Volunteer roles in east of england

�� Volunteer with Unify Giving CIC

We’re building a movement of people who believe giving should be simple, human and direct. Our volunteers are at the heart of that.

We don’t care about age, background, or whether you’ve got a perfect CV.
We care about people who want to be part of a team, learn, and create real impact together.

All roles are 5–10 hours a month, minimum 3 months. You’ll be supported by the Volunteer Manager and the wider Unify Giving team.

Volunteer Manager (Lead Role)

Be the heartbeat of our volunteer community.

You’ll welcome new volunteers, introduce them to the mission, and help everyone find their place in the team. You’ll keep things organised, supportive and energised — making sure people feel valued and connected.

What you’ll do:

• Onboard new volunteers and connect them to the right role.

• Coordinate across the team (finance, social media, charity liaisons, creatives).

• Keep spirits high and make volunteering a great experience.

This is a perfect role for someone who enjoys bringing people together and wants to grow as a leader.

✨ Who we welcome

• No age limit. We believe good ideas and energy can come from anyone.

• Perfect if you’re out of work and want to build skills and confidence.

• A great chance to be part of a supportive team working on something meaningful.

�� If one of these roles feels like you, or like someone you know — we’d love to chat.

Do You Have A Heart Of Gold?

Become SUNSHINE’s Head of Operations – Build the Engine Behind the Empathy

Lockdown ended. Loneliness didn’t. SUNSHINE is here to help—but we need your leadership behind the scenes.

At SUNSHINE, we’re on a mission to combat loneliness across London. We remember the silence of lockdown, and we know that for thousands, that silence never truly lifted. SUNSHINE exists to bring warmth, connection, and hope - but none of that happens without strong foundations.

We’re looking for a Head of Operations to set up and manage the systems, policies, and processes that keep our charity running smoothly and sustainably.

What You’ll Do:

• Design and implement operational systems and policies that support our growth.

• Manage administration, resources, and infrastructure across the organisation.

• Ensure compliance, efficiency, and good governance.

• Work closely with the Founder and leadership team to support strategic planning.

• Create a behind-the-scenes culture of calm, clarity, and care.

What We Need You To Bring:

• Experience in operations, administration, or organisational management.

• A methodical mind with a heart for social impact.

• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.

• A belief that structure enables compassion to flourish.

What You’ll Help Create:

A charity that’s built to last - where every act of kindness is supported by thoughtful systems, and every volunteer and service user benefits from a well-run, well-resourced organisation.

Location: London-based (some remote flexibility)

Time Commitment: Flexible volunteer hours with leadership responsibility

Apply now!!!

Let’s not forget how lockdown made us feel. Let’s make sure SUNSHINE is always ready to respond—with heart and with structure.

Join SUNSHINE. Build the systems that make connection possible.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Be The SUNSHINE In Peoples Lives

Do You Have A Heart Of Gold?

Become SUNSHINE’s Head of HR and Volunteering – Build the Culture of Connection

Lockdown ended. Loneliness didn’t. Let’s build a place where people feel they belong.

At SUNSHINE, we’re on a mission to combat loneliness in London. We remember the isolation of lockdown - and we know that for many, that feeling never left. SUNSHINE exists to bring warmth, friendship, and purpose to those who feel forgotten.

To make this vision thrive, we need a Head of HR and Volunteering to build the systems, culture, and community that make SUNSHINE the place to work and volunteer.

What You’ll Do:

• Set up and lead SUNSHINE’s HR and volunteering functions from the ground up.

• Develop policies, practices, and frameworks that reflect kindness, inclusion, and good governance.

• Recruit, induct, and support volunteers across all roles.

• Foster a culture where everyone feels valued, motivated, and part of the SUNSHINE family.

• Work closely with the Founder to shape the SUNSHINE Experience—a joyful, uplifting organisational culture that leaves people feeling connected and inspired.

What We Need You To Bring:

• Experience in HR, volunteer management, or organisational development.

• A passion for people and a belief in the power of community.

• Strong organisational skills and a heart-led leadership style.

• A commitment to best practice with a human touch.

What You’ll Help Create:

A charity where every team member - paid or volunteer - feels seen, supported, and celebrated. Where structure meets spirit, and where loneliness is met with belonging.

Location: London-based (some remote flexibility)

Time Commitment: Flexible volunteer hours with leadership responsibility

Apply now!!!

Let’s not forget how lockdown made us feel. Let’s build a place where no one feels alone again.

Join SUNSHINE. Shape the culture. Lead with heart.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Be the SUNSHINE in people’s lives.

Do You Have A Heart Of Gold?

Become SUNSHINE’s Head of Services – Build the Lifeline People Still Need

Lockdown ended. Loneliness didn’t.

Remember the silence of lockdown? The ache of isolation? For thousands across London, that feeling never left.

At SUNSHINE, we’re here to change that. We’re building a charity that brings warmth, connection, and hope to those still suffering in silence. But to make this vision real, we need a Head of Services to lead the creation of our support programmes from the ground up.

This is a strategic volunteer role for someone ready to design, launch, and eventually oversee services that combat loneliness with compassion and purpose.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the setup, sourcing, and facilitation of services that support people experiencing loneliness.

• Collaborate with partners, facilitators, and communities to deliver impactful programmes.

• Oversee service delivery once launched, ensuring quality, empathy, and consistency.

• Be the Designated Safeguarding Lead within SUNSHINE.

• Work closely with the Founder to shape SUNSHINE’s long-term service strategy.

• Help build a culture where every person feels seen, heard, and valued.

What We Need You To Bring:

• Experience in service design, programme management, or community development.

• Strategic thinking with a heart for social change.

• Leadership skills and a collaborative spirit.

• A deep understanding of how isolation affects lives—and a drive to change that.

What You’ll Help Create:

A suite of services that restore hope, rebuild confidence, and reconnect lives. From befriending programmes to community events, your leadership will shape how SUNSHINE reaches and supports those who need it most.

Location: London-based (some remote flexibility)

Time Commitment: Flexible volunteer hours, with leadership responsibility

Apply now!!!

Let’s not forget how lockdown made us feel. Let’s make sure no one has to feel that way again.

Join SUNSHINE. Lead the services that bring people back to life.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Be The SUNSHINE In Peoples Lives

Do You Have A Heart Of Gold?

Become SUNSHINE’s Community Engagement Manager – Build a Movement of Connection.

Help us reach the people who need us most.

Lockdown ended. Loneliness didn’t. SUNSHINE is here to help - but we need your leadership behind the scenes.

At SUNSHINE, we believe no one should feel invisible. Loneliness is real - and it’s still affecting thousands across our communities. We’re here to change that. But to grow our impact, we need someone who can bring SUNSHINE into the heart of the community.

We’re looking for a volunteer with heart and magnetism, a Community Engagement Manager to lead the charge in building relationships, raising awareness, and creating a vibrant network around our charity.

What You’ll Do:

• Champion SUNSHINE in local communities, events, and networks.

• Build lasting relationships with individuals, groups, and organisations.

• Inspire people to get involved - volunteering, partnering, supporting.

• Create opportunities for SUNSHINE to be seen, heard, and felt.

• Help shape a community culture of warmth, belonging, and joy.

What We Need You To Bring:

• A natural connector with great communication skills.

• Experience in outreach, community development, or engagement.

• Creativity and confidence to represent SUNSHINE in diverse spaces.

• A belief in the power of kindness and shared humanity.

What You’ll Help Create:

A thriving SUNSHINE community where people feel uplifted, welcomed, and inspired. Where loneliness is met with friendship, and every connection sparks hope.

Location: London-based (some remote flexibility)

Time Commitment: Flexible volunteer hours

Apply now!!!

Let’s build a community that radiates warmth. Join SUNSHINE. Be the spark that brings people together.

Let’s not forget how lockdown made us feel. Let’s make sure SUNSHINE is always ready to respond—with heart and with structure.
 

JOIN OUR TEAM

Be The SUNSHINE In Peoples Lives

Job Description
Are you ready to put your digital marketing skills into practice and make a real impact? As a Volunteer Digital Marketing Manager with TESYouth, you’ll gain invaluable hands-on experience while helping us grow our online presence and reach.

In this role, you’ll be part of a team that values creativity, innovation, and collaboration. You’ll play a key role in developing and implementing strategies that strengthen our brand message, boost engagement, and drive traffic to our digital platforms.

Responsibilities

• Increase traffic and visibility across TESYouth’s digital channels.

• Grow our brand message, vision, and online presence.

• Develop and manage digital marketing campaigns.

• Monitor and analyse performance using SEO, Google Analytics, and other tools.

• Collaborate with the creative and communications teams to align marketing activities.

Requirements

• Experience in digital marketing and social media management.

• Working knowledge of SEO, Google Analytics, and related tools.

• Strong communication and organisational skills.

• Proactive, dedicated, and willing to learn.

Additional Information

• This is a voluntary role and can be carried out entirely remotely.

• All reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

• Flexible hours – ideal for those looking to gain professional experience while contributing to a meaningful cause.

About TESYouth
TESYouth (Training, Employment Opportunities & Social Development for Youth) is a social enterprise and not-for-profit organisation dedicated to reducing youth unemployment. Through training programmes, work experience, interactive workshops, and volunteering opportunities, we support young people in developing their skills and achieving their career aspirations.

Together with our collaborators and partners, we aim to make a lasting positive impact in the community.

Do You Have A Heart Of Gold?

Lead the Light – Become SUNSHINE’s Volunteering Manager

Build a movement. Inspire a team. Change lives.

Lockdown ended. Loneliness didn’t. SUNSHINE is here to help - but we need your leadership behind the scenes.

At SUNSHINE, we believe no one should feel alone. We’re a charity born from the lessons of lockdown - where isolation taught us the value of connection. Now, we’re building a community that uplifts, empowers, and brings people together.

To make this vision real, we need a Volunteering Manager with passion, purpose, and people skills to spearhead our volunteer programme from the ground up.

What You’ll Do:

• Design and launch SUNSHINE’s volunteering programme.

• Recruit, select, induct, and train new volunteers.

• Create a culture of motivation, belonging, and joy.

• Support the Founder in shaping the SUNSHINE Experience—a positive, spirited environment where everyone feels connected.

• Ensure volunteers feel valued, engaged, and part of the SUNSHINE family.

What We Need You To Bring:

• A love for people and community.

• Experience in volunteer coordination, HR, or team leadership.

• Creativity, empathy, and a knack for building team spirit.

• A belief that kindness and connection can change the world.

What You’ll Help Create:

A charity culture where every volunteer leaves feeling uplifted, happy, and inspired.

Where loneliness is met with friendship, and every act of service radiates warmth.

Location: London-based (some remote flexibility)

Time Commitment: Flexible volunteer hours

Apply now!!!

 

This isn’t just a role - it’s a chance to build something beautiful. Join SUNSHINE. Lead with heart. Create connection.

Let’s not forget how lockdown made us feel. Let’s make sure SUNSHINE is always ready to respond—with heart and with structure.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Be the SUNSHINE in people’s lives.

Do You Have A Heart Of Gold?

Become a Trustee at SUNSHINE – Lead with Heart, Change Lives

Loneliness didn’t end with lockdown. For many, isolation is still a daily reality. At SUNSHINE, we’re on a mission to bring connection, compassion, and community to those who feel forgotten. But we need strong, empathetic leadership to keep that mission alive.

We’re seeking new Trustees to join our board - people who care deeply about social impact and want to help steer a charity that’s making a real difference.

What Does a Trustee Do?

As a Trustee, you’ll help guide SUNSHINE’s strategy, ensure good governance, and support our growth. You don’t need to be a charity expert - just someone with integrity, insight, and a commitment to helping others.

We welcome people from all backgrounds, especially those with experience in:

• Finance, HR, or Legal.

• Fundraising or Marketing.

• Community Engagement or Lived Experience of Loneliness.

• Project or Programme Management.

• Service Delivery or Set Up.

Why Join us SUNSHINE?

• Be part of a mission that matters.

• Use your skills to create lasting change.

• Help shape a charity that’s fighting loneliness with love.

• Join a team that’s inclusive, passionate, and forward-thinking.

Location: Hybrid (London-based charity)

Commitment: - 6 Board Meetings per year + occasional support.

Apply now!!!

Let’s not forget how lockdown made us feel. Let’s turn that memory into action.

Join SUNSHINE as a Trustee. Help us keep the light on for those still living in the dark.

SUNSHINE

Fostering Connections. Enhancing Wellbeing. Transforming Lives

Job Description
Are you passionate about storytelling, design, and digital creativity? As a Volunteer Content Creator with TESYouth, you’ll gain invaluable hands-on experience while helping us share our mission of empowering young people through training, employment opportunities, and social development.

You’ll work alongside a supportive team of creatives and strategists who value big ideas, collaboration, and fun. In this role, you’ll play an important part in shaping our brand’s message and vision by producing engaging content for our digital channels.

If you’re enthusiastic, eager to grow your skills, and motivated to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Create engaging and attention-grabbing content for social media, newsletters, and digital platforms.

• Support campaigns that communicate our mission and activities.

• Collaborate with the creative and marketing team to brainstorm fresh ideas.

• Adapt content for different formats (posts, graphics, short videos, blog pieces).

Requirements

• Strong writing and communication skills.

• Organised, proactive, and willing to learn.

• Creative flair with an eye for detail.

• Experience with Canva, Adobe, or other design tools (a plus, not essential).

Additional Information

• This is a voluntary role and can be carried out entirely remotely.

• Reasonable expenses incurred will be reimbursed.

• Flexible hours – you can fit this role around your studies or other commitments.

About TESYouth
TESYouth (Training, Employment Opportunities & Social Development for Youth) is a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to improving youth employment outcomes. Through volunteering, interactive workshops, work experience, and training programmes, we support young people in developing their skills and achieving their career aspirations.

Together with our collaborators and partners, we aim to make a lasting positive impact in the community.

Volunteer with SUNSHINE – Be the Light in Someone’s Life

Remember lockdown? The silence. The isolation. The longing for connection. For thousands, that feeling never went away.

At SUNSHINE, we support people living with loneliness - those who feel forgotten, invisible, or unheard. But we can’t do it alone.

We’re urgently seeking compassionate volunteers to help us keep our doors open and our hearts reaching out. Whether you have a few hours a week or just a warm smile to share, your time can make a real difference.

Why Volunteer with SUNSHINE?

• Reconnect with your community.

• Restore hope for someone who feels alone.

• Rediscover purpose in your own life.

• Reignite empathy that the pandemic taught us.

Roles Available:

• Friendly callers & befrienders.

• Event helpers & community connectors.

• Social media & marketing support.

• Fundraising leads & support.

• Project managers & admin support.

• Managers & Trustees

No experience needed - just kindness, reliability, and a desire to help.

Location: Flexible (some roles remote)

Time Commitment: You choose

Apply now!!!

Let’s not forget what it felt like to be alone. Let’s make sure no one has to feel that way again.

Join SUNSHINE. Be the reason someone smiles today.

SUNSHINE

Fostering Connections. Enhancing Wellbeing. Transforming Lives.

Summary

We're seeking Trustees with expertise in grant making, the charity sector, finance or marketing to guide funding decisions and grow local philanthropy and benefit communities and charities across Essex.

Application Deadline

10/3/2025

Job Description

Become a Trustee and Make a Difference in Essex Next year marks 30 years of Essex Community Foundation (ECF) backing the charities at the heart of Essex, Southend & Thurrock. Each year we award grants to 500+ local organisations, supported by 200+ donors and fundholders. Why join our Board? Use your skills to shape funding that changes lives. Gain insight into the charity sector and work with people passionate about stronger communities. We’re recruiting voluntary Trustees with expertise in: • Grant making • Charity/voluntary sector • Finance • Marketing & Communications First-time or experienced Trustees welcome. We provide a full induction, ongoing training and mentoring. Commitment: Board meets 4× a year (in person/virtual). Roles are unpaid; expenses covered. We are passionate about our board reflecting the diverse communities we serve. Ready to help us grow our impact? Get in touch to learn more and apply.

Location

Essex

Working from

Hybrid

Remuneration

Voluntary role but expenses paid.

How to apply

Please submit your application via our website by 5pm on Friday 3 October 2025. Interested candidates can download our trustee Recruitment Information Pack via our website. Your Application must include your CV, and a short personal statement responding to three questions found in the pack. If you would like to have a chat with one of our current trustees, then please just email our recruitment team and we will arrange for a telephone call. 

Could you help your local SSAFA branch recruit volunteers in your area? You just some basic I.T and admin skills, patience, the ability to get on with a wide range of people and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.

What is a Recruitment Coordinator?

Recruitment Coordinators help us find local people interested in supporting SSAFA and take them through our recruitment and selection process.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our beneficiaries come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.

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

To offer the best possible service to our clients we need to match the right volunteers to the right role. Could you spare a few hours a week to help recruit new volunteers and welcome them to SSAFA by supporting them through their induction phase? We’d love to hear from you if think you could help with this important role.

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

The role is about recruitment and so will involve attending local recruitment fairs a few times a year as well as meeting volunteers both face-to-face and virtually. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but the administration part of the ole can be done form home.

What would you be doing?

• Be the first point of contact for all volunteering enquiries, ensuring that all potential volunteers receive a timely response.
• Supporting volunteers through the recruitment and induction process and ensuring volunteers are communicated with throughout.
• Arranging informal interviews for new volunteers conducted in-line with SSAFA policies.
• Conducting ID checks (where relevant) so the volunteer can begin the vetting process
• Supporting volunteers to book onto role specific training and ensuring they complete their mandatory training.
• Working with the VDM to ensure branch vacancies are advertised on the branch website and national websites and support any national recruitment campaigns
• Maintaining good relationships with local Volunteer Centres and other local sources of volunteer promotion and attend local recruitment fairs.
• Evaluating volunteer recruitment activity, experimenting with creative ways to recruit volunteers from a variety of sources to create a diverse network of volunteers.
• Treating all potential volunteers inclusively with respect and sensitivity, regardless of age or background
• Supporting any volunteers facing barriers to find a suitable role.
• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA

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

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge, and experience to benefit others.
• Appreciate that your role has a positive impact on the quality of service we can provide to beneficiaries as well as providing volunteering opportunities.
• Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support would you receive?

• Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - volunteer management – attracting, recruiting, and inducting volunteers. This training would take approx. 3 hours.
• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.  
• Access to a range of e-learning courses.
• Support from the Volunteer Development Manager and Trainer (per region)
• Access to the Volunteer Experience Team based at our central office.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable people, with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude  
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Good written and spoken English.
• Respectful and non-judgemental with potential volunteers, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
• Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and during the role, including accessing and responding to emails and using Microsoft offices software.
• Ability to encourage and motivate all volunteers to undertake training.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely., in line with SSAFA policies.
• Access to public transport or a car to travel to meetings and events and t meet volunteers.

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

Minimum Age: 18

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

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

Is a criminal record check required? No

Nina Energy

At Nina Energy, we believe that some of the world’s most inequitable regions hold the greatest potential for climate solutions. Across the Global South, smallholder farmers struggle with low incomes, high costs, and limited access to technology — yet they live surrounded by abundant biomass that today is often wasted or burned.

Our vision is to democratize access to biorefinery technology, enabling rural communities to transform agricultural residues into biochar, renewable energy, and carbon credits. By doing so, we turn environmental liabilities into local assets: healthier soils, cleaner air, reduced fossil fuel dependence, and new revenue streams.

As a volunteer, you will join us in building this movement from the ground up — not only developing technology, but also co-creating training programs, cooperative models, and inclusive businesses where women and youth lead. Your skills can directly help us design, scale, and share solutions that bring climate justice and economic resilience to the communities that need them most.

We are not just building machines. We are building a network of community-owned biorefineries across the Global South — hubs of climate action, education, and empowerment. With your support, we can ensure that carbon-negative technologies are not reserved for the wealthy few, but become tools for the many.

Join us to make this vision real — to turn abundant biomass into opportunity, and inequity into resilience.

Marketing Assistant

Nina Energy Limited (UK) with operations in Ecuador is building community-owned biorefineries that convert agricultural residues into biochar, clean heat, and carbon credits across the Global South.

We’re looking for a mission-driven volunteer to own our LinkedIn Company Page and blog: plan the calendar, write high-quality content, and grow an audience of partners, investors, and talent.

What you will do:

Build and run a content calendar (quarterly) aligned to launches, pilots, and partnerships. Publish 2 LinkedIn posts per week (thought leadership, field updates, data visuals, founder POV). Write 1–2 blog posts per month for nina.energy (project stories, explainers, case studies). Translate technical inputs (biochar, heat recovery, CORCs) into clear, credible narratives. Create or brief simple assets (short videos, infographics; Canva/Figma welcome). Track KPIs (impressions, CTR, follower growth, inquiries); run A/B tests and iterate. Maintain a lightweight style guide and an asset library for repeatable quality. Coordinate with UK/Ecuador teams; capture stories from farmers, operators, and partners.

Minimum Hours per Week

4-6 hours per week

Duration

1-2 months

Project Safe Refuge (PSR)

PSR uses a participatory approach to create thoughtful, functional spaces that offer safety, dignity, and a sense of belonging to displaced communities.

As of 2024, over 122.6 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced due to conflict, persecution, and natural disasters. While early warning systems, emergency preparedness, and climate adaptation efforts have reduced loss of life, the reality remains stark: millions—especially those in vulnerable, low-income communities—continue to lose their homes and livelihoods. Climate change is intensifying these crises, and the number of displaced people is expected to grow significantly in the years ahead. If displaced communities are fortunate enough to get a shelter they could also face further issues with shelters not being climate or culture appropriate, which can further worsen their mental and physical health.

At PSR, we work closely with displaced communities to understand their needs firsthand. Using our experience in architecture, design, and construction, we create thoughtful, functional spaces that offer safety, dignity, and a sense of belonging. Our work is rooted in collaboration, resilience, and the belief that everyone deserves a place to call home—even in the most challenging circumstances.

We design with the people, for the people, using a participatory approach. Through workshops, surveys and more we involve the communities in the creation of their spaces. We aim for our projects to be sustainable, circular and affordable.

Graphic Designer / Social Media Strategist

Create a strategy for our Social Media posts. Define a cohesive design / post style that would be engaging and drive attention to our mission. Make a strategy for long-term posts and planning on how to automate them or make the process easier. You will work together with some of our members currently working on social media and design.

Minimum Hours per Week

2-3 hours per week

Duration

1-2 months