Volunteer roles in lewisham, greater london

Do you have a great idea to benefit people living with MS? At the MS Society, we campaign on a range of issues like welfare, treatments, care and support that people with MS need. We want to do more locally and want to support your ideas on making change happen. Together we can do more.

Perhaps you’ve spotted there are no blue badge spaces at your local supermarket? Or maybe your neighbourhood has no kerbs easy for wheelchairs to use? In this volunteer role, you’ll help drive change for people with MS in your community and develop your networking and influencing skills along the way.

As a campaigner you’ll bring your own ideas, local knowledge and personal experience to your campaigns. You’ll make decisions about your own campaign activities and collaborate with other campaigners in your area.

This role is flexible and aims to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities and the campaigning you’d like to do. This is an ongoing role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully (available via file attached on the right hand side)

2. Apply online, and have a welcome chat with your support staff member

Volunteer Befriender

Octavia works with people affected by unemployment, ill health, social isolation or low income to connect them with opportunities for positive personal change. Our vision is to build stronger, happier and healthier communities in central and west London to help create an enriched life where we live. Please help us to do this by volunteering to befriend a member of the local community, who is isolated and vulnerable, in Westminster or Kensington and Chelsea.

Reasons to volunteer

Would you like to assist an isolated person in your local area? Would you like to provide them with the emotional support, social skills and confidence that will help them to feel happier in their everyday life?

 You will know that you have helped someone to move on in their life and take part in society
 Full induction, ongoing training and support. This includes training on: communication, empathy, health and safety, confidentiality and safeguarding
 Opportunity to enhance your CV and to learn new skills
 We are able to provide references to employers and/or further education establishments
 Travel costs and out of pocket expenses reimbursed on the provision of receipts*

What would I be doing?

 Meeting once a week with the person you have been matched with, in their own home or an agreed public place, at a mutually agreed time
 Encourage communication on a shared interest or topic
 Arrange activities and listen to your Befriendee with empathy and encouragement
 On occasion you may be asked by your befriendee to accompany/escort them outside on a one to one basis or do some shopping in circumstances where they are unable to

What skills are we looking for?

 Good communication skills
 Understanding of empathy and the needs of people with isolation issues
 Understanding of confidentiality
 Able to use own initiative and work unsupervised, reliable and trustworthy
 We ask that you volunteer for 1 hour per week, for a minimum of 6 months

Sounds great! How do I sign up?

When you aplply, we ask for 2 references but these do not need to be from employers. For instance, they can be character references from college tutors or support workers who know you well. We also carry out Enhanced Disclosure checks on all volunteers, but this would only happen if we both agree that Befriending is the right fit for you.

We are committed to equality and diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Please contact us should you prefer to apply over the phone or via hard copy, for accessibility reasons. If you require any adjustments due to a disability (including: physical, psychological or neurological disease or disorders) in order to get the most out of your time volunteering with us, please do let us know so that we can ideally facilitate this.

Panethnic Pourovers

We are a completely volunteer-run cafe library, community space, and organization providing our local community with increased access to education, resources and art that is reflective of underrepresented cultures and identities. We are based right outside of Boston in North Quincy, Massachusetts!

We hope to foster a more inclusive, diverse, and safe community for those of underrepresented identities and cultures. With the rise of AAPI hate crimes since the beginning of COVID, we create a safe space for our AAPI and ally communities.

We are a 501c3 non-profit cafe library located in Quincy, MA. We aim to provide our surrounding community with increased access to education, resources, & art that is reflective of underrepresented cultures and identities. We have a focus on the Asian-American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, but provide a safe space for individuals of all backgrounds & identities to find safety and solace in.

We are always looking for volunteers across all sectors from baristas to engineers to marketing managers! You are always welcome to contribute as much or as little as you have the time for. If you're interested please don't hesitate to reach out. :)

Director of Technology

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

This role would be a great chance for someone looking for director-like experience in the technical space! Open to techies of all experiences, you are welcome to commit as much or as little time as needed.

• Manage Google Admin Workspace, create emails for volunteers and manage groups
• Maintain current website which is currently on WordPress, including making edits to the site and adding new events/programming (copy will always be provided!)
• Direct strategy and ideas for our in-house web/library applications
• Fix errors and bugs on the website as they come up
• Update plugins and third-party tools on the website

Weekly Time Commitment

2-3 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

6+ months

Support a startup protecting children’s rights in Tanzania ⭐

Hekima is a small organization in Tanzania that promotes children rights, and youth through nurturing that enables children, families and communities in ending Violence Against Children (VAC). Hekima achieves this through community accountable where children and young youth demand their rights; strengthening child protection and participation systems and structures ����

Logo Designer

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

Help to create organization logo, which reflect the mission ,values and objectives.

Weekly Time Commitment

7-9 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

1-2 months

We are looking for a Trustee to join the Board at Ivy Learning Trust, with specific expertise in HR.

This is an exciting time for us as we launch our three-year People Strategy to attract, recruit and retain the best people. Our Trustees will be instrumental in monitoring the performance of this strategy.

You don’t need previous governance experience and full training will be provided. This is a voluntary role, with reasonable travel expenses paid.

About Ivy 

Ivy Learning Trust is a family of 17 primary schools in Enfield and Hertfordshire. We are a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing a great education for children in a warm, welcoming environment, inspiring them to develop a lifelong love of learning.

Ensure the financial soundness of St-Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, one of the UK’s leading charities working to support people experiencing homelessness, as their new Trustee Treasurer.

Location: London

Closing date: 9 a.m. Wednesday 25th June

Time commitment: Equivalent to one day a month

Who we are

St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity exists so that everyone has a place to call home. We help people in vulnerable situations to find and keep a home.

With the help of our supporters, we support frontline workers and organisations across the UK to ensure that everyone experiencing homelessness can secure – and keep – a safe place to live.

About the role

The Board of Trustees is the governing body that takes overall responsibility for the Charity’s work, making sure that all processes and practices are in place to run the Charity effectively.

Trustees provide St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity with vital expertise, experience, insights and commitment essential to the governance of the Charity. It is not an expectation that any one Trustee have all the skills, we seek a Board that as a whole has the right combination of skills, experience and knowledge.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a qualified financial professional to become our new Trustee Treasurer and Chair for the Charity’s Budget, Audit and Risk Committee (BARC). You ensure the financial soundness of the Charity by maintaining effective governance of the organisation’s affairs, and that proper processes and procedures exist for assuring all financial records, decisions and delegations are maintained.

As part of an excellent Board, you will be helping to shape the Charity’s overall strategy for delivering its mission.

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

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Wednesday 25th June.

Are you passionate about ensuring young people’s voices are heard to drive meaningful change? 

Would you like to help influence the way England’s histories are told?

The Young Producers programme at English Heritage could be for you! 

We are looking for young people aged 18-24 to join our Young Producers from June 2025.

Our Young Producers are at the heart of English Heritage’s youth participation work. Their ideas, creativity and interests help steer and shape the programme and support other areas of English Heritage activity too. 

As a Young Producer you will: 

• Have your voice heard and influence change at English Heritage 

• Join our monthly meetings where you can meet other young people and contribute to decision making within English Heritage 

• Have the opportunity to take part in various projects – recent ones have included LGBTQ+ History, Black History, heritage careers and improving visitor experience for young people 

• Meet heritage professionals and make connections 

• Gain experience that is useful in a variety of sectors and workplaces, from research skills and public speaking to written communication and content creation

We want to ensure our work is relevant to all young people. To do this, we are committed to finding Young Producers from underrepresented groups to ensure a wide range of voices are heard. 

We are therefore particularly interested to hear from young people who: 

• Are from a global majority background 

• Identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community 

• Have a disability 

• Are care-experienced 

• Are from low-income backgrounds 

If this sounds good to you, we’d love to hear from you. Head to our Shout Out Loud website to find out more and apply. 

Who we are

As the charity partner of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), we are dedicated to advancing the quality of veterinary care for the benefit of animals, the public and society. We achieve this through evidence-based veterinary medicine, research and education. By working together with veterinary teams, animal owners and all those involved in animal health, we strive towards our vision of healthier animals, people and planet. 

The role

We are looking for individuals who share our commitment to improving animal health to join our Board as lay trustees. Lay trustees (ie, trustees who are not vets or vet nurses) play a crucial role in ensuring that the Board benefits from a diverse range of perspectives and skills. 

We are particularly seeking people who have experience of: 

• Fundraising and/or leadership in the charity sector, or 

• Business development and entrepreneurship, or 

• Commercial leadership experience, with a strong understanding of business operations and strategic management, or 

• Quality Improvement in human healthcare

This is a voluntary position, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction and governance of a dynamic charity.

Key responsibilities 

• Attend and actively participate in three Board meetings each year and additional committee meetings as required. 

• Provide independent oversight and constructive challenge to the Board’s decision-making processes. 

• Ensure the charity adheres to its mission, values and legal obligations. 

What we offer 

• The opportunity to make a significant impact on animal health and welfare, the veterinary profession and experience of animal owners. 

• A supportive and collaborative board environment. 

• Reimbursement of travel expenses. 

Trustees are appointed for a term of three years, with the option of re-appointment for a further term. 

If you are passionate about making a difference to the veterinary care that animals receive, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of our charity.

Who are we?

Switchboard LGBTQIA+ exists to provide members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as their friends, family and those supporting them, with a listening service that they can contact via phone, instant message and email between the hours of 10am to 10pm every day.

We are happy to talk to service users about any topic they wish. Topics we often talk to service users about include: sexual health, safer sex, relationships, coming-out, gender identity, transitioning, mental health, experiences of hate crimes, support for meeting other LGBTQIA+ people and making friends, and much more.

However, we want to also be upfront and transparent about the fact that not all of our conversations are positive or constructive. Our volunteers can also be exposed to abuse from the public, manipulative callers, sexual fantasies and safeguarding concerns.

What is our over 50's club?

Our over 50's club is a new initiative for Switchboard. 

We want to create a space that enables older members of the LGBTQIA+ community to volunteer with us on our phone lines and instant messaging service, whilst providing a social element that encourages volunteers to come together at our London HQ. 

This club will meet on both Mondays and Tuesdays during the day (you can choose which day works better for you), completing a shift either between 10am to 1pm or 2:00pm to 5:00pm. You can join us weekly or bi-weekly, whichever you prefer.

We then come together between 1pm and 2:00pm to have lunch (paid for by us) and a good natter! 

Volunteers who support Switchboard in this capacity are trained to take both phone calls and respond to instant messages. They do not respond to emails, however. 

Who are we looking for?

To ensure we can provide a high quality service to those who contact us, we are looking for volunteers who:

• Simply put, like communicating and chatting with other people (you’re most likely a people-person who feels energised by this type of communication)

• Feel comfortable taking calls and speaking over the phone to people you do not already know

• Are familiar with different instant messaging platforms (such as WhatsApp and other chat tools) and the types of communication they might receive

• Are able to read between the lines to decipher messages

• Are good listeners who let others lead conversations and instead create the space they need

• Are able to ask broad, open questions to keep conversations flowing

• Understand the importance of using the right tone when communicating in writing, and are able to flex their writing style to suit different people

• Have a strong attention to detail, with a particular focus on spelling and grammar

• Are able to evaluate sources of information and identify those that can be trusted, from those that cannot

• Know when to challenge and when to step back

• Have essential digital literacy skills (such as using email tools such as gmail and outlook, search the web for information and copy and paste website URLs)

• Understand and support our mission

• Have an awareness of the challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community

• Are empathetic in nature

• Agree to uphold our values of being non-directive and non-judgemental

Please read the attached Trustee Information Pack for more detail

As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in the governance and strategic oversight of the charity, ensuring that we operate effectively, achieve our mission, and comply with all legal and regulatory requirements. Trustees are collectively responsible for safeguarding the charity’s assets, ensuring they are used exclusively to further our objectives, and overseeing the charity’s financial health, including budgets, financial controls, and reporting. Acting with integrity and in the charity’s best interests is at the heart of the role.

To strengthen our board and support the growth of our charity, we have identified three key areas where additional expertise is needed:

• Marketing
• Legal
• Fundraising

Each of these areas play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission, enhance our impact, and ensure the charity’s sustainability for years to come. In the attached Recruitment Pack, we have outlined individual role profiles for each of these specialisms.

We welcome candidates from diverse professional backgrounds who share our commitment to supporting those affected by Body Dysmorphic Disorder. If your current or previous skills or experience align with any of these profiles, we encourage you to apply and join us in driving meaningful change.

About Refugee Employment Network

The Refugee Employment Network (REN) unites non-profits, local authorities, and businesses to improve employment access for refugees across the UK. As the only national membership network focused solely on refugee employment, REN works to ensure that all refugees can pursue fulfilling, paid work or self-employment.

What will you be doing?

Join REN as Treasurer and play a key role in guiding the organisation’s strategic direction and financial sustainability. REN’s financial operations, including payroll, are managed externally, so the Treasurer’s input is primarily at a governance and advisory level rather than day-to-day financial administration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advise on REN’s financial strategy, planning, and resource allocation.
• Ensure the Board receives clear and timely financial updates, including Annual Accounts.
• Oversee the preparation of accounts in line with funder and statutory requirements.
• Recommend and monitor effective financial controls, procedures, and policies.
• Lead on the appointment and review of external auditors.
• Collaborate with the CEO to support financial planning and delivery of goals.
• Ensure compliance with funder conditions and financial reporting obligations.
• Provide oversight of financial risks and identify opportunities to strengthen REN’s financial position.
• Lead Board-level discussions on financial matters and contribute to policy on reserves, investments, and financial governance.

What are we looking for?

Essential:

• Passion for and commitment to Refugee Employment Network’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Experience of successfully dealing with strategic issues, interpreting complex information and business planning.
• Ability to collaborate, support and build relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusion.
•  A recognised financial qualification or relevant experience in a strategic finance role.

Desirable:

• Experience serving as a Trustee or Treasurer, or working within the charity sector.

REN values equity, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and we encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity status, or socio-economic background.

What Difference will you make?

You won’t just be balancing numbers - you’ll be helping refugees build stable, hopeful futures through meaningful employment. As Treasurer, your insight will help REN make smart, strategic decisions that directly impact how we support thousands of people starting over in a new country. You’ll be a key voice in shaping how we grow sustainably, stay accountable, and make every pound count toward creating real, lasting change.

Time Commitment

• Board meetings are held either quarterly or every two months, and typically last 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Meetings are typically in London or virtually, offering flexibility for in-person or remote participation.
• We expect the time commitment to be up to 1.5 days a month. At times this may vary given the time of year.

Who are we?

Switchboard LGBTQIA+ exists to provide members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as their friends, family and those supporting them, with a listening service that they can contact via phone, instant message and email between the hours of 10am to 10pm every day.

We are happy to talk to service users about any topic they wish. Topics we often talk to service users about include: sexual health, safer sex, relationships, coming-out, gender identity, transitioning, mental health, experiences of hate crimes, support for meeting other LGBTQIA+ people and making friends, and much more.

However, we want to also be upfront and transparent about the fact that not all of our conversations are positive or constructive. Our volunteers can also be exposed to abuse from the public, manipulative callers, sexual fantasies and safeguarding concerns.

Training for POC volunteers

At Switchboard we are working to ensure that our volunteer membership reflects everyone within the LGBTQIA+ community. We want service users to be able to speak with volunteers who can empathise with their experiences and volunteers to connect with folks from a wide range of different backgrounds, cultures and identities.

To help enable us to do this even more, we have created brand new dedicated training groups for different identities within the LGBTQIA+ community. 

This group training group is specifically set up for people of colour. By joining this group, you'll undertake our Core Acceptance Training programme which equips you with the skills needed to support those contacting us via phone and instant message. Our hope is that this safe space enables you to freely ask questions, put our listening toolkit into practice and discuss approaches to different scenarios in an engaging, enjoyable way.

Who are we looking for?

To ensure we can provide a high quality service to those who contact us, we are looking for volunteers who:

• Simply put, like communicating and chatting with other people (you’re most likely a people-person who feels energised by this type of communication)

• Feel comfortable taking calls and speaking over the phone to people you do not already know

• Are familiar with different instant messaging platforms (such as WhatsApp and other chat tools) and the types of communication they might receive

• Are able to read between the lines to decipher messages

• Are good listeners who let others lead conversations and instead create the space they need

• Are able to ask broad, open questions to keep conversations flowing

• Understand the importance of using the right tone when communicating in writing, and are able to flex their writing style to suit different people

• Have a strong attention to detail, with a particular focus on spelling and grammar

• Are able to evaluate sources of information and identify those that can be trusted, from those that cannot

• Know when to challenge and when to step back

• Have essential digital literacy skills (such as using email tools such as gmail and outlook, search the web for information and copy and paste website URLs)

• Understand and support our mission

• Have an awareness of the challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community

• Are empathetic in nature

• Agree to uphold our values of being non-directive and non-judgemental

RNOH Charity is a vital partner in the way the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital delivers care. Since its inception in 1997, the Charity has raised and administered millions of pounds in donations, which have funded numerous essential projects around the hospital.

We are looking for an experienced marketing or fundraising professional to help raise our charity’s profile and enhance the impact and innovation of our fundraising campaigns. Ideally operating at executive director level or equivalent. If you have a track record of delivering successful marketing or fundraising initiatives, we would like to hear from you.

You will play a key role in supporting our team to diversify and grow our funding streams; particularly unrestricted income. We would welcome applications from across both commercial and charity sectors.

In this role, you will:

• Provide strategic guidance on the planning and execution of marketing and fundraising campaigns, with a focus on channel strategy and donor engagement across digital, social and traditional media.
• Advise on market and competitive analysis to inform campaign development and positioning.
• Bring expertise in successful campaign delivery and marketing best practice reflecting appropriate legal and ethical considerations.

Your insight will help strengthen our financial sustainability, ensuring we can continue supporting high-impact services for patients.

Trustees must have a strong empathy with the Charity’s vision, mission and values.

What difference will you make?

As a Trustee, you will support the Board to fulfill its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the Charity. You will contribute to the Charity by actively participating in strategic decision-making, jointly with the rest of the Board of Trustees, whilst working in partnership with the Chief Executive and other senior members of staff to achieve the aims of the Charity.

What’s in it for the volunteer?

You will be part of a cutting edge and pioneering organisation, which aims to continue making a significant difference in the lives of the 150,000 people who come to the hospital every year. The RNOH has been at the cutting edge of orthopaedic care for over 100 years. This is an exciting time to join our Charity and help steer its strategic direction to continue providing its invaluable work for more years to come.

Time commitment

• Four virtual Board meetings a year, held at the end of the working day.
• Four virtual Committee meetings a year, held at the end of the working day.
• Two in-person Board Away Days per year held in the Stanmore area.
• Trustee appointment is for 3 years, with the possibility of being re-appointed for a maximum of 3 terms. Induction and ongoing training.
• The role of Trustee is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although out-of-pocket expenses may be claimed.

How to apply

Reach Volunteering's TrusteeWorks team are supporting the RNOH Charity with their Board recruitment. Please submit your CV, LinkedIn profile or similar along with a covering letter stating why you would like to apply to become Trustee of the RNOH Charity and how your skills, abilities and experience would add value to the Board. If you would prefer to have a chat with a current Trustee or the Chief Executive before making a formal application please get in touch to request this.

RNOH Charity values and promotes diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity for all and appointments made on merit. The Charity believes that the best Boards are those that reflect the communities they serve. The Charity particularly welcome applications from young people, women, people from black and minority ethnic communities, and disabled people who we know are under-represented in Chair and Trustee roles. Additional induction will be organised for successful candidate without previous Board experience.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 10 June.

RNOH Charity is a vital partner in the way the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital delivers care. Since its inception in 1997, the Charity has raised and administered millions of pounds in donations, which have funded numerous essential projects around the hospital.

We are seeking a qualified and practicing legal professional to join our Board and provide legal insight, ideally with a minimum 10 years post qualification experience. You don’t necessarily need to be a specialist in healthcare, but an understanding of legal risk, charity law, commercial, governance, or regulatory frameworks would be valuable.

You will help ensure that we fulfil our legal duties as a charity, protect our interests, and make well-informed decisions—particularly when reviewing policies, commercial agreements, or collaborations with our NHS partners and other bodies. Crucially you will advise the CEO and Board of Trustees when seeking external professional legal advice.

Trustees must have a strong empathy with the Charity’s vision, mission and values.

What difference will you make?

As a Trustee, you will support the Board to fulfill its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the Charity. You will contribute to the Charity by actively participating in strategic decision-making, jointly with the rest of the Board of Trustees, whilst working in partnership with the Chief Executive and other senior members of staff to achieve the aims of the Charity.

What’s in it for the volunteer?

You will be part of a cutting edge and pioneering organisation, which aims to continue making a significant difference in the lives of the 150,000 people who come to the hospital every year. The RNOH has been at the cutting edge of orthopaedic care for over 100 years. This is an exciting time to join our Charity and help steer its strategic direction to continue providing its invaluable work for more years to come.

Time commitment

• Four virtual Board meetings a year, held at the end of the working day.
• Four virtual Committee meetings a year, held at the end of the working day.
• Two in-person Board Away Days per year held in the Stanmore area.
• Trustee appointment is for 3 years, with the possibility of being re-appointed for a maximum of 3 terms. Induction and ongoing training.
• The role of Trustee is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although out-of-pocket expenses may be claimed.

How to apply

Reach Volunteering's TrusteeWorks team are supporting the RNOH Charity with their Board recruitment. Please submit your CV, LinkedIn profile or similar along with a covering letter stating why you would like to apply to become Trustee of the RNOH Charity and how your skills, abilities and experience would add value to the Board. If you would prefer to have a chat with a current Trustee or the Chief Executive before making a formal application please get in touch to request this.

RNOH Charity values and promotes diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity for all and appointments made on merit. The Charity believes that the best Boards are those that reflect the communities they serve. The Charity particularly welcome applications from young people, women, people from black and minority ethnic communities, and disabled people who we know are under-represented in Chair and Trustee roles. Additional induction will be organised for successful candidate without previous Board experience.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 10 June.