Volunteer roles in barnet, greater london

Shop Volunteering Opportunities

Greenwich

Our shops are at the heart of local communities raising vital funds for our fight against homelessness and bad housing - and they’re powered by our volunteers!

Suggested Involvement: It’s up to you! We have volunteers who support for one hour a week and others who volunteer more. Many people volunteer for a morning or an afternoon each week, but we’ll have a chat about your availability after you’ve applied.

Availability: The shop is open Monday- Saturday 10:00-18:00 and Sunday 11:00-17:00

Location: 6 Nelson Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9JB

Supervised by: Community Shop Manager/Assistant Manager

Why volunteer with Shelter? 

Home is a human right. It's our foundation and it's where we thrive. Yet, every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams ensure fighting the housing emergency never felt so fun. 

What can I do?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal chat to find the right role for you. Some roles involve a basic criminal record check being completed during recruitment. Having a criminal record does not mean that you cannot volunteer with us, but it may impact the ways you can get involved.

• Volunteering in the shop

Our retail volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

- You will not undergo a criminal record check for this role  

• Volunteering in a leadership role

Our volunteer supervisors help with overseeing the running of our shop and creating a fantastic environment for our customers. You may be involved with coordinating and supporting other volunteers, operating computer systems, and being a key point of contact for the shop.

Skills and Experiences Required:

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need to have volunteered or worked in a shop before as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and willing to follow Shelter’s policies and can be an excellent ambassador for Shelter. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of bad housing or homelessness.

Induction, Learning and Development:

To enable you to take part in this opportunity Shelter will:

• Welcome you with a Volunteer Handbook
• Provide training, induction, and ongoing support from your Shop Manager to help you feel confident in your role
• Refund any out-of-pocket expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer expenses policy

Benefits of volunteering with Shelter…

• Supporting Shelter in our fight against bad housing and homelessness
• Gain valuable experience in a retail environment
• Getting involved in your local community and being part of a great team
• Build your confidence and develop transferable skills

We aim to respond to all applications within 14 days

If you would like to find out more about the volunteering opportunity before applying, why not pop into the shop, or contact us.

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

From elderly moggies to energic kittens, every day across the UK cats and kittens are in need of a temporary place to stay, and lots of love and TLC! We need more fosterers like you to provide a safe, temporary haven for cats and kittens and provide them with everything they need before they get their chance to land on their four paws and make a house a home.

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
• Ensure you have all you need in place to foster the cat(s) in your care, for example equipment and food
• Cover all your foster cats’ expenses and 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 

• A stable, safe and compassionate environment in your home or in a purpose-built pen in your garden provided by us
• Enrich the cats’ experience in care including play, exercise and appropriate handling/interaction
• A willingness to complete some training in order to provide high standards of cat welfare
• Introduce cats to prospective adopters so they can find their forever home
• You can find out more about being a Fosterer on our website

Time expectation

Our volunteer fosterers usually spend around one and a half hours per day (around 10 to 13 hours per week) in this role, but this might vary depending on the number of cats or kittens in care.

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.

To telephone befriendees at their home for approximately 10 to 30 minutes, you will arrange the specific times of your future calls directly with them. These calls are intended to occur once a week, but individual needs will be matched with your availability.To provide a telephone conversation, a listening ear and chat about interests and hobbies, helping to alleviate loneliness and feelings of isolation. To provide companionship and human interaction at a time when this may be limited. To provide an update after each call to the Telephone Befriending support Team. This is so we can keep a track of the amount of befriending calls each volunteer is undertaking, the type of support being offered during these calls and if there is anything further required.

It is important to note telephone befriending is not counselling or therapy and other services must be sought if this is required.

Benefits

• FREE DBS.
• Discounted food.
• Store discount.
• Volunteer from home.
• Above all you will be making a positive difference in your befriendee’s life.
• As a volunteer telephone befriender, you will learn how to support others, make friends, become more confident, and practice communication skills.
• You will gain new and transferable skills. We offer support for you to increase your own job-readiness and personal development.
• Training opportunities,
• Volunteering experience
• Detailed references will be provided.

​

Why This Matters

Every funding application you write could help open our first specialist refuge, provide emergency support to survivors, or deliver training that changes how authorities respond to Black women facing abuse. Your words will directly translate into life-changing services.

Our recent research revealed that 97% of Black women do not feel confident that reporting abuse would lead to fair treatment from authorities. Sistah Space exists to bridge this gap - and we need funding to continue this vital work.

What You'll Gain

• Real-world experience writing actual funding applications for an award-winning charity

• Portfolio building - successful bids you can showcase in your professional development

• Mentorship and guidance from our Head of Marketing and leadership team

• Written reference upon successful completion of your volunteer period

• Sector insight into charity operations and the domestic abuse sector

• Flexible working that fits around your existing commitments

• Meaningful impact - the satisfaction of directly contributing to life-saving work for Black women

• Skill development in grant writing, research, and stakeholder communication

Your Main Responsibilities:

• Writing funding applications - your primary focus (we'll provide templates, examples, and support)

• Researching funding opportunities that align with our mission and current priorities

• Gathering impact stories and data from the team to strengthen applications

• Maintaining a simple tracker of applications, deadlines, and outcomes

With Support, You May Also:

• Help with funder relationship follow-ups (we'll make introductions)

• Contribute ideas for strengthening our funding strategy

• Attend monthly check-ins with the leadership team

• Collaborate on other funding-related communications

Who We're Looking For

Essential:

• ✅ Previous experience with grant writing, bid writing, or funding applications

• ✅ Previous experience successfully securing funding, or at least being shortlisted 

• ✅ Passionate about racial justice and supporting survivors of abuse

• ✅ Strong writing skills - perhaps from professional reports, proposals, academic work, journalism, or communications roles

• ✅ Organised and able to meet deadlines with good time management

• ✅ Self-motivated - able to work independently while staying connected with the team

• ✅ Available to commit 6-8 hours weekly from November 2025 - May 2026

• ✅ Comfortable communicating via email with team members and occasionally with external stakeholders

Bonus Points For

• Understanding of issues affecting Black women and domestic abuse services

• Experience in the nonprofit, social justice, or community sector

Don't worry if you don't have all the "bonus" experience. We value passion, commitment, and strong writing over specific credentials. If you have transferable skills and the desire to learn, we want to hear from you.

How We'll Support You

We know volunteer roles need to work for you too. Here's what we provide:

• Comprehensive induction session covering our mission, impact data, and funding priorities

• Regular check-ins with the team (bi-weekly, 30 minutes)

• Responsive support via email/messaging when you have questions

• Complete flexibility - work hours that suit your schedule, whether that's evenings, weekends, or weekday mornings

• Warm, collaborative team - you'll work alongside passionate, welcoming colleagues who value your contribution

• Leadership visibility - present your findings to our CEO and leadership team

Ready to Make a Difference?

Please refer to the attached job description with details on how to apply. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Our Commitment to You

Sistah Space is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of the communities we serve. We recognise that the best volunteers come from diverse experiences and perspectives.

All volunteers will be supported with appropriate training, regular supervision, and flexible working arrangements. We are committed to making this a valuable and rewarding experience for you.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to use your skills for social justice. Together, we can ensure that every Black woman survivor has access to the specialist support she deserves.

The National Heritage Science Forum connects organisations involved in heritage science research and its practical application, for the benefit of society. Heritage science brings together the arts and sciences to help us understand, care for and preserve our cultural and natural heritage - from analysing paintings at the sub-microscopic level to addressing global challenges like climate change.

The opportunities

NHSF is seeking four trustees to join its Board at an exciting and transformational time. The positions available are:

• two general trustees
• Honorary Secretary
• Honorary Treasurer

You would join us at a pivotal time for heritage science in the UK, with NHSF playing a leading role in a dynamic research landscape that includes a recent £80 million investment by UK Research and Innovation to establish the Arts and Humanities Research Council-led Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS).

Who we're looking for

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds who share our commitment to increasing collaboration, knowledge-exchange and communicating the value of heritage science to society. You don't need previous trustee experience or a background in heritage science - we'll provide a full induction.

We're particularly keen to encourage applications from people who can help us:

• diversify our income base
• develop our membership
• communicate our work to wider audiences.

What we do need is enthusiasm, commitment and fresh ideas to help raise the profile of heritage science and contribute to the long-term sustainability of this UK-wide charity.

Further information including detailed role descriptions is available on our website.

How to apply

Please send a CV and covering letter explaining why you'd like to become a trustee and which role interests you to by 23:59 on 10th November 2025.

Online interviews will be held in the week starting 24th November 2025.

The successful applicants will be proposed to the membership for appointment at the AGM in January 2026.

Join our exciting team in providing fun activities at our Saturday Hub for adults with a learning disability and / or autism in Merton.

Our Saturday Hub gives adults the opportunity to come together each Saturday to take part in fun activities, see friends and have lunch.  We are based in Colliers Wood, Merton and have upto 20 people attending each week.  We regularly have quizzes, art activities, board games and specialist providers attending to make the sessions fun and accessible to all.

If you are looking to volunteer at a fun welcoming club, this is the place for you!  We are a friendly group who love welcoming new people to our team.  You will definitely find this rewarding and a great place to expand your knowledge of working with adults with additional needs. 

Could you make a difference as a volunteer Digital Champion? 

We are looking for people with a good understanding of how to use computers,

smart phones and tablets to give peer support to people who are new to these

devices. You will help them to do things like: 

• use Google 

• set up an email account 

• look for reliable health information online 

• connect with friends and family using video calling 

• use MS word to write a CV 

• access job search websites 

You need a good level of basic computer skills, but you don't have to be an IT

genius. Much more important is having enthusiasm and patience to spend some

time helping others to get online. 

In return you’ll get: 

• The opportunity to develop your own digital skills and knowledge 

• Free accredited online training

• Access to a community of Champions to help each other and share ideas 

• Ongoing support from a dedicated Digital Support Officer 

• A Digital Record tracking achievements and learners helped – perfect to show prospective employers!

• A free DBS check

• Payment for travel expenses

• Immense satisfaction that you’ve made a difference to someone else 

Find out more 

Digital Champions | Digital skills and support | Clarion Housing 

Could you join the team? 

We are currently looking for Digital Champions to support learners in Hemel Hampstead on the 2nd and/or 4th Friday of each month.

Sessions are held at Grove Hill Community Centre, HP2 6BJ and Woodhall Community centre, HP2 7JX between 10am and 2pm, you don’t have to be able to volunteer for the whole session, a couple of hours would be perfect! 

Whilst the session time is fixed, we welcome volunteers who can volunteer

weekly, fortnightly or monthly.  

Apply here:

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) is a membership organisation and charity supporting the profession of planners in the UK. Planners 'make spaces', they work alongside communities, companies and politicians to decide the best way to use land and buildings to shape and develop both urban and rural areas. The RTPI works to raise professional standards, shape planning policy, and awards chartered status for those working in planning.

Finance Committee at the Royal Town Planning Institute plays a pivotal role in the Institute's central governance, overseeing on how the RTPI’s financial assets are being managed and employed for the benefits of its members. The Committee is a mix of members of the RTPI Board of Trustees and independent co-opted members. It reports directly to the Board who then report to the Institute's General Assembly.

The Committee oversees financial management, investments and major projects. We are looking for individuals who can contribute to the Institute's work and decision-making and bring with them experience in reviewing management accounts, budgets and medium to long term financial plans and/or overseeing the management of investments and/or reviewing major project plans and funding requests.

Ealing Book Festival is a young organisation with huge ambitions. We're looking for someone with great organisational skills and experience to join the team and help us develop and achieve our objectives.

In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee, duties of the secretary are as follows.

·Preparing agendas in consultation with the chair and trustees and circulating them and any supporting papers in good time

·Making all the arrangements for meetings 

·       Ensuring the taking of, agreement and sign off of minutes

·Checking that trustees have carried out actions agreed at a previous meeting 

·Circulating agendas and minutes of the annual general meeting and any special or extraordinary general meetings (where required)

·Fulfilling the functions equivalent to a company secretary, assisting the chair and other trustees with charity reporting requirements, monitoring the policy register 

·Assisting the chair with board evaluation, succession planning processes and recruitment

Person specification 

In addition to the person specification for a trustee, the secretary should have the following skills, experience and qualities:

• Experience of governance and compliance procedures

• Organisational ability

• Minute-taking and report writing experience, including preparation of annual reports

• Preparation of the policy register

• Experience of board evaluation and succession planning processes 

These may have been acquired in a corporate or a charity environment. 

Help our charity to create new Allotment sites!

Green Allotments is a small, national, charity on a mission to create new allotment sites in England and Wales. 

We are currently looking for lovely volunteers for various roles which are all home-based:

Volunteer Desk-based Researchers (Our most popular volunteering role!)

Occasional professional/specialist micro-volunteers

Landscape Architect

Social Media Supporters

Welsh Language Translators / Gwirfoddoli Cyfieithwyr Cymraeg

There are no set hours when volunteering for us and you can turn down anything that you are offered. Obviously, we will treat you with dignity and respect.

We do not anticipate that you will incur expenses in this role. We expect our volunteers to already have an internet connection and be willing to use that as part of their volunteer role with Green Allotments CIO.

(At present we are unable to accept applications from under 18s, although we hope to be able to do so in the future as our charity grows)

Trustee – Toynbee Hall

Help shape a fairer future as a Trustee at Toynbee Hall

Toynbee Hall has been tackling poverty and injustice from our home in London’s East End since 1884. We work alongside local communities to provide vital advice and support, carry out research and advocacy, and create space for people to come together and shape solutions to the challenges we all face.

We are now seeking new Trustees to join our Board and help guide the next chapter of our work. Trustees play a crucial role in setting our strategy, safeguarding our mission and ensuring the organisation remains focused, effective and sustainable.

We are particularly looking for a Trustee with a background in finance, accountancy or financial decision making to join our Finance Committee.

You do not need previous experience as a Trustee as we will provide a full induction and support, but you do need to bring independent judgement, strategic thinking and a commitment to building a fairer future.

We aim for a Board that reflects the communities we serve and especially welcome applications from people connected to Tower Hamlets and the East End, as well as from candidates who are Black or Asian or who bring diverse lived experiences.

Time commitment: Four evening Board meetings a year, an annual away day, and membership of at least one committee, which meets up to three times a year, usually online. Trustees serve a three year term, renewable up to a maximum of nine years.

Applications are open until midday on 10 November 2025.

Cycle Sisters is looking to appoint up to two new Trustees to support our mission to create inclusive and empowering spaces for Muslim and ethnically diverse women to cycle.

This is an exciting opportunity to bring your skills and experience to an award-winning charity that is tackling inequality and creating lasting change in communities.  

About Cycle Sisters

Cycle Sisters is a women-led charity supporting Muslim and ethnically diverse women to transform their lives through cycling.   Through group rides, cycle lessons and volunteering opportunities, we create accessible and empowering spaces where women can build confidence, improve their health and connect with others. 

We work in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders – from local authorities to national bodies such as British Cycling, Transport for London and the Bikeability Trust to advocate for greater inclusion in cycling.

Since starting with a single local group in 2016, we’ve grown into a thriving network of over 2,000 women across 10 groups London-wide. Our impact is far-reaching: 92% of women who take part in our activities report improved health, with 91% feeling more confident and 86% being more connected in their communities.

Cycle Sisters is seen as a leading voice in our sector and has been recognised with multiple awards, including our Chair winning the BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero of the Year Award for the London region.

Looking ahead, our vision is to build a national movement of diverse women cycling, with plans to expand beyond London and share our model across the UK. By doing so, we aim not only to transform individual lives, but also to shift the culture of cycling so it truly reflects the diversity of our communities.

What will you be doing? 

As a Trustee of Cycle Sisters, you’ll play a key role in shaping the direction of a growing, values-led charity. Your responsibilities will include ensuring we comply with our governing document and charitable objectives, safeguarding our reputation, and supporting sound financial management, risk management and accountability.

You’ll contribute to strategic planning by helping to set goals, review progress and ensure long-term sustainability. Working closely with fellow Trustees and senior staff, you’ll bring insight, expertise and constructive challenge to strengthen the organisation. Trustees are also ambassadors for Cycle Sisters, raising our profile and creating opportunities through their networks and community connections.

What we’re looking for

Essential 

• Commitment and passion for Cycle Sisters’ vision, mission and values 

• Ability and capacity to give the role the time and focus required, including an average of 4-6 hours per month as well as attending quarterly board meetings 

• Understanding of the charity and/or sport sector

• Track record of leadership and delivering success 

• Ability to think creatively and strategically and scrutinise decision-making.

• Strong team player and ability to work effectively with others 

• Understanding of the experiences and perspectives of Muslim communities in the UK, whether through personal experience or professional/community engagement

• Understanding of the importance of women-only spaces in enabling confidence and participation

• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship 

Desirable 

• Previous Trustee or governance role 

• Skills in networking, advocacy/influencing and partnership-building

• Relevant networks or connections that can support Cycle Sisters’ growth 

Our commitment to diversity

We want our team to represent the diversity of the women we serve.   We aim to be an organisation where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.  We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and ages, particularly those currently underrepresented on our team.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (the Institute or NIESR) is one of Britain’s leading independent policy and research institutes dedicated to understanding the economic and social forces that shape people’s lives.

NIESR has a long-standing reputation for accurate, authoritative analysis founded on excellent research, and for bringing its insights to bear on the issues of the day. As such, it acts to bring together an array of policymakers, academics, the media and other research institutes, and plays a pivotal role in both national and international policy debates.

We are seeking to appoint up to three trustees to join the Institute’s Council of Management and are seeking individuals with backgrounds in HR, leadership within an SME professional services context, or economic research.

Our Trustees are responsible for overseeing the management of the Institute, including approving strategy, operational plans and budgets, monitoring organisational performance, managing the Institute’s principal risks and ensuring the fulfilment of the Institute’s charitable objectives. The time commitment for a trustee is the equivalent of between half a day and a day a month. The role is not remunerated.

Full details of the role and responsibilities of a trustee can be found in our Trustee Candidate Pack attached. 

The skills and experience that we are looking for are:

 Experience

• An individual with senior HR expertise, preferably in a context where professional staff are the key asset of an organisation; OR
• Someone with leadership experience in a small-to-medium sized organisation, preferably within a professional services context and in an economics-related field; OR
• An internationally-renowned academic with research interests aligned to the work of the Institute.

 Skills and abilities

• An understanding and appreciation of the work of NIESR and its importance to public policy.
• The ability to act with credibility and authority in the role as trustee, preferably with experience of working in a governance or board context.
• Fully able to commit to attendance of Council meetings and relevant sub-committee meetings.
• Objectivity, fairness, independence of mind, integrity, wisdom, discretion and good judgement. 
• Strategic vision and the ability to focus on practical issues.
• Readiness to make and be accountable for decisions.
• A willingness to attend other NIESR events and engage with NIESR publications and output.

To apply

To apply for a trustee position at NIESR, please send:

• A tailored CV of no more than two pages; and
• A supporting statement of no more than one side of A4 setting out how you meet the skills and experience criteria outlined above.

Your statement should detail your relevant experience, ensuring it is aligned with the role description and person specification above, and providing specific evidence demonstrating how you meet the criteria. Your statement should also highlight your interest in the work of the Institute and your motivation for joining our Council of Management.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our board to ensure the Institute benefits — at board level — from a broader range of perspectives, more creativity in generating ideas and solutions, and to improve decision-making. In addition to finding individuals with the specific skills outlined above, we would especially welcome applications from women, who are under-represented on our board.

Are you organised, reliable, and keen to make a real difference in your local community? We are seeking a dedicated individual to take on the vital role of Parish Treasurer. You’ll play a central part in overseeing our charitable status, managing Gift Aid, and maintaining accurate records of income such as standing orders, donations, fees, and investment income. Your attention to detail will also help ensure the smooth handling of parish expenditure. Financial experience is not essential but would be helpful —enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are most important. If you’d like to support the church’s mission and contribute to its ongoing work, we’d love to hear from you!

The role would take 4 – 5 hours per month plus a few face-to-face meetings per year and whilst a volunteer would be perfect, it could be a paid role.