Children and families practitioner volunteer roles

Positive Futures is seeking a Trustee with professional experience in children’s social care to join our Board. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced practitioner or leader to bring expertise in safeguarding, residential care, and Ofsted-regulated services to the strategic oversight of our organisation. The successful candidate will provide critical insight into care planning, permanence, and supporting excellence in residential settings, ensuring that Positive Homes continues to deliver safe, high-quality services as it grows and responds to national legislative changes.

We seek a professional with experience in:

• Children’s social work
• Safeguarding
• Ofsted-regulated services
• Care planning and permanence
• Supporting residential care excellence

​This trustee will provide critical insight and oversight as Positive Homes grows and adapts to national legislative changes.

If you are committed to improving outcomes for children and young people, and want to contribute your expertise to shaping the governance and strategic direction of a growing, values-led organisation, we would be delighted to hear from you. 

How To Apply

To apply, please submit:

• Your CV
• A short covering letter (max 2 pages) outlining:

           – Why you want to join Positive Futures

           – Which role you are applying for

           – How your experience aligns with our mission and needs

Closing date: 1st March 2026

Family Advice Line Volunteer

This is a volunteer opportunity supporting families through our advice line. As a volunteer, you’ll contribute your time to help us offer reliable information and a listening ear. Volunteers are a valued part of our mission, and we aim to make the experience supportive, enjoyable, and meaningful.

Role Overview:

Are you looking for an opportunity to use your speech and language therapy expertise in a voluntary capacity to support children and families?

As an Advice Line Volunteer, you will contribute to our mission by sharing information about typical development and guidance on how families can support their child’s speech and language needs. You will help families by offering clear information, resources and a listening ear as they navigate concerns around speech and language challenges.

How do our Volunteers help?

• Helping to provide evidence‑based information and resources to address families’ concerns.
• Listening empathetically to families and offering supportive guidance.
• Taking part in volunteer training and learning sessions to stay updated on best practice

What we are looking for:

We welcome volunteers who are:

• Passionate: Committed to supporting children and families facing speech and language challenges.
• Empathetic Communicators: Able to actively listen and respond sensitively to callers' needs.
• Reliable: Volunteers take part in a shared rota to ensure the line is covered.
• Team Players: Comfortable volunteering alongside others in a supportive environment.
• Learners: Open to volunteer training and opportunities to develop confidence as a Speech and Language UK volunteer.

About Us:

We are Speech and Language UK – we want every child to face the future with confidence. For 2 million children in the UK, learning to talk and understand words feel like an impossible hurdle. Without the right help, this can destroy their world. They feel disconnected from their family. Unable to make friends. Unfairly punished for not following instructions they don’t understand. What does the future hold for them?

Why Us?

Speech and Language UK is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for children and young people with speech and language challenges. If you’re ready to make a difference in a supportive, mission-driven environment, we’d love to hear from you.

What can you gain from volunteering with us?

• The chance to apply your existing skills in a new way
• You’ll receive regular support and contact from our Advice Line team.

What we’re looking for in a volunteer

Skills and Experience

• Qualified speech and language therapists with 3 years experience and direct clinical practice in the last 12 months
• Qualified speech and language therapist aware of current practice in their area of experience
• Experience across two or more of the following age ranges – Early Years, Primary, Secondary, FE
• RCSLT registration
• HCPC registration is welcome for practising clinicians.
• Experience offering supportive advice to families or practitioners
• Comfortable volunteering independently from home.

Technology

• Comfortable using email and Word.
• Able to follow simple digital instructions.
• Familiarity with other Microsoft tools is helpful.

Other

• Available to take part in a shared rota to ensure the line is covered. We ask for a commitment of 4 hours per week or fortnight.
• Interest in ongoing learning is welcome.
• Ability to volunteer from a quiet, confidential space.

Practical considerations and time commitment:

You’ll receive a full induction, role specific training and ongoing support from your named contact. All regular volunteers are asked to provide references and complete internal training.

We ask for most volunteers to offer around 4 hours a week or fortnight. We rely on volunteers giving regular time so families know when we’ll be there for them. All volunteers take part in a shared schedule of volunteer time.

How to Apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV and a supporting statement of no more than two pages, addressing how you meet the criteria outlined in this advert.

Due to the nature of this post, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday, 2nd March 2026 with interviews being held via Teams w/c 2nd March and 9th March

Accessibility Support:
We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. If you require any adjustments or need to apply in a different format, please contact our People Team and we will be happy to assist you.

We are Disability Confident Committed under the Disability Confident Scheme.

This is an unpaid voluntary role intended for individuals who want to contribute their professional expertise to support families. It is not an employed position.

Are you passionate about changing the way we treat animals? Do you want to help reduce environmental damage? Do you want to inspire people to enjoy healthy vegan food that both looks good and tastes great? 

The Vegan Society aims to make veganism more accessible. We help people to adopt a vegan lifestyle by supporting individuals, policy- and decision-makers, caterers, manufacturers, healthcare professionals and the media. 

Why do we need you? 

We are seeking a volunteer to support the curation and coordination of The Vegan Campout 2026 Family Area line-up. The role will focus on identifying, researching and contacting vegan entertainers and activity providers who work with children with the aim of securing at least 10 volunteer-led sessions across the weekend. 

What does the role involve? 

The volunteer will research online and across social media platforms to identify suitable individuals or organisations, including children’s entertainers, artists, musicians, performers, storytellers, sports instructors, craft facilitators and creative practitioners. Activities should cater for both extroverted and introverted children and may include sessions such as Zumba, mask making, painting, creative writing, music workshops, movement sessions or storytelling. The theme of the activity does not need to be explicitly vegan, but all facilitators must be vegan and all materials used must be vegan. 
 
The volunteer will make initial contact with potential contributors, clearly explaining that this is an unpaid opportunity in exchange for free weekend tickets to Vegan Campout 2026. Each facilitator would deliver one hour of engaging activity for children during the festival. 
 
The volunteer will collect essential information from confirmed facilitators, including business details for promotion, confirmation of DBS status, safeguarding information and a short description of their proposed session. Our Education Officer, Laura Diamond will provide the volunteer with the information capture form to send to confirmed facilitators, ensuring all required personal and safeguarding details are collected consistently. 
 
The target outcome is a minimum of five confirmed acts for Saturday and five for Sunday, totalling at least 10 contributors secured by the end of April 2026. As a thank you for their contribution, the volunteer undertaking this role will also receive a free weekend ticket to Vegan Campout 2026. 

What training and support is available? 

Laura will provide tasks, offer guidance, review proposed facilitators and give feedback. We will plan a check-in meeting once a fortnight to review progress, discuss leads and agree next steps. Additional communication via email can take place as needed. 

What skills would be useful in doing this role? 

• competent online research skills 

• experience of working in events useful but not essential

• strong written and verbal communication skills 

• competent using Microsoft Office

• the ability to work independently

What does my availability need to be? 

Volunteer hours can be flexible across the week depending on the volunteer’s availability. The role is task-focused rather than time-bound, though consistent weekly engagement will be needed to secure the required number of acts within the timeframe. The role does not need to take place strictly during working hours. Some flexibility at the beginning would be helpful to allow occasional meetings within standard working hours. Once the volunteer is confident and working independently, most tasks can be completed outside of standard working hours. 

Who does this role report to? 

Laura Diamond, Education Officer, will support the volunteer.
 

Domestic abuse is always unacceptable. We support everyone affected by it and we act to prevent it. As Treasurer at Behind Closed Doors, you will work alongside our Trustee Board, CEO and Admin & Finance Manager to oversee the financial strategy of our organisation, ensuring sound financial governance and legal compliance. This is a pivotal role for our charity, helping to shape our future and support our vision: to build lives free from domestic abuse.

We’re looking for an experienced finance professional keen to undertake this rewarding voluntary role that ensures the financial health and accountability of Behind Closed Doors. You will be joining an established trustee board made up of dedicated, knowledgeable and supportive individuals. Please note that we are also currently recruiting to general trustee roles, find out more on our website.

Taking on a Trustee role is an excellent way to broaden your leadership experience and strengthen skills that you can then put to use in your core role, to the benefit of your career progression opportunities and the organisation that you work for.

As a Trustee, you will develop skills in:

• Strategic planning
• Governance
• Budgeting and financial analysis
• Risk management
• Chairing meetings

As you learn about a new organisation and potentially a new sector, you will also gain confidence in:

• Acting as a 'Critical Friend'; asking questions and providing support
• Experiencing the difference between a strategic role, and a hands-on operational role
• Absorbing and processing new information, and learning where you contribute value
• Finding your feet with a brand new team of people

Please download the recruitment pack for full details, including how to apply and who to contact for an informal discussion about the role and organisation.

As a board, we strive to be as diverse and representative as the communities we serve and would welcome those from underrepresented or marginalised groups. We also recognise hugely the value that lived experience brings to our board, so would welcome further representation in this area, but only when it is safe for you to engage with us in this way.

Behind Closed Doors is committed to improving inclusive recruitment practices. If you would prefer to apply for this position or express your interest in an alternative format (such as audio or video upload) or require any adaptions at this initial stage, please get in touch.

Behind Closed Doors is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A standard DBS disclosure will be required before taking up this position

Guardian Light Foundation & Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd

Location: Remote / Online
Commitment: Approx. 20 hours per month
Role Type: Volunteer
Reports to: Founder / Safeguarding Lead

�� About Us

Guardian Light Foundation is a mission-driven organisation supporting children, teenagers, and single-parent families affected by homelessness, abuse, trauma, and financial hardship.

Our counselling services operate in three tiers:

Tier 1 – Guardian Light Foundation
Free emotional support for vulnerable individuals.

Tier 2 & Tier 3 – Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd
Low-cost and paid counselling services that help fund our charitable programmes and expand access to professional mental health support.

To maintain the highest ethical and professional standards, we are seeking a Volunteer Clinical Supervisor to support our counselling team.

�� Purpose of the Role

The Volunteer Clinical Supervisor will ensure that all counselling delivered through Guardian Light Foundation and Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd is:

• Ethical

• Safe

• Trauma-informed

• Professionally supported

• Aligned with recognised counselling standards (e.g. BACP / UKCP frameworks)

You will provide clinical supervision, safeguarding oversight, and professional guidance to our counsellors and trainee counsellors.

�� Key Responsibilities

Clinical Supervision

• Provide supervision for volunteer and trainee counsellors

• Facilitate monthly or bi-monthly group supervision sessions

• Offer guidance on complex or high-risk cases

• Support counsellors with professional development

Safeguarding Oversight

• Support decision-making where safeguarding concerns arise

• Ensure appropriate boundaries and ethical practice

• Assist with risk assessments where needed

Professional Standards

• Help maintain high clinical standards across services

• Ensure alignment with recognised ethical frameworks

• Provide guidance on confidentiality, consent, and record keeping

Support for Tier Structure

Provide supervision for counsellors working across:

Tier 1 – Charity Counselling

• Crisis support

• Emotional wellbeing support

• Early intervention

Tier 2 – Low-Cost Counselling

• Structured therapeutic support

Tier 3 – Professional Counselling

• Longer-term therapeutic work

Programme Development

• Advise on counselling frameworks and policies

• Support development of safe referral pathways

• Provide input on improving service delivery

��️ Safeguarding Requirements

Because this role involves oversight of services supporting vulnerable individuals:

• Enhanced DBS Check (Volunteer) required

• Must follow Guardian Light safeguarding policies

• Work closely with the Safeguarding Lead when concerns arise

DBS checks will be conducted via our trusted partner Serve (Rushden).

�� Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Qualified Clinical Supervisor

• Accredited or registered with a recognised body such as:

  • BACP

  • UKCP

  • NCPS

  • BABCP (or equivalent)

• Experience supervising counsellors or trainee therapists

• Strong understanding of trauma, safeguarding, and ethical practice

• Ability to support practitioners working with complex cases

Desirable

• Experience working with:

  • Young people

  • Domestic abuse survivors

  • Trauma

  • Vulnerable families

• Experience supporting trainee counsellors

• Experience working within charities or social enterprises

�� Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who is:

• Compassionate and emotionally intelligent

• Ethical and professional

• Passionate about protecting vulnerable people

• Supportive but able to challenge constructively

• Committed to social impact

⏰ Time Commitment

Approximate commitment:

20 hours per month

This may include:

• Group supervision sessions

• Case consultation

• Safeguarding guidance when required

Flexible scheduling.

�� What You’ll Gain

• The opportunity to shape a growing counselling service from the beginning

• Meaningful impact on vulnerable lives

• Recognition as a key professional advisor to the organisation

• Networking with therapists, legal professionals, and social care specialists

• Opportunity to join the Advisory Board or Board of Directors

• Professional contribution toward social change

�� Structure of Services

Guardian Light Foundation

• Tier 1: Free counselling for vulnerable individuals

Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd

• Tier 2: Affordable counselling

• Tier 3: Professional counselling services that help fund the charity

This structure allows us to sustain our mission while expanding access to mental health support.