Volunteer Roles in Central London, Greater London

WHEAT Mentor Support Trust

WHEAT Mentor Support Trust is dedicated to supporting vulnerable individuals and communities through a range of mentoring, befriending, and community-building activities.

These activities include:

• The trust runs mentorship workshops, provides training, research, and consultancy services.

• It provides one-to-one mentoring and befriending support to refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and other vulnerable adults with different needs.

• Children's activities: For children and young people, the trust provides coaching in basketball and table tennis, teaches dance, art, gardening, and promotes healthy eating & environmental awareness.

• Community impact: The mentoring program aims to create a strong and cohesive society by bringing people of diverse professional and cultural backgrounds together. Additionally, the children's program intends to bridge the intergenerational gap by bringing families together.

• Assistance to organisations: The trust also assists organisations that support vulnerable individuals/groups through research, consultancy, training, fundraising, and in setting up their own mentoring schemes.

Wheat Mentor Support Trust is seeking a dedicated Volunteer Social Media role to join our team!

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in the world? 

Do you love connecting with people and spreading meaningful messages? 

If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

We are seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our team as Volunteer Social Media Ambassadors. In this role, you will have the chance to use your creativity and communication skills to promote our cause and engage with our online community.

Key Responsibilities:

- Create engaging content for our social media platforms

- Share inspiring stories and updates about our organisation

- Interact with followers and supporters to build a strong online community

- Collaborate with the marketing team to develop impactful social media campaigns

Benefits:

- Gain valuable experience in social media management

- Showcase your creativity and communication skills

- Make a meaningful difference by spreading awareness about our cause

- Join a supportive and passionate team of like-minded individuals

Requirements:

- Passion for our cause and a desire to make a positive impact

- Strong communication, creative and writing skills

- Graphic design / illustration skills

- Familiarity with popular social media platforms

- Ability to commit a few hours each week to the role

If you're ready to use your social media skills for a great cause and be part of an inspiring community, we would love to have you on board! 

WHEAT Mentor Support Trust is seeking a dedicated Volunteer Grant and Bid Writer to join our team!

As a Volunteer Grant and Bid Writer, you will play a crucial role in securing vital funding for our organisation's impactful projects. Your responsibilities will include researching funding opportunities, crafting compelling grant proposals and bids, and collaborating with our team to develop innovative funding strategies.

This is an excellent opportunity for individuals with a strong interest in grant writing, fundraising, and community development. Whether you're a seasoned professional or looking to gain valuable experience in the field, we welcome passionate individuals who are eager to contribute their skills to a meaningful cause.

At Wheat Mentor Support Trust, we are committed to creating a supportive and collaborative environment for our volunteers. You will have the chance to work alongside our dedicated team, gain hands-on experience in grant writing, and make a real difference in the lives of those we serve. Bid writers should be able to come over to the office to work with the Executive Director. Therefore, those who live and work in London are our priorities.

If you are ready to make an impact and empower our community through effective grant and bid writing, we would love to hear from you. Join us in our mission to create positive change and support those in need.

We are looking for authentic and inspiring individuals to join our Lived Experience Advisory Group. There is a crucial need for insights and perspectives from people with lived experience of borderline personality disorder, and the Lived Experience Advisory Group exists to ensure those voices are heard. 

There is nobody better placed to identify what does or doesn't work, and to be part of the solution, than people with lived experience. 

The Role

Lived Experience Advisors will be part of a team who work on a range of projects including: 

• conducting interviews, surveys or focus groups
• writing and reviewing articles,blog posts and media posts
• contribute to project planning and service user engagement activities
• supporting service users who wish to share their lived experiences
• supporting and reviewing research into BPD
• auditing organisations 
• reviewing organisations policies, procedures and marketing materials
• campaigning and activism

Person Specification

• lived experience of BPD, this may be:
  • someone diagnosed with BPD
  • living with symptoms of BPD but undiagnosed
  • a carer/loved one of someone with BPD
  • a mental health/social care professional with experience of working with people with BPD
• Access to a computer with reliable internet
• Computer literate to a good level (email, Teams, Office, etc)
• Able to be flexible and adaptable to project needs
• A 'can do' attitude!
• A committment to our mission and values

Description: Generally, interns assist the Legal Director and Legal Project Managers with all aspects of preparatory work for the AIRE Centre's legal advice services and cases, including:

· Legal research in support of cases.

· Correspondence with the client, the court or other legal professionals.

· Accompanying the legal team during hearings.

· Keeping effective files.

· Drafting advice letters for the advice service on the EU Settlement Scheme and associated areas, including eligibility for benefits.

In addition to the above, interns may be requested to assist with:

· Undertaking research for articles, both for publications of the AIRE Centre, and for outside journals/publications.

· Undertaking projects in which the AIRE Centre is asked to take part.

· Attending meetings/conferences/seminars on behalf of the AIRE Centre.

All Legal Work is supervised.

To be eligible you must:

· Have a completed law degree/GDL or equivalent

· Have a good understanding of the areas of Law in which the AIRE Centre works (EU Free movement, EU Migration, asylum etc)

· Have a good standard of written and spoken English.

All our internships are unpaid; however, we do cover up to £30 of expenses for travel and lunch

As treasurer you will play a vital role in the financial management of Borderline Support UK CIC. You will be responsible for overseeing the organisations finances, including budgets and accounts, and monitoring the organisations financial health, with our management team's support. 

As a key member of the board of trustees, you will also be involved in setting the charity's strategic direction and ensuring that it is run in a compliant and efficient manner. 

It is expected that the treasurer will attend monthly meetings and the annual AGM. 

Key responsibilities:

• Oversee finances, including accounts and budgets
• Advise the board of trustees on any financial matters
• Prepare and present monthly financial reports to the board of trustees
• Prepare annual reports
• Ensure that our financial records are accurate and compliant with legislation
• Contribute to and update financial policies and procedures

Essential skills and experience:

• experience in financial management and accounting
• Strong analytic skills
• Ability to think long-term and strategically
• Ability to work in collaboration with other board and management team members
• Computer literate: competent using Quickbooks, Email, Excel and Word. 
• A commitment to our mission and values
• Excellent communication skills

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience of working with non-profit organisations
• Knowledge of BPD and the challenges faced by people with BPD
• Experience in fundraising

Time commitment:

• 3-year term
• monthly trustee meeting of 1-2 hours plus time to read minutes, reports, etc. 
• attend fundraising committee meetings as required
• attendance at annual AGM

PINT (People In Need Today)

We create awareness for people experiencing homelessness through media, publicity and projects.

We aim to create awareness for those in need via promotion of our work to the homeless and those in need through media and publicity. The aim is to show the majority that what they see and hear is an actual myth of what they see and believe homelessness is. We also highlight the fact that so much is wasted that can go to help other especially people in need around the globe.

PINT aims to highlight that awareness can be created by team work showing the world that so much gets wasted daily which can be contributed towards many that are suffering without on a daily basis. Our project has been in existence for 15 years now in that time we have grown from feeding tans supporting those in need in the community to covering a number of areas in London and the United Kingdom.

Lawyer/Legal Professional

Role Description

We are a small charity who are in the process of taking our work to the next level and require the skills of a legal professional to advise and help structure certain aspects of the charity so we can be more transparent with our volunteers, trustees and those involved with our organisation. Your role will be to administrate the required contracts and legal aspects necessary so that the day to day function is clear and concise.

Weekly Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role: 1-2 months

The RNLI is the lifeboats chairty that saves lives at sea and on the Thames. We have groups of volunteers all over the UK working with our volunteer lifeboat crews to raise awareness of water safety as well as raising vital funds to help to keep our lifeboats in the water. 

The ask:

Our fundraising team in Kensington is being led by a new team who are keen to build a programme of events that capitalises on the groups past successes as well as creating new events that appeal to a more diverse audience. The team are currently looking for:

Event support volunteers - to come along and support on the day of an event - events range from collections to orchestras and dinner dances - ad hoc - we'd hope you'd be able to support one or two events per year

Branch members - to support with the planning and implementation of events. You would be involved in everything from coming up with event ideas through to supporting with risk assessing and resourcing - great for anyone with an events background or lookig to gain experience in event management - around 2-3 hours per week with bi-monthly meetings in Kensington / via Teams

Social media/ recruitment volunteer - to create and build a social media presence for the team as well as support with online volunteer recruitment - ad hoc - approximately 2-3 hours per week max

Mind Axis is hiring!

Job Title: Volunteer Events Assistant (x1 for Redbridge or Hackney-based sessions)
Time Commitment: 15 hours/month
Start Date: Summer 2024 (exact date will be agreed) 
End Date: 6 months from start date (with 3-month probation period)

We are a social enterprise dedicated to enhancing mental wellbeing. Our flagship service is The Teashop, which brings small groups of community members together to foster their mental wellbeing through an enjoyable activity with known mental health benefits, over a cup of tea.

Job Description: 
As a Volunteer Events Assistant, you will have the opportunity to contribute to our mission by supporting in-person Teashop sessions. Each session brings together groups of up to 15 adults experiencing mild-to-moderate mental health symptoms, providing them with an enjoyable activity and an opportunity for connection in a supportive environment. We’ve offered dog therapy, art-making, yoga, and wellness discussions in the past. 

Responsibilities: 
- Create Eventbrite/Facebook/Instagram ads to draw new participants to future sessions. 
- Assist with the setup and logistics of sessions for The Teashop service 
- Travel to and support Teashop sessions by helping with materials, taking photos, and managing sign-in procedures, typically two sessions per month during weekends. 
- Create engaging social media content to promote The Teashop sessions and build community awareness. 
- If required, provide mental health first aid support by signposting and offering assistance to attendees in need. 
- Collect feedback at the end of each session and input it into Excel spreadsheets.

Essential Criteria: 
- 18+ years old
- Completed A-levels or equivalent
- Must possess a valid DBS check or be willing to have it done
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage time effectively during sessions
- Strong interpersonal skills and a passion for engaging with diverse communities
- Availability to volunteer two weekend days per month for in-person sessions
- Ability to travel to session locations within the designated area
- Proficiency in basic computer skills for data entry and social media management.
 
Desirable criteria:  
- An undergraduate degree (BSc/BA)
- A valid driver's license and licensed vehicle to help transport materials
- Experience in customer service/administrative role
- Experience with working with people with mental health conditions
- Experience in social media and/or graphic design skills
 
Benefits: 
Volunteer Events Assistants will receive: 
- Compensation for travel expenses incurred going to sessions
- Opportunity to receive Mental Health First Aid training 
- Gain valuable experience in event management and community engagement within the mental health sector

Application deadline: On a rolling basis

Suitable applicants will be invited to interview within 2 weeks of submitting an application. Please note that the application process may close early if we receive a large number of qualified applications. We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) is an international professional body for town planners with over 27,000 members in 88 countries. They are responsible for maintaining professional standards and accrediting world class planning courses both in the UK and internationally. They have offices in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff. They are the voice of the profession. They engage with governments, experts, advocates  and international bodies to promote good planning, lead on policy development and research, and promote planning in the long-term public interest. They support their members to deliver outstanding placemaking that creates inclusive, healthy, prosperous, sustainable and happy communities.

The RTPI is seeking a Co-opted Trustee with knowledge and experience in one of the following areas: digital transformation, organisational development or major project development.

What will you be doing?

The RTPI Board of Trustees (BOT) is responsible for making decisions in the following areas.

 Leadership 

• Shaping the RTPI’s corporate planning processes – including the corporate strategy, the business plan, the annual budget and supporting documents such as committee work plans. 
• Ensuring the RTPI has appropriate policies in place on key matters such as health and safety, risk management, data protection and financial management. 

 Statutory responsibilities 

• Ensuring that the Institute is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit 
• Complying with the Institute’s governing document and the law 
• Acting in the Institute’s best interests 
• Managing the Institute’s resources responsibly 
• Acting with reasonable care and skill 

 Governance 

• Approving the RTPI’s annual report and accounts. 
• Reviewing the auditors’ report on the annual accounts. 
• Agreeing the subscription structure for the following year, subject to consultation with the General Assembly. 

 Building relationships 

• Receiving reports from the Institute’s standing committees, subcommittees, panels and groups (if any).. 
• Receiving reports from the President, Chief Executive, volunteers and senior staff. 
• Fostering and maintaining good relationships with Trustees, committee members, volunteers, and staff. 

What are we looking for?

This role will suit an individual with: 

• An appropriate professional qualification
• An awareness of and commitment to principles of good governance 
• The ability and willingness to work as part of a team and to act as a ‘critical friend’ to Senior Executive Team
• A commitment to equality and diversity as it applies to the Institute’s work and to how the organisation, including its Trustees, operates 
• The ability to analyse complex information, question, probe and seek clarification so to come to an independent and unbiased view 
• Experience in: 
• Organisational development or
• Digital Transformation or
• Major project development. 
• Experience in a similar voluntary role in the charity or not for profit sector would be an advantage 

Board meetings are held during office hours either in person or virtually. There are 6 annually. While RTPI are headquartered in London, it is not a prerequisite that Trustees are London based. 

Would you like the opportunity to join the Board of a housing association whose purpose is to work with a co-operative ethos to help people & their communities to flourish? 

Co-op Homes (CHS) is a housing association which owns some 300 properties across London and the South East. We're also a managing agent for 30 other community housing organisations and housing co-ops, providing services to over 2,000 residents. Our unique proposition lies in our ability to provide expert housing management services to housing co-operatives and other small, resident-led housing organisations, enabling them to maintain their autonomy.

Board member opportunities

CHS is governed by a Board of Management made up of paid members who meet regularly throughout the year to direct policy and make major decisions on housing matters. The Board is also responsible for ensuring that we are managed efficiently, effectively and in line with the requirements of the law, regulatory bodies, best practice and value for money.

We have an active Board, currently made up of five members, bringing a variety of skills and backgrounds. Our Chair has been in the role since 2021 and we appointed a new Managing Director within the last year.

We are now looking to recruit two new board members. One who can bring strategic finance expertise and another with building asset management experience.

• Strategic finance: As a provider, we offer a unique set of services that have particular challenges. We are looking for an experienced senior finance professional to help us balance the risks and benefits involved in relation to our portfolio and scrutinise our finances strategically for the longer term. 
• Building asset management: We are looking for expertise in property management. This will include repairs and maintenance, health and safety legislation and regulations, strategic asset management and decarbonisation.

We would very much welcome applications from people who combine relevant expertise with lived experience of social housing or experience of living in a housing co-operative, as we know you would bring a unique insight to the role. For the same reason we would also welcome applications from minority groups. 

As a board member at CHS, you’ll have the satisfaction of joining a dynamic organisation passionate about making a lasting difference to lives and communities. We are looking for people who share our vision and values. Previous board experience is not required.

How to apply

Eastside People is supporting Co-op Homes in the recruitment for this role. Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter, which should indicate why you are interested in applying for a Board member role and how you meet the role requirements.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can make the application process work for you.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 24 May. Online shortlisting interviews will take place the next couple of weeks. Face-to-face interviews with the recruitment panel at CHS will take place on Thursday, 13 June 2024.

Mind Axis is hiring!

Job Title: Volunteer Events Assistant (x1 for Hounslow-based sessions)
Time Commitment: 15 hours/month
Start Date: Summer 2024 (exact date will be agreed) 
End Date: 6 months from start date (with 3-month probation period)

We are a social enterprise dedicated to enhancing mental wellbeing. Our flagship service is The Teashop, which brings small groups of community members together to foster their mental wellbeing through an enjoyable activity with known mental health benefits, over a cup of tea.

Job Description: 
As a Volunteer Events Assistant, you will have the opportunity to contribute to our mission by supporting in-person Teashop sessions. Each session brings together groups of up to 15 adults experiencing mild-to-moderate mental health symptoms, providing them with an enjoyable activity and an opportunity for connection in a supportive environment. We’ve offered dog therapy, art-making, yoga, and wellness discussions in the past. 

Responsibilities: 
- Create Eventbrite/Facebook/Instagram ads to draw new participants to future sessions. 
- Assist with the setup and logistics of sessions for The Teashop service 
- Travel to and support Teashop sessions by helping with materials, taking photos, and managing sign-in procedures, typically two sessions per month during weekends. 
- Create engaging social media content to promote The Teashop sessions and build community awareness. 
- If required, provide mental health first aid support by signposting and offering assistance to attendees in need. 
- Collect feedback at the end of each session and input it into Excel spreadsheets.

Essential Criteria: 
- 18+ years old
- Completed A-levels or equivalent
- Must possess a valid DBS check or be willing to have it done
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage time effectively during sessions
- Strong interpersonal skills and a passion for engaging with diverse communities
- Availability to volunteer two weekend days per month for in-person sessions
- Ability to travel to session locations within the designated area
- Proficiency in basic computer skills for data entry and social media management.
 
Desirable criteria:  
- An undergraduate degree (BSc/BA)
- A valid driver's license and licensed vehicle to help transport materials
- Experience in customer service/administrative role
- Experience with working with people with mental health conditions
- Experience in social media and/or graphic design skills
 
Benefits: 
Volunteer Events Assistants will receive: 
- Compensation for travel expenses incurred going to sessions
- Opportunity to receive Mental Health First Aid training 
- Gain valuable experience in event management and community engagement within the mental health sector

Application deadline: On a rolling basis

Suitable applicants will be invited to interview within 2 weeks of submitting an application. Please note that the application process may close early if we receive a large number of qualified applications. We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly.

This is your opportunity to lead the board of an organisation striving to make space for stammering and create a world where stammering is just a difference, no one judges stammering or how people choose to deal with it. Join the board of STAMMA and work with a brilliant community.

• Location: Hybrid, virtual and in-person meetings in London and Manchester

Applications close on Monday 27th May.

Who we are.

STAMMA is a small, award-winning charity with big ambitions working with a brilliant community keen to create space and respect for people who stammer.

Many people who stammer face daily ignorance, discrimination and disrespect. This can affect job prospects and mental health and cause social isolation. It can make a GP appointment a nightmare, stop you from accessing a service altogether and leave you feeling disbelieved. STAMMA is here to change that.

We have embarked on a new three-year strategy – Space to Stammer, to achieve real and practical change for people who stammer and showcase the inadvertent barriers they face. We aim to create a culture where consideration for people who stammer is akin to checking for wheelchair access; it is something to be thought about when it comes to every day like oral exams, customer services, booking GP appointments, online banking, or even being a parliamentarian. Our campaigns are about changing perceptions and have been award-winning and life-changing, and include Make GP Bookings Accessible, It’s How We Talk, No Diversity without Disfluency and campaigning against the Apple suggestion of the Woozy face emoji when the word ‘stammering’ is typed.

We want to reach more people who stammer and grow our base but to do that, we need to expand our training and advocacy services and underpin our whole range of support services, hence, we need to build our income streams.

We believe we’re on the cusp of creating real and long-lasting change for people who stammer. With this, this is a great time to join and lead our board as Chair.

About the roles.

Our new Chair

As our previous Chair, Joanna Gaukroger, stepped down due to illness, we are looking for a new Chair to lead our Board. It is vital that our new Chair shares our passion for creating a world that makes space for stammering, where a stammer is embraced as just a difference, and no one judges a stammer or how someone deals with it. Our new Chair will bring governance experience, be commercial and drive our strategy with our Chief Executive to continue our organisation’s development, including ensuring sustainability. Our new Chair will be committed to making a meaningful impact, foster engagement and strategic thinking.

Our new Chair will work with our ambitious board and executive team to ensure our organisation continues to be innovative and sustainable and champions the rights of those we support. We envisage our Chair as an inclusive leader, ensuring all voices are heard. We must represent our diverse communities, and we support everyone; those who passionately believe there should be no need to hide or control their stammer as well as those who seek more fluent or smoother speech.

Our new Fundraising Trustee

In addition to our new Chair, we are looking for a new Trustee who will bring skills and experience in strategic fundraising. Our new Trustee will have senior leadership experience with fundraising experience, particularly around individual giving, corporate partnerships, and major donor fundraising. Our new Trustee will share our excitement and ambition for change. We are looking for someone who can support us build our fundraising strategies and provide sound advice and challenge.

Time Commitment

The Board meets 6 times a year including an annual general meeting and our national conference – STAMMAFest. Meetings are usually held on a Saturday for 2 – 3 hours online and 4 – 5 in person. 3 of these meetings typically take place online, and 3 can take place in person in different locations across England, including London and Manchester.

We also have several committees; Trustees usually join one sub-committee. Our committees include the Finance Committee, the Fundraising Committee, the Research Committee, and the Membership Committee. Our new Fundraising Trustee will join our Fundraising committee.

We expect the time commitment for the Chair to vary. On average, we would expect the equivalent of c.2 days a month, spread across various activities such as preparation for board meetings, reading board papers, regular conversation with the Chief Executive, ad hoc discussions with board members and the executive team, and attending events throughout the year. The time commitment of our Fundraising Trustee would be the equivalent of a day a month.

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

Applications for this role close on Monday 27th May. 

Outside Edge Theatre Company are seeking new Trustees who share our passion about changing lives through the power of theatre.

We are looking to broaden our Board’s diversity of thought with creative and strategic thinkers, including the appointment of two new roles: Treasurer and Deputy Chair of the Board.

We’re particularly interested in the following experience: Fundraising, Charity Finance, Drug & Alcohol services, Participatory arts, Theatre making, EDI and CSR. The most important factor, however, is that you bring energy and commitment to the role and a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.

We are looking for cat-loving volunteers to play a vital role in helping us improve the wellbeing of the cats in our care whilst they wait to be rehomed. Can you help them by providing a calm and caring home whilst we find their purrfect forever home?

Here at Bluebell Ridge RSPCA Centre, we have been rehabilitating and rehoming unwanted, stray and abandoned cats for 23 years. 

We'd now like to expand our team of volunteer fosterers so we can offer an alternative rehoming journey for those who don't cope as well in a cattery environment and would benefit from one-to-one behavioural or medical support.

As a cat fosterer, you would be supporting the RSPCA in providing our cats 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 a cat’s 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 fostered cat. The RSPCA is also happy to reimburse any other pre-agreed expenses that you may incur through volunteering for us.

Whilst our cats 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 cats 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 Cat Fosterer:

● Volunteers aged 18 or over who have had plenty of experience caring for cats.

• Based in in our region which covers Camber to Bexhill and north to Hurst Green

● Fostering experience is beneficial but not essential as training is provided.

● For their wellbeing, our cats need to be kept in a separate room, so the whole family should be on board.

● Any existing pets or animals need to have been spayed/neutered (some medical reasons may mean they cannot be, so please let us know if this is the case).

What we can offer you as a volunteer Cat Fosterer:

● You will be making a massive difference to the welfare of the cats 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 cats 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 cat.

Fostering a cat is such a rewarding experience, giving a needy feline the love and care they so deserve, and seeing them blossom. We'll give you the support and guidance you need along the way, and together we can improve the lives of cats in our care.

We hope you are interested in volunteering for our branch!

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependant on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.