Social welfare volunteer roles

Position Title: Deputy Volunteer Lead
Reporting to: Volunteer Leadership Team (VLT) - Volunteer Lead
Organisation: Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees (SWR) 
Location: Sevenoaks Town and surrounding areas within the district council area
Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per week
Remuneration: Voluntary Position (Expenses Reimbursed)

Background to the charity
Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees is a local charity formed in March 2017. We are a small and growing charity, whose volunteers and supporters have come together to welcome and help support the refugees who have fled the fighting and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and are now resettling in our community.
Starting with just one refugee family, we have expanded our efforts over the years and are proud to have supported about 50 families as they settle and rebuild their lives in our community.

Purpose of Role:
Would you like to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of refugee families as they settle into life in Britain—supporting them to achieve independence and integrate confidently into their new communities?
As Deputy Volunteer Lead, you will be an integral part of the SWR Voluntary Leadership Team (VLT), which oversees both our core services for refugees and the coordination and welfare of our valued volunteers.
Our work spans general support with settling in, integration, building independence, language learning, educational guidance, and assistance in accessing suitable employment. You will work closely with the Volunteer Lead on the VLT, with a particular focus on the general support function.
Each refugee family is supported by a small group of volunteers, led by a designated lead volunteer. In this role, you’ll collaborate directly with these volunteer teams, ensuring they are supported, informed, and empowered to deliver high-impact, person-centred support.
This is an opportunity to join a growing, well-regarded, and professional charity, working alongside dedicated and compassionate volunteers who share your passion for helping others.
Key Responsibilities: ● Act as a bridge between the lead volunteers and central SWR services to source the equipment and help needed by the families. ● See over the welfare and requirements of the families which will change incrementally over time. The level of support should gradually diminish as the families become more independent. ● Liaise with local government support workers where families are still receiving support from them. ● Help establish and monitor the family Path to Independence Plans. ● Liaise with Education, Language and Employment specialities. ● Keep the VLT and Volunteer Lead up to date as needed.
Skills & Qualities Needed
You need to be:
● compassionate, patient, and non-judgmental
● good at communication
● organized with good attention to detail.
● flexible and adaptable to different family needs and cultural backgrounds.
● reasonably IT literate
It would help if you had an employment background of teaching, social services or other service related charities - BUT it is not essential.
Support & Training Provided
All SWR volunteers are expected to complete an induction, including mandatory safeguarding training. We also provide training on cultural awareness to help volunteers support families sensitively and effectively.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage you to highlight any specific adjustments that would enable you to participate fully in the recruitment process.

Volunteer your time by supporting to create positive and inspiring environment for people in crisis to live in and take part in activities and receive support.

At Hestia we have a PIPEs programme, which focuses on expanding our ‘Psychological Informed Physical Environments’ approach across our accommodation-based services. This approach centres the needs and choices of the people who use our services, believing that their contribution creates a conducive environment which supports recovery. Ensuring that our indoor and outdoor spaces at Hestia are PIPE through design, supports people to feel physical and emotional safety, to support them to rebuild their life beyond crisis and allows us to consider the needs of different groups people we work with at Hestia.

What you will be doing

• The setting layout is meaningful for different groups and for the desired interaction
• It is a looked after, organised, tidy, a comfortable and positive space for all to use
• There are spaces to speak in confidence with staff, but all other spaces are shared with everyone who visits the space
• An atmosphere is created that is conducive to health and wellbeing
• To inspect the environment and assess whether it meets a set criteria
• To provide written or verbal feedback on review of the visit
• To take part in review and training sessions, to support continuous development of the PIPE programme
• This role is open to volunteers and people who use our services and would like to volunteer their time. We are also looking for volunteers to also support people who would like to get involved in this role but feel less confident finding the Hestia locations. As part of the role, you may be asked to meet another volunteer at a certain location such as a train station and accompany them to the service

The skills you need

• Good communication skills; written and verbal
• An interest in interior design or designing warm, friendly and welcoming spaces
• Calm and patient approach
• Understanding of confidentiality

What's in it for you

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

We’re looking for a friendly and empathetic Pathway Volunteer. As the first point of contact for individuals accessing our Community Wellbeing Service, you’ll play a vital role in welcoming guests, conducting initial triage appointments to understand their goals and needs, and signposting them to the most appropriate support services.

The role will require you to:

• Greet guests who are visiting the Community Wellbeing service for the first time
• Conduct a ‘pathway’ triage appointment, establishing the members’ goals and note down areas of concern and current issues
• Signpost to local services and partners that come into the space
• If needed, book an appointment for the member with an advisor
• Update Sufra’s case management system, keeping detailed notes of appointments

Skills required

Professional

• No formal qualifications are necessary, however understanding and having knowledge of the landscape of Brent, the welfare benefit system and other voluntary and statutory services will be beneficial.
• You need to be a confident communicator, able to give a warm welcome to all and keep to timely appointment slots.
• Digital literacy is essential.
• You must be confident with IT platforms such as Microsoft Office and preferably have used case management systems before.

Personal - We need volunteers who:

• Are friendly
• Are non-judgemental
• Can actively listen
• Are passionate about supporting local families to access the support they need
• Are empathic
• Preferably be able to speak another language: Arabic, Persian, Spanish
• Are confident communicating to people without a shared first language
• Have IT skills (ability to use Microsoft Office applications, or willing and able to learn)
• Have a good understanding of confidentiality

Are you a fluent Farsi speaker with a passion for helping others? We are seeking dedicated volunteers to assist women in improving their English language skills. Improving someone’s understanding and spoken English language, will allow individuals to communicate and connect with people in their local community, widen their network of friendships and relationships and provide people opportunity to improve their employability skills.

What you will be doing

• To support people who are not confident with spoken English to develop these skills through conversational English sessions through 1:1 or in small groups.
• Agree a mutual agreeable time and frequency that works for both parties Engage in conversation, allowing the person to feel supported and comfortable to practice speaking English Preparing and delivering sessions independently including setting work and assessing
• To keep records of conversations and update the support worker on progress of sessions.

The skills you need

• Hold a TEFL qualification, or equivalent qualification to support individuals
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere
• Fluent in Farsi and English

What's in it for you

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

Family Friends - Family Befriender

Location

Within the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham and Brent.

Time Commitment

Hours are flexible depending on the family’s needs, but an average of 2-3 hours per weekly or fortnightly for 6-12 months.

Role

To befriend a family by providing support, to improve their self-confidence, emotional health, and wellbeing, reducing their social isolation and promote their independence.

Through encouragement and support, volunteers will aim to help families discover their strengths, build confidence, and resolve difficulties.

Responsibilities

• To visit a family with whom you have been matched, building a relationship of friendship and trust.
• To identify areas of support and work to achieve attainable goals
• To support parents to get out and about with their children or pursue specific activities in the community
• To complete a feedback form after each visit and to participate in regular supervision with your Coordinator
• To uphold Family Friend’s core principles, vision, culture and values and abide by Family Friends policies and procedures.

Qualities and Skills required

• To be reliable and have a genuine interest in the desire to make a difference in the lives of families
• Good communication skills
• Patience and a warm and friendly attitude

Training and Support

• You will be required to attend Induction training and participate in further training and/or networking events which may be offered.
• Ongoing support and supervision will be given by the named Coordinator either in person or via Zoom/telephone.
• Attend 4 volunteer support group meetings during the time of involvement
• Regular reviews will take place and an opportunity given for peer support through networking events with other Volunteers
• Regular newsletters, updates and news from Family Friends will be sent to you by email
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses such as food and drinks or public transport costs.

Other requirements

Due to the vulnerable nature of the people we support, we will require two references and also a DBS check. Further details will be discussed with you at recruitment.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

Do you have the passion and commitment to support women experiencing Domestic Abuse to reach a place of safety? We are recruiting volunteers to support our Refuge Referral Line team, which supports women and children experiencing domestic abuse to find a safe, secure, and suitable refuge space across London.

You will join a team of trained staff and volunteers to support women to make a referral, and ensure they have the knowledge and are informed of the best options to reach safety. You will be supporting women and children to rebuild their lives free from fear!

What you will be doing

• Taking calls to assess the risks and needs of the women fleeing from domestic abuse whilst under supervision/guidance of the Referral Line Worker and the Service Manager
• To use a range of skills and tools to make phone conversations with women effective and empowering
• To provide women with knowledge of how to access refuge space and other types of support with the aid of a trained staff team
• General admin support: typing, taking notes, filing, scanning documents, keeping accurate records on our digitalised client management syste
• To develop positive relationships with staff members and women whilst promoting self-care
• Engage, support, and interact with women from a diverse range of needs and backgrounds

The skills you need

• A desire to provide support to women who are in crisis due to domestic abuse
• Always maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries
• Calm, patient approach with empathy and a willingness to listen without judgement
• To have a willingness to learn about supporting women impacted by domestic abuse with a diverse range of needs/ backgrounds
• Effective verbal and written communication
• Good time-management
• Experience of using email, internet, and other digital IT skills

What's in it for you

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

Do you believe in the power of movement to transform lives?

Are you excited by the idea of helping a bold, growing charity make a real impact in Andover and beyond?

Then this could be the opportunity for you.

Valley Leisure exists to help people move more and feel better – physically, mentally and emotionally. Through inclusive, community-focused services like the I Can Therapy Centre, I Can Connect, and the newly expanded Riverside Activity Zone, the charity is reaching more people than ever – and has exciting plans for further growth.

Charisma Charity Recruitment is partnering with Valley Leisure to appoint new trustees to help shape the charity’s next chapter.

This is not a passive governance role. Trustees will bring insight, challenge, and fresh thinking to a board that is ambitious about both commercial success and social purpose. This is an opportunity to use your experience to drive real change – in people’s lives and in the future of the organisation.

The charity is particularly interested in hearing from individuals with experience in finance, commercial growth, business leadership and development, income generation, health innovation and marketing.

Previous trustee experience is not essential – what matters most is your passion for the cause and your ability to contribute strategically. Support and induction will be provided to ensure new trustees feel confident in their role.

Time commitment is around half a day per month, including bi-monthly board meetings, usually held in person at one of the charity’s Andover-based centres.

You’ll be joining a warm, forward-thinking board that balances strong governance with a genuine commitment to kindness, community and impact.

If you’re commercially minded, values-driven, and ready to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.

To apply, please submit your CV and a supporting statement via the Charisma Charity Recruitment website. For an informal conversation, contact Adam Stacey, CEO.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic.

Closing date: 24 November 2025

Interview Dates: w/c 1 and 8 December 2025

Are you passionate about singing and would like to empower others to use their voices in a choir? We are recruiting for a Choir Leader Volunteer at our Dame Gertrude Young House which supports men who have mental health needs. Choirs have shown to reduce stress levels and depression as well as creating a sense of togetherness. Your role will be to lead auditions to identify and pick out suitable choir members, provide necessary guidance and direction on tone, rhythm, pitch, tempo, and harmony as well as scheduling choir rehearsals.

Research suggests that music can stimulate the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. It can help energise our mood and provide an outlet for us to take control of our feelings. Singing is a powerful tool for bringing people together, reducing stress, and having fun.

Volunteering with Hestia will mean that you will play a key role in promoting strategies for positive wellbeing and recovery through music and singing! 

What you will be doing

• Direct choir members in warm-ups prior to practices and performances
• Decide on appropriate musical pieces for the choir to perform depending on the occasion and setting and Choose individual choir members to perform solo pieces.
• Lead auditions to identify and pick out potentially suitable choir members.
• Build a structure, choir harmony, Determining voice types
• Provide necessary guidance and direction during choir rehearsals to help choir members in attaining the correct tone, rhythm, pitch, tempo, and harmony.
• Direct choir members during musical performances
• Schedule choir rehearsals
• Craft appropriate choir formations for rehearsals and performance
• Selects music to meet the needs of the performance while also taking into account the group's aptitude and abilities

The skills you need

• Patient, passionate, creative, and assertive and knowledge and experience of working with individuals that live with mental health issues
• Music Education, or related field is preferred
• Experience of directing choirs
• Can interpret various styles of music
• Bold leadership and listening capabilities
• Strong communicator

What's in it for you

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

The City of Oxford Charity dates back to 1700 and now is embarking on an exciting new phase. Additional funding, grant making, and a major almshouse refurbishment are all part of our commitment to supporting those most in need in the city.

We are proud of our heritage and the Chair will share our passion and enthusiasm for the future. They will deliver strategic leadership, strong governance, and act as an ambassador for the Charity. Working with the CEO and fellow board members, they will uphold our mission and ensure we continue to have a meaningful impact on the City.

Key responsibilities are:

- Lead the Board in setting and delivering strategic direction.
- Ensure effective governance and legal compliance.
- Support and hold the CEO accountable for day-to-day operations.
- Act as an ambassador for the charity, building relationships with stakeholders and the local community.
- Champion the needs and well-being of our almshouse residents.

We Are Looking For
- A deep commitment to our mission and values.
- Experience operating in a senior executive role within the private, public, or charity sectors.
- Strong understanding of governance, finance, and strategy.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Knowledge of Oxford’s social and economic landscape.
- Availability to meet regularly with the CEO and dedicate time to the charity’s work.

Next steps
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive board and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth is a local charity dedicated to providing information, support and advice to individuals and families who live, work or study in Merton or Lambeth. We also work to raise awareness and understanding of the challenging issues affecting our clients and communities.

Aim of this role

· Work together with the R&C team to raise awareness trends of the concerns affecting clients locally as well as areas identified by national Citizens Advice, and raise call for evidence

· Together with the R&C team, promote CAML services by creating leaflets, posters and take part in content creation (written and video) for social media, website and LinkedIn

· Help CAML R&C team to monitor social media

· Feedback on activities in social media

· Adhere to Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth’s aims and principles

· Maintain all relevant GDPR rules and regulations

Location

This role is based in our Mitcham office. Mitcham office has a car park.

What we are looking for

- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal are essential

- Understanding of the social media and how it functions

- The ability to build and maintain professional relationships and contribute constructively as part of the R&C team, as well as wider CAML team

- The ability to give feedback clearly and sensitively

- Good report-writing skills with the ability to condense important information and explain to a range of audiences. Able to research, analyse and explain complex information

- Good organisational and time management skills with the ability to work towards set deadlines. Ability to work on own initiative, within given guidelines

- Confidence in using a range of IT software, social media platforms, Canva

And we’ll reimburse expenses too.

Commitment

We are looking for volunteers who are able come in our Mitcham office for at least one day per week. 

Valuing inclusion

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from racially minoritised people/people of colour, disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people.

If you are interested in becoming a part of CAML R&C team and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us. 

How to apply

Please visit our website to find out how to apply.

We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and will process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our online Privacy Policy for more information on how your personal data will be processed and stored.

Volunteer Role: Reception and Meet & Greet

 We were set up to transform the former Edward Hain hospital, in St Ives, Cornwall, into a community centre for health and wellbeing. The hospital was founded in 1920, with funds from the Cornish Hain Steamship Company. When it closed n 2021, our community, led by the hospital’s League of Friends, came together to save the building for the town. Now it brings together much needed health and wellbeing services, along with social, community and welfare support, all under one roof.

About the role

Can you commit to between 2 and 4 hours a week to help us run the Reception area at The Edward Hain Centre?

We are looking for volunteers to spend a short time each week helping in our Reception area. This role would particularly be of advantage to College leavers or those between employment positions looking to gain some experience and references for their CV and we welcome anyone with spare time who wants to give back to their community and make connections with new people.

What’s involved?

As the Edward Hain Centre grows we are getting busier! We need volunteers who can spend a short time each week supporting our Community Hub Officer (CHO) by manning our Reception desk. The people who use our Centre can expect a warm welcome and directions to the different areas of the building. We need help with small admin tasks like printing and folding leaflets and there will be opportunity (with training if needed) to create posters in Canva. We also need to gather feedback from our Users in the form of surveys or testimonials and answering our phone and taking messages is vital!  Join us in creating a friendly and supportive space for everyone! Specific tasks include:

· Greet and assist Centre Users with warmth and respect and directing them around the building.

· Maintain a tidy and organised front desk

· Answer the phone and take messages

· Ensure visitors sign in (where applicable)

· Gather feedback from service users

· Some administration tasks

The role will suit you if you:

· Have a friendly and positive attitude.

· Have strong communication skills.

· Are reliable and willing to help others.

· Have good communication and enjoy being part of a team

Why Volunteer with Us?

· Gain valuable experience for your CV.

· Meet new people and build connections.

· Contribute to meaningful community initiatives.

· Training opportunities available.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS ROLE PLEASE CONTACT OUR COMMUNITY HUB OFFICER CLAIRE JEFFERIES:

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Our publicity team leaders have the important role of supporting a wider team of publicity volunteers. As a team our publicity volunteers collectively keep members of the public informed of the vital and varied ways we help our cats in need. Raising awareness is crucial to us being able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us. A higher profile can help raise funds, raise awareness of adopting a cat, promote neutering and encourage as many people as possible to learn about feline welfare.

You can expect us to 

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

We are looking for volunteers who can spend time with our clients  in and around Central London.  Meetings are  regular over a period of 6 months; weekly or fortnightly.  Many volunteers stay involved for much longer but only because they enjoy what they do! 

Befriending is a simple way to make a positive difference to someone who is lonely or socially isolated and your gift of time, will give them, and you, something to look forward to. As one of our volunteers once told us, “this is an easy, very meaningful way to help someone and is immensely rewarding and fun!”  

Your meetings could be in the local community, having chats in a coffee shop, visiting places of interest, or in our client’s home; all activities are risk assessed so what you do together will depend on the results of this, and / orour clients abilities and interests. Most of our clients are older 1st and 2nd generation Scots living in London who simply want to do the activities that most of us take for granted but have no-one to do them with.

ScotsCare works across London and beyond so we're looking for volunteers who live in the area or can travel to the following areas; Lambeth, Islington, Camden, central London and Broxbourne EN10. We may have clients in more locations so please contact us to learn more if you want to be involved in this rewarding and impactful activity. 

We provide training before you start, ongoing support once you are matched, out of pocket expenses, references, social events and newsletters to keep you informed.

This could be the ideal opportunity to gain practical experience of working with adults in a health and social care setting, or for anyone who enjoys meeting new people and making their lives a little brighter. 

Please note, this is an unpaid voluntary role and applicants must be living in or around the London area. 

Please contact us for more information, and a very warm welcome!

Skills & Characteristics Required for Befriending are:

• English spoken, good communication skills for listening and talking 
• Friendly, warm, non-judgemental 
• Honesty, reliable and committment to helping others
• Empathy and patience
• An ability to follow policies and procedures

We will process a DBS check for all successful applicants and request two references.

Volunteer Role: Dementia Support Group and/or Activity Sessions

We were set up to transform the former Edward Hain hospital, in St Ives, Cornwall, into a community centre for health and wellbeing. The hospital was founded in 1920, with funds from the Cornish Hain Steamship Company. When it closed n 2021, our community, led by the hospital’s League of Friends, came together to save the building for the town. Now it brings together much needed health and wellbeing services, along with social, community and welfare support, all under one roof. About the role Can you commit between 2 and 4 hours a week to help those suffering from Dementia? We are looking for volunteers to spend a short time each week working with our Community Hub Officer (CHO) to create a welcoming and supportive environment for our Dementia Support Group (Forget-Me-Not Café) and help to provide specially designed crafts activity sessions such as leaf printing, making seasonal decorations etc. All our visitors are accompanied by their carers and as a volunteer you will receive specific awareness training to give you the confidence to provide conversation and a smile for those with dementia at the Edward Hain Centre.

What’s involved?

Our dementia activities and group sessions are attended by all kinds of people experiencing dementia. We work with specific care homes whose elderly residents are brought along by their carers and we run a Forget-Me-Not Café, set up for individual carers or relatives to bring along those they care for with dementia.

Specific tasks include:

• Greet attendees warmly as they arrive.

• Support the CHO with setup and organisation.

• Prepare and serve teas and coffees.

• Welcome session attendees, ensuring they feel comfortable.

• Help attendees take part in table activities (if they want to). The role will suit you if you:

• Have a friendly and approachable personality.

• Are reliable and willing to support others.

• Have good communication and enjoy being part of a team.

• Enthusiasm for creating a positive community space.

Why Volunteer with Us?

• Make a meaningful impact in your community.

• Meet new people and build connections with others.

• Gain experience in group facilitation and support and working with the elderly.

• Be part of the Edward Hain Centre Team!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR THIS ROLE PLEASE CONTACT OUR COMMUNITY HUB OFFICER CLAIRE JEFFERIES: