Support volunteer volunteer roles in burnt oak, greater london
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Animal Fosterer (RSPCA Chiltern Branch)
We are looking for animal-loving volunteers to play a vital role in helping us improve the wellbeing of our furry friends whilst they wait to be rehomed. Can you help them by providing a calm and caring home whilst we find their perfect furever home?
About our Branch
At RSPCA Chiltern Branch, our primary mission is to rescue and foster animals—predominantly cats—and provide financial support to pet owners in need of veterinary care. We are supported by a dedicated team of six volunteer trustees, an animal coordinator, and a full-time shop manager. Our successful charity shop in Buckingham helps funds our vital work.
We are seeking new Trustees and Fosterers to join us in roles such as Animal Fosterer, Treasurer, Secretary, and General Trustee. We welcome proactive, compassionate individuals aged 18 to 99 from all social and cultural backgrounds who share our love for animals. Fosterers provide a safe, loving temporary home in their time of need, with all animal expenses covered by the branch.
We are a unique, fun and friendly branch. Due to the wide area we cover in Bucks and Herts, and the unusual requests we sometimes receive, there is support available and opportunities available for self-learning on the RSPCA website.
Primary responsibilities of an Animal Fosterer
As an animal fosterer, you would be supporting the RSPCA in providing either our cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, or other small furries with the safety of your home whilst tending to their welfare needs such as feeding and grooming. In addition to this, by providing a temporary loving environment, you will play a crucial role in their wellbeing and socialisation, which will significantly improve their chances of successful rehoming.
Once everything is in place, the animal centre will guide you through the fostering process and ensure that you have all the necessary equipment, food, and veterinary care for your foster. The RSPCA is also happy to reimburse any other pre-agreed expenses that you may incur through volunteering for us.
Whilst our animals are in your foster care, you will:
- Provide them with care, suitable housing, and a safe environment as per our policies and guidelines.
- Feed, water, and groom them in line with our advice.
- Transport them to any veterinary appointments if required.
- Provide them with your time and patience.
- Help us spread the word about the animals in your care so they might find their forever home quicker.
- Playing and cuddles are also a must!
What we are looking for in a volunteer Fosterer
- Volunteers aged 18 or over who have had plenty of experience caring for animals.
- Fostering experience is beneficial but not essential as training is provided.
- For their wellbeing, the whole family should be on board with fostering an animal.
- Any existing pets or animals need to have been spayed/neutered (some medical reasons may mean they can’t be so, please let us know if this is the case).
What we can offer you as a volunteer Fosterer
- You will be making a massive difference to the welfare of the animals in your care.
- Join a community which will enable you to meet new people and make new friends.
- Learning new skills through our comprehensive induction and fostering training programme.
- Enhance your CV by adding your volunteering experience and newly acquired skills.
It is worth mentioning that our animals do have different needs as whilst some are ready for rehoming others may require rehabilitation or ongoing medication. Therefore, we also aim to understand your situation and circumstances to ensure that we match you with your perfect foster animal.
Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.
If you are passionate about improving animal welfare, we would love to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Inpatient unit Volunteers provide support to the kitchen staff by delivering meals and snacks to patients, collecting used crockery from patient rooms and washing up all staff & patient crockery and cutlery. Volunteers in this role also provide a warm welcome to visitors when required. This allows catering staff to concentrate on food preparation, and nursing staff to concentrate on patient care.
Full training provided. An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.
“Since helping at the Hospice of St Francis I feel as though my life has been much enriched”
IPU Volunteer
Job Title: Trust and Foundations Researcher
Department: Fundraising
Line Manager: Trust and Foundations Manager
Remuneration: Reasonable travel and subsistence
Location: Remote (Office in Camden, London)
Training will be offered in-person (lasting roughly 6 weeks).
Contract: Temporary
Time commitment / Working Hours: at least 7 hours a week, for at least three months.
Variety, The Children’s Charity provides practical, life-changing support to disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK.
There are currently 4.3 million children living in poverty in the U.K, with 600,000 children both disabled and living in poverty. Variety’s programmes make an immediate and lasting difference to disabled and disadvantaged children and young people by directly improving their wellbeing and quality of life.
The opportunity
Are you an enthusiastic, willing learner with an interest in Trusts fundraising at high-profile international children’s charity?
Variety, the Children’s Charity are offering a chance for a volunteer to gain valuable experience within our Trusts and Foundations Fundraising team. This is a great learning opportunity to join an international children’s charity that’s globally renowned.
We are developing into a successful national programme. This is a fantastic opportunity for a pro-active volunteer to learn and develop key research, bid-writing and fundraising skills to be a successful Trust Fundraiser.
This is an excellent CV enhancing opportunity with a Charity that is committed to improving the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children and young people.
Working with the Trust and Foundations Manager, you will provide high quality, reliable research and logistical support to research and qualify our planned approaches to new Trust and Foundations. You must be IT literate, with a strong attention to detail.
Roles and responsibilities
1. Researching Prospects
- Finding suitable new Trusts and Foundations prospects. You’ll have access to a workbook, fundraising database and grants bulletin to trawl through.
- Reviewing Trust and Foundation Accounts. You’ll undertake research using online platforms, such as the Charity Commission website.
- Assessing whether prospects are a suitable fit.
2. Administrative support
- Updating our fundraising database and Excel workbook, as you progress. This will involve deciding whether the fundraising team should make an application for each prospect.
- Supporting with fundraising related tasks, on an ad hoc basis, as is required within the Trusts and Foundations team.
Skills and qualities
Essential
- Strong IT proficiency. You will be confident in using Microsoft Office, especially Excel. With a willingness to learn about our fundraising database.
- A methodical and orderly approach. You will be comfortable with online research and working through a workbook of contacts.
- Good verbal and written communication skills. You will have the ability to clearly and concisely summarise information from readily available sources.
- Analytical skills. You will be comfortable with independently conducting research and will be happy with conducting desk-based research.
- Administrative skills. You will be organised and methodical
Desirable
- Experience of conducting research.
- Understanding and interest in the charity or not-for-profit sector
- Past fundraising volunteer experience
Applications should reach us by 11.59 on 16th May 2025.
Interviews will be held on a rolling basis until this date. We look forward to hearing from you.
Interested?
More information can be found by downloading our Trust and Foundations Volunteer pack, under 'supporting documents'. If you would like to apply, then please submit the following:
- An up-to-date CV
- cover letter (max 1 page) on why you are interested and are a good fit
No agencies please.
Interested?
More information can be found by downloading our Trust and Foundations Volunteer pack, under 'supporting documents'. If you would like to apply, then please submit the following:
• An up-to-date CV
• cover letter (max 1 page) on why you are interested and are a good fit
• Please also advise if you may require any reasonable adjustments for the interview process.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Volunteer your time at Hestia to make our gardens a beautiful place for adults and children to enjoy all year through! Are you green fingered and have a passion for gardens and outdoor spaces?
At Hestia we have gardens and outdoor spaces which require your support to bring these back to life by keeping them maintained. We are recruiting for volunteers to motivate and inspire staff and people living in our services to get involved in gardening. Engaging in gardening has shown to have both immediate and long-term effects on mental health. Gardening for several hours has been known to reduce depression, stress and anxiety.
At Hestia we also have a PIPE programme where we encourage service users to work collaboratively and get involved in taking control and making decisions about physical environments across the organisation.
What you will be doing
- Inspire and motivate staff and people in the services to get involved in maintaining and growing the garden
- To provide tips on how to maintain and grow the garden - sowing seeds, planting bulbs, taking cuttings
- Provide basic maintenance such as cutting the grass, emptying bins, managing weed control and leaf raking
- Lead in planting and nurturing new trees, flowers, and various plants
- Provide best practice on how to use the correct gardening tools
- Inspire people in our services and staff to maintain a clean garden
- Advise staff on the costs of plants and garden necessities
The skills you need
- A basic knowledge/ experience of plant care and use of gardening tools7
- Calm and patient approach
- Good communication skills
- Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
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
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.




Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Support a startup helping students in Uganda access reproductive health services ❤️
Wekume is a comprehensive mobile app designed to provide university students in Uganda with seamless access to reproductive health services, including counseling, testing, products, and health education, while also offering personal development resources like business incubation and career-building opportunities
Human Resources Manager
Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)
Develop and maintain systems for tracking staff and volunteer data, including roles, availability, and contact information.
Create and document clear HR procedures to support internal organization and compliance.
Serve as the primary point of contact for recruitment and hiring efforts. Handle initial filtering and vetting of all applicants.
Handle onboarding and offboarding of all new staff and volunteers, ensuring proper documentation and orientation.
Manage offboarding processes to ensure smooth transitions, knowledge transfer, and reposting of open positions.
Support management in staff-related planning, documentation, and record-keeping.
NOTE: Please include your CV.
Weekly Time Commitment
7-9 hours per week
Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)
6+ months
We connect professionals with impact startups matching their causes, skills & schedule.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Founded in 1997, the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants provides a place for refugees, migrants, and people seeking asylum to rebuild their life with support and community. From classes to casework to financial assistance, the Centre has a wide offering available for our community of over 200 people. Our approach is compassionate and human and the support we offer is long term - on average people stay with us around four years.
The current Board brings a wide range of charity and public body experience including strategy and fundraising and we are looking for skills to both enhance and complement these strengths.
The Centre has a dedicated and talented staff team led by our CEO, Andy Ruiz Palma, who joined in 2000 as an English teacher. In addition to this staff resource we have around 40 volunteers who provide direct support through activities. We also have in place accountancy support to the executive and a dedicated fundraising team.
We are looking for people who can demonstrate a strong empathy with our client group and who understand how to work with organisations rooted in a local community. You will bring excellent people and communication skills and demonstrate good team-working.
You will demonstrate this through your experience working with marginalised communities (either in a frontline operational role, a policymaking role, or on the Board of another organisation) or personal lived experience as a member of a marginalised community.
We are open to applications from people looking for their first Trustee role or who may not have considered being a Trustee before and will provide mentoring to help trustees find their feet.
We are looking to recruit 2- 3 new trustees and have a strong preference for any of the following or a combination of these skills:
- Finance/Accountancy qualification – we have an excellent Treasurer Trustee and are looking for a deputy
- HR
- Fundraising
- IT/Data management
- Lived Experience as a refugee or migrant
Our mission is to offer people the emotional support, practical tools and sense of community they need to be happy and have a decent quality of life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
VOLUNTEER/GLD ONLINE
Unleash Your Passion, Volunteer Online with IHF!
Make a difference from anywhere in the world: Join the International Humanity Foundation
(IHF) and help us empower marginalized children and communities (in location) while offering
an opportunity to learn and practice (online).
Join our Global Leadership Development program in one or more of the following divisions or teams:
A. Human Resources (HR): Master essential HR skills while supporting our global team. Assist
with applications, interviews, calendars, and more.
B. Finance: Gain valuable financial experience while managing funds responsibly. Help us track
donations, process grants, and ensure financial stability.
C. Education & Administration: Make a lasting impact on children lives. Develop curricula,
mentor youth, and contribute to various educational projects.
D. Media & PR: Share our stories and amplify our impact. Use your talents in media, graphics,
translation, or writing to connect with the world.
Benefits:
● Make a real difference: Contribute to a meaningful cause and change lives.
● Gain valuable skills: Enhance your knowledge and develop new abilities.
● Connect with a global community: Collaborate with passionate volunteers from diverse
backgrounds.
● Flexible and rewarding: Volunteer from the comfort of your home on your own schedule.
No matter your experience, you can make a contribution! We welcome individuals with various
skills and levels of expertise.
This life changing experience impacts you as well as the children and communities we serve.
_________________________________________________________________
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Calling all data-enthusiasts!!
She Loves Data U.K. & Ireland Chapters are growing — and we’re looking for passionate new team members to help us make 2025 our biggest year yet! ✨
GENERAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Chapters: U.K. & Ireland
Commitment: 4–6 hours/week
We’re on the lookout for amazing humans who want to:
Support our chapter events & global programmes
Help with day-to-day team activities
Be part of exciting initiatives and make an impact in the data community
If you're excited about empowering others through data, learning new skills, and being part of a fun, global network — we’d love to have you on board!
Check out the roles and responsibilities & sign up here: https://lnkd.in/g27iTbEz
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Marmalade Connections is a time-limited, one-to-one project covering most of the South West. Based on the enabling/empowering social prescribing model, trained volunteers make weekly calls to project members for up to 15 weeks, focusing on their specific needs and interests. The project supports those in our community who are the most socially isolated, and who experience chronic loneliness (feeling lonely all or most of the time).
Marmalade Connections is not a 'befriending call project'. These conversations lead to volunteers signposting the project members to local social activities and community support, to improve their social connections long term.
As a Marmalade Companion Volunteer, you will support one or occasionally two of our project members (the people we support) for a period of up to 16 weeks. The role involves phoning a matched member once a week for a friendly call lasting about 30 minutes plus researching potential social connection and activity opportunities. You will receive training on how to build up a trusted telephone relationship with your project member(s) to enable you to support and signpost them to relevant services and activities. The aim of this project is to help reduce social isolation and loneliness and to support your project member(s) to discover lasting connections in their community.
We exist to help create a society where we recognise that loneliness exists and support each other to make new connections
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.
We are looking to recruit an Activities Volunteer for the Croydon Group. As our local group Activities Volunteer you’ll help us to set up activities in the area. Whether you’re serving refreshments, talking to people, registering attendees or collecting payments, you’ll be making sure everyone feel welcome.
In this role you’ll be able to develop your organisation, communication and team working skills. Most importantly you’ll be supporting your local group to run activities that bring friendship and fun to your local MS Community.
About you
You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.
You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the area the group to carry out this role.
Time Commitment
We estimate this role will need up to two hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.
Apply
1. Read through the role description carefully
2. Please apply online
The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Overall purpose
To support children (the child/ren who have complex medical needs and/or their siblings) in 1:1 sessions through the integration of counselling and play skills
Role responsibilities
Children, who have been assessed by an experienced therapist from the project and with parental consent, will be referred to the Child Therapist who will:
- Make contact with the client’s parent/guardian organising an initial 1:1 meeting with them to talk through the issues their child faces and establish the time, location and frequency of sessions
- Provide support through an integration of counselling and play skills
- Attend monthly group supervision (2 hours)
- Undertake The Maypole Project initial training (20 hours)
- Work to The Maypole Project model of support for children and young people
- Attend a training update session at least once per annum
- Complete client notes and The Maypole Project paperwork as required
- Liaise with their supervisor or the Clinical Supervisor in case of questions/difficulties
- Follow The Maypole Project policies and guidelines at all times whilst volunteering
- Attend service-wide activities including family activity events and fundraising events
For students: Please check whether your course placement requirements would enable you to provide counselling at external venues (clients home, hospitals, hospices etc). This would occur only after a settling in period and with additional training and support provided by The Maypole Project.
Support
Whilst volunteering you will have support from our Family Support Co-ordinator for day to day issues and our Lead Therapist or another qualified counsellor for monthly clinical supervision.
Location
At our offices in Orpington and Greenwich or, after a settling-in period, in local schools, hospitals, hospices and client’s homes.
Time Commitment
Volunteers days and hours are negotiable but, due to the long-term promise of support to our clients, a most valued aspect of our service, we do ask volunteer applicants to be available to volunteer for a minimum of 6 months from acceptance onto the volunteering programme at The Maypole Project. We would ideally like volunteers to aspire to offering 2 years commitment to the role.
Person Specification
Education & qualifications
- Good general education (essential)
- Final year student on counselling or therapies course; including study of child development and child therapies (essential)
- Courses must be accredited by BACP, IATE, BAPT or approved equivalent and require the student to engage in personal therapy across one year (essential)
- Qualified at diploma/degree or masters level in child and young person counselling or play therapy or equivalent (desirable)
Previous experience
- 20+ client hours supporting children and/or young people (essential)
- 20+ face to face client hours supporting children and/or young people (desirable)
- Experience of working with people impacted upon by complex medical needs/loss and bereavement (desirable)
- Working with people from a diversity of backgrounds (desirable)
- Working with diversity of disability in families (desirable)
Skills & knowledge
- Good communication and interpersonal skills with all ages – focusing on children and young people (essential)
- Child and Family centred approach (essential)
- Experience of supporting children and families (desirable)
Attributes
- Self-motivated (essential)
- Able to work flexibly (essential)
- Approachable (essential)
- Discreet, boundaried and able to adhere to confidentiality procedures (essential)
- Commitment to equal opportunities and a non-judgmental attitude (essential)
- Commitment to further training and personal development (essential)
Exemption clause
- 2 years without significant loss (including divorce/diagnosis of chronic illness)
Thanks for your interest in volunteering for The Maypole Project
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.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Volunteering for Sense
Our amazing team of volunteers help us run over 100 shops across England and Wales. Every donated item that you sort, prepare and sell helps to raise vital funds to support us in our mission to make sure no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, is isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our shops are at the heart of local communities – sharing the work of Sense, and helping to secure support for our life changing work.
What your role will involve
There are a variety of tasks that you can get involved with in the shop, including:
- Welcoming and assisting customers, providing great customer service and a fantastic shopping experience
- Receiving donated goods from members of the public
- Sorting, steaming, tagging and preparing donated goods for sale
- Creating eye catching window and in-shop displays
- Keeping the shop floor well stocked, tidy, clean and organised
- Processing sales and serving on the till
- Promoting Gift Aid and other Sense fundraising initiatives
- Acting as an ambassador for Sense; promoting the shop and Sense in your local community
- Supporting with the recruitment and training of new volunteers
- Following new health and safety measures to ensure the safety of everyone
Will the role suit me? Yes, if you are:
- Motivated and hardworking
- Reliable, flexible and willing to do a variety of shop tasks
- A team player
- Friendly and helpful
- Passionate about customer service and enjoy interacting with people
- Respectful of others and their diversity
- Interested in supporting the work of Sense and want to make a difference to people who have complex disabilities and are deafblind.
What can Sense offer me as a volunteer?
- A full induction and ongoing support and guidance from your Shop Manager to make sure you feel confident in your role
- Support to develop new skills, knowledge and experience, in particular of a retail environment, but also skills such as teamwork, customer service, communication and using your initiative
- A reference for other paid or voluntary work (available on request)
- The opportunity to share your existing skills and experience to benefit others
- The chance to meet new people from a wide range of backgrounds and to join a passionate and committed team
- The opportunity to make an invaluable contribution to Sense by raising vital income and raising the profile of Sense in your local community; changing the lives of those who have complex disabilities and are deafblind
About Sense
For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to offer personalised support to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our experts offer support that’s tailored to the individual needs of each person, whether that’s at our centres, through our holidays and short breaks, or in people’s own homes. In addition to practical support, we also provide information to families, and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.
Volunteers add real value to Sense, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the work that we do. We believe that volunteers enable us to bring people together, and provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world.
We include. We collaborate. We find a way. We challenge. We celebrate.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Could you inspire children from across Hestia’s domestic abuse refuges to get active? We are recruiting for a qualified Sport’s coach to support us over the summer holidays! During the school summer holidays, Hestia runs a six-week Summer Play Scheme providing activities and outings for mothers and their children across our refuges. Funded through generous donations from the public, the Summer Play Scheme provides women and children with a safe and supportive space to reconnect by having fun and sharing happy memories together as family.
What you will be doing
- To develop positive relationships with the children and women, maintain professional boundaries and keep accurate records.
- Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team
- Coordinate a weekly timetable of sports and active games to engage children
- General knowledge about wellbeing and how sport affects physical and mental health
- Support the children to maintain their physical health through exercise
- Support the children to learn/play and work as a team
- Plan activities or sports in collaboration with the children
The skills you need
- Understanding of Domestic abuse and its impact on children and women
- Good interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with people from different backgrounds
- Able to maintain strict confidentiality
- Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation.
- Calm and patient approach
- A skilled and qualified sports coach/fitness instructor working with children
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
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.




Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Could you be a star baker, master chef or perhaps you simply enjoy baking or cooking! We are recruiting for a volunteer to join our team supporting individuals to learn new recipes together as a group.
Baking and cooking helps to relax, get creative and indulge in our senses. Often, it can spark nostalgia and helps us to recreate positive experiences or memories. Inspire and motivate people in our services to do something that brings joy, an opportunity to learn new skills whilst connecting with others over sharing baked goods and delicious meals.
What you will be doing
- Research and plan new recipes for cooking/baking sessions in collaboration with the group each week
- Encourage individuals to participate in the sessions and delegate cooking tasks
- Support individuals to shop for ingredients needed for the session
- Support individuals each week in setting up for the sessions and tidying away afterwards
- Encourage individuals to participate in all aspects of the planning and attendance
- Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team
The skills you need
- Food Safety Certificate/knowledge or willingness to complete relevant training
- Passion and knowledge of healthy eating and cooking
- Ability to engage, encourage and motivate individuals to participate in sessions
- Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere
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 deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.




Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Volunteer Befriender
Octavia works with people affected by unemployment, ill health, social isolation or low income to connect them with opportunities for positive personal change. Our vision is to build stronger, happier and healthier communities in central and west London to help create an enriched life where we live. Please help us to do this by volunteering to befriend a member of the local community, who is isolated and vulnerable, in Westminster or Kensington and Chelsea.
Reasons to volunteer
Would you like to assist an isolated person in your local area? Would you like to provide them with the emotional support, social skills and confidence that will help them to feel happier in their everyday life?
You will know that you have helped someone to move on in their life and take part in society
Full induction, ongoing training and support. This includes training on: communication, empathy, health and safety, confidentiality and safeguarding
Opportunity to enhance your CV and to learn new skills
We are able to provide references to employers and/or further education establishments
Travel costs and out of pocket expenses reimbursed on the provision of receipts*
What would I be doing?
Meeting once a week with the person you have been matched with, in their own home or an agreed public place, at a mutually agreed time
Encourage communication on a shared interest or topic
Arrange activities and listen to your Befriendee with empathy and encouragement
On occasion you may be asked by your befriendee to accompany/escort them outside on a one to one basis or do some shopping in circumstances where they are unable to
What skills are we looking for?
Good communication skills
Understanding of empathy and the needs of people with isolation issues
Understanding of confidentiality
Able to use own initiative and work unsupervised, reliable and trustworthy
We ask that you volunteer for 1 hour per week, for a minimum of 6 months
Sounds great! How do I sign up?
When you aplply, we ask for 2 references but these do not need to be from employers. For instance, they can be character references from college tutors or support workers who know you well. We also carry out Enhanced Disclosure checks on all volunteers, but this would only happen if we both agree that Befriending is the right fit for you.
We are committed to equality and diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Please contact us should you prefer to apply over the phone or via hard copy, for accessibility reasons. If you require any adjustments due to a disability (including: physical, psychological or neurological disease or disorders) in order to get the most out of your time volunteering with us, please do let us know so that we can ideally facilitate this.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.