Social work volunteer roles

London City Mission (LCM) shares the gospel alongside the local church of London, equipping everyday Christians to lovingly bring a message of hope in Christ to those least likely to hear it. 

LCM's events are a great way of getting involved in God's mission in London. The event support assistant supports in the running of events by providing any practical help required on the day. We are looking for volunteers specifically for our annual event Big London Walk. This may include assisting with event-day set-up, welcoming participants, serving refreshments, and generally giving a helping hand wherever needed to ensure all goes according to plan. 

WHAT THE ROLE INVOLVES 

• Set-up/take-down of venue 

• Welcoming participants and registration 

• Stewarding 

• Serving refreshments (teas, coffees, food) 

• Assisting at the venues and helping along the walking route 

Dates and Hours: June 28th & July 5th (9:00am to 5:30pm), you are also welcome to join only for am (9:00am to 1:30pm) or pm (1:00pm to 5:30pm) 

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS REQUIRED 

• Physically able to move furniture and other large objects. 

• Excellent people skills. 

• ‘Can do’ attitude to serving and ability to see what needs to be done. 

• Good timekeeping. 

• Willing to help at indoor venue and outdoor environment 

We are looking for practicing Christians who want to put their faith into action by serving in events. The volunteers will be seen as representing the Mission and will be interacting with attendees/visitors to LCM. 

Assistant Rehoming and Cat Coordinator

RSPCA Buckinghamshire South Branch, Community based.

Are you passionate about animal welfare? We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help rehome animals in our care, with a special focus on cats and kittens. This is an incredibly rewarding role where you will directly impact the lives of animals by finding them loving, safe homes.

Overview of the Opportunity:

As a Rehoming and Cat Coordinator, you will play a vital role in the rehoming process for animals, ensuring they are placed in suitable and caring homes. You will coordinate home visits, manage volunteer fosterers, and liaise with local vets, the public, and other RSPCA branches. Additionally, you will oversee the welfare of cats and kittens in our care, from their initial acceptance to their adoption.

About the RSPCA:

Founded in 1824, we have been saving animals for nearly 200 years and are proud to be the oldest welfare charity around. Our vision is a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion. Through our campaigns and daily efforts, we strive to raise awareness of animal welfare issues and promote responsible pet ownership.

The Buckinghamshire South Branch is one of the RSPCA’s local branches. While we operate under the umbrella of the National Society, we are a separately registered charity focused on helping animals in our local area. Our work is driven by dedicated volunteers who play an essential role in delivering our mission.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Animal Rehoming & Coordination:

· Liaise with local volunteers to arrange home visits for animals in our care.

· Ensure all animals offered for adoption have been properly assessed for their suitability.

· Act as the main contact point for the inspectorate, the public, and other agencies regarding the acceptance of unwanted or unowned animals.

· Network with other RSPCA branches, private boarding establishments, and local cat rescues to maximise our capacity for rehoming.

· Oversee the rehoming application process, ensuring animals are matched with suitable adopters.

Cat-Specific Duties:

· Act as the contact point for the acceptance of unwanted or unowned cats and kittens from the public, vets, police, local authorities, and inspectors.

· Arrange and carry out cat collection and transportation to fosterers or vets in emergencies.

· Oversee the scanning of all cats/kittens to attempt to reunite them with their original owners.

· Ensure all cats and kittens in our care receive necessary vet checks, vaccinations, and treatments before being placed for adoption.

· Maintain records of all cats in care and compile regular rehoming reports.

· Organise and conduct viewings of cats ready for adoption.

Fosterer & Volunteer Management:

· Recruit, train, and manage a team of home visitors and fosterers.

· Conduct at least two health and safety visits annually for each fosterer.

· Oversee a fosterer WhatsApp group to provide support and share updates.

· Arrange and lead regular volunteer team meetings for training and motivation.

Communication & Administration:

· Oversee all email and voicemail inquiries related to cat rehoming.

· Monitor and respond to the cat coordinator’s mobile phone, offering emergency support Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM and/or evenings and weekends.

· Provide regular updates to shop managers regarding rehomed cats and food supply needs.

· Oversee stock of cat-related supplies, including food, litter, flea/worm treatments, probiotics, powdered kitten milk, microchips, and vaccination cards.

· Maintain accurate adoption records, including sending confirmation emails, processing adoption fees, and sending welcome packs to new owners.

· Arrange and conduct post-adoption follow-ups (virtually or via email) 4-6 weeks after adoption.

Public Engagement & Support:

· Offer a lost and found service by collecting information, offering advice, and posting on social media.

· Provide guidance to the public on animal welfare issues and refer them to the National RSPCA or other organisations when necessary.

· Ensure social media pages, websites, and volunteers are kept up to date with photos and descriptions of animals available for adoption.

What We Are Looking For:

· Excellent organisation and communication skills.

· Ability to manage and support volunteers effectively.

· Comfortable with administrative tasks, record-keeping, and reporting.

· Passion for animal welfare and dedication to improving their lives.

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

· Flexible and reliable, with the capacity to offer an ongoing commitment, we are looking for 2 positions to cover days, evenings and weekends.

· Experience in team management or coordination is an advantage but not essential.

· You must be 18 years or older, hold a valid driving licence and be able to lift animals in and out of your own vehicle safely, possess your own vehicle, lap top, mobile phone and have access to the internet.

What We Can Offer You:

· A rewarding opportunity to directly improve the welfare of animals.

· Become part of a compassionate community, meet new people, and make lifelong friends.

· valuable skills through our comprehensive induction and training program.

· Gain leadership and management experience and newly acquired skills.

· Access to the RSPCA Learning Hub with a wide range of training materials.

· The satisfaction of seeing cats and other animals find their forever homes.

Join Arts University Plymouth as Chair Designate of the Board of Governors. In this role, you will lead the body accountable for the strategic oversight of a bold, creative, and forward-thinking institution, as it shapes the future of arts education and innovation.

Applications close: 9 a.m. Tuesday 26th August 2025

Location: Plymouth, Devon

About Arts University Plymouth

Established in 1856, we are proud to be the Arts University in Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City.

Founded in 1856 as Plymouth Drawing School, Arts University Plymouth offers a range of Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Pre-Degree study across Art, Design and Digital Media.

Our campus is home to our creative studios, workspaces and laboratories, our public gallery, ‘MIRROR’, Fab Lab South West, and Plymouth Arts Cinema. Making Futures is the university’s flagship international research platform.

Arts University Plymouth is the UK’s newest specialist arts university, and recently achieved the title of 2025 University of the Year (South West) at the Whatuni Awards, as well as being ranked 5th in the UK for Student Satisfaction and 2nd in the UK for staff to student ratio by the Complete University Guide. With a vision for a new kind of arts university for the 21st century, one that prepares graduates uniquely positioned to provide creative solutions to the complex global challenges of our time, our university is confident that we offer the best education to support the next generation of talent to succeed.

Our 2030 strategy, ‘Creative Education for a Changing World’, will ensure that our work is energised and designed to meet the ambitions of our students and staff, while acknowledging the shifting realm of creativity through new technologies and the workplaces of tomorrow.

About the role

To help us take the next transformative steps in delivering our strategy, we are seeking an experienced Chair with a passion for the power of creative education and research to transform lives, societies and cultures.

This is an exciting non-executive leadership opportunity for someone who can steward the university’s governance towards our 2030 ambitions, whilst working with the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive team to navigate the ever-changing and challenging higher education sector. This role will be pivotal in maximising the institution’s potential and positively impacting students and communities.

As Chair, you will champion sustainable growth, social justice, and the empowerment of our graduates to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

Who we are looking for

This is an opportunity for a strategic leader to make a significant impact whilst advocating Arts University Plymouth’s place within the specialist HE sector.

We are seeking to appoint a Chair Designate with significant experience in governance who can lead with confidence, influence, and integrity.

The ideal candidate will work to foster a supportive environment while constructively challenging when necessary, helping us to push boundaries and achieve our goals.

The successful candidate will be an exemplary leader who champions our mission and values and who actively engages with students, staff, and other members of the Board of Governors.

The person appointed as our next Chair will demonstrate a deep commitment to inclusivity and reflect our dedication to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of their leadership.

Importantly, we hope to appoint a values-led individual to become our next Chair, who shares our passion for the university, our pride in Plymouth and the South West region, and our deep commitment to creativity and innovation.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 26th August 2025

Do you want to share our passion for helping people to resolve their problems, and develop your leadership and strategic skills as a Board member in the process? Then we'd love to hear from you. Last year our team helped 6000 clients with over 93000 issues and demand is growing. 

Who are we?

We are part of the national Citizens Advice UK brand network, with a dedicated operational team of 40 staff and volunteers offering confidential advice to our community online, over the phone, and in person, free of charge. 

We are currently seeking a Trustee Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees to continue to deliver on our purpose and mission as a charity.

The role of a Trustee Treasurer

The Treasurer is a key Board member who is responsible for overseeing the Charity’s finances, and ensuring that fellow trustees can be confident that the Charity’s finances are used in the correct fashion and that the financial position of the organisation is secure. There is more detail about this on our website, including a Role Description, but in particular, alongside the general duties of a trustee, the role of Treasurer specifically involves

• Overseeing financial governance and strategy

• Working with our charity Finance Officer to ensure financial transparency; to develop and monitor realistic budgets and cash flow: and to maintain the charity’s financial sustainability

• Present financial data in an accessible format, and provide advice and guidance on financial matters, including risk, to the Board

• ensure that the organisation has an appropriate reserves policy 

• Lead our finance subcommittee

Who are we looking for?

You don’t need specific financial qualifications to be a Trustee Treasurer, but we are looking for someone with

• A strong background in finance

• a good understanding of the principles of sound financial management and strategic planning (essential)

• some knowledge or experience of charity finances, fundraising, financial consequences and pension schemes (useful)

• good numeracy skills to understand accounts

• an ability to explain complex financial information in an accessible way

What is in it for you?

We are looking for someone who enjoys working in a team with diverse experiences, opinions. and ideas to ensure that we make a positive difference to the communities we serve.

A personal testimonial below from our current Treasurer provides a great insight into the role;

“I learned so much in the first short months of my tenure as a Trustee it was very gratifying that I soon felt that I was contributing in a positive sense, not just to the activities of the Board but through them to the many clients who were benefiting directly from the support of the brilliant management , support workers and advisors working for the charity.

One of the most rewarding aspects is being part of a team of people jointly addressing a thorny problem, often from differing angles, utilising their full set of skills to arrive at a satisfactory resolution.

If you are in the process of building a career, finding a charity whose values you share, and supporting them as a Trustee Treasurer is an excellent opportunity to develop skills and expertise that can benefit you further along the line and to do something good for your community at the same time.” 

Roots Academy’s Vision.

A generation of young Muslims who embody and promote a God-centred way of life.

At Roots Academy, we’ve built a learning experience that’s changing the lives of the ummah’s future leaders, change-makers and visionaries. Our Mission is to deliver a structured and transformative education in the Essentials of Islam in a way that lowers barriers to access, develops a deep certainty, and inspires action.

Why Does Roots Academy Exist?

Crisis of Faith: 1 in 4 young Muslims are leaving the religion due to various factors, primarily the pervasive anti-religious content and temptations they encounter online and offline. 

Roots Academy exists to bridge this gap by providing a structured and transformative Islamic education that speaks directly to the needs and challenges of young Muslims today, delivered in an engaging and accessible form that removes barriers to access and provokes thought and action.

Role Summary.

We are looking for a creative and strategic Email Marketing Strategist to develop and guide our overall email marketing approach. You will be responsible for designing audience journeys, setting objectives, and working with the marketing team to ensure our emails are impactful and aligned with Roots Academy’s mission. This is a unique opportunity to play a leadership role in shaping how we engage with our global community.

Key tasks

• Develop and oversee the email marketing strategy to support Roots Academy’s goals.

• Design audience journeys and lifecycle email flows (welcome sequences, event reminders, etc.).

• Define KPIs and performance metrics for email campaigns.

• Provide strategic direction to the Email Marketing Officer and content team.

• Suggest and plan A/B testing, segmentation strategies, and personalization tactics.

• Stay informed about email marketing trends, tools, and best practices.

What we’re looking for

• Passion for Islamic education and the development of young Muslims.

• Experience or training in developing email marketing strategies.

• Understanding of customer journeys, funnel marketing, and audience segmentation.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret campaign data and make recommendations.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

• Strategic thinker with a proactive, self-driven attitude.

What we have to offer

• Be part of a team of 100+ dedicated volunteers across the UK, Ireland, Canada, US, UAE and Australia.

• Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform. 

• Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.

• Professional development and practical experience in digital marketing strategy and leadership.

• Receive in-house tarbiyah (personal & spiritual development) sessions to develop your deen. 

Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position. 

Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy. 

Trustee of North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service

Our Charity

North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service (NSDAS) supports anyone affected by domestic abuse and their children living in the boroughs of Elmbridge, Spelthorne and Epsom and Ewell. We provide free, confidential and independent advice, skilled practical help and ongoing emotional support and information, regardless of sex, race, ability, gender, religion or income level.

Historically the service was provided as part of Citizens Advice Elmbridge (West). We have operated as an independent charity since April 2024 (charity number 1203855) and this is an exciting time to help shape the strategy and direction of the organisation.

The board currently comprises of nine trustees and we are looking to appoint another trustee with experience of strategic HR and/or cultural change.

The Role

The duties of a trustee are as follows.

·Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy

·Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations

·Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects for the benefit of the public

·Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets

·Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation

·Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place

·Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation

·Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds

·Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive and other staff members

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise. 

Person specification 

·A commitment to the organisation 

·A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort 

·Strategic vision 

·Good, independent judgement 

·An ability to think creatively 

·A willingness to speak their mind 

·An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship 

·An ability to work effectively as a member of a team 

·A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. 

Make a Difference with Marie Curie as a Volunteer Driver

Join our compassionate team at Cardiff and the Vale Hospice.

Help patients get to their vital appointments safely and with ease.

You'll receive full training and ongoing support, ensuring you feel confident behind the wheel. With guidance on safe driving, passenger assistance, and handling unexpected situations, as well as direct access to healthcare professionals for advice where needed. Travel expenses reimbursed at 45p per mile each month and other out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed.

You'd be a great fit if you:

1. Are a responsible driver with a UK licence and access to a MOT’d, taxed, and insured car.
2. Can spare a few hours, one day per week.
3. Want to provide a friendly, reassuring presence for patients on their journey.

Take the next step and apply

You must be 18 or older and provide 2 non-family references.

Want to learn more before applying? 

Contact Deborah Harvey at Marie Curie

Make a real difference in someone’s life and join our team at Marie Curie Cardiff and the Vale

Ref: 5910

Community researchers wanted to help East London Waterworks Park ensure our community-owned park is inclusive and welcoming for all.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for community researchers specialised to contribute to our community-led working circle who are working on on a listening project to ensure often underrepresented voices in conservation and environmental projects are heard and centred. 

There is opportunity to lead on projects and facilitate the direction of the working circle.

The Inclusivity Circle currently meets monthly on a Wednesday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

While your experienced research skills are crucial, we also value your ability to engage with the community and build partnerships. Experience in conducting community-based research or working with community organisations is important. A strong understanding of community dynamics and the ability to collaborate effectively will be invaluable in ensuring your research findings are relevant and impactful. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role. 

Contribute to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. Your research expertise will be vital in shaping our new biodiverse park. By conducting listening research on community needs, and potential park uses, you'll help us create a sustainable and inclusive space. Your findings will inform our design, programming, and outreach efforts, ensuring the park meets the needs of our community and contributes to biodiversity conservation.

Role: Data Volunteer
Organisation: Street Child 
Location: Central London 
Start date:  ASAP 
Commitment: Minimum 3 months, 3 days a week, 1 day in office 
Benefits: Unpaid role (Travel expense covered) 

About Street Child: 

Street Child believes that every child deserves the chance to go to school and learn. Our projects focus on a combination of education, child protection and livelihood support to address the social, economic and structural issues that underpin today’s education crisis. We partner with local organisations and communities to deliver our locally rooted programmes, using evidence to drive learning and the refinement and scale up of programmes to create maximum impact for the most children at the lowest cost. We pride ourselves on being willing to go to the world’s toughest places where others won’t, including remote, hard-to-reach areas and fragile, disaster-affected states across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Since 2008 we have helped over 250,000 children to go to school and learn, supported over 25,000 families to set up businesses so they can afford the cost of educating their children. 

About the Role:

We are in the process of implementing a fundraising CRM to efficiently manage our outreach activities. To support this project, we are seeking to recruit a Data Volunteer who can help us clean and migrate the historical fundraising data into the new database. This is an entry-level role, best suited for a candidate who is interested in developing a career in data. Data skills are high in demand so will suit someone keen on learning new data skills to enhance their CV. For the right candidate this will provide an opportunity to learn how not-for-profit organisations work and enable them an entry into the charity sector. 

Ideally, we are looking for someone with good Excel skills (any knowledge of additional data tools such as MS Access, Power Query, etc will be an advantage), and some understanding of data related process. Hands-on training will be provided to the right candidate. As the focus of this role will be on enhancing the quality of the data, we are seeking a highly organised person who can pay greatest attention to detail. As part of this role you will be working with our database project lead.

To succeed in this role, we need someone with: 

• Excellent eye for detail and a commitment to high standards 
• Interest in learning data skills and have good Excel skills 
• Good inter-personal skills and the ability to interact with the wider Street Child UK team 
• A passion for Street Child’s mission 

We are looking for volunteers who can work for a minimum of 3 days a week (minimum 1 day in the office) for a minimum of 3 months. Ideal for those who live in the Greater London area as we will be able to provide transport costs only up to £25. 

How to apply:

Please send your CV and a covering letter and explain why you are the perfect candidate for this role. We will be reviewing applications as we receive them, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 

Street Child’s commitment to Safeguarding:

Street Child is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the communities we serve, our partners, our volunteers, and our staff. As part of this commitment to safeguarding, volunteers will be subject to appropriate background checks, including a Criminal Records check. 

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

Without the passionate and committed teams of volunteers across Cats Protection we wouldn’t be able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us for help. Life in a rescue environment is never ideal for any cat compared to a loving home. Our cat adoption team leaders support cat homing and as part of this they may lead a team of volunteer home visitors who collectively play an important part in matching our feline friends with their new families. Our cat adoption team leaders support their team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure our volunteers are happy, confident and supported.

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

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Acting as the main point of contact within the team for cat adoption enquiries via email/telephone and social media
• Supporting the adoption process through either homefinder questionnaires or a small team of home visitors
• Liaising closely with other volunteers to ensure information on cats being helped is correct and up to date
• Following up on any post-adoption queries
• Play an active part in the volunteer committee, being part of the team leading on cat adoption information and updates
• Collaborating with the cat eelfare team leader to ensure the highest standards of cat care are applied in line with Cats Protection policy and procedures

Time expectation

The cat adoption team leader role is vital within our busy volunteer teams. Our current volunteers spend around 10 to 12 hours per week in this flexible role, which can be shared by more than one volunteer if required.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

About Roots Academy. 

Roots Academy’s Vision.

A generation of young Muslims who embody and promote a God-centred way of life.

At Roots Academy, we’ve built a learning experience that’s changing the lives of the ummah’s future leaders, change-makers and visionaries. Our Mission is to deliver a structured and transformative education in the Essentials of Islam in a way that lowers barriers to access, develops a deep certainty, and inspires action.

Why Does Roots Academy Exist?

Crisis of Faith: 1 in 4 young Muslims are leaving the religion due to various factors, primarily the pervasive anti-religious content and temptations they encounter online and offline. 

Roots Academy exists to bridge this gap by providing a structured and transformative Islamic education that speaks directly to the needs and challenges of young Muslims today, delivered in an engaging and accessible form that removes barriers to access and provokes thought and action.

Role Summary.

As Donor Communications Officer at Roots Academy, you will lead the development and delivery of tailored communication strategies to engage, retain, and grow our donor base. This role is central to building lasting donor relationships and advancing Roots Academy’s mission through effective, values-driven communication.

Key tasks

• Defining and maintaining donor personas to ensure targeted, relevant messaging.

• Mapping the end-to-end donor journey and delivering timely, mission-aligned communications at each stage.

• Creating and sending monthly updates to new and recently lapsed donors to  encourage continued support.

• Collaborating with the content and fundraising teams to create compelling email content to attract and convert new donors.

• Developing and executing re-engagement strategies for lapsed monthly donors.

• Collaborating closely with the Marketing and Design teams to align messaging and visual content across campaigns.

What we’re looking for

• Passion for Islamic education and the development of young Muslims. 

• Excellent written communication skills with a warm, authentic tone.

• An understanding of the donor experience and the importance of relationship-building

• Strong attention to detail and an eye for clear, concise, and emotionally resonant copy.

• Ability to work independently, manage deadlines, and take initiative.

• Prior experience in communications, copywriting, fundraising or customer service (desirable but not essential).

What we have to offer

• Be part of a team of 100+ dedicated volunteers across the UK, Ireland, Canada, US, UAE and Australia.

• Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform. 

• Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.

• Professional development and practical experience in design and digital marketing.

• Receive in-house tarbiyah (personal & spiritual development) sessions to develop your deen. 

Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position. 

Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy. 

Canine Partners are looking for volunteers who can provide loving homes for our young dogs, aged 14 months upwards, whilst helping to train them to be canine partners.

By volunteering you will:

• Be a valued member of our Charity
• Know that you are integrally involved in the care and training of a dog that will change the life of a person waiting for their Canine Partner
• Benefit from the companionship and enjoyment of having a dog in your life without lifelong commitment or costs associated with dog ownership
  • Meet like-minded people
  • Can develop your knowledge of puppy development and training.

 ‘With out the continued hard work and support from our volunteers, we would not be able to provide our clients with our life changing dogs.’

What is involved

• Commitment to providing a loving home, care, and training for a dog for the duration of their time in training.
• We consider this a full-time role as you, or another approved adult member of the household, will be required to care for the dog for much of the day and overnight.
• Our trainers need access to the dogs during weekdays for training purposes. We ask that you commute to and from our training centre when required to drop off/collect the dog. Drop off and collection times are between 7.30 - 9.30am and 4-6pm. We try to be as flexible as possible with the times that are best for you.
• Availability to attend pre-arranged training sessions at your home, in your local area, and at our training centre.
• Attend an Introduction session before we coordinate a dog into your care
• With our guidance, and using positive training methods, to continue the training of the dog in various areas. For example:
  • Home behaviour
  • Social behaviour
  • Behaviour around other animals
  • Walking on a lead
  • Off lead exercise
• Maintaining the dog’s health and welfare and, via support and training, to recognise behaviour/health concerns and report them immediately to the dog’s trainer.

What we require from you

• You live within a 30-minute drive of our training centre (post code LE12 9SR)
• That you, as the dog's main carer, are over 18 years of age
• You have a dog friendly secure garden
• Though desirable, prior dog ownership is not required.
• All members of the household are keen to foster.
• There is no more than one pet dog living in your home. The pet dog must be over 12 months of age and would need to undergo our pet dog suitability assessment
• Have the time and ability to commit to the training and care of a young dog. This is a physical role
• Have access to a suitable vehicle to transport the dog
• That you or other approved adult member of the household are at home most of the day, and overnight, to care for the dog
• Attend two training sessions each year
• Understand that the dog in your care remains under the ownership of Canine Partners

Support and Training

• Induction process which includes telephone assessment and home visit
• On-going Instruction and support from our dog trainers. This will be in person, via video link, phone calls, handouts etc.
• Holiday cover and appointments cover can be arranged.
• Payment of expenditure such as mileage to and from a training session with a Canine Partner representative
• Access to our volunteer portal with many resources for your use.
• Invitation to join our Official Canine Partners Community Facebook Group

 Volunteer Opportunity: Writer / Journalist / Storyteller

Help Us Tell Stories That Matter – Join SayAphasia

Do you believe stories can change lives?
Can you listen with empathy, write with heart, and give voice to those often unheard?
SayAphasia is looking for a volunteer writer / journalist / storyteller to help shine a light on the lived experiences of people with aphasia — a communication disorder that affects a person’s ability to use language.

What You'll Do:

• Interview people with aphasia and their families

• Craft meaningful articles and blog posts

• Collaborate with our team to research and gather stories

• Help raise awareness of aphasia

• Support our mission to create a more inclusive, understanding world

 What We’re Looking For:

• A personable, empathetic and patient communicator

• Strong writing, interviewing, or journalism skills

• Curiosity and willingness to learn about aphasia

• A flexible, open mind and an inclusive approach

• Commitment to completing a short induction course on communicating with people who have aphasia

This is perfect for you if:

• You're a journalist, blogger or writer looking to make an impact

• You’re passionate about people, inclusion, and human stories

• You want to build your portfolio while doing good

Additional Creative Skills Welcome:

Are you skilled in videography, photography, or audio recording?

We’d love to harness your talents to bring stories to life in multimedia formats — short films, audio clips, photo essays and more. Visual and sound storytelling can be especially powerful when working with individuals who communicate in different ways.

Why Volunteer?

• Build your portfolio with real-world impact

• Learn from a caring community and support network

• Be part of a mission-driven charity, led by people with aphasia

• Spread empathy and amplify voices that are often overlooked

The purpose of your role

Police Now’s governance is extremely important in providing constructive scrutiny, challenge and support, to develop the organisation as well as demonstrate value and quality to the Home Office and the policing sector. The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, has delegated responsibility from the Board of Trustees to drive, measure and guide Police Now’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion strategy. This strategy includes Police Now staff, candidates, participants and alumni of our programmes, and our influence and voice within the policing sector, with a particular focus on supporting those identifying as women and ethnic minorities. We are seeking an exceptional leader with specific expertise in equity, diversity & inclusion, to sit on our EDI Committee.

The Board of Trustees are responsible for the strategic vision, direction, and overall performance delivery of the charity. The Board is accountable for the governance of the charity, for safeguarding its assets, and the organisation’s general wellbeing. The three Board committees, govern specific areas required to drive performance. The Board determines the committees and has powers to delegate decision-making rights to the committees for certain matters.

The EDI committee meet quarterly at our offices in London.

What you’ll do – the key responsibilities

To ensure that equity, diversity and inclusion is a key priority across all PN activity so that we are supporting policing by attracting, developing and retaining the most diverse and talented groups, enabling us to achieve our mission of transforming communities. You will promote, champion and encourage equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and will monitor the key areas of performance (listed below), using data, experience and innovation:

Police Now Headquarters

•Supporting PNHQ to understand the importance and benefits of equity, diversity and inclusion both in policing and in the workplace.

•Achieving a representative and fairly rewarded staff group at PNHQ, to reflect our communities, particularly with a London-based HQ; supporting traditionally underrepresented groups in the workplace to thrive and reach management and leadership positions.

Police Now Programmes

•Identifying and promoting opportunities for innovation so that there is no trade-off between diversity (prioritising gender and ethnicity but also considering other protected characteristics and intersectionality) and talent on those joining and progressing through our graduate programmes.

•Monitoring progress and impact of women and ethnic minority officers in particular and providing positive action guidance.

 Police Now Alumni

•Focusing on supporting a diverse range of participants through positive performance and retention, so that those completing our programmes and staying in policing are representative of the communities they serve.

•Nurturing those that have the potential to progress to Chief Officer and Superintendent ranks.

•Driving our new programmes of work specifically focused on the promotion of diverse officers.

What you’ll need – the person specification

•A recognised expert in equity, diversity & inclusion with prior experience developing and delivering equity, diversity & inclusion strategies that have had tangible outcomes in any sector; deep knowledge of workforce representation and challenges in the UK.

•An interest in the UK policing sector and an understanding of the equity, diversity & inclusion challenges, especially regarding gender and race in policing. Whilst direct exposure to the policing sector can be beneficial, we are particularly interested in those who can bring fresh perspectives from a variety of industries or organisations.

•At least 5+years in a senior role as part of a leadership team or executive team, with significant senior stakeholder exposure.

•Previous non-executive or trustee governance expertise is desirable but is not essential; as a minimum, an expert in EDI.

•Experience in quality assurance regarding strategy development and delivery, as well as risk management and mitigation.

•Familiarity with data and analysis, and an ability to use storytelling with data.

•A proven ability to manage and build relationships with diverse stakeholder groups including senior leaders; access to networks of diversity and inclusion experts is a significant advantage.

•Willingness to join Police Now events very occasionally, in person or online, outside of governance meetings.