Volunteer roles in northamptonshire, east midlands

Organisation: Make a Smile
Location: Remote - UK-based (with opportunities for occasional in-person involvement)
Commitment: Flexible, approx. 4–6 hours per week

About Make a Smile

At Make a Smile, we believe every volunteer should feel supported, valued, and empowered. Our volunteers are the heart of our charity, and we work hard to break down barriers so that everyone—no matter their background—can get involved and make a difference to children’s lives.

The Role

We’re looking for a compassionate and organised Volunteer Manager to support and oversee the wellbeing and engagement of volunteers across the charity. This role is about building a strong, inclusive, and supportive volunteer community where everyone can thrive.

The Volunteer Manager will:

• Support chapter Wellbeing Officers by ensuring they create proactive wellbeing plans and run initiatives such as wellbeing posts, yoga sessions, or social activities.

• Organise central wellbeing efforts (e.g., online wellbeing campaigns and virtual socials) to strengthen volunteer morale across the charity.

• Lead the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Subcommittee, identifying barriers faced by minority and underrepresented groups and implementing changes to make volunteering more accessible and inclusive.

• Develop and manage Reasonable Adjustment Plans (RAPs) for individual volunteers who may need additional support, ensuring these are sensitively shared and applied.

• Oversee Safeguarding and Community Officers, supporting them to maintain legal compliance and build a sense of belonging among volunteers.

• Champion feedback and engagement, using volunteer insights to improve wellbeing and inclusion initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

• A passion for volunteer support and community building.

• Strong listening and communication skills.

• Empathy and a proactive approach to addressing barriers.

• Organisational skills and confidence leading meetings or subcommittees.

• Interest in equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).

• Willingness to learn about safeguarding and wellbeing practices (training provided).

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience in volunteer management, wellbeing, and inclusion.

• The chance to lead on meaningful initiatives that directly impact volunteers’ experiences.

• Opportunities to develop leadership, communication, and EDI skills.

• The satisfaction of knowing you’re helping volunteers feel supported, engaged, and empowered.

Time Commitment

This role is flexible and can be done remotely. We ask for around 4–6 hours per week, though this may vary depending on activities or events.

We are looking for a trustee with demonstrable skills in publicity and communications. We need advice and guidance on how we can publicise our work. Our current Board does not have expertise in social media, communications plans, or publicity.  If you have experience  in  education  would be ideal but we primarily need someone with a strong track record in publicity and communications.

We are looking for someone who cares about and wants to  help young people who are in the care system to make it to and through university. This is not about helping individual youngsters personally. We are building and funding programmes to enable others to help them more effectively.  

You need to be willing to be a trustee. This involves preparing for meetings by reading the papers, speaking up in meetings and sharing your opinions and experience, working with others on the board and with our education partners to develop ways we can fulfil our goal of increasing the number of care-experienced young people who successfully complete a degree and find work.

You need to be able to meet the time commitment which is to attend our (virtual) trustee meetings.  These are held on a Wednesday afternoon once a quarter – the dates are published well in advance.  We also get together, in person, for up to a full day once a year – again usually on a Wednesday. You will need to prepare for meetings and there may be the occasional other tasks so we recommend thinking of a time commitment of 2 -3 hours a month.

Previous experience as a charity trustee is highly desirable, but not essential, as you will have a full explanation of the duties and responsibilities of trustees during your induction.

 We are looking for a trustee with experience of the policies and pathways offered to looked after children around accessing university. This might include experience of virtual schools for looked after children, or university admissions and the outreach particularly to looked after children, or government policy in these areas.

We are looking for someone who cares about and wants to  help young people who are in the care system to make it to and through university. This is not about helping individual youngsters personally. We are building and funding programmes to enable others to help them more effectively.  

You need to be willing to be a trustee. This involves preparing for meetings by reading the papers, speaking up in meetings and sharing your opinions and experience, working with others on the board and with our education partners to develop ways we can fulfil our goal of increasing the number of care-experienced young people who successfully complete a degree and find work.

You need to be able to meet the time commitment which is to attend our (virtual) trustee meetings.  These are held on a Wednesday afternoon once a quarter – the dates are published well in advance.  We also get together, in person, for up to a full day once a year – again usually on a Wednesday. You will need to prepare for meetings and there may be the occasional other tasks so we recommend thinking of a time commitment of 2 -3 hours a month.

Previous experience as a charity trustee is highly desirable, but not essential, as you will have a full explanation of the duties and responsibilities of trustees during your induction.

We are looking for a trustee who has personal experience of the care system as a looked- after child or care-experienced young person.  We need someone who has made it to and through university so that they can help us fully understand the challenges and issues that can occur.

We are looking for someone who cares about and wants to  help young people who are in the care system to make it to and through university. This is not about helping individual youngsters personally. We are building and funding programmes to enable others to help them more effectively.  

You need to be willing to be a trustee. This involves preparing for meetings by reading the papers, speaking up in meetings and sharing your opinions and experience, working with others on the board and with our education partners to develop ways we can fulfil our goal of increasing the number of care-experienced young people who successfully complete a degree and find work.

You need to be able to meet the time commitment which is to attend our (virtual) trustee meetings.  These are held on a Wednesday afternoon once a quarter – the dates are published well in advance.  We also get together, in person, for up to a full day once a year – again usually on a Wednesday. You will need to prepare for meetings and there may be the occasional other tasks so we recommend thinking of a time commitment of 2 -3 hours a month.

Previous experience as a charity trustee is highly desirable, but not essential, as you will have a full explanation of the duties and responsibilities of trustees during your induction.

Organisation: Make a Smile
Location: Remote - Uk-based (with occasional in-person opportunities depending on events)
Commitment: Flexible, approx. 4–6 hours per week

About Make a Smile

At Make a Smile, we believe every child deserves joy and support. We work with local communities and volunteers to bring smiles to children through events, activities, and fundraising initiatives. As a volunteer-led charity, we rely on passionate individuals to help us raise vital funds and continue making a difference.

The Role

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and organised Fundraising Manager to lead and coordinate fundraising efforts across the charity. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys building relationships, being creative with fundraising ideas, and supporting others to reach their potential.

The Fundraising Manager will:

• Lead central fundraising initiatives – from online raffles, charity dinners, and quizzes to innovative campaigns like our Make a Smile Lottery.

• Support Fundraising Officers in local chapters by providing guidance, resources, and ensuring fundraising activities are legally compliant.

• Manage online fundraising platforms (EasyFundraising and People’s Fundraising), ensuring they’re up to date and well-utilised across the charity.

• Collaborate with our Media Team to promote fundraising activities through engaging social media campaigns (e.g., “Fundraising Friday”).

• Oversee the Gaming Subcommittee, helping volunteers plan gaming socials and fundraisers.

• Build partnerships with organisations, including community groups, supermarkets, and themed organisations like Star Wars Garrisons, to run events and access grant schemes.

• Track and monitor progress, ensuring that both central and chapter-level fundraising goals are met.

What We’re Looking For

• Passion for making a positive impact in children’s lives.

• Strong organisational and communication skills.

• Creativity in coming up with fundraising ideas and campaigns.

• Confidence working with volunteers and supporting a team.

• Comfortable using (or learning) fundraising platforms and social media.

• An understanding of fundraising law is helpful (training and guidance will be provided).

What You’ll Gain

• Valuable experience in charity fundraising, leadership, and project management.

• The chance to develop and implement your own creative fundraising ideas.

• The opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families.

• A supportive team of passionate volunteers to collaborate with.

Time Commitment

This role is flexible and can be carried out remotely. We ask for around 4–6 hours per week, though this may vary depending on events.

Join the only lived experience-led national mental health charity as a trustee, chair or treasurer!

NSUN is a network of grassroots, user-led community groups and people who have lived experience of mental ill-health, distress, and trauma. We connect, support, and amplify the voices and work of our members. As the only user-led national mental health charity, all of our staff members and trustees have lived experience, and our work is rooted in solidarity.

Trustees act as the guardian of the vision, purpose and values of NSUN. Being a trustee gives you valuable and transferable leadership, strategic and governance skills and experience in the non-profit sector.

We’re really hoping that our new trustees possess a deep interest in how mental ill-health, distress and trauma connects with other social justice issues, such as disability and racial justice.

We aim to become an Accredited Museum and to significantly improve the look and feel of the museum, and to become well known in the sport of Badminton.

What will you be doing?

We are looking for a number of additional Trustees to actively participate in the achievement of the strategy. We are looking for skills in fundraising, museum operations, financial overview, web and social media, and ideally but not necessarily deep seated knowledge of the sport.

What are we looking for?

Fundraising, museum operations, financial experience, some with a deep knowledge of the sport of Badminton.

What difference will you make?

They will actively participate in the strategic plan, taking leadership in their field of expertise. Its an exciting time for the Museum and will be for the new and existing Trustees. Gaining accreditation itself is a multi-year project involving the creation of policies, and best practice museum processes. Gaining enough funding is a crucial part of the strategy, as is animation of the museum, and significantly improving the public awareness of the museum.

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

At Cats Protection we help thousands of cats and kittens each year thanks to our dedicated and passionate volunteer groups. We have branches across the UK, all of which help our cats in different ways. Branches take in stray and abandoned cats and ensure they receive the veterinary care and attention they deserve; help raise funds, promote neutering and help spread cat welfare messages. Our branch team leader volunteers lead their local team by supporting and managing volunteers within their group, maintaining communications with both volunteers and employees, and helping promote a positive and professional image of Cats Protection.

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

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Supporting your team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure volunteers are happy and confident
• Making sure the team observes charity best practice and compliance
• Collaborating with your Branch Development Manager (BDM) to plan volunteer activity
• Leading the team to follow Cats Protection policies, procedures and guidelines
• Monitoring expenditure and helping ensure long term financial stability of the volunteer group
• Organising and chairing team meetings
• Acting as an ambassador for Cats Protection

Time expectation

Our branch team leader volunteers usually spend 10 to 15 hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed. There will be times of year when more hours are required, such as towards the end of the financial year, but support and guidance are available.

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.

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

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

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

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

Tasks you could get up to whilst volunteering could include:

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

As a Retail Volunteer you will be:

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

As a Mencap volunteer you will:

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

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

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

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

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

Nova Impact

Nova Impact is a Ghanaian organization empowering youth and marginalized communities with the digital and practical skills needed to thrive in today’s economy. By addressing the digital divide, Nova Impact tackles youth unemployment and underemployment, particularly among women, people with disabilities, and underserved groups. Its programs go beyond basic literacy, offering hands-on training in coding, data analytics, and digital marketing, while also emphasizing soft skills like teamwork and problem-solving. With mentorship at the core, participants receive personalized guidance that helps them navigate their career paths and unlock opportunities in the growing tech sector.

The organization also focuses on building inclusivity and resilience by creating pathways for underrepresented groups to access jobs, leadership roles, and entrepreneurial ventures. Through strategic partnerships with businesses, Nova Impact connects talent directly to industry opportunities via career fairs, hackathons, and internships. Recognizing the urgency of climate change, Nova Impact integrates climate-conscious training into its programs, preparing a generation of leaders who are both digitally equipped and environmentally aware. By fostering innovation, inclusion, and sustainability, Nova Impact is reshaping Ghana’s future workforce and creating a more equitable society.

Fundraising & Partnership Manager

• Develop and execute fundraising strategies to secure financial support from a diverse range of sources, including individual donors, corporations, and foundations.
• Identify and research potential funding opportunities and partnership prospects that align with the organization's mission and goals.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors and partners, ensuring regular communication and reporting on the impact of their contributions.
• Draft and submit compelling grant proposals and partnership agreements, showcasing the organization's work and its potential for growth and impact.
• Collaborate with the team to create engaging fundraising campaigns and events that resonate with our target audience.
• Monitor and report on fundraising progress, providing regular updates to the leadership team and board of directors.

Minimum Hours per Week

4-6 hours per week

Duration

6+ months

Nova Impact

Nova Impact is a Ghanaian organization empowering youth and marginalized communities with the digital and practical skills needed to thrive in today’s economy. By addressing the digital divide, Nova Impact tackles youth unemployment and underemployment, particularly among women, people with disabilities, and underserved groups. Its programs go beyond basic literacy, offering hands-on training in coding, data analytics, and digital marketing, while also emphasizing soft skills like teamwork and problem-solving. With mentorship at the core, participants receive personalized guidance that helps them navigate their career paths and unlock opportunities in the growing tech sector.

The organization also focuses on building inclusivity and resilience by creating pathways for underrepresented groups to access jobs, leadership roles, and entrepreneurial ventures. Through strategic partnerships with businesses, Nova Impact connects talent directly to industry opportunities via career fairs, hackathons, and internships. Recognizing the urgency of climate change, Nova Impact integrates climate-conscious training into its programs, preparing a generation of leaders who are both digitally equipped and environmentally aware. By fostering innovation, inclusion, and sustainability, Nova Impact is reshaping Ghana’s future workforce and creating a more equitable society.

Administration & Human Resources Manager

• Manage day-to-day administrative operations, including office management, procurement, and maintaining organizational records.
• Oversee all human resources functions, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management and employee relations.
• Develop and implement HR policies and procedures that ensure compliance with labor laws and foster a positive and productive work environment.
• Manage payroll and benefits administration for all employees, ensuring accuracy and timely processing.
• Act as the primary point of contact for staff inquiries related to HR and administrative matters, providing guidance and support.
• Coordinate and facilitate staff training and development programs to enhance skills and career growth.

Minimum Hours per Week

7-9 hours per week

Duration

6+ months

Ganddee

The app to find second-hand shops, car boot sales, flea markets and pop-ups.

We're fixing the climate crisis by addressing the underlying consumption crisis. Our mission is to help people shop local and 2nd-hand.

We're the marketplace connecting shoppers to 2nd-hand shops and thrifting events in the UK.

Copywriter / Blog Writer

Ganddee is the UK and Ireland 's discovery platform connecting shoppers to local second-hand shops, car boot sales, flea markets and thrifting events - think 'google maps for thrifting'.

We're building the UK and Ireland's biggest thrifting community. To that end, we're looking for volunteers who share our love for thrifting and circularity.

Living in the UK or Ireland would be ideal for the role given that we're mostly active there so it'll be easier to write about the thrifty things happening in the city. However, if you live somewhere else and love what we do, we're happy to chat to see how you can join the team and help out!

The time commitment and "duration of the role" aren't set in stone! Happy to chat and see what works for you if you're excited by this opportunity!

The role entails:

• Writing content for our blog

You're perfect for the role if you love thrifting to charity shops, vintage shops, car boot sales etc.

Our audience loves authentic and human written content about thrifting & money saving tips etc.

Keen to chat if you love what we do and want to be part of the journey

Minimum Hours per Week

2-3 hours per week

Duration

3-5 months

Do you want to see more happiness and kindness in the world? We’re looking for dynamic Volunteers to be part of creating exactly that!

About the Role:

Our volunteers bring people together for shared online learning experiences, based on positive psychology, that boost the wellbeing of everyone involved.

Our groups and courses can be run online or in-person in your local area.

- The amazing 6-week Happiness Habits Course is designed to be run by pairs of volunteers.  It features expert videos, science-backed exercises and the chance to form meaningful connections. Our course has been specially designed to gather the insights of the world's leading experts on six fundamental aspects of a happy and meaningful life: Gratitude, Self-Care, Relationships, Resilience, Kindness, and Meaning. It is a very impactful (many say life-changing) experience.

- Alternatively, you can get involved by supporting a Monthly Group, bringing like-minded people together to learn evidence-based tools for creating a happier and more meaningful life. Explore the monthly themes and encourage people to set personal actions towards happiness, that support both themselves and others.

Volunteering with Action for Happiness is a path of action that consistently feels like you are making a difference in the world. You don’t have to be an expert - or be happy all the time. If you are a warm and enthusiastic person that is more than enough to get started.

Why Volunteer with Us?

Do something that matters: spreading happiness and witnessing people transform for the better is a huge source of meaning.

Grow your skills: inspiring others, learning together and reinforcing your own happiness skills all contribute to personal growth.

Build community: meeting like-minded people, building lasting friendships and belonging to a global community contributing to a better future for all.

How do I know it’s right for me?

Try out free VOLUNTEER TRAINING via the Action For Happiness website and decide for yourself.

We've designed it especially to help you answer questions like this as it explains thoroughly what being a volunteer involves and helps you reflect on your readiness.

What is the time commitment?

You'll need to set aside a couple of hours for the training initially and a few more for planning your course or group and connecting with your co-volunteer. Then you'll need a couple of hours per session for facilitating (x6 weekly sessions for a course, or x1 session per month for a group). 

- Apply today! Together, we can inspire change that ripples out through people’s lives, communities and the world.
 

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.
• Live within a 30 mile radius of Bicester.