Volunteer volunteer roles in City of london, england

VOLUNTEER ROLE: HR & VOLUNTEERING TEAM LEAD

Build the vibe. Shape the culture. Lead the movement.

Young Londoners deserve spaces that feel alive — places where creativity, confidence, community and opportunity collide. Our start-up youth work charity is on a mission to transform unused spaces, take youth work directly to young people, and create experiences that inspire, empower and elevate.

But none of that happens without people. People with heart. People with passion. People who want to build something meaningful.

We’re looking for a HR & Volunteering Team Lead who can help us create a volunteering programme that feels electric — a community, a family, a movement.

If you’re a people person with drive, warmth, and a talent for building culture… This is your moment.

What This Role Is All About

You’ll be the architect of our volunteer experience — the person who shapes how volunteers join, grow, connect and thrive within our charity.

This role is perfect for someone who:

• Loves people and community

• Understands the power of culture and team spirit

• Wants to build a volunteering programme from scratch

• Knows how to recruit, onboard, train and support volunteers

• Believes volunteers deserve appreciation, development and belonging

• Wants to help us become the go-to destination for volunteering in London

You’ll help us create a volunteer family that feels united, valued and inspired — all working together to change young lives.

Your Mission

As HR & Volunteering Team Lead, you will:

• Design an outstanding volunteering programme that feels positive, inclusive and exciting

• Recruit volunteers who share our energy, values and passion for young people

• Onboard volunteers with clarity, warmth and confidence

• Train and develop volunteers so they feel empowered and ready to shine

• Support volunteers through regular check-ins, guidance and wellbeing practices

• Build a team culture rooted in community, belonging and shared purpose

• Lead retention and appreciation initiatives that make volunteers feel valued

• Champion volunteers as the heartbeat of our mission

You’ll help us create a volunteering experience that people talk about — one that feels meaningful, inspiring and unforgettable.

Why This Role Matters

Our volunteers are the soul of our charity. They’re the ones delivering programmes, supporting young people, and bringing our mission to life.

Your leadership will:

• Strengthen our community

• Elevate our culture

• Improve volunteer wellbeing

• Increase retention and engagement

• Help us deliver life-changing youth work

• Build a charity that people want to be part of

This is a chance to shape something powerful — a volunteering programme that becomes a blueprint for youth work excellence in London.

Who We’re Looking For

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Are passionate about people

• Have experience in HR, volunteering, youth work or community development

• Love building culture and team spirit

• Are organised, proactive and full of positive energy

• Want to help volunteers feel supported, appreciated and inspired

• Believe in young people and the power of youth work

If you’re someone who lights up a room, brings people together and builds community — we want you.

• JOIN US.
• HELP US BUILD A VOLUNTEER FAMILY THAT CHANGES LIVES.

We’re committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding. All volunteers will be required to complete a DBS check.

URBAN YOUTH

YOUTH WORK. ANYWHERE. FOR EVERYONE.

URBAN YOUTH — WE’RE BUILDING A MOVEMENT.

JOIN US.

Invest in young people. Shape the future. Help us launch a youth work revolution in London.

London’s young people are overflowing with talent, ambition, creativity and potential — but too many face barriers that hold them back. URBAN YOUTH is a brand-new start-up youth work charity taking a bold, street-level approach to changing that.

We’re flipping the script. We’re taking youth work to young people. We’re transforming unused spaces into youth-powered creative zones. We’re building programmes that feel alive — sport, music, media, design, personal development, community action and more.

And now… We’re recruiting FOUNDING TRUSTEES to help us launch, lead and build something powerful for young Londoners.

This is not a passive role. This is hands-on, high-impact, start-up energy. This is leadership with purpose.

What URBAN YOUTH Stands For

• Empowerment — helping young people take control of their journey.

• Opportunity — opening doors to creativity, skills, confidence and community.

• Inspiration — showing young people what’s possible.

• Belonging — creating spaces where young people feel seen, valued and supported.

• Change — tackling inequality through positive, engaging youth work.

We’re here to build a London where every young person has access to experiences that elevate them.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re especially interested in Trustees with experience in:

• Fundraising & Income Generation

• Youth Work, Education or Community Development

• Local Government, Councils or Public Services

• Finance, Accounting or Charity Governance

• Start-up leadership or organisational development

• Safeguarding, wellbeing or inclusion

But above all, we’re looking for people who believe in young Londoners — and want to invest their skills, passion and leadership into a charity built to change lives.

Your Role as a Founding Trustee

As part of our start-up Board, you will:

• Help shape URBAN YOUTH’s vision, values and long-term strategy.

• Guide us through charity registration and early-stage development.

• Support strong governance, safeguarding and organisational sustainability.

• Champion youth empowerment and positive change.

• Help build programmes that feel relevant, exciting and culturally connected.

• Work alongside a passionate team committed to impact.

This is your chance to help build a charity from the ground up — one that will grow across London and create real, lasting change.

Why Join URBAN YOUTH?

• Make a direct impact on young people facing disadvantage.

• Influence the direction of a bold, creative start-up charity.

• Develop leadership and board-level experience.

• Be part of a movement that transforms unused spaces into youth-powered hubs.

• Help build programmes that inspire confidence, creativity and community.

• Join a Board committed to diversity, inclusion and representation.

If you believe young people deserve the best possible start in life — and you want to help build a charity that delivers real opportunities — we’d love to hear from you.

1. INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE.
2. INVEST IN CHANGE.
3. INVEST IN LONDON.

URBAN YOUTH is committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding. All successful applicants will be required to complete a DBS check.

URBAN YOUTH
YOUTH WORK. ANYWHERE. FOR EVERYONE.

We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.

We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:

· Asking people you know who might be willing to have a collection box in their business

· Approaching local businesses to display the boxes and collect loose change from their customers

· Building and maintaining relationships with your box holders to inspire loyalty and encourage people to continue giving year after year

We are looking for people who are:

· Have a warm, friendly and confident outlook

· Willing to learn about the work of YBTC

· Able to communicate with a range of different groups

· Are creative and imaginative – spotting opportunities to boost your distribution

· Are well organised and enjoy meeting new people

· Reliable and able to commit to agreed requirements

· Collecting the boxes in your area as and when required and taking to your YBTC contact

We can offer you:

· Induction and ongoing training

· Ongoing support and supervision in your role

· The opportunity to learn new skills

· YBTC commitment to health and safety

Our Vision/Mission

To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and research.

Hours: Variable – depending on individual circumstances and what people can do

Location: Variable – we are looking to extend our reach of peer support walks throughout Yorkshire

Main Tasks:

We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our

volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.

We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might

vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:

· Support our regular wellbeing/peer support walks

· Welcome participants and help them feel comfortable, fostering a friendly and inclusive atmosphere

· Encourage conversations among participants, offering a listening ear

· Be attentive to the well-being of all participants during the walk

· Offer information on YBTC services

· Attending occasional training sessions or volunteer meetings organised by YBTC

We are looking for people who are:

· Are warm and non-judgemental

· Reliability – are punctual and committed to scheduled walks

· Collaborative mindset to work effectively with staff and volunteers

· Basic physical fitness to complete the walks, awareness of the needs of participants with

different mobility/health conditions

We can offer you the following:

· Full induction and ongoing training

· Ongoing support and supervision in your role

· Opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people

· The satisfaction of making a positive impact on those affected by brain tumours

Background

Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea’s Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support

Across Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading

brain tumour charity. Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child

brain tumour patients, together with their families.

We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new

approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours will improve outcomes for patients.

At YBTC we are a small team who are growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain

tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumours are diagnosed in the region

every week.

Our charity values are: Integrity, Compassion, Community & Ambition.

Our Vision/Mission

To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire through local support and research.

As an Outreach Volunteer, you will help raise awareness of the Beacon Partnership and the support we provide to individuals and the local community. You will play an important role in helping people learn about our services, activities, events and volunteering opportunities. 

This is a friendly, community-focused role that is ideal for someone who enjoys meeting people, communicating with others and getting involved in local activities. 

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing Group providing supported living accommodation for young women in recovery and receiving support with drug and alcohol issues.

A confident and experienced hypnotherapist, with appropriate qualifications and interest in working with clients affected by addiction. The successful applicant will be someone who can provide supportive and calming sessions tailored to the individual needs of the client to promote their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Activities

• 1:1 or group Hypnotherapy sessions for residents
• Provide a safe, relaxing, therapeutic environment for the activity to take place.
• Suitable candidates must hold a professional qualification
• Volunteers may be asked to have professional liability insurance

Support

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training.
• Volunteers have a named supervisor providing day-to-day support and encouragement.

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on your availability and the needs of service users.  It might be every week or fortnight, 3 to 4 hours, ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

Service

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing Group providing supported living accommodation for young women in recovery and receiving support with drug and alcohol issues.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and compassionate volunteer with good interpersonal skills and a desire to teach guitar, who will support young women to develop their guitar skills and positively encourage their creative expression.

Location

East London.

Commitment

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on your availability and the needs of service users.  It might be every week or fortnight, 3 to 4 hours, ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

DBS

This role requires us to carry out a check through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Activities

• Providing guitar lessons to residents, as well as supporting their individual musical goals.
• Developing and delivering individual session plans and documented session outcomes in order to assist each resident’s personal growth.

Support

• Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training.
• Volunteers have a named supervisor providing day-to-day support and encouragement.

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors.

As a great communicator with ‘green fingers’ you will create a calm, nurturing environment in which to support the residents to gain gardening skills and to explore the possibility of growing their own food. 

Activities

Inspire the residents to take an interest in the outdoor space at Amy’s Place and involve them in the development of a regular gardening and/or food growing club.

Help residents to develop their gardening skills and knowledge specific to growing food, through group workshops and individually tailored support, guidance and encouragement.

Commitment 

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of the residents. It might be every week or fortnight ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

Requirements 

This role will require us to carry out an enhanced check through the disclosure and barring service.

Support 

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training
•  Reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed
• The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons

Help older people claim welfare benefits through home visits, form-filling and friendly support.

About Us

Age UK Buckinghamshire is a local, independent charity and part of the wider Age UK Network. We support older people across the county through vital services including befriending, information and advice, dementia support, practical help at home, and welfare benefits support - helping people stay independent, connected, and supported.

Our work is more important now than ever. Many older people face growing challenges such as the rising cost of living, social isolation, and difficulty accessing support. 

As demand for our services continues to increase, community support is essential to help us reach more people in need. By raising awareness of what we do, we can ensure that older people know where to turn for help, and inspire others to support our work through volunteering, fundraising, and partnership.

What do Welfare Benefits Volunteers do?

Help older people boost their income by becoming a Welfare Benefits Volunteer.

Many older people face financial difficulties because they are not claiming all the welfare benefits they are entitled to. At Age UK Buckinghamshire, we support older people to access the benefits they deserve by offering personalised advice and practical help.

Our trained volunteer advisors visit people in their own homes to guide them through the claims process, completing benefit forms on their behalf and ensuring applications reflect their individual circumstances.

Following full training, you will be matched with clients for one-off home visits, usually lasting one to two hours. Along the way, there’s often time for a friendly chat, and perhaps a cup of tea, while making a real difference to someone’s quality of life.

What skills does a Welfare Benefits Advisor need?

• Empathy and patience with older people
• A professional, friendly and approachable manner
• Attention to detail and good record-keeping skills
• A non-judgemental approach
• Willingness to learn about older people’s benefits

What training do we provide?

Successful applicants complete 2 training sessions covering the needs of older people and welfare benefits.  At the end of this initial training, you will be “buddied” with one or more experienced volunteers, first as an observer and later as an advisor until you have the knowledge and confidence to undertake one-to-one visits.

How much time do we expect you to give?

Once trained, you can commit to as many or as few visits per week as you wish. Each visit takes, on average, about 1 – 2 hours.  There are quarterly meetings that provide support and additional training days from time to time to keep up with new legislation.

What is our commitment to you?

• We will provide initial and ongoing training to help you develop your knowledge and skills.
• We will continue to support you in your role, providing information and advice as necessary.
• We will discuss with you any problems you may have with your role, or any concerns we have.
• We will reimburse reasonable, approved out of pocket expenses.

Become a Community Discharge Support Service Volunteer and help someone get back on their feet when they come home from hospital.

What do Community Support Volunteers do?

Our friendly Community Support Volunteers visit people when they have come home from hospital, typically once a week for 4 – 6 weeks.

At a time when people are recovering and really appreciate a bit of extra help you could be supporting with shopping and light housework. But it’s often the company and encouragement of our volunteers that is appreciated the most as we check in and chat!

By doing this we help with recovery and reduce the chance of readmission to hospital.

You can also help from our office in Aylesbury  by making welfare and check in calls with our clients and helping to arrange these visits.

What you will get out of it

It's a great way to make a real difference to someone's life at a time they especially need it.

You'll be giving something back to your community

You get to be part of Age UK Buckinghamshire's volunteer team

Volunteers tell us they find this really rewarding and get lots out of it themselves.

What is expected of me?

Community Support Volunteers are expected to visit each client once a week for up to 6 weeks.

These visits are flexible, based on your availability.

Our office support volunteers are asked to help for 1 – 2 hours a week.

Volunteers complete a short relevant training session and provide references.

Age UK Bucks ‘Age Better Bucks’ volunteers will support local older people to achieve personal goals – by helping them navigate and take advantage of a Support Plan devised by as community worker, that is designed to help them meet the challenges of older age.

This could be by phoning them to provide encouragement, explanation and support, and to check on progress, and also to help them with attendance at appointments and going to new groups or activities.

What do Age Better Bucks Volunteers do?

• Work with the Community Support Connector from Age UK Bucks to accept a client and understand their goals and support plan – and which services they have been referred to for support
• Contact the client to introduce yourself, and explain what you can help them with and if that’s OK with them
• Agree how your support is best provided – e.g. weekly calls for progress and encouragement, or help with something specific on their plan. That could be a home visit (if appropriate) to help them make a call or prepare for an appointment; attend a group or activity with them; or help them take a bus etc.
• Report back to the Community Support Connector if there are any issues or concerns and agree when your support can stop
• Ideally, you’d support a few clients each week or month, depending on how much time you have

The role is to support and help the client to access the referrals and support put in place for them – and not to support them with care or specific needs yourself. Referrals might be to local care services, to local groups or clubs, or to an occupational therapist for home adaptations, other voluntary organisations and support groups etc.

Our Age Better Bucks Service

Age Better Bucks supports over 65s who could benefit from extra support to manage their well being and remain independent. It is for older people experiencing challenges or need extra support to stay independent and well – for example increasing loneliness/isolation; bereavement; health/mobility decline; mood change.

Our team of support workers will assess their needs and circumstances specific to them, and develop an action plan with them to ensure more support and help can be arranged. We check in with the client after 6 weeks to see how they are getting on, and after 6 months to see how they are and check if anything has changed, got worse or improved.

The service is designed to give people the tools, contacts and support to make positive changes and especially to tackle the impact of loneliness and isolation.

An action plan, or support plan, will be devised with all clients, identifying their main goals based on their individual needs and challenges, and referring them, with their consent only, to other services and support we agree can help. At this stage we’ll assess if a volunteer like you can help then take full advantage of this support.

What you will get out of it

• Join an enthusiastic team of people who want to make a difference
• It's a great way to support older people making a real difference to their lives
• You'll be giving something back to your community
• You get to be part of Age UK Buckinghamshire's volunteer team
• We will reimburse reasonable, approved out of pocket expenses
• Volunteers tell us they find Volunteering really rewarding and get lots out of it themselves
• You will be fully supported by our Team and wider Age UK Buckinghamshire support.

What is expected of me?

We tell you about each client and ask if you’d like to take it up. You would then arrange and complete the call or visit when convenient. The work you do is conducted in line with guidance we provide and you must comply with necessary procedures including Data Protection/Confidentiality and Personal Safety.

After the visit/contact you will complete and submit a contact form. Volunteers complete relevant training, provide references and complete a DBS check.

Key skills and requirements

• Good listener, clear communicator and able to maintain confidentiality. A good conversationalist!
• Ability to lead the conversation, provide feedback to the team and summarise the conversation.
• Non-judgmental. Able to respect others’ differences and choices
• Patient, flexible and reliable
• Able to work independently with guidance and support
• Ability to travel around the area to visit people
• A regular commitment to give 1-2 hours a week would be appreciated but the role is flexible, you can work from home, do visits, only make calls, whatever works for you.
• An interest in helping older people live the lives they want

Befriending Volunteer 

Would you like to offer companionship to someone who feels lonely, help them rebuild confidence, reconnect with their community, or simply brighten their week with a friendly chat? 

What do Befriending Volunteers do?

Our volunteers support older people (50+) who may be feeling lonely, isolated, or cut off from their usual activities. Volunteers help clients rebuild confidence, reconnect socially, and enjoy meaningful conversation. 

Support can take different forms depending on the client’s needs: 

Short-term Face-to-Face Support (up to 6 months) 

• Visiting someone regularly to help them work towards personal goals 

• Encouraging confidence to get out and about again 

• Supporting them to re-engage with interests, community groups, or social activities 

Long-term Befriending (for those most isolated) 

• Providing stable, ongoing social support 

• Regular facetoface or telephone companionship 

• Building a consistent and trusting relationship 

National Telephone Befriending 

• Offering friendly conversation over the phone 

• Providing regular social contact for people unable to meet in person 

This is a rewarding and varied volunteer role where every person you meet will be different — and you’ll have the chance to make a meaningful difference to their wellbeing. 

What you will get out of it

• A chance to support older people and make a real positive impact 

• A meaningful role where relationships grow and confidence returns 

• Opportunities to meet new people and experience new things 

• Being part of Age UK Buckinghamshire’s volunteer team 

• Full training, ongoing support, and guidance from your Outreach Support Worker 

Our volunteers tell us they find befriending incredibly fulfilling and often get as much from the relationship as the client does 

What is expected of me?

• We will talk you through each potential match before you decide to take it on 

• Most volunteers commit around 1–2 hours a week 

• Shortterm matches typically last up to 6 months; longterm befriending is ongoing 

• Time may be spent visiting someone at home, accompanying them to a local activity, or chatting with them by phone 

• Volunteers complete a short online training program and provide references 

• A DBS check will be required (provided at no cost) 

Who can volunteer?

If you are warm, friendly, patient, and enjoy chatting with people, this could be the role for you. You do not need any formal qualifications, just a desire to support someone who is feeling vulnerable or alone. 

How will I be ending homelessness?

As a Health & Wellbeing Support Volunteer, you will use your professional skills and experience to support Crisis members in accessing healthcare and overcoming some of the barriers that people experiencing homelessness can face when engaging with health services.  

You will also play a key role in supporting the delivery of health and wellbeing services at Skylight. By helping to organise activities, workshops and health-related events, maintaining accurate records, and building positive relationships with local healthcare providers and partner organisations, you will contribute to improving members' access to healthcare and opportunities that support their overall wellbeing. 

The role is varied and rewarding, combining administration, research, communication and event coordination. You may support the team by contacting healthcare organisations, gathering information about local services, assisting with referrals, helping to organise and facilitate health and wellbeing events, and ensuring staff and members have the information and resources they need to achieve positive outcomes and move towards ending homelessness. 

What will I be doing?

Tasks might include: 

• Assisting with the administration and coordination of health and wellbeing activities and events.  
• Contacting healthcare organisations, community partners and service providers to gather information and support member access to services.  
• Helping to coordinate appointments, workshops, health promotion sessions and wellbeing events.  
• Maintaining accurate records and updating internal databases and spreadsheets.  
• Supporting the promotion of health and wellbeing activities to members.  
• Preparing resources, information packs and promotional materials.  
• Monitoring attendance and gathering feedback from activities and events.  
• Supporting the planning and delivery of Wellbeing days and community events.  
• Researching local healthcare services, wellbeing initiatives and community resources.  
• Providing general administrative support to the Health & Wellbeing Coordinator.  
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with healthcare providers and community organisations.  
• Supporting the Health & Wellbeing Coordinator to identify new health and wellbeing opportunities for members.

Who are we looking for? 

To be successful in this role we are looking for someone who: 

• Has good communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Is confident using email, telephone and Microsoft Office applications and willing to learn Canva. 
• Has good organisational skills and can manage a range of tasks. 
• Is able to build positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. 
• Is friendly, approachable and non-judgemental. 
• Is reliable and able to work independently as well as part of a team. 
• Has an interest in health and wellbeing and supporting people experiencing homelessness. 
• Is comfortable speaking with healthcare professionals and community organisations. 
• Pays attention to detail and can maintain accurate records. 
• Understands the importance of confidentiality and data protection. 
• Is passionate about supporting Crisis and our members to end homelessness. 
• We would love it if you had any of the following: 
• Experience working, volunteering or studying in health, social care, community services or a related field. 
• Experience supporting events, projects or administrative tasks. 
• Knowledge of local health and wellbeing services. 

Our Shop Volunteers raise money for the people we support with a Learning Disability. Do you have a few hours a week to spare and share your time with us?

Our retail roles are varied and fun. You could be sorting donations from the public, dressing our window or serving customers on the till. There are many people from different walks of life and it's a great way to get practical experience and to meet new people.

This role will take place on a weekly basis for a few hours We will try our best to be flexible around the best time for you, but also need to consider the store opening times and volunteer rota. It could be a weekday or weekend, morning or afternoon, our stores are usually open 7 days a week. We’d appreciate any time that you can spare.

Whilst in the store, you will help with activities based on the needs of the Store Manager.

 **Tasks you could get up to whilst volunteering could include:**

- Serving customers on the till
- Taking stock donations from the public
- Tagging and steaming stock for the shop floor
- Dressing the window displays
- Asking people to join us as a volunteer

**As a Retail Volunteer you will be:**

- Friendly and Approachable
- Reliable, Kind and Patient
- A good communicator (including listener)
- Willing to volunteer within guidelines and to take direction where necessary
- Accepting of others who might be different to yourself

**As a Mencap volunteer you will:**

- Make new friends and raise important funds for people with a learning disability
- Get reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in line with our policy e.g. travel
- Receive full Training and support
- Volunteer alongside other people
- Have a chance to give back your local community

**About Mencap**
Mencap is the leading learning disability charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with people with a learning disability and their families to challenge prejudice and change laws, and we directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose.

We have an ambitious vision for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

Volunteering with us is YOUR opportunity to help us achieve this, whilst having the chance to develop your skills, meet new people and join a passionate and dedicated team.

If you have questions about volunteering with Mencap, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us!