Volunteer volunteer roles in Greater london

National Relief Trust, we are dedicated to making a real difference through charity support, community development, and focused health initiatives. To keep our programs running smoothly and reaching the people who need them most, we rely on a strong behind-the-scenes team.

The Role We are looking for a highly organized and reliable volunteer to join us remotely as an Operations Support Coordinator. In this role, you will be the glue that holds our daily operations together. If you love keeping things tidy, organizing information, and supporting a busy team from the comfort of your own home, we would love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

• Day-to-Day Admin: Helping our team with general administrative tasks to keep projects moving.

• Data Entry & Organization: Keeping our records, files, and databases accurate and up to date.

• Team Support: Assisting with scheduling virtual meetings, taking notes, and organizing digital workspaces.

• Communication: Acting as a friendly point of contact for basic team inquiries and helping route emails to the right people.

What We’re Looking For

• Organized: You have a great eye for detail and like keeping things neat and structured.

• Tech-Comfortable: You are confident using standard tools like email, word processors, and spreadsheets (e.g., Microsoft Office or Google Workspace).

• Self-Motivated: Since this is a remote role, you are happy to work independently and manage your own time.

• Friendly Communicator: You are comfortable reaching out to team members online and writing clear, polite emails.

• No prior charity experience is strictly required, just a willingness to learn and pitch in!

What’s In It For You?

• Gain practical, hands-on experience in operations and charity administration.

• Work flexibly from home, fitting your volunteering around your current schedule.

• Join a welcoming, passionate team dedicated to health and community development.

• Make a genuine, lasting impact on the causes we support.

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Unfortunately cats can occasionally stray or get lost, which can be extremely distressing for their owners. Our lost and found volunteers are passionate about reuniting lost cats and bringing families back together. They help cats and their owners by advertising lost cats and providing support, advice and guidance to people searching for their cats.

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

Many of the men we support experience isolation, low confidence, and barriers to engaging with community life. As a befriender volunteer, you’ll build a consistent, trust based relationship that encourages social connection, helps set and pursue personal goals, and supports wellbeing and independence.

What you will be doing

• Offer regular one-to-one befriending - meeting for a walk, coffee, or a planned activity to reduce isolation and build confidence.
• Provide light, goal focused mentoring - agree simple goals (e.g., joining a group, practicing a routine, building life skills) and check progress together.
• Encourage safe community participation - libraries, local groups, leisure activities, volunteering, or learning opportunities.
• Share clear information and signpost to staff or local services where appropriate
• Accompany to non clinical community appointments, help read/understand letters, complete wellbeing “welfare check ins,” and promote general engagement in the community.
• Keep brief session notes or a simple check in with your supervisor and escalate any concerns immediately in line with safeguarding guidance.

The skills you need

• Warm, patient and non judgemental approach; able to build rapport with adult men from diverse backgrounds.
• Good listening, clear communication and reliability
• Respect for confidentiality and professional boundaries; comfortable following guidance and asking for support.

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Do you enjoy walking, meeting others and having a good chat? If so, we have the perfect volunteering role for you!

Join our team and inspire others to exercise through a weekly walk. You will create an opportunity for people to support each other, provide that additional boost to exercise and go for a walk even when they may not be feeling the motivation.

What you will be doing

• Coordinate and facilitate weekly walks in local parks to the service alongside other volunteers
• Meet with the walking group weekly
• Hold conversations with people attending the group, checking in on their wellbeing and providing a listening ear/friendly face
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages participation

The skills you need

• Inspire and motivate people to attend the walking group
• Ability to identify, manage any possible risks that may arise during the walking group. Training will be provided
• Willing and able to go on a weekly walk lasting approximately 60-90 minutes
• Good communication skills
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun.s

This Is Not a Typical Content Creator Call-Out

Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C. is building a truth-telling media engine and community-owned digital infrastructure to confront CSA, centre survivor truth, and create real economic and leadership pathways for young people. To do that, we are intentionally recruiting hundreds to thousands of content creators globally.

This is not about chasing virality.

This is not influencer culture.

This is not one brand voice.

This is about collective creation at scale, community ownership of narrative, and building systems that give many people opportunity, just a few. If you want to contribute your creative skills to something bigger than yourself, keep reading.

Purpose of the Role

Volunteer Content Creators are the production engine of our Social Media Management Team.

You will help create, remix, and repurpose content that fuels:

• Donor growth
• Volunteer mobilisation
• Survivor-led storytelling
• Community trust
• Cultural disruption

Content is created once and then reused across:

• CIC platforms
• Ambassador networks
• Community organisers
• Campaigns, education, and outreach

This role exists at scale because our strategy is scale.

Experience Qualification and Requirements

Essential experience

• Experience creating digital content on a consistent basis, meeting agreed briefs and deadlines.
• Experience working with at least one content type: video, design, writing, or AI-assisted content.
• Experience adapting content for different social media formats and platforms.
• Experience contributing to purpose-led, community-focused, or sensitive storytelling.
• Experience collaborating with creative, campaign, or insight-driven teams.

Essential skills

• Ability to produce high-quality content consistently and at scale.
• Strong understanding of social media formats, trends, and audience behaviour.
• Ability to work within brand, ethics, safeguarding, and trauma-informed frameworks.
• Openness to feedback, iteration, and collective ownership of work and outcomes.
• Strong self-management, reliability, and accountability without close supervision.
• Understanding of content as a tool for impact and change, not personal ego.

Training & qualifications

• Formal qualifications are not required.

Main Responsibilities/ Key Duties

• Produce high-volume, high-quality content consistently, aligned with campaign priorities and platform requirements.
• Repurpose long-form content (e.g. podcasts, interviews, stories) into short-form assets optimised for social platforms.
• Work within C.I.C brand guidelines, ethical standards, safeguarding requirements, and trauma-informed frameworks at all times.
• Submit all content for approval, structured storage, tagging, and future reuse in line with C.I.C workflows.
• Collaborate closely with the Social Media Director, Campaign Managers, Analysts, and Automators to align content with strategy, insight, and distribution.
• Contribute creative ideas, concepts, and improvements, not just output, supporting experimentation and continuous improvement.

This role is not suitable if you:

• Need immediate income
• Want a low-commitment volunteer role
• Are only looking for exposure
• Prefer to work alone without feedback
• Are uncomfortable with heavy or sensitive subject matter

Important to Be Clear:

• A volunteer role within a Community Interest Company
• Unpaid during the build phase
• Not a replacement for paid employment
• Paid opportunities will be introduced as the organisation becomes financially sustainable.

Formal qualifications are not required, but desirable.
Essential equivalent experience mandatory.

Next Steps:

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to:

• A values-led conversation
• A practical discussion about content, storytelling, and donor engagement

If you believe that words can transform communities, and that authentic storytelling drives action, this role is for you.

A Final Word
Words carry weight.
They can heal or harm.

If you know that:
Survivor stories deserve care, not clicks

Donors deserve honesty, not spin

Communication is part of safeguarding

Organisation overview
Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees is a local charity formed in March 2017. We are a small but growing charity, whose volunteers and supporters have come together to welcome and help support the refugees who have fled the fighting and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and are now resettling in our community.
Starting with just one refugee family, we have expanded our efforts over the years and are proud to have supported about 70 families as they settle and rebuild their lives in our community. Currently we support 150 refugees and have over 100 volunteers, of whom 75 provide the service to the refugees. We are completely funded by donations and fundraising.

The role:
To lead SWR’s operational team (‘the VLT’) that helps refugees move from crisis to confidence and citizenship—ensuring every family is supported and nothing important is missed. The team also supports those volunteers assisting the refugees along their path to independence. The VLT is a friendly group of able and energetic people who specialise in different areas of refugee and volunteer support.

What we are looking for:
The VLT is a friendly group of able and energetic people who specialise in different areas of refugee and volunteer support. They need someone who is good at leading teams, who can orchestrate their activities and make sure that nothing important is missed. This also involves being good at working with people and working calmly and methodically through the issues which arise.

What you’ll actually be doing:
● Leading the team. Your role is all about supporting and motivating the team around you, helping it to focus on key issues and, as refugee needs change, adjusting the team and building it to address the emerging needs of our refugee community.
● Operational oversight: This is the operational heart of the role. You ensure, with the team, that issues are tracked and resolved.
● Support to the leads: You’ll support our specialist leads (which are principally, family, data, housing, employment and language).They are likely to be far more expert in their subject areas but you’re their support and sounding board.
● The board liaison: You’ll be the voice of the VLT working with the board Chair. As the VLT Chair you are an important voice in setting operational norms and priorities.
● Liaison with other agencies at the operational level such as the Refugee Council.
Is this for you?
● You can deal with people: You have empathy and good judgement to handle difficult situations for volunteers who care deeply, sorting out problems with them while keeping focused on professional outcomes.
● You’re naturally organized: You can separate out the important from the less important, the urgent and the non-urgent in juggling resources. You can spot the issue that others may have forgotten.
● You have the capacity: This role may take 7 hours per week, often less but on occasion more.

The handover:
Our current chair is stepping down in August 2026. We’d love a successor to start "shadowing" the Volunteer Leadership Team and the chair’s role within it in the late spring or early summer to see how the operational system works to benefit the refugees and meet some of the volunteers who make the services happen.

Why this role matters
Without an effective Chair, small problems can become bigger problems for both the families we support and the volunteers assisting them. You will be the person ensuring operationally that SWR remains a reliable and compassionate support to the refugees, and an excellent place to be a volunteer in. When a refugee or a volunteer reaches out, they are supported by a system that works and people that care.

What will you get:
You will get deep satisfaction and enjoyment from working closely with a deeply dedicated and fun VLT team, as well as the hugely dedicated trustees and wider volunteer membership. You, and your team can see life-changing success stories first-hand, and help shape the future of a lean and highly effective local charity.

Seeking support with childcare for children aged 0-12 for a Community Arts project in Vauxhall. We are looking for a volunteer to join experienced childcare providers.

The Amies Projects (part of Pan Intercultural Arts) are music and drama projects for women survivors of human trafficking, providing an uplifting and empowering space for participants to make friends, learn new skills and get creative together. We hold several sessions each week and provide childcare for all the participants who need it, with 2 childcare team members during each session. The sessions for the participants are in an adjacent room to the childcare space, meaning parents are in the same building.

Key Info

Sessions are 2 hours long

We share a meal before starting sessions, and have a short debrief afterwards

Project is based in Vauxhall

Induction training provided (building induction, safeguarding, boundaries)

Sessions are term time only

Availability

We are seeking weekly childcare support for the following sessions (term time only):

Mondays 17:45-20:00

Tuesdays 14:15-16:00

Tuesdays 17:45-20:00

Essential

Some experience looking after children aged 0-12

Willingness to undergo Enhanced DBS check

Desirable

Understanding of safeguarding (we will offer training if not)

Description of role

To support the childcare practitioner with providing supervision of young people aged 0-12. During the session there is no set curriculum to follow. We encourage children to be creative, offering arts supplies eg play doh and crayons, as well as toys for creative play. Children will have food during the session, which will be provided either by the charity or by the parents depending on the age and preferences. Children will need to be supported to use the toilet, nappies changed etc. We ask that volunteers alert staff of any safeguarding issues arising.

As a Volunteer Musician, you will bring joy, comfort, and connection to the people we support, by sharing live music. Your performances will provide meaningful engagement, foster a sense of community, and enhance emotional and mental well-being.

• Play musical instruments or sing for small groups or individuals.

Tailor performances to the preferences and needs of the people we support (e.g., familiar songs or soothing melodies).

• Encourage the people we support to sing along or participate in simple ways (e.g., clapping, tapping rhythms).

• Create a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere during your sessions.

• Adjust your style or volume to suit the home setting and individuals’ sensitivities.

• Be attentive to the emotional and physical responses of individuals during performances.

• Work with care home staff to schedule performances and understand the unique needs of the residents.

• Communicate any concerns or noteworthy interactions with staff.

Skills required

• Proficiency in at least one musical instrument or singing.

• Warm, friendly, and compassionate demeanour.

• Patience and adaptability to engage with people of varying abilities and preferences.

• A genuine interest in contributing to the well-being of the people we support.

To ensure the safety of the people we support, we require a DBS check and two satisfactory references before a volunteer role is confirmed. As you will be volunteering directly with vulnerable individuals, you will also be required to undertake safeguarding training, as well as any training which is specific to the role.

Benefits

• This is a fantastic opportunity to give something positive back to society and have a direct impact on people’s lives.  

• Through this volunteer role, you can gain experience and develop your skill set. On top of this, SeeAbility provides training which could be added to your CV.

• Volunteers can claim travel expenses.

About Us 

Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK. This year we are celebrating our 225th anniversary, having pioneered specialist support across multiple generations since 1799!

We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, who may also have sight loss. Our support ranges from providing person-centred support across our many supported-living and residential care provisions. Furthermore, we provide specialist eye-care services to children and adults alike and assists people to find paid employment for the very first time.

SeeAbility provides the resources and expertise that make this possible, we support people to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.

Fundraising Events Organiser Volunteer

Would you like to be part of a dedicated and friendly team of volunteers and make a real difference to the lives of cats and kittens in our care?  Do you enjoy planning and organising for events?  Maybe you have a particular skill that you would like to put to use?
 
Then this could be the role for you! 
 
Our Fundraising Events Team are at the heart of what we do, raising essential funds for the cats. 

Our Fundraising Events Organisers share ideas, tasks and inspiration, planning and delivering local events, with the support of the Fundraising events helpers, such as Open Days (usually 2 per year) at the centre and our annual Christmas Bazaar. 

Time Expectation:  This role can be varied and time commitment can be flexible. 

Without volunteers, Cats Protection Berkshire Cat Centre simply wouldn't exist. Our amazing, friendly volunteers are a diverse group with a shared love of cats who fit volunteering around their home lives and personal commitments.

We're often looking to welcome new volunteers to join our brilliant team. As well as meeting great people and making an incredible difference to the cats of Berkshire.

Please note:  Although we do welcome everyone, unfortunately our centre is not set up to accommodate young volunteers under the age of 18, including those on the Duke of Edinburgh programme.

Full training and support will be given for all roles.  We look forward to hearing from you!

We are looking for a creative and passionate Volunteer Marketing & PR Officer to help raise awareness of our work, strengthen our public profile, and engage supporters, partners, and donors.

Job Title: Marketing & PR Assistant
Organisation: Adanna Women’s Support Group
Location: Redbridge London
Salary: £voluntary 
Contract: 14 hrs
Reporting to: Operations Manager

About Us

Adanna Women’s Support Group is a small but impactful non-profit support group dedicated to supporting and empowering women in our community who have experienced some of life’s challenges and lost their confidence and have no local network. Through our programmes, advocacy, and partnerships, we aim to create opportunities, provide support, build confidence and amplify the voices of women facing social and economic challenges.

We are looking for a creative and passionate Marketing & PR Officer to help raise awareness of our work, strengthen our public profile, and engage supporters, partners, and donors.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys storytelling, digital marketing, and community engagement. As a key member of a small team, you will lead our marketing and PR activity, helping us share our impact, promote our programmes, and grow our supporter base.

You will create engaging content, manage social media platforms, coordinate media outreach, and support the promotion of events and campaigns.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver marketing campaigns to promote the charity’s services, events, and impact.
• Manage and grow the charity’s social media presence through engaging and regular content.
• Write press releases, stories, and communications that highlight the charity’s work.
• Build relationships with media outlets, partners, and community organisations.
• Support the promotion of fundraising campaigns and community events.
• Update website content and assist with digital marketing initiatives.
• Ensure consistent branding across all communications and materials.
• Create engaging flyers and publicity materials for our services and events that is consistent with our branding and ensuring our funders logos are prominently displayed

About You

We’re looking for someone who is creative, organised, and passionate about making a difference.

You will ideally have:

• Experience in marketing, communications, or PR.
• Strong writing and storytelling skills.
• Experience managing social media platforms and digital content.
• The ability to manage multiple tasks and work independently.
• A genuine interest in supporting women and promoting equality.

Experience in the non-profit/charity sector is helpful but not essential.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a passionate and supportive small team.
• Help amplify the voices and experiences of women in our community.
• Opportunity to shape and grow the organisation’s communications and public profile.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Potential to become a paid role

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your CV and a short cover letter explaining why you are interested in the role and how your experience fits the position.

Application Deadline: asap - applications will be processed on a rolling baiss and the post will close once a suitable candidate if found

Adanna Women’s Support group is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Note on Equality: Adanna Women’s Support group is an equal opportunities employer. Due to the nature of our work and the vulnerable women we support, this post may be subject to an Occupational Requirement under the Equality Act 2010.

This position is open to anyone with a keen interest in Friends of the Earth and our local campaigns in the borough of Camden. We are looking for people interested in environmental and sustainability issues and environmental justice in the Camden community who enjoy assisting in the organisation of events.

Duties:

The events assistants will provide support in our events as part of a team, including tasks like:

• Assisting with the execution of various charity events and campaigns

• Helping with the preparation of events and campaigns

• Attending meetings with the group and events such as FoE marches 

• Setting up event spaces, including decorations and signage

• Addressing any issues that arise during the event and providing immediate solutions

• Collecting event data and feedback from attendees

• Assisting with post-event reporting

Desired attributes: 

• Good organisation skills and a collaborative mindset

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with diverse stakeholders

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously

• Passion for the charity's mission and commitment to its values

We are organising a screening of the animated film "Savages" at Clarence Hall in Camden and would like to invite you to the screening and help with the preparation as well as organisation on the day. There is also the Together march in Central London on 28th March. 

Look forward to your application. Anyone who cares about the environment and want to be part of a nice group please apply!

Please send us a message stating clearly why you are interested in volunteering in our group.

The role of a Treasurer is an unpaid, voting role sitting on the UK Board of Trustees and reporting to the Chair of Trustees. In line with our policy, all trustees initially start in a non-voting advisor role to ensure that both they and the board are happy to formalise the trusteeship before transitioning to a full voting trustee position.

The Treasurer will work with the UK Operations Manager and the UK board of trustees to share the responsibility for overseeing the financial health and sustainability of Sreepur Village and will liaise with the Overseas Director based in Sreepur Village.

Treasurer Role

· Oversee the financial affairs and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice 

· Review the appointment of new auditors and work to ensure financial reports are clear and timely 

· Hold monthly budget review meetings with the UK Operations Manager to oversee accounting and financial controls

· Ensure appropriate risk management is in place and is reviewed by the board on a regular basis

· Introduce new financial forecasting and reporting systems and ensure protocols and processes are appropriate

· Be main point of contact with the investment fund managers and oversee investment policy

Governance Role

• Contribute to the strategic planning process
• Be an ambassador for Sreepur Village representing the organisation and linking it to its stakeholders.
• Attend at least three meetings a year (virtual or in person) or as advised by the Chair of Trustees if the number of meetings changes.
• Attend or host fundraising events, where possible.
• Respond to emails and other correspondence within five working days or an agreed time frame

INDEPENDENT READING GROUP VOLUNTEER (FACE-TO-FACE) 

CARAS Youth ESOL Programme – Monday, Wednesday mornings  

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

CARAS is looking for Reading Group Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.

The reading group is in Streatham and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education. The timings of the reading group sessions are as follows: 

• Monday afternoons 2pm to 3pm 

• Wednesday mornings 11am to 1pm. 

Volunteers are required to attend either one of both sessions. Volunteers are also welcome to stay and support the more traditional English language classes either before the reading session on Mondays or after the reading session on Wednesdays. 

Students will be supported to read at length and complete challenges that are adapted to their ability level.

The reading group aims to foster independence and a joy of reading among the young people and requires volunteers to learn about the young peoples' interests in order to help them select an appropriate text.

The ESOL teacher will provide volunteers with tips to support reading and understanding for emerging learners of English, such as phonics and elicitation strategies.

Volunteers will work with 1-5 students, mostly reading out loud with them or helping them to decode unfamiliar language.

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities: 

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within the Reading Group sessions; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources; 

• Contributing to debriefs to inform the ESOL teacher how each student found the lesson/task and the students’ areas of greatest challenge and success;  

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Listening and supporting students to select, read and understand a text; Showing flexibility to the wide range of ability levels in the classroom; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential

• To be 18 years or older; 

• An interest in education and English language teaching;

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• * Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK.  

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• An interest in books and stories, writing and poetry 

• The ability to volunteer on Wednesday during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of four months; 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish; 

• Experience of reading with young people or learners of English, or teaching ESOL or phonics. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering. 

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our face-to-face study programme called ‘Get Ready for School.’

This programme is attended by young people out of education and is based in Streatham on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Core delivery of the programme includes English, Maths, Digital skills, complemented by Reading and Writing for Pleasure.

We also run Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon classes open to all existing CARAS youth community members, 4:30pm to 6pm. These classes tend to be larger and have a large range of language levels. 

Volunteers in this role are required to commit to at least one 2-hour session per week, during these times:

• Monday 10 am to 3pm

• Tuesday 2pm to 6pm 

• Wednesday 11am to 6pm

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities: 

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes;

• Help young people to build confidence in digital literacy;

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources;

• Engaging learners in informal conversations or games during breaks to help them practice their conversational English.

• Checking the session plan aims with the lead teacher and assisting learners achieve them;

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session;

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class;

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project;

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential;

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements;

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements 

Essential: 

• To be 18 years or older;

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (travel and food expenses can be reimbursed);

• An interest in education and English language teaching;

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;

• To be reliable and punctual. We ask volunteers to commit to at least one class every week for a minimum of 4 months. If you are unable to attend a class due to a planned holiday, you must inform the program lead in advance. 

• Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English;

• The ability to volunteer on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons/evenings during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of four months;

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum seeker or refugee status

• *Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check (DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a Caras community member who is more recently arrived in the UK);

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

*DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK. 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months’ regular volunteering 
   

To Apply: 

Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with a member of the CARAS learning staff team and a community member. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP! 
 

 All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.