Project support officer volunteer roles in edinburgh

Organisation: Make a Smile
Location: Remote (with opportunities for in-person collaboration depending on projects)
Commitment: Flexible, approx. 4–6 hours per week

About Make a Smile

At Make a Smile, we believe in creativity and innovation to ensure children and volunteers alike have the best experience possible. We’re constantly looking for fresh, forward-thinking ideas to improve how we work, and our Innovations Officers play a vital role in bringing those ideas to life.

The Role

As an Innovations Officer, you’ll take the lead on a unique innovation project—overseeing it from idea to reality. Each project is designed to keep our charity current, exciting, and impactful, whether that’s through new activities, resources, or systems that improve how we operate.

You’ll work with and manage a dedicated Innovations Subcommittee, guiding the project through planning, testing, reviewing, and rolling out across chapters. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who enjoys problem-solving, project management, and bringing creative ideas to life.

The Innovations Officer will:

• Create a clear project outline (aims, budget, timeline, required skills, and success criteria).

• Recruit and manage a subcommittee, ensuring the right mix of skills to make the project a success.

• Oversee project administration, including risk assessments, task logs, and reflection templates.

• Design, test, and pilot the project, gathering feedback from volunteers and chapters.

• Evaluate and improve the project through multiple testing rounds before rollout.

• Support full implementation, ensuring it becomes embedded into the charity’s work.

• Keep trustees updated with regular progress reports and updates at leadership meetings.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong organisational and project management skills.

• Creativity and a problem-solving mindset.

• Ability to lead and support a team of volunteers.

• Willingness to adapt, reflect, and improve upon feedback.

• An interest in developing new ideas and approaches.

• No specific technical background is required—just enthusiasm and commitment!

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience managing a project from start to finish.

• Skills in leadership, delegation, and innovation.

• The chance to bring your ideas to life and see them make a real difference.

• A collaborative, supportive environment with other volunteers.

Time Commitment

This role is flexible and can be done remotely. We ask for around 4–6 hours per week, though this may vary depending on the stage of your project.

Position:                Research, Communications and Project Intern

Location:               UK home-based (remote)

Commitment: Flexible hours (voluntary)

About Lived Expert

Lived Expert, founded by Mark Johnson MBE, is a pioneering social enterprise focusing on harnessing the power of lived experience. We've led transformative projects in areas like addiction, homelessness, neurodiversity, and the justice system, and now seek an enthusiastic intern to contribute to our mission.

Role Purpose

As a Research, Communications and Project Intern, you'll play a supportive role in our dynamic team, helping to convey powerful stories and assist in project coordination. This is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about social change and looking to gain experience in the social enterprise sector.

Key Responsibilities

1. Support Research Tasks: Help in data entry, collection and analysis.
2. Assist in Communications Tasks: Support in creating content for social media, newsletters, and other communication channels.
3. Project Support: Help in coordinating various projects, ensuring smooth operations and effective communication.
4. Consultation Assistance: Aid in gathering and analysing insight from peoples’ lived experience for ongoing projects.
5. Collaborative Work: Work closely with the team to support various initiatives and campaigns.

Person Specification

· A keen interest in social enterprise, research, communications, and project support.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills.

· Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

· Organised and detail-oriented, with a willingness to learn.

Benefits

· Gain valuable experience in communications and project coordination.

· Work remotely with a flexible schedule.

· Opportunity to contribute to impactful projects in a meaningful sector.

· Receive guidance and support from an experienced team.

Emerge Worldwide exists to amplify voices until freedom rings for all women and girls.

Our vision is to see sexual exploitation and sex trafficking abolished, and it starts one mind at a time, one life at a time!

Our mission is to prevent sexual exploitation and trafficking by advocating for policy reform, raising public awareness, and providing comprehensive support to victims/survivors. The organisation aims to assist vulnerable youth, particularly girls, and women, influence public discourse through education, and foster systemic change to enhance protections for individuals impacted by exploitation and trafficking.

Purpose of Role

The Communications Officer will play a key role in ensuring effective internal and external communication across Emerge Worldwide. This role will be responsible for producing high-quality newsletters, managing communication with partners, collaborators, influencers, and associates, maintaining organisational directories, and supporting the flow of information across departments. The Communications Officer will also manage calendars, support administrative needs, and liaise with the social media team to ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment.

This position requires excellent organisational, IT, and communication skills, alongside a proactive approach to supporting the charity’s mission and daily operations.

Role Description - What will I be doing?

 Communications & Engagement

• Draft, design, and distribute newsletters and organisational updates to stakeholders.
• Maintain effective communication with partners, collaborators, influencers, and associates.
• Identify and manage key contacts and opportunities for engagement.
• Share key information across internal departments and teams to improve collaboration.
• Work with departments to ensure consistent messaging across all channels.
• Support the development of communication strategies to raise Emerge Worldwide’s profile.

 Administration & Coordination

• Respond to general email enquiries and redirect them appropriately.
• Manage shared drives, organisational directories, and ensure accurate record-keeping.
• Coordinate and set up meetings, including preparing agendas and taking minutes.
• Support calendar management for the organisation, ensuring alignment across departments.
• Assist with the preparation of presentations, reports, and communication materials.
• Work closely with the Operations Manager to ensure smooth organisational communication flow.
• Work within agreed budgets and managing resources effectively.

 Technical & IT

• Use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for reporting, communication, and presentations.
• Support the use of Mailchimp or other IT software for mass communications.
• Maintain mailing lists, contact directories, and subscription platforms.
• Ensure compliance with data protection, GDPR, and organisational policies when managing contacts.

 Other Duties

• Support wider organisational projects and campaigns where communication is required.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with stakeholders.
• Participate in departmental and cross departmental progress meetings, training, and 1:1s
• Undertake training and professional development as required.
• Carry out any other duties in line with the role as directed by the Operations Manager.

Person Specification - What skills and qualities do I need?

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to draft professional correspondence and engaging content.
• Excellent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience using digital communication tools such as Mailchimp, CRM systems, or equivalent.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience managing calendars, meetings, and administrative systems.
• Experience of successfully working collaboratively across teams or departments.
• Attention to detail with a proactive and solution-focused approach.
• Proactive, showing initiative, with the ability to work unsupervised
• Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding, and GDPR compliance.

 Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience working in a charity, non-profit, or mission-driven organisation.
• Familiarity with managing contact directories, databases, or CRM systems.
• Knowledge of social media platforms and how they integrate with organisational communication.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement and partnership communication.
• Ability to produce visually engaging newsletters, reports, and presentations.
• Event coordination or project support experience.

 Personal Qualities

• A collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• Confident, professional, and approachable communication style.
• Able to work independently and take initiative.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Passionate about Emerge Worldwide’s mission to advocate against sexual exploitation and support vulnerable groups.

Requirements

• Resides in the UK and is eligible to volunteer
• A DBS check, if applicable
• Able to work in alignment with Emerge Worldwide’s policies, procedures, values, standards, and boundaries, including those relating to confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, and the volunteer code of conduct.
• Model Emerge Worldwide values and behaviours in all team activities

What support will I receive?

• An induction, ongoing training, supervision and support from your supervisor and the team
• Access to Emerge Worldwide’s training courses
• Out of pocket expenses approved in advance will be reimbursed

I would like to volunteer:

Please submit a Cv and cover email

References will be taken upon successful offer.

About nurtureuk

At nurtureuk, we believe that every child and young person deserves to feel safe, understood and supported to flourish at school, emotionally, socially, and academically. But for many, school can be a difficult place, especially for those who’ve experienced trauma, adversity or unmet emotional needs.

For over 50 years, we’ve been pioneers in nurturing approaches to support social emotional development, using a tried-and-tested framework that helps children and young people build the confidence, resilience, and sense of belonging they need to succeed in education and in life.

Our work transforms school environments so that they are truly inclusive, supportive and safe spaces. We train teachers and school leaders, and deliver evidence-based programmes that strengthen wellbeing across whole school communities, as well as improving attendance and reducing exclusions- because the children enjoy being in school!

At the core of our work is the Boxall Profile®, our unique, award winning and Department for Education recommended assessment tool. It helps teachers understand what lies behind a child’s behaviour; the hidden emotional needs, the gaps in development, the things a test score could never show. By shining a light on what each child needs to feel secure, the Boxall Profile empowers educators to respond with empathy, not punishment, and to nurture every child’s potential.

Behind every report and dataset is a story:
A child who finally feels safe and excited to walk into class.
A teacher who sees progress and growth where there used to be only frustration.
A family who begins to believe that things can get better. 

By joining us as a Volunteer Grant Support Officer, you’ll be helping make these stories possible, securing the funds that enable us to reach more schools, support more teachers, and change more children’s lives.

See our attached evidence brochure to learn more about the impact our work has.

The Role

We are seeking a passionate and skilled volunteer grant writer to help us increase our capacity to apply for funding from trusts and foundations.

You’ll work closely with the Income Generation staff in our Income and Partnerships team to research potential funders, write compelling proposals, and help us build long-term relationships that sustain our impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Researching new funding opportunities aligned with nurtureuk’s mission and programmes

• Writing persuasive, high-quality funding applications and accompanying documents

• Maintaining a pipeline of opportunities and tracking application progress

• Helping to build a library of core fundraising materials and case studies

• Utilising our bank of supporting evidence, data and testimonials to strengthen proposals
   

About You

We’d love to hear from you if you’re:

• An excellent writer who enjoys crafting persuasive and engaging text, ideally with previous experience of writing successful grant or funding applications

• Organised, proactive and detail-oriented

• Confident researching and interpreting funders’ criteria

• Able to work collaboratively and independently

Desirable (but not essential):

• Familiarity with the UK charity funding landscape

• Experience in education, wellbeing, or social impact sectors

What You’ll Gain

• A chance to make a tangible impact on children’s lives across the UK

• The opportunity to develop or deepen your fundraising and bid-writing experience

• Insight into how a national education charity operates

• Optional free Boxall Profile training (1 day training worth £225 exc. VAT)

• Optional free Nurture Group training (3 day course worth £699 exc. VAT)

• Support from an experienced and friendly team

• Flexibility: You can volunteer remotely, at times that suit you

• Reimbursement for any agreed expenses

Time Commitment

Approx. 3–6 hours per week, with flexibility around other commitments.
Regular remote catch-ups with the nurtureuk team and fellow volunteers.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For an informal chat, please contact Louisa on the email address supplied in the 'apply' area. 

We seek an enthusiastic individual to lead exciting fundraising events like pub quizzes, bake sales, or charity sports matches. You’ll collaborate with the Treasurer to create an inspiring annual Fundraising Plan. The role involves managing event logistics and paperwork to ensure everything runs smoothly. You’ll also build relationships with local supermarkets and businesses to tap into their fundraising programs. Additionally, you’ll empower community members by supporting their fundraising efforts. We’re looking for a creative, organized go-getter with strong communication skills and a passion for making a difference.

We seek an enthusiastic individual to lead exciting fundraising events like pub quizzes, bake sales, or charity sports matches. You’ll collaborate with the Treasurer to create an inspiring annual Fundraising Plan. The role involves managing event logistics and paperwork to ensure everything runs smoothly. You’ll also build relationships with local supermarkets and businesses to tap into their fundraising programs. Additionally, you’ll empower community members by supporting their fundraising efforts. We’re looking for a creative, organized go-getter with strong communication skills and a passion for making a difference.

The Operations Lead will play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of Path to Prosper’s activities. As Operations Lead, you will lead in various administrative, logistical, and operational tasks, enabling the CEO, Board and Operations Team to maximise the charities impact. This position is ideal for someone with strong organisational skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Events Officer has the responisbility of organising (along with the help of a Trustee Events Manager) our magical visits to children/adults with LD, this could be at the hospital, social groups, refugee centres, libraries etc etc.

They will monitor the chapter email for submitted event booking forms (some of these will come from events organised by the Events Manager on Trustees). These will then be added to the calendar and advertised to volunteers. They will ensure each event organised has a handful of volunteers confirmed within a week of the event itself. They will then provide information and support to a Lead Volunteer to run the events. They will ensure that regular events are being attended by volunteers and that they have the costume and materials that are needed for these. They will follow up after events to ensure social media posts are made, hours are uploaded and that costumes are returned. They will ensure that all volunteers are attending events.

Events Officer has the responisbility of organising (along with the help of a Trustee Events Manager) our magical visits to children/adults with LD, this could be at the hospital, social groups, refugee centres, libraries etc etc.

They will monitor the chapter email for submitted event booking forms (some of these will come from events organised by the Events Manager on Trustees). These will then be added to the calendar and advertised to volunteers. They will ensure each event organised has a handful of volunteers confirmed within a week of the event itself. They will then provide information and support to a Lead Volunteer to run the events. They will ensure that regular events are being attended by volunteers and that they have the costume and materials that are needed for these. They will follow up after events to ensure social media posts are made, hours are uploaded and that costumes are returned. They will ensure that all volunteers are attending events.

Events Officer has the responisbility of organising (along with the help of a Trustee Events Manager) our magical visits to children/adults with LD, this could be at the hospital, social groups, refugee centres, libraries etc etc.

They will monitor the chapter email for submitted event booking forms (some of these will come from events organised by the Events Manager on Trustees). These will then be added to the calendar and advertised to volunteers. They will ensure each event organised has a handful of volunteers confirmed within a week of the event itself. They will then provide information and support to a Lead Volunteer to run the events. They will ensure that regular events are being attended by volunteers and that they have the costume and materials that are needed for these. They will follow up after events to ensure social media posts are made, hours are uploaded and that costumes are returned. They will ensure that all volunteers are attending events.

We seek an enthusiastic individual to lead exciting fundraising events like pub quizzes, bake sales, or charity sports matches. You’ll collaborate with the Treasurer to create an inspiring annual Fundraising Plan. The role involves managing event logistics and paperwork to ensure everything runs smoothly. You’ll also build relationships with local businesses to tap into their fundraising programs. Additionally, you’ll empower community members by supporting their fundraising efforts. We’re looking for a creative, organized go-getter with strong communication skills and a passion for making a difference.

Group B Strep Support (GBSS) is seeking new Trustees to join our Board and help guide the charity through its next phase of growth and impact.

Following a recent skills audit, we are keen to strengthen our Board with individuals who bring expertise in key strategic areas, including fundraising, change management, external/public affairs, financial accounting, and governance. Whether you're a seasoned professional or someone with transferable experience and a passion for our mission, we would welcome your application.

About GBSS

GBSS is the UK’s leading charity working to prevent life-threatening group B Strep infections in babies. Our Trustees play a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of the charity, ensuring it remains true to its mission, well-governed, financially sound, and impactful.

You will be part of a committed and collegiate Board, working alongside fellow Trustees, our Clinical Advisory Panel and our Staff Team to uphold GBSS’s values and objectives.

Key Trustee Responsibilities

Trustees contribute actively to the Board, which:

• Sets and maintains the vision, mission and values.
• Develops strategic direction and longer-term strategies.
• Establishes and monitors policy.
• Ensures compliance with the Governing Document and the law.
• Ensures accountability and that resources are used exclusively in furtherance of GBSS’s objectives.
• Maintains proper fiscal oversight.
• Promotes the charity externally.
• Appoints, supports and monitors the performance of the CEO and Senior Leadership Team.
• Maintains effective Board performance.

We have four Trustee positions available and we’re particularly interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Fundraising & income generation
• Change management
• External/public affairs
• Finance, accounting & governance

We especially welcome applicants with recent UK maternity care experience and those from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic communities.

***This is a voluntary role, open to UK residents only. We are looking for people who are normally resident in the UK. This is to ensure compliance with governance, legal, and operational requirements relevant to our charity’s work.***

Would you like to improve the urban walking environment and our quality of life? Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced person to chair our board of voluntary trustees. 

We are a charity that can influence anyone’s daily life. Our mission is to achieve a better walking environment and inspire people to walk more. 

This is a pivotal time in our history: with a dynamic and experienced new Chief Executive, Catherine Woodhead; and a period of development, with a new strategy incoming that will take us towards our centenary in 2029. 

With our thousands of members and supporters we run campaigns for positive change and influence policies that improve our streets such as encouraging families to walk to school, 20mph speed limits and controlling pavement parking. 

We manage innovative national projects, engaging schools, communities and workplaces to encourage more people to walk short journeys. Our year-round walk to school challenge captures the imagination of children in over 2000 schools. 

We work with local authorities and businesses to improve streets and public spaces. Our reports, such as The Pedestrian Pound, make a substantial contribution to the active travel agenda. 

We are seeking someone with strong leadership and networking skills, with experience of good governance and helping organisations through growth. You will possess a substantial reputation which will add to the credibility of Living Streets. The role is a voluntary unpaid position, though reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. The term of office is for six years.

Closing date: 03/11/2025 (12pm)

Interviews: 20/11/2025 

Interview Location: London Head Office 

In a nutshell, at HMC, we stand up against hatred and all forms of racism, bigotry, intolerance, and prejudice. Hatred Monitoring Centre aims to regularly monitor and track online (offline) hatred campaigns ― disinformation/misinformation, learn how to anticipate violence associated with these campaigns and challenge its propagation. 

To achieve this mission, HMC tries to understand and compare online debates across different socio-political and culture contexts. HMC is looking for dedicated research analyst coordinator to voluntarily support our team of volunteers working on some projects. The projects span from tracking, recording, and creating datasets of inflammatory language, hate speech and disinformation to reporting and empowering affected communities. The projects are part of HMC's efforts to understand how social media platforms are used to collectively blame minorities. Our efforts also intend to cover primarily ethnic and linguistic minorities, including but not limited to migrants and Roma (UK), the Banyamulenge (DRC), Tigrayans (Ethiopia), Hazaras (Afghanistan), Rohingyas (Myanmar), Fulani and Christians (Nigeria)…

HMC is looking for four (4) research analyst coordinators to support these teams of volunteers. The role of the research analyst coordinator involves the following taks and duties:

- Coordinate and manage volunteers’ teams: The task involves supervising the team of volunteers in their efforts to collect, record and asses the datasets in relation to hate speech and disinformation affecting minorities. Work closely with data analysts to identify mechanisms to collect relevant information from specific social media platforms or web media (this implies understanding the role of keywords to be used during the process of data collection). Research analyst coordinators will help in scheduling and splitting tasks among volunteers, set deadlines, assign responsibilities, while ensuring quality control.

- Comply with research objectivity, ethics and principles: Research analyst coordinators have the duty to make sure that the data collection and analysis comply with research objectivity, and methodological principles; but also, understand the necessity to observe data privacy and ethical issues.

- Data Collection & Monitoring: Research analyst coordinators will support the data analysts in setting up mechanisms that help in collect posts/tweets/comments, flag or archive content according to criteria (hate-speech types, target groups, severity) and will ensure that data is gathered in a systematic, reproducible way.

- Reporting & Dissemination: Research analyst coordinators will closely work with data analysts to analyse and compile the findings into reports that summarise trends, patterns and key insights―recommendations. Help in coordinating data analysts in produce visualisations (charts, graphs) to illustrate patterns. Research analyst coordinators will contribute to identifying strategies disseminate the findings.