Training volunteer roles

Job Overview
We are seeking dedicated and passionate volunteers to join our team. This role is perfect for individuals looking to make a positive impact in the community while gaining valuable experience. As a Volunteer, you will have the opportunity to support blind and partially sighted people to attend and enjoy social and peer-support groups and activities such as the Visual Impairment and disability accessible sport Boccia. The group currently meet from 1pm to 3pm with support from charity staff from Galloways. We are looking for volunteers to help to create and maintain a supportive environment, to keep the conversation flowing, make brews, guide people and be a friendly voice.

Duties

• Assist in the planning and supporting community events and activities.
• Support in creating a safe and encouraging atmosphere.
• Making brews and keeping the drink preparation area clean and tidy
• Help maintain an organised environment by setting up and clearing away equipment or materials used during events.
• Participate in training sessions to enhance your skills and knowledge relevant to your volunteer role.

Job Type: Volunteer

Volunteer Handyperson – Help Us Keep Our Facilities in Top Shape!

Location: RSPCA Buckinghamshire South Branch – Community-based

Role Type: Volunteer – Handyperson

Manager: Operations Manager

Do You Enjoy DIY and Fixing Things?

Would you like to use your practical skills to help improve the environment for rescued animals and support our charity shops?

At RSPCA Buckinghamshire South Branch, our volunteer handypersons play a crucial role by:

● Repairing and maintaining small animal pens and hutches to ensure they are safe and comfortable.

● Installing shelves, notice boards, and basic fixtures in our charity shops.
Carrying out general maintenance tasks at our shops, storage facilities, and animal care locations.

● Assisting with minor repairs, painting, and basic carpentry tasks as needed.

If you have basic DIY skills, some spare time, and want to make a real difference, we’d love to have you on board!

Why Volunteer With Us?

As an RSPCA volunteer handyperson, you will:

● Meet a variety of RSPCA staff, volunteers, animal carers and people from our community.

● Help create safer and more comfortable environments for animals.

● Support the smooth running of our charity shops and animal care sites.

● Enjoy a rewarding role that makes a tangible difference in your local community.

What We’re Looking For:

● Aged 18 or over with practical DIY skills.

● Ability to use basic tools safely (drills, screwdrivers, hammers, saws, etc.).

● Comfortable lifting, carrying, and handling materials.

● Reliable, responsible, and able to work independently.

● A problem-solver with a can-do attitude.

What You’ll Be Doing:

● Animal Pen & Hutch Repairs: Fixing broken enclosures and ensuring they are safe and weatherproof.

● Shop Maintenance: Putting up shelves, assembling furniture, and installing small fixtures.

● General Repairs & Upkeep: Basic painting, minor carpentry, and fixing small issues.

● Storage & Organisation: Helping maintain our storage areas and ensuring everything is tidy.

● Ad Hoc Jobs: Supporting the team with various maintenance tasks as needed.

What’s in It for You?

● Meet new people and be part of a passionate team.

● A comprehensive induction and training relevant to your role.

● The chance to make a meaningful difference to the welfare of animals.

● Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses incurred while volunteering.

Practical Considerations:

● Health & Safety: Volunteers must follow RSPCA safety guidelines for DIY work.

● Physical Requirements: This role involves lifting, carrying, and working with tools.

● Equipment Use: Tools and materials will be provided where needed.

● Volunteers must use equipment safely and responsibly.

● Training & Support: You will receive a volunteer handbook and guidance from our team.

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic, fast learning Midlands & Wales intern to join our growing team at Human Appeal; helping us with admin tasks, recruitment of volunteers for events and online fundraising campaigns, research for various upcoming events and help with general tasks.

Main tasks include: 

• Administrative tasks such as collating data, contacting signups for various challenges, deployments and events. 

• Assist with administrational tasks relating to fundraising

• Research venues, catering and other fundraising related tasks for upcoming events 

• May be asked to go to occasional events dependent on location 

Knowledge/Experience/Skills required: 

• A good understanding of humanitarian relief

• Effective written and oral communication skills 

• Problem solving skills 

• Ability to prioritise your workload 

Benefits of volunteering with us: 

• Experience of operating within the Fundraising department of an international charity 

• Opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in Fundraising

• Excellent support as part of a friendly team 

• Excellent training opportunities 

• Offer to provide references after 3 months of volunteering 

• Support in developing your CV (should you want it) 

• Opportunities to take part in Human Appeal events 

Learning & Development: 

To enable you to take part in this opportunity Human Appeal will provide:

• A detailed induction to provide you with an overview of Human Appeal 

• Training and shadowing providing all the information and skills needed to fulfil the role

• A dedicated member of staff to provide ongoing support and supervision 

• Payment of “out of pocket” expenses in line with Human Appeal’s expenses policy 

• A volunteer handbook that outlines all of the policies and procedures you will need to be aware of whilst volunteering 

Are you skilled at DIY? Do you get satisfaction from fixing and maintaining things? Are you able to keep outdoor spaces tidy and presentable? We’re on the look-out for Gardener and Site Maintenance volunteers who will play a key role in keeping Blue Cross sites clean, tidy and well presented. You will be adept at working under your own initiative, with support from the team when needed.

Why we want you

Sick, injured and homeless pets have relied on Blue Cross for help since 1897. Each year, thousands of dogs, cats, small pets and horses turn to the charity’s animal hospitals, clinical and rehoming services for treatment and support. Your skills will assist us in quickly addressing issues and maintaining excellent levels of safety.

We would love you to join us and help us help more pets in need.

What you will be doing

• Maintenance including basic repairs and DIY tasks
• Some painting and decorating
• Weeding and tidying the grounds
• Identifying and completing tasks required to maintain the site

The skills you need

• Experience and enjoyment of DIY
• Some gardening knowledge and skills
• Regular commitment and reliability
• Ability to work in a team or alone
• Willingness to learn and follow Blue Cross procedures

What's in it for you

• You’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of shifts
• You’ll gain a variety of experience for your CV
• You’ll learn new/enhanced skills such as customer service, communication and team working
• You’ll meet new people and get involved with your local community
• We’ll provide you with all the training you need, including our GUEST customer service training and access to Blue Horizons, our online learning platform
• You’ll be helping more pets in need.

Disclaimer

We ask that you can ideally commit to one shift per week and are able to volunteer at a Blue Cross site. You need to be 18 or over for this role. Blue Cross holds inclusion as a core organisational value. We positively encourage applications from eligible volunteers regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity. We actively embrace our differences and know that it is our differences that make us unique. You are very welcome at Blue Cross, without the need to hide any part of who you are.

Become an Independent Visitor to be matched one to one with a young person in a young offenders institution, in Lichfield . You will visit once a month to provide them a consistent, adult relationship which is independent from the institution and from social services. This is an opportunity for the young person to share their hobbies and interest and to talk about their worries and feelings if they are ready to do so.

We'll provide full training, all your expenses and ongoing support from dedicated staff.

This is an opportunity for you to build skills and knowledge within social care and make a real difference in a young person’s life.

About Croydon Children's Quality Assurance Unit and Safeguarding Services: As part of Croydon Council we support our social care colleagues in safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of young people from the borough. We aim to improve the young people’s quality of life for today and for the future. We're looking for enthusiastic, committed people to bring their experience, skills and positivity to the lives of young people who have been through tough times.

Our House Experience Volunteers add the sparkle to any visit – giving everyone a warm welcome, bringing stories from Ickworth to life and helping people get the best out of their day. 

 This role will suit you if you are:

• Warm and friendly.
• Someone with a curious and inquisitive nature, with an ability to engage our visitors, ask questions and facilitate conversations.
• Able to listen thoughtfully and actively.
• Someone with exceptional customer service standards- a desire to put visitors before everything else.
• A good storyteller, with a talent for reading body language and thinking on your feet
• Sensitive to visitor and volunteer needs – working as an effective team member.
• Willing to develop your knowledge of Ickworth, its history and vast collections.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Responding to the diverse needs of visitors, including people with additional access needs.
• Sharing inspirational stories, curious facts and practical information or simply the space for visitors to wander at their own pace.
• Helping visitors to discover more, answering questions and making suggestions so they can enjoy their day, their way.
• Being an ambassador for the whole property and the National Trust. Helping visitors understand the full scope of the offer at Ickworth beyond the house.
• Learning more about Ickworth, so you can share your knowledge and stories of the family and their collections with visitors.
• Responding to the changing needs of Ickworth – supporting ongoing interpretation strategies in the House.
• Supporting with health and safety and evacuation procedures if required.
• Being part of a team that may need to adapt and change in response to local needs, National Trust priorities or changes to government guidelines 

 By getting involved you could· 

• Become part of a friendly and dedicated team.
  Spend time with us at Ickworth, learn about its history, stories and enjoy its beauty.
• Meet people from all walks of life
• Find an opportunity to use your existing skills and develop new ones.
  Improve your communication skills.
  Get a warm glow by knowing you have made a difference to someone’s day out with us.

 You’d also be joining Europe’s largest conservation charity and the wider National Trust team proudly looking after 780 miles of coastline, over 250,000 hectares of land, over 500 historic houses, castles, ancient monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves (including lighthouses, villages, pubs and a gold mine!). We are a unique charity welcoming millions of people each year and with a vision to open up places for the benefit of everyone, for ever.

All National Trust volunteers will be asked to

• Respect and uphold the National Trust values whilst volunteering with us.
• Complete training required of all NT volunteers and any role specific training
• Adhere to relevant policies and processes including safeguarding, health and safety, and equality and diversity. 

 We want all our volunteers to feel welcome and to have an equally positive experience when volunteering with us. So, volunteers will:

• Be provided with the necessary induction, training, equipment and reasonable adjustments to do this role well and safely
• Be offered expenses to cover agreed travel costs between home and place of volunteering.
• Have remote access to support, news and rotas via our volunteer website 

Skills acquired: Adaptability, Communication Skills, Community Development, Customer Service, Event Support, Exhibition Arts, Fundraising, Interpersonal Skills, Public Relations, Public Speaking, Teamwork, Visual Arts

Join our amazing team and make a real difference to people living with sight loss. Help create a welcoming and safe environment for people to share their experiences, ask questions and support each other and connect with a local community in a group setting via Facebook.

In this role you will be:
• Managing group membership – authorising Requests to Join.
• Creating a warm and welcoming environment.
• Supporting group conversations.
• Working with a Volunteer Moderator Team to create engaging content for the Group.
• Ensuring House Rules are followed and content is appropriate.

What you’ll gain from the role:
• An opportunity to give something back.
• A chance to build a strong community.
• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.

•  A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people
• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies.

In return for donating your time we will provide:
• A rewarding experience.
• A great Induction and training.
• A supportive manager.
• Regular updates and catchups.
• Expenses.
• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers

Deafblind UK support people who have combined sight and hearing loss. We help them to live with their condition and to build their confidence and independence.

Many of our members have lost the confidence to leave the house alone but would love the opportunity to stretch their legs, explore their local areas or to learn new skills to use their local transport network.

We are looking for a volunteer who can help one of our Newport based members to get out locally, increase their fitness and give them the confidence they need to get back out and about in their community. 

Do you need experience? No …. simply a genuine desire to help, access to a car and some spare time on a regular weekly basis.  We will ensure you are supported throughout your journey with us, offering training and support at all times. We will also reimburse out of pocket expenses and pay for your DBS check.

Perinatal Support Volunteers provide one-to-one support to parents during pregnancy and up to nine months after the birth. These parents either have mental health issues or are at risk of developing them.

Perinatal Support Volunteers visit these families once a week (usually weekdays during working hours) for 2-3 hours, providing emotional support and practical help in the family’s home or local community. Support is aimed at empowering parents and building resilience beyond the support period.

The type of support Perinatal Support Volunteers provide to parents may include:

• An empathetic and non-judgemental listening ear
• Support to prepare for parenthood
• Support to build confidence in parenting skills
• Support to develop a positive relationship with their infant
• Support to establish daily and weekly routines
• Support to take time for self-care
• Support to manage the things that are causing stress
• Support to access relevant services
• Support to access local green spaces
• Support to make connections with other parents

No special qualifications are necessary to become a Perinatal Support Volunteer, but Home-Start volunteers are usually either parents or grandparents themselves, or people with experience of young children and family life. We particularly welcome volunteers with lived experience of perinatal mental health challenges.

We are currently recruiting for volunteer Finance Manager for our newly formed not for profit organisation which provides fully qualified mental assistance dogs for those in need across Northamptonshire.

This is ideal for anyone who is looking to make a difference and be in from the start of designing policies and procedures for their area of the organisation.

Essential to the role

ü  Part-ACA/ACCA qualified

ü  Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

ü  Satisfactory references

ü  Strong working knowledge of Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook

Role and Responsibilities

• Preparation of year end accounts, company tax returns, individual tax returns, VAT returns etc.
• Preparation of monthly management reports, including analysis/presentation to client
• Provide excellent service to internal and external clients by supporting and answering queries.
• Managing Petty Cash.
• Cashflow forecasting and other project work.
• Steer the business of legal requirements for the organisation.
• You will be responsible for working with HR to recruit, train and coach members of your team to work alongside.
• You will be measured against Key Performance Indicators
• Work with internal departments and external partners such as HMRC. Along with senior stakeholders within the organisation.

· Be honest, reliable and knowledgeable about our services and how we support the local community.

Do you enjoy driving?Would you like to make a difference to the people we support in your community?  

We are looking for friendly drivers to join us!  

You will meet some amazing people, whilst making a positive impact to their lives by helping them get to the activities they enjoy and appointments that are important.  
 
We are looking for drivers who will be happy to drive our house vehicles.  

  
Activities will include:  

• Driving the people we support between their homes and services in a safe manner, in accordance with UK law.  

• Driving around the Yeovil area, which will be the start and end point of the majority of journeys  

• Assisting people we support in and out of vehicles and locations – with assistance from trained Discovery staff.  

• Driving in a manner that is sensitive of physical and emotional requirements of the people we support.  

• Driving vehicles owned by the people we support

Activities will NOT include: Personal care, medication or financial assistance.   

We are looking for drivers who:  

• Are aged 21 or over, with at least 2 years driving experience  

• Hold a full, clean and current UK Driving License (or equivalent)  

• Have the ability to understand verbal and written instructions in relation to journeys  

• Are friendly with the people we support and our support staff  

• Are willing to commit to volunteer regularly (times and days can be discussed)  

A DBS check and two character references will be required for this role.   

What you’ll gain from being a Discovery volunteer:  

Discovery supports people with learning disabilities and autism, helping them to live more independently at home and in the community.

Our volunteers play a vital role in our work and in return, we support them with: 

• Access to free online training (with access to 800 plus courses)  

• Comprehensive support from professional, friendly and trained Dimensions staff  

• Reasonable expenses may be reimbursed as agreed   

• An opportunity to gain real experience in the social care sector  

Want to apply for this role? 
If you’d like to be a Discovery volunteer, please get in touch! 

Our Programming volunteers provide a warm welcome to everybody as part of the programming on property, making sure our visitors get the most from their experience with us. 

 This role will suit you if you are:

• Someone who loves meeting people and being part of a team
• Looking for new experiences
• Wanting to utilise your communication skills or develop them further
• Someone who enjoys a busy environment
• Flexible with what you can support with, there will be a rota you can pick and choose the events and activites you wish to get involved in
• Cheerful – even when last minute changes including the weather affect proceedings

By getting involved you could:

• Help support activities across the property
• Support ticketing, guiding, ushering and hosting events with external partners
• Enjoy some of our events 1st hand from a seat in the wings
• Become part of a friendly and dedicated team
• Enjoy new experiences and learn something new every day
• Build your confidence and experience
• See first-hand the rewarding results of helping visitors have a great time
• Share your enthusiasm and passion for what we do 

You’d also be joining Europe’s largest conservation charity and the wider National Trust team proudly looking after 780 miles of coastline, over 250,000 hectares of land, over 500 historic houses, castles, ancient monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves (including lighthouses, villages, pubs and a gold mine!). We are a unique charity welcoming millions of people each year and with a vision to open up places for the benefit of everyone, for ever.All National Trust volunteers will be asked to

• Respect and uphold the National Trust values whilst volunteering with us.
• Complete training required of all NT volunteers and any role specific training
• Adhere to relevant policies and processes including safeguarding, health and safety, and equality and diversity. 

 We want all our volunteers to feel welcome and to have an equally positive experience when volunteering with us. So, volunteers will:

• Be provided with the necessary induction, training, equipment and reasonable adjustments to do this role well and safely
• Be offered expenses to cover agreed travel costs between home and place of volunteering.
• Have remote access to support, news and rotas via our volunteer website

Tasks and responsibilities

• Providing a warm, welcoming and friendly approach to all of our visitors to our events and activities
• Supporting our visitors by providing them with information and guidance so they get the most from their time with us during the event
• Supporting visitors at several points throughout their experience
• Being ‘in the know’ at events and during activities to best help our supporters enjoy it in the way best suited to them
• Support accessibity needs during events to help ensure all visitors are feel included and welcome
• Responding to situations to ensure we always provide a great experience for people – and often spotting issues before they happen!
• There will be plenty of opportunities to do the little things that make a big difference to someone’s experience at Ickworth
• Helping things run as smoothly and safely as possible – this includes getting to know health and safety and evacuation procedures.
• Being part of a team that may need to adapt and change in response to local needs, National Trust priorities or changes to government guidelines

Skills acquired: Adaptability, Advice & Guidance, Communication Skills, Community Development, Crafts, Customer Service, Event Support, Fundraising, General Education, General Play and Recreation, Guiding, Interpersonal Skills, Music Arts, Public Relations, Teamwork, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, Youth Activities Management

Our small friendly Charity Shop in South Westminster

As well as being an important source of revenue for the Centre, the shop on Horseferry Road is the public face of the Cardinal Hume Centre to the residents and workers of Westminster. It can be a very busy environment with lots of regular customers. You will be part of a friendly, international team!  You will receive excellent support and opportunities to learn team skills and customer service.  You can obtain a reference for future employers.

How does this role make a difference?

You will be part of the fundraising team, raising funds to support the work of the Cardinal Hume Centre and promoting the work of the Centre to the public. Typically, the Charity Shop raises in the region of £50,000 per year.

What will you be doing?

Flexibility will be given where possible, but in general, volunteers will undertake the following tasks as part of this role:

· Customer service on the till

· Cashing up at the end of the day and walking the takings round to the reception and handing in to Finance Team

· Greeting and helping customers

· Replenishing the stock on the shop floor

· Sorting donations

· Helping present top items in window display and around the shop

· Promoting the work of the Centre to the public

Want to increase your skills in retail?

If you want to develop in this role, we are keen to support you.  There are more responsibilities you can take on in the shop, for example; opening and closing the shop, cashing up at the end of the day and helping with the induction of new volunteers.  Let us know if this interests you.  We also have employment advisors who can provide employment support.  Furthermore, if you want to expand your experience in the voluntary sector, you can combine your role in the shop with a volunteer role elsewhere in the organisation.

What are we looking for?

No special qualifications are needed to work in our shop, as relevant training will be given, however, we will be asking for the following qualities:

· Over 16+

· Good spoken English needed – at least Entry Level 3

· The ability to contribute to a positive team culture and atmosphere

· Be able to provide a friendly, high-quality service to customers

· A commitment to equal opportunities and to treating all individuals who visit or work in the shop with dignity and respect

· Physically fit - able to lift light bags and boxes and to comfortably use the stairs between the shop floor and the stock room.  Manual handling training will be given.

What is the time commitment?

The shop opening hours are 10am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday.  A full or half day (10 – 1pm or 1 – 4.30pm) is ideal, but we are flexible and are grateful for even a couple of hours help each week. Ideally, volunteers will commit to a period of at least 4 months.

How will you be supported?

· You will be supported and trained in all areas of retail and customer service by the Charity Shop Manager and the Assistant Shop Manager.

· You will receive a Centre induction from a Volunteer Coordinator

· You will be reimbursed for reasonable and agreed ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses such as travel and also lunch if working a full day.

· For volunteers who stay for more than three months, we are happy to provide a reference.

Could you raise SSAFA’s profile in your local area? You just need patience and the ability to get on with a wide range of people and age groups, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be he role for you, we’d love to hear from you.

What is a Publicity Coordinator?

Publicity Coordinators work with other branch volunteers to develop a Publicity Plan to raise awareness of SSAFA that reaches potential beneficiaries, volunteers, and funders.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our beneficiaries come from all walks of life and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us. We need to recruit volunteers that reflect our local communities and raise money to fund our work. Could you spare a few hours a week to help us raise awareness?

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

This role is about building awareness so beneficiaries know who we are and how they can benefit from and access support, promoting volunteer opportunities and encourage people to raise finds and celebrate success. This means that on occasions, you might need to be present at events. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can conduct the administration part of this role form home.

What would you be doing?

• Working with other branch volunteers to develop a publicity plan.
• Publicising SSAFA events.
• Work with Marketing/PR staff at central office to develop case studies of clients and volunteers and ensure that SSAFA branding and messaging are consistent.
• Develop and maintain networks with local press, TV and radio outlets through providing press releases, interviews, case studies etc.
• Working with the Digital Team at Central Office to develop and maintain a local on-line presence for the branch via a website and social media channels.
• Keeping a stock of SSAFA publicity materials and distributing them
• Liaising with PR staff at central office or on-call in the event of a PR/press situation.
• Supporting local and national campaigns to recruit new volunteers.
• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA including all sections of the community in awareness raising
• Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.

The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support would you receive?

• Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - communication and marketing workshops.
• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
• Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
• Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
• Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team as well as Marketing and Communication Teams based at our central office.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable people with good communication skills
• Good written and spoken English.
• Confident to deal with the public, potential clients, volunteers, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues – face-to-face, by phone, email or via social media
• Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
• Reliable attitude
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely in line with SSADA policies.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to meetings and events.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative).

Is a criminal record check required? No