Volunteer roles in harrow, greater london

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

A bit more information about this role and the team

• Going out to scan cats; own transport is needed

• Delivering donated food to stray cats being fed by households, if required

• Providing a quarterly update report to the local volunteer committee

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Responding to enquiries from the public about lost and found cats
• Keeping up to date records of lost and founds cats
• Matching cats that are reported lost with those reported found
• Advertising lost and found cats
• Providing help and information to owners about their lost cats

Time expectation 

Our lost and found volunteers usually spend between 2 to 3 hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

Trailblazers’ mission is to reduce re-offending and inspire new futures. Your support will help a young man to reconnect with his community, friends and loved ones, go into education, training and employment, and give a person a sense of hope for the future.

Trailblazers has been providing mentoring services to people in prison since 1998 with ultimate aim to reduce re-offending. We provide support to men between the age of 18 - 35 in custody who have 6 months left of their prison sentence, and then 'through the gate' into their own community for up to 12 months. The Education, Training & Employment (ETE) team supports our mentees in custody to break down barriers to employability. Post-release, this continues by supporting mentees to gain meaningful and career changing roles in sector specific industries such as Construction, Engineering, Catering & Hospitality or the Self-Employment route. 

The ETE team are looking to build a team of volunteers to work with mentees in the community and to shape the existing ETE service in the Thames Valley area. We are looking for volunteer mentors who can commit for up to 12 months and give a few hours a week to support men to change their life by being inspirational role models, helping with goal setting and supporting their mentee to access ETE opportunities and ultimately gain meaningful employment. Mentoring sessions will be 1:1, take place weekly and can be done remotely by telephone or online. These sessions will last approximately one hour, but some time should also be given to liaising with Trailblazers staff and researching relevant opportunities. 

Induction training is provided, out of pocket expenses covered, a mobile phone is provided to protect your identity, a Trailblazers T-shirt and lanyard are provided, DBS costs are covered, as well as regular reflective practice sessions to support you within your role. 

We are actively looking for people to join our mentoring community with lived experience of the criminal justice system, under represented groups from BAME community, creative arts, business skills, wellbeing - whatever your skills and background we are open to hear from you to support our diverse group of men. 

Trailblazers are looking for Volunteer Mentors who are:

• Empathetic with a positive outlook and manner.
• Able to help others without judgement or discrimination.
• Excellent communicators with a sense of humour.
• Well organised, can prioritise and multi-task.
• Reliable and able to commit to the role for up to 12 months providing weekly ETE sessions remotely either by telephone or via Zoom / MS Team digital platforms.
• Have skills and experience in supporting those who are disadvantaged into education, training and employment (ETE).
• Able to work independently with the ability to prioritise and manage your own workload with minimal supervision taking a flexible and creative approach to the demands of the post.
• Able to demonstrate sensitivity to other cultures, working with people from other backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities.

Trailblazers’ mission is to reduce re-offending and inspire new futures and the charity has been providing mentoring services to people in prison since 1998. We provide support to men between the ages of 18 - 35 in custody who have 6 months left of their prison sentence, and then 'through the gate' into their community for up to 12 months.

In London, services are delivered at HMP Brixton and HMPYOI Isis. We are looking for volunteer mentors who can spare half a day per week to support young men to change their life by acting as an inspirational role model and helping with goal setting. Mentoring sessions usually last 1 hour per week; allowing enough time for travel and liaising with Trailblazers staff will take about half a day.

Your support will help a young man to reconnect with his own community, friends and loved ones, go into education, training and employment, and to give a person a sense of hope for the future. As a charity we are reliant on volunteers; with your help we can continue to support people in prison to make and change to their lives, their family and wider society. We welcome all skill sets within Trailblazers as we work with a diverse group of men, all we ask if you have a genuine passion for social change and that you can commit to at least 1 young man for up to 12 months, so they have a consistent person in their life - something that some of our mentees have never had. The national average re-offending rate for a person leaving prison is up to 55%, the rate for those who have a Trailblazers mentor is lowered to 9%. 

We are actively looking for people to join our mentoring community with lived experience of the criminal justice system, underrepresented groups from BAME community, creative arts, business skills, wellbeing - whatever your skills and background we are open to hear from you to support our diverse group of men.Out of pocket expenses are covered as well as training to equip you for your role. More information and the application form can be found on the website. 

Role activities:

• To provide a positive role model for people in prison and in their own community, to be empathic and to have a desire and commitment to support people to fulfil their potential.

• To attend and participate fully in the initial and ongoing mentor training.

• To attend group support/supervision meetings and review performance within mentoring relationships.

• To complete mentoring session notes relevant to the mentoring service for monitoring purposes.

• To take part in introductory meetings with mentees and set ground rules and boundaries.

• To report safeguarding concerns immediately.

• To follow relevant policies and procedures. 

• To perform your role in line with the aims of the organisation.

• To meet with and actively develop a supportive relationship with mentees.

• Be prepared to travel and undertake visits for mentoring sessions. 

• To make the necessary practical arrangements to meet the mentee on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

• Assist the mentee to celebrate their achievements.

• Support the mentee to meet identified goals.

• Develop an understanding of the role, responsibilities and boundaries of a volunteer mentor.

• Be committed to the project for a minimum of 12 months.

• Regular communication with Trailblazers staff in support of your mentee. 

Skills/behaviours/knowledge required:

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and challenges faced by mentees (Desirable) full training will be given. 

• Awareness of own professional boundaries and the ability to report any concerns within the mentoring relationship that could be pertinent to risk to the mentee, or to others. 

• To be an advocate for a mentee and to actively seek opportunities for mentees for resettlement back into their own community in conjunction with Trailblazers staff. 

• To be non-judgmental, focus on the person rather than the offense. 

• Professional but relatable with strong communication skills. 

• Awareness of adversity and how to overcome barriers to build a supportive network around the mentee. 

• Basic IT skills. 

• Be able to take advice and guidance from Trailblazers staff. 

Criteria: 

• Over 21. 

• We encourage applications from those with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System but you must be off licence for a minimum of 12 months, and not in crisis yourself. 

• You cannot apply to a project if you have been a resident in the same prison yourself. 

• A good level of fitness to able to move around a prison at fast past that does include stairs 

• Due to security checks at the prison you must be a British citizen.     

• Not committed an offense where you are barred from working with vulnerable adults or children. 

• Live within a 30-mile radius from the prison at which you would like to volunteer.

At St John Ambulance, we are looking to develop our volunteering offer and become an even more integral part of our communities through delivering community first aid and education. 

We need people who have a passion for helping others, care about their communities and want to make a difference, supporting them to become safe and more resilient by sharing your first aid skills and knowledge. As a Community First Aider, you’ll deliver first aid to those in need through local events, as well as provide education to the public so that the ripple effect of First Aid grows.

Through supporting the growth of community partnerships, you will bring people along to our cause, growing our membership and fundraising base and spreading the message that First Aid Saves Lives. 

Through volunteering as a Community First Aider, you’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

We will make sure you will have access to a proper induction to volunteering with SJA and the training you need for the role you take on. We will also provide you with a supportive environment while you are volunteering with us. Information about our volunteer roles are included in the role descriptions. What you can expect from SJA, and what we expect from those who volunteer with us, is included in the volunteer charter.

The role requires the candidate to commit to regularly attending network meeting nights once a week and carrying out 80 hours of event cover per year, providing first aid, community education and assisting in fundraising. Ideally we would like to recruit people local to Dacorum.

Closing date for these opportunities is: 15/07/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

We're looking for someone to help with planning, developing and sharing articles, news and stories from the group's activities and the RSPB, as well as drafting media releases for us.

This is a fantastic role to get involved locally and be at the forefront of solutions to help save nature in your community. It is an opportunity to try new things and use your skills to make a valuable contribution to the work of your RSPB Local Group. We are a friendly and supportive team, so you will get the chance to build new relationships and meet new faces.

You will be leading the group in developing a range of activities designed to encourage wide participation from the group membership and to attract new group members, as well as heading the committee comprising individuals which assist with the running of the group and the activities which we run. You will have the support of Area/Country offices, and HQ.

RSPB Portsmouth Local Group needs someone to help plan our programme of talks. We can provide all the help and assistance you need, including a directory of speakers.

RSPB Pinner and District Local Group needs someone to help plan our programme of talks. We can provide all the help and assistance you need, including a directory of speakers.

We are looking for 3 experienced creative writers who will enjoy planning, updating and delivering the content for our website, as well as other digital and print materials. We are looking for 3 skilled professional who can write compelling and persuasive content, who will help ensure a consistent tone across all our digital and printed communications to promote awareness and engagement.

We deal with a wide range of people and professions, which means that it can be difficult to consistently communicate with everyone effectively. Therefore, a communication and marketing volunteer will help to market our projects, services and the condition more widely than we are currently able to do. This includes creating and helping to distribute marketing materials, creating content for the Burning Nights CRPS Support website and helping us create and develop a communications and marketing strategy.

Key Tasks and Objectives

• Copywriting: Create well-written and compelling copy for use in leaflets, packs, one-page/fact sheets, fundraising/promotional materials, membership packs and on our website
• Case study writing and storytelling: Help communicate our impact via stories and case studies that we can use on our website, in marketing materials, or for our fundraising materials
• Web copywriting: Create and update engaging content for our website that adheres to our brand

· Email/E-Newsletter content: Write compelling email content for our various e-newsletters that is relevant and has clear call-to-actions. This will be in conjunction with our email marketing volunteers

· Communication materials review: Review our existing communications materials. Recommend edits that will provide us with consistency in writing style and tone, accurate spelling and grammar, and a clear and engaging voice for our organisation. Evaluate the way we communicate with volunteers, members of the public and helping us to develop better ways of doing this

· Social media snippets - create information and case study snippets for the various social media platforms

· Press Releases and any content that could be used in different channel

· Brochure/annual review writing: Create or update copy for a brochure or our annual review, highlighting our impact current and potential stakeholders

We need someone to lead a group of enthusiastic people who are passionate about supporting the RSPB and exploring local wildlife. The group runs a full programme of activities, from outdoor walks and indoor talks to fundraising events. As the group leader, you will primarily lead the group and oversee things. You will be part of a friendly and helpful committee that share the same vision of bringing people closer to nature. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to use your leadership skills to make a valuable contribution to the work of the RSPB.

RSPB Plymouth Local Group needs someone to help plan our programme of talks. We can provide all the help and assistance you need, including a directory of speakers.

RSPB Brighton and District Local Group needs someone to help plan our programme of talks. We can provide all the help and assistance you need, including a directory of speakers.

We are a very small, registered charity (number 1164078) who are looking to maintain and grow our current service offering.

We provide counselling support, for children and young people who would not normally have access to the help they need by offering funded counselling to children and young people within 35 local, surrey-based schools on a bi termly basis.  We usually offer a counsellor for 3 hours per week, although this can be more depending on need and the size of school, as well as the age group that the volunteer counsellors need experience in. 

We offer some part funded counselling on a self-referral basis for those who do not have access within their school environment or for those above school age.  We currently support approximately 45 children, young people and their caregivers on a weekly basis.

We are looking for another Student/Volunteer Counsellor to join our small passionate and perfectly formed team working in Surrey.

Role Description

You will provide at least 3 counselling sessions to 3 separate children and/or young people per week at one school per term.  You will then move to another school to continue supporting children on a similar basis for another term. We ask for your commitment to this (as a minimum) for one academic year.  You may commit to more if you can.  The schools will be either based in and around Tadworth, or in and around the Byfleet/Woking area.

The Matthew Hackney Foundation will provide bi-weekly supervision with our counselling lead who is a qualified and accredited child and adult therapist.

The Matthew Hackney Foundation will provide you with professional support and training in accordance with BACP guidelines and best practice, specifically on topics that are relevant to working with children and young people.

You must read and adhere to all of our relevant policies, including safeguarding, confidentiality and information sharing.

This is a general outline of our volunteer counsellor role, please be aware that your duties and responsibilities may develop as your role grows and you may be required to undertake other relevant reasonable duties from time to time.

Key criteria required for the role;

Qualifications:

You will be a fully qualified Counsellor, Therapist or Educational/Clinical Psychologist or studying towards one of these professions at the following levels:

Diploma or degree in Counselling (minimum of Level 4 or above). You will need to have achieved your certificate of competence to practice or be working towards this.  You must also have completed your NCFE levels 1 – 3 in counselling skills (or the equivalent).

Degree, MSc or MA in Counselling, Counselling Psychology or Psychotherapy - if you are in your first year you will have relevant experience of direct work with children.

Experience:

Counselling training must have, or have had, a therapeutic and personal development component rather than being purely theoretical or research based (as with Distance Learning courses). Examples of this include: role play, creative work with art, TRIAD techniques.

Preferably will have experience of working with children aged 4 – 16 gained through volunteering, caring for children or through a background in a caring profession such as nursing, social work or as a health visitor.

Our ideal volunteer would have/demonstrate;

A passion for supporting the mental wellbeing of children & young people.

Willingness to make a minimum commitment to practice in school one half day per week (term time only) for one academic year.

Understands and can demonstrate the values, vision and mission of The Matthew Hackney Foundation.

Emotionally robust and able to demonstrate self-awareness and self-reflection

Will have undertaken personal therapy (one-to-one or group therapy) to enhance this.

Be willing to develop an understanding of The Matthew Hackney Foundation’s equal opportunities policy, safeguarding policy and confidentiality policy, and a personal commitment to equality of opportunity and anti –discriminatory practice in service delivery.

Outgoing, friendly and proactive character.

Be comfortable volunteering within a group or by yourself

Being able to use your own initiative but be able to ask for help when you need it.

Be creative and full of ideas

Be trustworthy, friendly and reliable

Ability to multitask

Ability to work under pressure.

Why Work with us?

We are a friendly bunch are passionate about people.  You will help us deliver our much-needed service and receive relevant training and support from our team.  You will help to make a difference to the lives of children and young people locally.

Please get in touch for an informal chat or if you would like to know more.

Who they are

Citizens Advice Richmond is a local charity that has helped the people of Richmond since 1940. They offer generalist advice on any issue and specialist debt advice. Citizens Advice Richmond is a member of the national Citizens Advice service, a network of around 300 local advice centres.

The role What will you do?

● Complete an introduction for your role.

● Maintain an awareness of how the local Citizens Advice is operating.

● Read papers for board meetings and attend six board meetings per year.

● Work on specific projects with other trustees or staff within the local Citizens Advice to further the strategic objectives of the local Citizens Advice.

● Provide support and assistance to the Chair and the Chief Officer in carrying out their responsibilities, acting as a ‘critical friend’ and sounding board.

● Take on specific responsibilities delegated by the Chair, e.g., supporting new trustees with their induction.

● Carry out the Chair’s duties in their absence, with the acknowledgment of the board as being capable and suitable to do so.

● Be prepared to take over as Chair in the near future.

● Be open to approaches, where appropriate, from other trustees about the work or judgment of the Chair. The Vice Chair will then discuss any issues arising with the Chair or National Citizens Advice.

● Take an active role in discussions during board meetings and work with other trustees to:

● Set policy and strategy direction, set targets, and evaluate the performance of the local Citizens Advice.

● Seek the views of all sections of the community and monitor how well the service meets the needs of the local community.

● Ensure that the service plans for the recruitment and turnover of staff and volunteers.

● Review their own work and how effectively they operate, including action for improvement.