.

Join Candlelighters as a Fundraising & Events Office Volunteer!

Are you looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families affected by childhood cancer? We invite you to be part of our team!

As a Fundraising & Events Volunteer, you will support the team during an exciting phase as we aim to increase income and enhance our services for families. You will support corporate fundraising efforts, ensuring local businesses have an excellent experience supporting Candlelighters.

You will also play a key role in organising our Business Collaboration Events—fun, networking-focused gatherings that bring together current and potential supporters to foster collaboration.

Location: 8 Woodhouse Square, Leeds, LS3 1AD

Time commitment: 1 day per week (flexible)

Key Activities

General Fundraising

• Research potential new business partnerships.
• Approach businesses to explore partnerships with Candlelighters.
• Support the team in managing our business club.
• Thank supporters through letters or emails.
• Respond to supporter inquiries via telephone and email.
• Update the supporter database.
• Approach businesses to secure raffle and auction prizes.

Business Collaboration Project Event

• Book venues and negotiate with suppliers to secure free support wherever possible.
• Secure sponsorships for the event.
• Manage event invitations, including design and distribution.
• Organise the event itinerary, including speakers, games, and networking activities.
• Communicate with guests in the lead-up to the event.
• Liaise with the Marketing team to develop promotional materials.
• Perform other administrative tasks to support the fundraising team.

We are looking for volunteers who are: 

• Confident, friendly, and organised.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Reliable, proactive, and calm under pressure.
• Experience organising events is desirable.

This role is subject to a basic criminal record check, which is processed through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please note that a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from this role. We assess each application on a case-by-case basis.

Support and Benefits 

It’s vital that our volunteers feel rewarded for their amazing efforts so we want to match your goals, aspirations, availability and everything else with the right opportunity for you. Here are a few examples of what you will receive as a volunteer:

• Thorough induction & training to give you the confidence to perform your role well and to the best of your ability 
• Opportunity to develop new and existing skills to help you beyond your involvement with Candlelighters 
• Ongoing support from the Fundraising and HR teams 
• Certain expenses to be reimbursed as agreed with your Volunteer Supervisor, in accordance with our Expenses policy 
• Regular reviews with your Volunteer Supervisor to help you develop in your role 
• Satisfaction in knowing you are making a valuable contribution to supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer 
• We can be a reference once you’ve volunteered for three months 
• Access to the mental health hotline 
• Charity Worker Discount card 
• Access to The Company Shop 

We are recognised by Great Place To Work® on multiple Best Workplaces Lists in 2023 and 97% of our employees say Candlelighters is a great place to work!