Charity volunteer roles

ARE YOU?

• passionate about supporting young people?
• able to engage well with young people and their carers?
• resourceful, creative and solution focussed?
• organised and able to carry out basic administration tasks?
• able to spare 10-15 hours a week? Times can be flexible to suit the service and the right person, however early evening availability (3-6) to accommodate visits to young people would be needed.
• a driver with business insurance.

YOU WILL...

• make a positive impact in a young person’s life
• support other volunteers in their role
• contirubute to the development and growth of an essential service for young people
• experience role satisfaction and reward.

ASIST WILL... 

• provide full training, support and supervision
• cover travel and other agreed expenses
• provide additional training if appropriate and the chance to learn and develop valuable skills, knowledge and experience
• offer career progression if suitable opportunities arise.

Join our amazing volunteer team to make a real difference to people living with sight loss. You’ll be Supporting blind and partially sighted people and family members in our Edinburgh Community Equipment and Advice centre. Whatever the task we want our customers to have access to the same Technology as their sighted peers and ensuring they can live life as independently as possible.

What you’ll be doing
• Meeting and greeting community members on arrival.
• Assist customers with items such as tablets and phones in order for customers to make the best use of them.
• Downloading the latest apps, helping customers with visual enhancements or spending time with customers to learn voice over.
• Providing a warm atmosphere in order to enhance the learning experience.

What you’ll gain from the role
• An opportunity to give something back.
• A broader understanding of technology to assist blind and partially sighted people.
• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.
• A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people.
• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies.

In return for donating your time we will provide:
• A rewarding experience.
• A great Induction and training.
• A supportive manager.
• Regular updates and catchups.
• Expenses.
• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers.

Volunteers are needed for weekdays between 9am – 5pm for around 4-8 hours a week.

How often will I be needed?

• 4 Hours per Week

Key requirements

• This role requires 1 reference and a PVG.

Location

• RNIB Scotland, 12 – 14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh EH7 5EA.

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 16 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• You’ll ideally have • An interest in technology and apps • A sociable personality. • A commitment to working towards a society where people with sight loss are equal participants.

We're setting up a new telephone group which will offer blind and partially sighted people living with AMD the opportunity to socialise with one another each week and we're looking for someone to facilitate the group. The right person will have have personal or professional experience of AMD, will be a good listener who is able to manage group conversations and will have the skills to enable people to feel comfortable in a social group environment.

This is a telephone-based role that you can do from home. You will need access to a landline and/or mobile phone. We ask you to commit to 1-2 hours per week to facilitate one group session, which will take place at the same day and time each week.

You will be the link between the group participants and the RNIB Talk and Support team and will:

• Listen to the group conversation, ensure it flows and that all conversations are appropriate;
• Make appropriate contributions as and when required to stimulate conversation;
• Create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere thus encouraging all participants to feel comfortable taking part;
• Report any Safeguarding concerns or data breaches to the Talk & Support staff team.

How often will I be needed?

• 2 Hours per Week

Key requirements

• 2 references

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• • Personal experience of living with, or a professional background in Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
• • Good listening and verbal communication skills
• • Ability to use the telephone confidently for an hour long call
• • Ability to work with a wide range of people from across the UK
• • Demonstrate empathy and understanding of the issues faced by visually impaired people
• • Ability to follow internal policy and procedures
• • Willingness to undertake and remain compliant with mandatory safeguarding training and attend other training and development opportunities when required.

Meet and Greet Volunteer (Tea & Coffee Service)

Location: Mental Health Service
Commitment: Flexible shifts available
Responsible to: Volunteer Coordinator / Service Manager

About the Role

We are looking for a friendly, welcoming, and compassionate volunteer to support people accessing our mental health service. As a Meet and Greet Volunteer, you will be one of the first points of contact for visitors, helping to create a warm, safe, and supportive environment.

The role also includes serving tea, coffee, and refreshments to service users, carers, visitors, and staff, helping to promote a sense of community and wellbeing within the service.

Key Responsibilities

• Welcome service users, visitors, carers, and staff in a friendly and professional manner.
• Help people feel comfortable and supported when they arrive at the service.
• Offer directions and information about facilities within the building.
• Prepare and serve tea, coffee, and light refreshments.
• Maintain a clean, tidy, and welcoming refreshment area.
• Engage in friendly conversation and provide a listening ear where appropriate.
• Promote an inclusive and non-judgemental atmosphere for everyone.
• Report any concerns or issues to the appropriate member of staff.
• Follow all relevant policies, including confidentiality, health and safety, and infection prevention procedures.

Skills and Qualities Required

• Friendly, approachable, and reliable.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Empathetic and respectful towards people from all backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries.
• Comfortable working as part of a team.
• Understanding of, or interest in, mental health and wellbeing.
• Ability to follow guidance and procedures.

What You'll Gain

• Experience within a mental health care setting.
• Opportunities to develop communication and customer service skills.
• Training, support, and supervision from experienced staff.
• The chance to make a positive difference to the wellbeing of service users and visitors.
• Experience that can support future employment or personal development.

Additional Information

This role is subject to volunteer recruitment procedures, including references and any checks required by the organisation. Full training and ongoing support will be provided.

At One Degree, our mentors, ambassadors, and teachers are more than just volunteers—they’re lifelines for students often overlooked in their schools and communities. By offering direction, encouragement, and a sense of possibility, our volunteers transform lives while experiencing the profound reward of making a real, tangible impact.

Most of our mentors are young professionals, bringing passion, patience, and empathy to help GCSE/Year 11 students (ages 15–16) navigate their challenges. These volunteers serve as role models, guiding students who might otherwise feel left behind toward brighter futures.

To foster meaningful connections and provide continuity, we ask volunteers to commit to at least three in-person or online sessions per year. This ensures students build trust and form bonds with the people dedicated to helping them succeed.

Join us and be the difference that changes a life.

What time commitments are required?

Preparation

1. Mentor registration (2 minutes)
2. Online mentor training course (30 minutes)
3. Online safeguarding course (30 minutes)
4. Online DBS/CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check (15 minutes)
5. Online personalised 1-on-1 mentor training (2 x 30 minutes)

Total time needed to become a mentor – approximately 2.5 hours

Mentoring

1. Choose availability that fits your schedule – whether it’s 5 hours a week or just 30 minutes a month.
2. Mentor online from anywhere in the world.
3. Adjust your availability as your circumstances change.
4. Focus on mentoring subjects you’re confident in.
5. Access support from our experienced teachers and tutors.

Total time needed to be a mentor – flexible

What it takes

Anyone who meets the following criteria is welcome to apply:

• Able to volunteer a minimum of three sessions per programme
• Patient, empathetic and considerate
• Willing to participate in group activities and sports

Important Note! You do NOT need exceptional skills in Maths or English, or previous mentoring or teaching experience to be a One Degree mentor.

What’s in it for you

Our innovative online version of our in-person programme combines group and 1-on-1 support via our custom-built online network.

We now offer 7-day-a-week mentoring for our GCSE students and programme alumni:

1. This is flexible – with no set days and times, you can make yourself available based on YOUR schedule and you can update availability with our new integrated calendar system (training required here)
2. This is innovative – during our 1-on-1 training we will run through this new addition to our custom-built online mentoring platform where you can a) connect your personal and work calendars b) select provisional availability and c) be booked by One Degree students based on their availability, your availability or by mentor speciality. This also now extends to supporting One Degree alumni.

We're keen to hear from you if you'd like to share your experiences as a blind and partially sighted person and help build a world which understands the impact of living with sight loss.

In this role, you will be:

• Delivering talks to groups of sighted people about your lived experience of sight loss to challenge their perceptions and behaviours. Audiences will vary but may include local businesses, community, faith and voluntary groups.

• Making links with your own existing groups and networks in your local community that may want to be involved in reducing barriers to blind and partially sighted people.
• Building relationships with people or local businesses you know.
• Taking part in and sharing information about specific campaigns and initiatives to help remove barriers to blind and partially sighted people.
• Delivering talks on behalf of RNIB’s Social Action Team.

What you'll gain from the role:
• A chance to make a difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people with a sense of achievement.
• A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people.
• To make an impact by speaking to groups of people.
• An opportunity to develop your role into delivering talks independently as your confidence and skills grow.
• An opportunity to improve public understanding, helping change perceptions and behaviours, building a world which understands sight loss.
• An opportunity to explore different volunteer roles within our organisation and have access to internal employment opportunities.

In return for donating your time we will provide:
• Induction to the role and organisation.
• Training in public speaking and telling your story.
• A supportive volunteer manager.
• Regular catch-ups.
• Expenses.
• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers.

How often will I be needed?

• 3 Hours per Action

Key requirements

• One reference

Location

Region

• South West

Additional location information

• This role will be based at home and in your local area.

Who this opportunity will suit

• This role is reserved for blind and partially sighted applicants

Minimum age

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• • Lived experience of issues affecting blind and partially sighted people. • Be comfortable speaking to different audiences to share your story, or a willingness to try with our support. • Effective communication skills. • An outgoing friendly approach to meeting new people. • Confidence in using a smart phone and email and engaging in meetings via video calls.

We’re looking for a friendly, organised person to become our Walk Leader Coordinator — someone who enjoys supporting others, keeping things running smoothly, and helping volunteers feel valued and confident in their role.

You’ll be the go-to person for our walk leaders.

What you’ll do

• Be a point of contact for walk leaders across our groups
• Help schedule and onboard new walk leaders
• Share updates, check in regularly, and make sure each group feels supported
• Keep basic records of who’s leading which walk and when
• Flag anything that needs attention to the Project Lead
• Bring ideas on how to strengthen volunteer engagement and community

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Are organised and enjoy bringing a bit of calm to moving parts
• Like building relationships and cheering people on
• Feel comfortable communicating by email, phone or WhatsApp
• Are passionate about mental health, inclusion and positive community impact
• Enjoy being part of something meaningful and people-focused

What difference will you make?

This role strengthens our ability to run safe, welcoming walks across Hampshire. By supporting and coordinating walk leaders, the volunteer helps us reach more people, reduce isolation, and create consistent, meaningful spaces where mental health can be talked about openly.

Whether you’re a jobseeker interested in a career in construction or woodwork, a student or recent college graduate seeking experience, or just someone with spare time on your hands, wanting to do something positive and meet new people, volunteering with the Touch Wood project at EMERGE 3Rs may be just the ticket!

Touch Wood is a wood recycling and upcycling initiative, which collects surplus and waste wood and timber and gives it a new lease of life, preventing it from being burned, chipped, or dumped in landfill.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

* Preparing wood for resale

* Assisting with the construction of wooden products, from small household items to pieces of furniture

Our Touch Wood volunteers are able to gain skills in practical woodworking, as we offer hands-on experience of working with reclaimed timber; from making basic lumber products ready for resale, through to assisting with the creation of bespoke items, such as kitchen equipment and home and garden furniture.

Full training in woodworking and health and safety is provided, along with Personal Protection Equipment.
Capped reimbursement of expenses is awarded for lunches and travel, where applicable.

The UK generates around 5 million tonnes of wood waste every year, but less than 1% is reused. Touch Wood rescues waste timber that would otherwise be landfilled or turned into woodchip; creating jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged local people at the same time. We collect from construction sites, industrial estates and other commercial sources, reclaiming everything from pallets to indoor cycle tracks – you name it, we take it! Anything we can’t reuse is locally recycled, so nothing goes to waste. This reduces the carbon emissions associated with disposing of waste wood, offers cost savings for DIY enthusiasts, and provides training and job potential to volunteers in the workshop. Some of the timber we work with comes from high profile sources, including the entire track of the Manchester Velodrome cycling centre and wood removed in the recent refurbishment of Manchester’s historic Town Hall!

Our skilled team of staff and volunteers often use reclaimed timber to create beautiful and practical products, such as home and garden furniture. We regularly create bespoke pieces to order; some of it for famous clients like Olympic cycling champions Jason and Laura Kenny, for whom we made a table from the Manchester Velodrome track.

Please be advised that our volunteers require a fair level of physical fitness and manual dexterity as the role is entirely practical.

Our Touch Wood workshop and wood store is open Mon-Fri, 8.30am - 4pm.
We occupy a unit at Maynard House, inside New Smithfield Market, in Openshaw, North Manchester, which is accessed from the main entrance on Whitworth Street East (off Ashton Old Road). The site is served well by buses, and we have free parking onsite, as well as secure storage racks for pushbikes.

​IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be resident in the UK and living in Greater Manchester, or within easy commuting distance of our base, in order to volunteer with us. There are no exceptions to this rule. This is because we require volunteers to be able to reliably commit to regular shifts for some of our roles. We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

Know someone else who might be interested in volunteering with us?
Please pass our details on to them as we always welcome new people on our teams. :)

Do you live within 10 miles of Antrim Area Hospital?

We’re currently looking for Companion Volunteers at Antrim Area Hospital. You don’t need medical experience or all the answers, just a kind heart, a listening ear, and a little time to give. Be there when it matters most and make a real difference by supporting patients who may simply need someone by their side.

Availability: Up to 3 hours per week - flexible to suit

Time: Mornings, afternoons or evenings

Criteria: Minimum 18 years or older

What you’ll do: 

• Visit different patients at Antrim Area Hospital, Bush Road, Antrim BT41 2RL
• Each visit may be with a different person, offering variety and new conversations
• Share a cup of tea, a chat, or simply quiet companionship to patients who are anxious or offer a break for families
• Be there when family members cannot, outside of normal visiting hours

You’d be a great fit if you’re:

• Caring and compassionate nature
• Patience and good listening skills
• Comfortable with sensitive topics, such as death, dying and bereavement
• Comfortable with email and completing a brief visit report
• Respectful of boundaries and confidentiality

What you’ll gain:

• A sense of meaning and purpose
• Thorough training and continued support
• A friendly network of volunteers
• Recognition for your time
• Travel expenses covered

Kindness doesn’t have to be big to be life changing.

We're setting up a new telephone group which will offer blind and partially sighted people living with DREC the opportunity to socialise with one another each week and we're looking for someone to facilitate the group. The right person will have have personal or professional experience of DREC, will be a good listener who is able to manage group conversations and will have the skills to enable people to feel comfortable in a social group environment.

This is a telephone-based role that you can do from home. You will need access to a landline and/or mobile phone. We ask you to commit to 1-2 hours per week to facilitate one group session, which will take place at the same day and time each week.

You will be the link between the group participants and the RNIB Talk and Support team and will:

• Listen to the group conversation and ensure it flows and that all conversations are appropriate;
• Make appropriate contributions as and when required to stimulate conversation;
• Create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere thus encouraging all participants to feel comfortable taking part;
• Report any Safeguarding concerns or data breaches to the Talk & Support staff team.

How often will I be needed?

• 2 Hours per Week

Key requirements

• 2 references

Location

Region

• Yorkshire and the Humber, Wales, East of England, West Midlands, North East, North West, Northern Ireland, East Midlands, South West, South East, Greater London, Scotland

Home based

• This role is home based

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• • Personal experience of living with, or a professional background in Diabetes Related Eye Conditions (DREC)
• • Good listening and verbal communication skills
• • Ability to use the telephone confidently for an hour long call
• • Ability to work with a wide range of people from across the UK
• • Demonstrate empathy and understanding of the issues faced by visually impaired people
• • Ability to follow internal policy and procedures
• • Willingness to undertake and remain compliant with mandatory safeguarding training and attend other training and development opportunities when required.

Do you enjoy speaking to people and working with computers? Are you organised? You could support our Talk and Support team to run our award winning befriending groups by matching blind and partially sighted people from our waiting list into our telephone befriending groups. You would be helping people to get into one of our groups as quickly as possible and helping to end the isolation of sight loss.

We are looking for someone who is available one day each week who is comfortable using computers and computer based telephony systems and who is familiar with Microsoft Office 365.

How often will I be needed?

• 7 Hours per Week

Key requirements

• This role requires 2 references.

Location

Region

• Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, South West, South East, North West, North East, Greater London, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, East Midlands, East of England

Home based

• This role is home based

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• Ability to use your own initiative;Good Attention to detail;Good communication skills;Treat information confidentially;Willingness to work as part of a team

Have you been Bereaved by Suicide for 2 years or longer? Do you have a desire to help other people who have also been Bereaved by Suicide? Are you comfortable listening to the experiences of others? You could be just the person we are looking for.

We have self-help support groups across the UK, where you can meet with other people who have been bereaved by suicide and we want to enrol some new volunteers to join our Alnwick Support group. The group meet once a month and last for around 2 hours. They provide an opportunity to listen, to share, to ask questions and to connect with others.

Each local SoBS group is run by a team of 3, all of whom have been bereaved by suicide themselves. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, and generally look out for people and each other. The team also work together to manage the administration, fundraising and communication for the group, sometimes with the help of additional support volunteers.

There is no set structure to a session – people are free to talk and listen as they wish. The topics discussed vary from month to month but often includes people sharing their story, how they are feeling, what has happened since their last group visit. 

As part of the Government led Communities for Afghans programme, we are looking to recruit individuals or groups (UK BASED ONLY) to make up a team of 6 volunteers to support an Afghan family - you could be friends, neighbours, colleagues, faith groups, veterans, or community organisations are welcome.

We are currently focused on supporting families across Wales, West Midlands and Scotland but be keen to support elsewhere geographically where possible.  With this in mind, you may live in these areas, but we are also delighted to bring volunteers together remotely to support a family. 

You will be at the heart of this programme. It is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference!

The Communities for Afghans programme is a community-led Government initiative supporting families as they rebuild their lives in the UK. It is a Government-approved scheme that enables local people to welcome Afghan refugee families into their community. Volunteers will be supported by us to find housing for a family, provide practical and emotional support enabling them to settle into daily life and feel a genuine sense of belonging in the community.

How community sponsorship work

1. Form a Sponsor Group: Create a team of six or more volunteers — friends, neighbours, colleagues, faith groups, veterans, or community organisations.
2. Training & Ongoing Support: Our partners provide full training, so your group feels confident and well prepared. This simple, practical training is offered before you begin and continues throughout the sponsorship journey.
3. Identify Suitable Housing: With our guidance, your group helps find long-term accommodation. We then match an Afghan family of the appropriate size and ensure the property is suitable and affordable. Government funding is available for rent deposits and related costs.
4. Welcome & Support the Family: Volunteers help the family register with schools, healthcare, benefits, and local services, while introducing them to the community and supporting them as they adjust to life in the UK.
5. Be the Local Point of Contact: You act as the family’s trusted guide, helping them navigate the area, understand local systems, and access opportunities that only residents truly know.
6. Commit for Three Years: Sponsor groups support the family for three years, providing consistency as they grow in independence, confidence, and resilience.

Why Your Support Matters

Volunteering through Community Sponsorship is a powerful act of solidarity. You are not only helping one family — you are strengthening your entire community.

Your support helps families: 

• Rebuild their lives in safety and dignity
• Access education, healthcare, and employment
• Learn English and integrate into the community
• Become confident and independent

And your community benefits:

• Stronger local connections
• Celebrated diversity
• Practical meaningful humanitarian action

Full training and expenses covered.

We're keen to hear from you if you'd like to share your experiences as a blind and partially sighted person and help build a world which understands the impact of living with sight loss.

In this role, you will be:

• Delivering talks to groups of sighted people about your lived experience of sight loss to challenge their perceptions and behaviours. Audiences will vary but may include local businesses, community, faith and voluntary groups.

• Making links with your own existing groups and networks in your local community that may want to be involved in reducing barriers to blind and partially sighted people.
• Building relationships with people or local businesses you know.
• Taking part in and sharing information about specific campaigns and initiatives to help remove barriers to blind and partially sighted people.
• Delivering talks on behalf of RNIB’s Social Action Team.

What you'll gain from the role:
• A chance to make a difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people with a sense of achievement.
• A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people.
• To make an impact by speaking to groups of people.
• An opportunity to develop your role into delivering talks independently as your confidence and skills grow.
• An opportunity to improve public understanding, helping change perceptions and behaviours, building a world which understands sight loss.
• An opportunity to explore different volunteer roles within our organisation and have access to internal employment opportunities.

In return for donating your time we will provide:
• Induction to the role and organisation.
• Training in public speaking and telling your story.
• A supportive volunteer manager.
• Regular catch-ups.
• Expenses.
• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers.

How often will I be needed?

• 3 Hours per Action

Key requirements

• One reference

Location

Region

• North East, South West, Yorkshire and the Humber, North West

Additional location information

• This role will be based at home and in your local area.

Who this opportunity will suit

• This role is reserved for blind and partially sighted applicants

Minimum age

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• • Lived experience of issues affecting blind and partially sighted people. • Be comfortable speaking to different audiences to share your story, or a willingness to try with our support. • Effective communication skills. • An outgoing friendly approach to meeting new people. • Confidence in using a smart phone and email and engaging in meetings via video calls.