Volunteer roles in London

Volunteer Opportunity: Volunteer Coordinator

Help Spark a Movement of Human Connection Across London and Beyond

Location: Hybrid (East London focus)

Time Commitment: Flexible, approx. 4–8 hours per week

Salary: Voluntary/Unpaid

Reports To: Founder & CEO

About SUNSHINE Charity

Loneliness is one of the quietest crises of our time — but it doesn’t have to be.

SUNSHINE Charity is a new, volunteer-powered community organisation on a mission to reduce loneliness and social isolation by creating warm, joyful spaces where people can meet, connect, and feel like they truly belong.

We believe that everyone deserves to feel seen. Everyone deserves community. Everyone deserves connection.

As we prepare to launch our first programmes across London, we are looking for our very first Volunteer Coordinator — someone who wants to help build something meaningful from the ground up and shape the future of SUNSHINE.

This isn’t just a role. It’s an invitation to help build a movement.

The VOLUNTEER Opportunity

Volunteers are the beating heart of SUNSHINE.

As our Volunteer Coordinator, you won’t just be organising rotas or sending emails. You’ll be helping to build a community of people who show up for others — people who bring joy, warmth, and connection into the lives of those who need it most.

Your work will help create moments that matter: A smile at the door. A conversation that lifts someone’s day. A friendship that changes a life.

You will be the person who helps make all of that possible.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Finding and welcoming new volunteers through outreach, social media, and community networks

• Creating a warm, supportive onboarding experience

• Matching volunteers to roles that fit their skills, passions, and personalities

• Supporting volunteer wellbeing and engagement

• Keeping volunteer records and communication organised

• Coordinating rotas and availability

• Helping shape volunteer policies and processes

• Working closely with trustees and programme leads

• Nurturing a positive, inclusive, uplifting volunteer culture

• Growing our volunteer team as SUNSHINE expands across London

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need charity experience — you just need heart.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Cares deeply about people and community

• Communicates with warmth, clarity, and empathy

• Enjoys building relationships

• Is organised, reliable, and proactive

• Can inspire and motivate others

• Is comfortable using email, online meetings, and basic digital tools

• Shares our values of kindness, inclusion, and connection

Experience in volunteer management, HR, community engagement, customer service, people management, or administration is helpful — but passion matters more than your CV.

Why Volunteer With SUNSHINE Charity?

This is a rare chance to:

• Help launch a brand-new community charity

• Play a foundational role in shaping our volunteer programme

• Make a real, lasting difference in tackling loneliness

• Gain leadership and volunteer management experience

• Build skills in recruitment, coordination, and community engagement

• Grow your professional network

• Work alongside a supportive, passionate team

• Leave a legacy that will impact communities across London

The Difference You’ll Make

• Behind every volunteer is a person who chose to give their time to help someone else.
• Behind every community session is a volunteer who welcomed someone through the door.
• Behind every new friendship is someone who created the opportunity for connection.

As Volunteer Coordinator, you will help make all of this happen.

Your contribution will help ensure that people who feel lonely or isolated can find friendship, belonging, and hope.

You will help bring people together — one connection at a time.

Join Us

If you believe in the power of kindness, community, and human connection, we would love to hear from you.

Help us build a future where no one feels alone. Become SUNSHINE Charity’s first Volunteer Coordinator and help us create a London filled with warmth, joy, and belonging.

SUNSHINE Charity

Creating connection. Building belonging. Bringing communities together.

As a Climate Ambassador, you would be joining thousands of volunteers supporting the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, launched in 2022.

Climate Ambassadors offer free support to nurseries, schools and colleges across England to develop and implement a climate action plan. This framework helps education settings evaluate and address key action areas – adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity, climate education and green careers, and decarbonisation.

If you have: 

• A desire to create coordinated impact in your local community, while utilising your employer’s volunteering leave (where applicable); 

• Knowledge about the sustainability and climate challenges facing the world; 

• Familiarity with education settings, or the ability to inspire senior leaders, educators and young people to set out on their sustainability journey; 

• A growth and mentorship mindset to help education communities begin or progress with their climate action plan, 

… then join the growing community of Climate Ambassadors and embed climate action where it matters most! 

You will receive training, guidance and regular communications from our regional teams to make the most of the climate action opportunities on your doorstep. You can get started by volunteering just 2 hours a year. 

How can you become a Climate Ambassador? 

1. Complete an initial interest form and your regional team will be in touch to support your registration on the STEM Learning platform; 
2. Receive induction, your DBS check and your Climate Ambassador training; 
3. Identify activities you would like to support and post about them on the STEM Learning platform, or browse activities requested by your local schools! 

Your regional team will get in touch suggesting a good match to a local setting seeking support relating to your area of interest or experience. You can also upskill through the Sustainability Leadership Programme to unlock new areas of expertise. 

Please note: STEM Learning UK host Climate Ambassador profiles on their website, which requires you to register as a STEM Ambassador. Your profile will be processed as a Climate Ambassador upon selecting ‘Climate’ as your area of interest during registration.

Apply to join the DISC founding pilot program - Becuase your safeguarding team needs better intelligence

We support safeguarding teams to identify emerging online harms, social media threats and exploitation risks through digital threat intelligence.

DISC is looking for safeguarding professionals who already understand the challenges they face and want real analytical support to help protect children and young people. Through practical intelligence, early warning insight and a direct voice in shaping a new national digital threat intelligence professional network, founding members will help strengthen how safeguarding teams respond to fast moving online risks.

• < Direct Access > to practical tools designed by PhD Crime Science researchers for safeguarding professionals, including platform risk tracking, trend monitoring, URL checks, username analysis and safeguarding intelligence resources.

We are now inviting a small group of founding members to join the DISC pilot project. This is a voluntary, free pilot opportunity designed for designated Safeguarding Leads, Deputy DSLs, safeguarding governors, other professionals working directly in child protection or safeguarding.

We are particularly keen to hear from safeguarding professionals who are dealing with the realities of online risk in schools, youth settings, charities, academies, trusts or community organisations. You do not need to be a technical or digital expert. What matters is your safeguarding experience, your understanding of children and young people, and your willingness to help build something useful, ethical and thats genuinely crime prevention focused.

As a founding member, you will receive access to DISC pilot services and help shape what the service becomes. Your experience, feedback and professional judgement will directly influence the tools, briefings and intelligence support we develop for safeguarding teams across the UK.

Digital Intelligence & Safeguarding Centre started as a UCL, University of London based social venture supporting schools, charities and youth organisations with digital safeguarding intelligence. We help safeguarding teams make sense of online harms, social media risks, harmful trends, platform threats, online offenders and emerging digital behaviours that may affect children and young people.

This pilot is about partnership and community. DISC resources are designed to support, not replace, existing safeguarding policies, DSL decision, making or statutory responsibilities. Final safeguarding decisions remain with your organisation. Our role is to strengthen your awareness, improve your access to digital threat intelligence and help you respond earlier to emerging online risks.

This is a founding member opportunity! Participation is voluntary, free of charge and there is no obligation to continue after the pilot. Founding members will be recognised as early adopters and expert contributors to the DISC intelligence network and will have a direct say in how the service develops. If you are a safeguarding professional who wants better intelligence on online harms, stronger support for digital safeguarding decisions and the chance to help shape a new crime prevention focused service, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

During the pilot, founding members will receive:

• Weekly Threat Briefing on online risks, social media harms, and digital safeguarding trends
• Access to our crime analyst’s intelligence reports, platform alerts and threat assessments
• The opportunity to submit digital safeguarding tasking requests to the DISC Threat Desk
• Beta access to the DISC members dashboard and digital intelligence toolkit
• Successful applicants must attend the initial onboarding training session

                                                               Ready for real threat intelligence?

A unique opportunity to teach prison inmates sewing and designing skills while encouraging their own creativity.

Help engender greater self-belief and enhance potential employability upon release.

We will be using surplus fabric from the textile trade which would otherwise go into landfill.

This is not seen as a commercial enterprise so any profit made from selling marketable products would be invested in prisoner welfare.

We are recruiting a team of volunteers to teach cutting and machine-sewing skills in Pentonville prison, with inmates vetted for this project and with strictly applied safeguarding in place. MA students from Saint Martins Arts University, under the auspices of Professor Lorraine Gamman’s ‘Design Against Crime’ project will also be contributing time and creative input.

Ideally we foresee volunteers and inmates exchanging and developing ideas together in a supportive and creative space.

Volunteers will be asked to commit for at least six months to a minimum of 3-4 hours a week and would in a typical session together with at least one other volunteer be working with up to five learners. A one-session training on working in a prison will be provided. 

Learn to Love to Read offers one-to-one support to children who find learning to read challenging, in schools and online via Zoom.Our In-school volunteers are asked to commit 90 minutes, one afternoon a week, usually between 1-3 pm.
Our virtual volunteers are asked to commit 30-60 minutes, one afternoon a week, usually between 4-6 pm.

Full training and ongoing support is provided for all volunteers to provide them with a framework which supports children's reading skills, while also building their self-esteem, confidence and love of reading. Our volunteers support the same children each week, providing 20 minutes of one-to-one support for the whole academic year. This ensures a consistent and rewarding experience for both the volunteer and the children.

In Wandsworth, post-COVID, 20% of Key Stage 1 and 25% of Key Stage 2 children did not reach the expected standard of reading in summer 2025. Low literacy is linked to poverty and social exclusion, limiting options in life. Early literacy intervention is crucial to break this cycle. School closures due to COVID-19 have been tough for children from disadvantaged families.
 

Please note we only work with schools in the London borough of Wandsworth and all our volunteers need to live in or within easy reach of that borough. 

In line with Safer Recruitment, all applicants are asked to complete an application form, provide references, take part in a face-to-face interview and ID check, and attend online training which includes safeguarding. All volunteers must have an enhanced DBS check which we arrange on your behalf. You will also be required to obtain checks from any country in which you've lived for more than three months from the age of 16 in line with Wandsworth's guidance. Once you have registered, we’ll send you a link to the application form.

Learn to Love to Read is committed to working without bias and offering equal opportunities for our volunteers. We are committed to valuing diversity and working inclusively across all our activities. Our aim is that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Are you a young person aged 18-25 ready to connect globally, build skills, and create positive change? Youth Connect is a virtual mobility programme bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds to learn, collaborate, and take action on issues that matter through supported social action in your local community.

Whether you're passionate about helping others or just curious to learn more and put this into practice, this programme will give you the confidence and tools to create meaningful change—right from home. The programme will run from late June - August and is open to young people aged 18-25 globally. 

✨ Open, inclusive, and designed for emerging changemakers.

�� Apply now and be part of a global community shaping the future.

​Our next volunteer induction will be held in September 2026, so please apply before then to be able to join.

Action for Refugees in Lewisham works to relieve poverty and isolation amongst refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants in Lewisham. At the Rainbow Club Saturday Supplementary School we aim to help children between the ages of 4 and 11 to improve their literacy, numeracy and social skills in a friendly and supportive environment.  We need your skills and enthusiasm to assist the teacher in the delivery of a literacy and numeracy class and work with other volunteers to develop a programme of recreational activities. The Rainbow Club runs on Saturday mornings during term-time.

Your duties will include:

• Arriving punctually for the 9am briefing by the Rainbow Club Headteacher;
• Working in a team with other volunteers and teachers to deliver literacy, numeracy, arts, sport activities – this includes ensuring children remain engaged throughout the lesson and carry out set tasks as instructed by the teacher;
• Working one-to-one with specific children if and when required;
• Filing classroom work and homework in children’s individual files and keeping all materials and resources tidy and properly stored;
• Liaising with parents as and when required for example distributing leaflets and news about future meetings and events and also assisting with parents' day;
• Following the teacher’s policies on discipline and classroom management;
• Supervising the children during break times;
• Supporting the children during class trips;
• Ensuring classrooms are clean and tidy at the end of each day – this may include being part of a regular team rota;
• Providing feedback and comments to the Rainbow Club Headteacher when required.

The English class is a part of the Creative Arts and Skills Programme (CASP) and runs on Mondays, 12-2pm, during term time. It is a safe space for clients to improve their English at their own pace, making friends and immersing themselves in learning to forget some of their daily challenges, whilst being continuously supported by our team of dedicated staff and volunteers throughout their journey.

This weekly English class is a relaxed and friendly space for clients of all language and literacy abilities to practice their English together and develop the confidence to later enrol in a formal college ESOL course. While this class is mostly for beginners, it is also attended by clients who are less comfortable in busy environments and would prefer to learn or improve their English in a smaller group. Some clients are already in college and use this space for extra practice.

We are looking for a volunteer to assist the main teacher in the class, predominantly as a friendly and supportive presence and to provide extra support and encouragement for clients who may need it.

Main tasks and activities

• Supporting the set up and smooth running of the class;
• Assisting clients one on one who might need a little bit of extra support;
• Provide a friendly and supportive presence;
• Other assitance as required by the main teacher.

Skills and experience needed

• Understanding of, and commitment to, the objectives of the Helen Bamber Foundation;
• A demonstrable empathy for our vulnerable clients, including asylum seekers, refugees and survivors of torture and trafficking;
• An understanding of the challenges facing our client group;
• Punctual, reliable and self-motivated with a positive, ’can-do’ attitude;
• Experience of working or volunteering in a supporting role and/or with vulnerable people;
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage own time and workload, and to prioritise a range of competing demands;

What you will get out of the role:

• A strong understanding of how HBF’s integration programmes contribute to the well-being of our clients;
• An appreciation of the processes and systems that asylum seekers and refugees navigate within the UK;
• Access to training opportunities within HBF
• Increased experience and confidence in teaching English as a second language;
• Increased teamwork skills;
• An ability to multi-task between competing priorities.

Please provide a Cover Letter along with your CV to be considered for this role.

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable A-Level History tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses. 

"Over time I have become much more confident in tutoring and in essence this is making the sessions much more enjoyable for me. I like preparing new slides every week and discussing new content with my student." - Volunteer A-Level Tutor

What will you be doing? 

Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person. 

Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to A-Level History

Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 

Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

1. Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of A-Level History concepts and specifications.

2. Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.

3. Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.

4. Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.

5. Adherence to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What difference will you make?

1. Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.

2. Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.

3. Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

What will you gain?

1. Enhanced DBS will be provided

2. Safeguarding Level One Training

3. Skill Development opportunities

4. Direct experience working with children and young people

You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and engaging tutors to provide educational support to primary aged pupils in Maths and English and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with long-term illnesses.

"My student's confidence has come miles forward and my favourite part of the week is working with her on her maths and English!" - Primary Volunteer Tutor

What will you be doing? 

• Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person. 

• Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS1 and KS2 Maths and English. 

• Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 

• Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

• Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of Primary Maths and English Curriculum. 

• Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.

• Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.

• Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.

• Experience working with SEN learners is an advantage

• Adherence to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

• You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

What difference will you make? 

• Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.

• Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.

• Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. 

What will you gain?

• Enhanced DBS will be provided

• Safeguarding Level One Training

• Skill Development opportunities

• Direct experience working with children and young people

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable Key Stage 3 Science tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses. 

"The phrase "time flies when you are having fun" comes to mind. It's been a really joy teaching my student." - Volunteer Tutor

What will you be doing? 

Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person for one hour per week 

Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS3 Science 

Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 

Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

1. Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS3 Science concepts and specifications.
2. Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
3. Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
4. Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
5. Adherence to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What difference will you make?

1. Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
2. Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
3. Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

What will you gain?

1. Enhanced DBS will be provided
2. Safeguarding Level One Training
3. Skill Development opportunities
4. Direct experience working with children and young people

You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

Location 

Remote/Online

Time 

1 Hour per Week 

 Duration: 14 Weeks minimum

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable Key Stage 3 Maths tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses. 

"Thanks to the tutoring and exam prep I was able to achieve over 85% on all my exams, which resulted in me getting distinction credits on my course." - A-Level maths student

What will you be doing? 

Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person for one hour per week

Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to

Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 

Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

1. Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS3 Maths concepts and specifications.
2. Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
3. Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
4. Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
5. Adherence to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What difference will you make?

1. Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
2. Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
3. Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

What will you gain?

1. Enhanced DBS will be provided
2. Safeguarding Level One Training
3. Skill Development opportunities
4. Direct experience working with children and young people

You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

Location 

Remote/Online

Time 

1 Hour per Week 

 Duration: 14 Weeks minimum

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.

Cancer support chaity The Mulberry Centre is looking for an experienced qualified Yoga teacher who can offer ad-hoc cover as and when other regular Yoga volunteres are on holiday or sabbatical. There is also the oportunity to volunteer as a Yoga class demonstrator for us at community events.

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.