Researcher volunteer roles in Edinburgh

About Youth Advantage UK

Youth Advantage UK is a growing organisation  working to improve outcomes for young people across England and Wales. Our England & Wales Local Operations Department leads local policy and research projects across counties, regions, cities and towns — identifying local challenges and developing evidence‑based recommendations that support young people to thrive.

As a young organisation, we are still building our systems and ways of working. This is a great opportunity to help shape a department at an early stage and contribute to meaningful, place‑based change.

Please note: This is a voluntary and unpaid role, with no financial compensation or future paid opportunities attached. We encourage you to apply if you have relevant or transferable skills. YAUK is currently an unregistered charity, working towards gaining the registered status.

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Research & Policy Officer to support the delivery and coordination of local research and policy projects across England and Wales. You will supervise and support Officers, Researchers and Advisors, helping to delegate tasks, resolve issues, and ensure high‑quality outputs.

Working closely with the department’s management team, you will contribute to planning, decision‑making, and the development of effective ways of working. This role is ideal for someone with strong research skills who enjoys supporting others and thrives in a collaborative, evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

- Delegate tasks and oversee the work of Officers, Researchers and Advisors.

- Provide day‑to‑day supervision, guidance and support to team members.

- Help resolve issues, remove barriers and maintain smooth project delivery.

- Lead or contribute to local research and policy projects across England and Wales.

- Ensure research is rigorous, ethical and relevant to local contexts.

- Support the development of team members through feedback and coaching.

- Build positive working relationships with internal teams, volunteers and external partners.

- Work alongside the management team to support planning and decision‑making.

About You

You will have:

- Experience in research, evaluation or policy analysis.

- Strong analytical and writing skills.

- Ability to supervise or support others in a project or team setting.

- Experience volunteering and/or managing volunteers in a charity or community environment.

- Confidence working in ambiguity and helping build structure where needed.

- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

- A collaborative, supportive approach to teamwork.

- Commitment to improving outcomes for young people.

Why Volunteer With Us

- Play a key role in shaping a new department at a formative stage.

- Use your research and leadership skills to support real, local impact.

- Gain supervisory and project‑coordination experience in a supportive environment.

- Join a mission‑driven team passionate about youth opportunity.

Apply Now

If you’re passionate about evidence‑based change and want to help shape a growing organisation, we’d love to hear from you. Join Youth Advantage UK as we build our Local Operations Department and create better opportunities for young people across England and Wales.

United Colors of Cancer (UCC) is seeking a passionate and detail-oriented volunteer to support a groundbreaking health equity initiative focused on improving data representation in the BIPOC cancer community.

This role will contribute to the development and implementation of surveys designed to capture psychological, cultural, and socio-economic experiences of BIPOC individuals affected by cancer. The data collected will support the creation of the State of BIPOC Cancer Report, an initiative aimed at addressing critical gaps in cancer research and informing more equitable healthcare strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in designing culturally responsive surveys and research questions
• Conduct background research on disparities affecting BIPOC cancer patients
• Support survey distribution strategies and community outreach planning
• Help analyze responses and identify key themes and insights
• Contribute to early-stage findings for the State of BIPOC Cancer Report
• Collaborate with the UCC team to ensure research reflects lived experiences and community voices

Ideal Candidates May Have Experience In:

• Public health, healthcare research, or health equity initiatives
• Survey design, research methodology, or data collection
• Sociology, psychology, or community-based research
• Nonprofit or social impact work
• Cultural competency and a passion for addressing racial disparities in healthcare

This is an opportunity to contribute to one of the first initiatives focused on capturing the lived experiences of BIPOC individuals impacted by cancer and helping build a data foundation that can drive systemic change in healthcare.

Minimum Hours per Week:

7-9 hours per week

Duration:

3-5 months

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is seeking an experienced and dedicated academic with a strong interest in paediatric palliative care, or related field to join our Research Governance Committee as a Volunteer Academic Member. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the strategic development of research at a research active children’s hospice, to ensure that our research activities meet the highest standards of integrity, ethics and governance. 

You will work with the Committee Chair, the Research Fellow, and other committee members to support research that makes a meaningful difference to children with life-limiting conditions and their families as well as bereaved families, including those where a child died unexpectedly. 

Appointment to the Committee will be subject to confirmation by the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices Trustee Board.

Duties and key responsibilities

· Participate in quarterly meetings: Attend and contribute to online committee meetings held four times per year (papers and slide deck will be prepared by the Chair). 

· Review research proposals: Provide expert review of project proposals, contributing to the assurance of ethical and governance standards. 

· Support research oversight: Help ensure that all research complies with regulatory and ethical requirements and reflects best practices. 

· Contribute academic expertise: Share your knowledge and experience to strengthen the quality and impact of the charity’s research portfolio. 

· Promote collaboration: Encourage partnerships between Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and wider academic, clinical, and research communities. 

· Champion good governance: Actively promote equity, transparency, and excellence in research oversight. 

Essential skills and experience

· Proven experience in academic research, research governance, and research ethics. 

· Strong academic background in higher education, and health or social care research. 

· In-depth understanding of research compliance frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HRA, UKRIO, Caldicott Guidelines, or equivalent). 

· Ability to evaluate research proposals and provide constructive feedback. 

· Excellent communication and collaboration skills. 

· Confidence using virtual meeting platforms and digital collaboration tools. 

Desirable attributes

• Academic research background with a track record of publications in the area of paediatric palliative care or related field.

• Previous experience serving on or chairing a research committee or governance board.

• Commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in research.

Commitment

• Quarterly committee meetings (Approximately 1 hour per meeting).

• Reviewing project proposals (Approximately 1 hour per month).

• Email communication and ad hoc queries (Approximately 1 hour per month).

• 2–3 years in the role would be appreciated for both parties to gain the most out of this experience.

• This is a voluntary role. Reasonable expenses related to attendance and participation will be reimbursed. 

What if your ability to build partnerships could accelerate the future of women’s health research?

ENDOless is building a privacy-first, AI-powered data infrastructure dedicated to women’s chronic conditions.
We start with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain.
But our ambition goes far beyond.
We are here to build the data layer that has been missing in women’s health — across chronic pain, hormonal disorders, mental health correlations, autoimmune patterns, cardiovascular signals, and beyond.
Not another period app.
A research-grade, structured, multimodal women’s health data platform.
And to make this real, we need strong research partnerships across Europe.

�� Your Role

You will be the person who opens the institutional doors.
As Business Developer – Research Partnerships, you will:

• Identify and approach university hospitals, clinical networks, public research institutes, and private research organizations across Europe
• Engage principal investigators, research directors, and innovation leads
• Position ENDOless as a strategic research data partner
• Structure and close pilot collaborations
• Navigate conversations around GDPR, ethics committees, data governance, and EU research funding frameworks
• Build a pipeline aligned with our regulatory and fundraising milestones

This is not transactional sales.
This is trust-based, long-cycle partnership building in European healthcare.
You will directly influence:

• Clinical validation
• Paid research pilots
• Institutional credibility
• Strategic revenue streams

You are not supporting sales.
You are building it.

�� Who You Are

• Based in Europe
• Fluent in English (French is a strong plus)
• Experienced in healthcare business development, research partnerships, clinical innovation, or institutional sales
• Comfortable speaking with professors, clinicians, regulatory advisors, and public institutions
• Familiar with:
  • GDPR and European health data realities
  • Ethics approvals and data governance
  • The emerging European Health Data Space (EHDS)
  • EU research funding structures (Horizon Europe, national grants, etc.)
  • Long procurement and trust-building cycles

You understand that Europe moves slowly — but once credibility is earned, it compounds.
You think structurally, not opportunistically.

Why This Role Matters

Women’s health data is fragmented, biased, and underfunded.
Researchers lack structured, longitudinal, multimodal real-world data focused on women.
We are building that missing infrastructure.
This role is foundational.
Without strong partnerships, there is no validation.
Without validation, there is no systemic change.

�� What You Gain

• Strategic exposure to the European health innovation ecosystem
• Direct collaboration with the founder and CTO
• Influence over commercial and research roadmap
• Equity opportunity aligned with fundraising milestones
• A chance to build something category-defining

You will not just “close deals.”
You will help reshape how women’s health research is conducted.

About ENDOless

ENDOless integrates:

• Structured symptom tracking across 15+ dimensions
• Wearable physiological data (HRV, sleep, stress, activity)
• Environmental and behavioral context
• AI-powered predictive modeling
• Research-ready, compliant datasets

We enable:

• Digital biomarker exploration
• Real-world data access for researchers
• AI model validation studies
• Clinical pilot programs
• Research-as-a-Service infrastructure

We operate under European regulatory standards (GDPR-first, cloud compliance roadmap, regulatory progression toward medical certification).
Our long-term vision:
To become the reference women’s health real-world data platform in Europe.

Minimum Hours per Week:

7-9 hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

Donation Research Assistant (Volunteer)

International Aid for the Protection & Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) was founded in 2009 and aims to provide protection and improve the welfare of animals in need. Our first project is based in Borneo, where we provide a lifeline to thousands of dogs and cats every year in need of veterinary care and support. Our companion animal programmes have since developed in other countries, including Romania and Penang Island, as well as support programmes to help other species.

We are currently looking for Donation Research Volunteers to help support our Online Retail Team. This role will enable us to continue raising vital funds for our animals in need by helping to identify potential sources for donations of goods for our monthly online auctions and other fundraising platforms. 

Tasks will include:

• Researching suitable businesses to reach out to for potential donations.

• Develop relationships with donors, providing regular communication and support when needed. 

• Record and track donations received for our monthly online auctions.

• Collaborate with the team to identify best fundraising options. 

Ideally you will;

• Have experience or an interest in a research role, particularly within the charity sector.

• Be familiar with Google Workspace or willingness to learn.

• Have the ability to work independently and use your own initiative.

• Offer 1-3 hours per week (hours can be fully flexible)

What we can offer you;

• Full training and support from our Retail Manager.

• An opportunity to build your CV skills and develop your experience.

• A chance to help increase the awareness of the great work we do at IAPWA.

• A fully flexible role that can fit around your schedule via remote working.

If you would like further details about the role, please don't hesitate to reach out via the Apply button.

We are a Kingston-based social marketing enterprise using creative thinking to build community cohesion.

We aim to attract knowledgeable individuals encouraging different cultures to unite which enables us to share and celebrate essential lessons. 

Partnering with local organisations, we put on programmes of training, workshops and other events that promote unity and tolerance.

We conduct research to support our cause to challenge preconceptions around race and stereotyping. As well as delivering workshops on unconscious bias in the workplace. 

Join us in leading positive change!

Quilombo UK is looking for an experienced Research Assistant, who would love to join a growing organisation.

The Research Assistant role offers a great opportunity for the right person who is looking to: 

• Gain experience in the Third Sector. 

• Develop their skills and management experience; or just simply 'give something back to their community'.

The role provides you with flexibility and autonomy at work. Where necessary, specific training will also be provided to help you develop and grow your skill set.

Main Responsibilities

• Since its creation, Quilombo UK has collected a great amount of information, evidence and items through projects, fundraisers, events etc.

• We are looking for a team member to find published materials related to Quilombo UK key objectives and interests, especially cultural and racial diversity, and stereotypes in UK communities. The materials include all types of evidence, articles, journals, newspaper columns, local and global news stories. 

• The researcher will help to collect information that can be used as an evidence base to help inform future activities, and also in exhibitions, workshops, and community events. 

• We are looking for a self-starter who can source, collect, and share relevant materials independently. You will also be working closely with our Professional Development Programme participants in relevant areas such as Marketing and PR.

• Provide written reports as and when required. To undertake additional duties as required for the role.

General tasks

• Contribute to staff meetings and other internal meetings with views and suggestions etc.

Essential:

• You will need to have good written skills and be able to explain concepts and projects concisely and accurately. 

• You will be self-starting and willing to research the various projects that we have carried out and catalogue all the evidence collected.

• You will need to have good communication and team-working skills as you will be working closely with Marketing & PR and other members.

• Committed to working with the community with a passion for helping others less fortunate.

• Be computer literate - a good understanding of Microsoft Word is essential and Excel skills are beneficial although support from other members will be provided if necessary.

• To show professionalism at all levels and in all environments 

• Be a strong team player.

Desirable

• Committed to working with the community with a passion for helping others less fortunate.

• Proficiency in Microsoft and Excel

• Can work without much supervision.

The Professional Development Programme with Quilombo UK runs over a period of 16 weeks, is UNPAID and requires a minimum of 12 hours commitment per week across Monday, Wednesday and/or Friday.

Upon successful application, our HR team will contact you to arrange an interview. Following a successful interview, we'll initiate the onboarding process by sending you the necessary documents. Once your onboarding and identification documents are received and verified, you'll be invited to a 6-hour HR and System Induction. Subsequently, you'll meet with your Head of Department or Assistant Manager for your First Day.

QUILOMBO UK is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace environment that values diversity and promotes equality for all employees. As part of our commitment to upholding these principles, we adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Equality Act 2010. We firmly believe in creating a workplace where all individuals are respected and treated fairly. Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.

Volunteer Prospect Researcher
This role supports our fundraising efforts by identifying and researching potential donors, funders, and partners. Responsibilities include online research, data analysis, and preparing prospect profiles to support strategic fundraising.

What we’re looking for:

• Strong attention to detail and good organisational skills

• Comfort working with data, research, or CRM/databases (training can be provided where needed)

• Ability to work independently and maintain confidentiality

• An interest in fundraising and supporting our mission

What we offer:

• Flexible, remote volunteering opportunities

• The chance to develop or apply valuable fundraising and data skills

• A supportive team environment and meaningful contribution to our work