Community volunteer roles

Do you enjoy a warm cuppa and a good browse through charity shops? We’re looking for a friendly, reliable volunteer to spend time with an adult with a learning disability—sharing simple outings like visiting a local café and exploring nearby charity shops together.

This is a lovely opportunity to build a meaningful connection, boost someone’s confidence, and help them feel more included in their community.

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year to create a 1-2-1 connection, offer companionship, encourage people to do the things they enjoy and check-in on their wellbeing. In many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them.

This is an Out and about visit role which means your visits are likely to be longer, very active and the person you visit will often take an active part in planning your outings and activities in the community. Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions for things you can do. Visits will vary in length but tends to be around a couple of hours, sometimes shorter or longer, depending on what you plan to do.

In this role you will spend quality time with the person you visit and could do a range of different activities like:

Sitting and having a chat Checking in on their well- being Going out to a local café/pub for a meal/drink Take part on community activities like visiting a place of interest, go shopping etc. Enjoying a walk

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be: Friendly and approachable Accepting of others who might be different to yourself Reliable and patient Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability. Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed Meet new people Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

**About Mencap ** Mencap is the leading learning disability charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with people with a learning disability and their families to challenge prejudice and change laws, and we directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose. We have an ambitious vision for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

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

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

Do you want to be part of an innovative, passionate and dedicated team? Help us in our mission to save lives at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. Join our friendly retail team at our new Canvey Island shop.

Why we need you: We are looking for volunteers to help Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) by assisting in our new outlet . The role will support the Shop Manager and Assistant Shop Manager to ensure the smooth running of the shop.

What will you be doing?

·    Assisting with the donations of stock, by sorting and steaming and preparing for shop floor

·    Maintaining good stock levels and helping with stock rotation

·    Manning the till, including taking card payments and Gift Aid sign-up

·    Greeting customers in a friendly and approachable manner

·    Helping with visual merchandising  plus other tasks when needed 

You will have fun, while sharing your experience or learning new skills. We pay expenses and offer uniform, newsletters and dedicated events to our wonderful volunteers - be part of something special. 

Overview

The Social Supermarket Initiative (SSI) is a community-led social enterprise addressing food insecurity and promoting sustainable community growth through our affordable supermarket model, outreach programmes, and ethical partnerships. 

We are seeking an organised, proactive, and digitally confident Social Media Manager to manage SSI’s social media channels, ensuring consistent, mission-led communication that connects with members, volunteers, partners, and the wider community.This role focuses on platform management, scheduling, live engagement, and audience interaction. 

You will work closely with the Graphic and Content Coordinator and the Marketing & Communications Team to ensure all activity aligns with SSI’s brand, values, and communications policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Schedule, manage, and publish posts on SSI’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok) in line with content provided by the Graphic and Content Coordinator.

• Go live on social media platforms as needed to promote events, campaigns, or community initiatives.

• Monitor SSI’s social media channels, including comments, messages, tags, and mentions, ensuring timely, professional, community-centred responses.

• Collaborate with the Graphic and Content Coordinator and the Marketing & Communications Team to ensure messaging aligns with campaigns, brand guidelines, and organisational priorities.

• Track basic analytics and engagement data, providing concise reports and insights to inform ongoing activity.

• Ensure all social media activity complies with SSI’s Brand Identity, Social Media Policy, and Communications Policy.

• Support the promotion of events, membership drives, and campaigns through coordinated social media activity with the team. 

About You

Essential

• Experience in social media management and channel oversight.

• Confident using social media tools, scheduling platforms, and basic analytics dashboards.

• Strong organisational skills, able to manage calendars, live sessions, and multiple priorities.

• Clear, professional written communication and a community-centred approach when engaging online.

• Comfortable working collaboratively with the Graphic and Content Coordinator and the Marketing & Communications Team.

• Genuine interest in community engagement, social enterprise, and SSI’s mission.

Desirable

• Familiarity with analytics tools (Instagram Insights, Meta Analytics, or similar) to track engagement and inform strategy.

• Interest in ethical storytelling, nonprofit marketing, or advocacy work.

• Experience coordinating with creative teams or managing workflows across multiple stakeholders.

• Ability to interpret social media metrics and make practical recommendations for improvement.

• Experience working in a small team or dynamic environment where flexibility and adaptability are key.

• Strong organisational skills for managing multiple platforms, schedules, and live events simultaneously.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to manage social media for a purpose-driven social enterprise with measurable community impact.

• Hands-on experience in social media management, live engagement, and analytics reporting.

• Close collaboration with the Marketing & Communications Team and the Graphic and Content Coordinator.

• Networking opportunities through SSI’s community events, partners, and outreach activities.

• Training and development to support your growth and impact.

• Potential for extended collaboration or future opportunities within SSI, subject to organisational need.

How to Apply

Please send your CV (max 2 pages) and a short statement (max 300 words) outlining your interest in the role.

Overview of the role

We are seeking three or four individuals to be active members, and maybe a future Vice-Chair, of our Board of Trustees, working collaboratively with other trustees, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders to help the Foodbank in pursuit of its Vision and Strategic Plan. The Trustee will also be expected to lead on certain areas and initiatives, as required by the charity, and which utilises the Trustees experience and skills.

Volunteering is a fantastic way for you to be involved in your local community and volunteers are at the heart of all that we do as a Foodbank. The role of volunteers who dedicate their time and skills to support people in crisis will continue to be critical as we work together to fulfil our vision of seeing a UK without the need for Foodbanks.

Key Tasks:

· ensure that Stratford Upon Avon Foodbank complies with and pursues its objects as defined in its governing document, charity and company law, and other relevant legislation or regulations

· ensure that the Foodbank applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects

· give firm strategic direction to the Foodbank contributing to the Foodbank’s strategic plan, helping set policies, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets

· appoint the Foodbank manager and monitor their performance

· safeguard the good name and ethos of the Foodbank

· ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Foodbank

· lead and/or serve on sub-committees and attendance at various other meetings, including with the charity’s staff, volunteers, and stakeholders. 

· ensure an understanding of, and commitment to, the principles of equality, equity, diversity and inclusion

It is hoped that Trustees will also undertake additional work for the charity between meetings subject to their availability and skill set.  

About you:

We are looking for people who want to help their local community and work towards the eradication of food poverty whilst support the Foodbank to continue to provide emergency food to people who find themselves in crisis. Our ideal candidates would demonstrate:

· a desire for helping and making a difference to people who do not have enough money to afford the essentials

· a passion for, and commitment to, Stratford Upon Avon Foodbank

· ideally have current or previous third-sector experience

· compassion, honesty, openness, kindness, and integrity

· an ability to listen and engage effectively

· an ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment.

The Foodbank would welcome applications from those who believe they have experience and skills that would be helpful to us and particularly those with experience and/or skills in one or more of the of the following areas: 

· Communications and/or Public Relations

· Facilities Management

· Digital/Technology applications in the Charity Sector/Cyber Security

· Charity Governance

What’s in it for you?

· feeling you are making a difference whilst volunteering with us

· meeting new people and being part of a motivated team who share a passion to eradicate poverty in our community

· building a movement of change with our volunteers, staff, and the people who use our Foodbank

· bringing our staff, volunteers, and trustees together to achieve our vision and strategy

· gaining a greater insight and understanding of local agencies and partnerships.

Whatever your background, we want to make sure you are supported and empowered and enjoy your time volunteering with us. We know that having volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds, with varying experiences, can help to make what we do as effective as possible. As such, we welcome all applicants regardless of age, religion or beliefs, disability, ethnic background, gender reassignment, sex, or sexual orientation. We also encourage those with lived experience of poverty to apply.

Please note:

· you must be 18 or over and must not be disqualified from acting as a trustee and you must declare any conflict of interest while carrying out the duties of a trustee

· a Trustee for the charity will serve a maximum of a three-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for two additional terms.

· all new Trustees are required to complete our Volunteer Form and a Fitness to Practice Form

· the Foodbank’s code of conduct will be shared with you, and all applicants will be expected to confirm that they would adhere to it.

Fundraising events helper

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

As a charity we can continue to help cats and kittens in need thanks to the donations we receive at fundraising events from generous members of the public. Our fundraising event helpers have the exciting and varied role of helping at local fundraising events - such as cakes sales, barn dances, quiz nights – and everything in between!

You can expect us to

• make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

You’ll be:

· help set up and/or man stalls at events

· help on collection days like supermarket collections events or street collections

· help at fundraising events such as quiz nights, cake sales and dances

· promoting a professional image of Cats Protection at events

Time expectation

This role is really flexible! You could choose to volunteer at one event for a couple of hours or attend multiple fundraising events.

We’ll keep you up to date with upcoming local events where volunteers are needed. You’ll then be able to choose which events you’d like to volunteer at and how many hours you’d like to give. However much time you can give, your contribution will help raise much needed funds to continue the work of Cats Protection.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

A bit about this role

As a charity we can continue to help cats and kittens in need thanks to the donations we receive at fundraising events from generous members of the public. Our fundraising event helpers have the exciting and varied role of helping at local fundraising events - such as cakes sales, barn dances, quiz nights – and everything in between!
 

You can expect us to

• make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

You'll be

• help set up and/or man stalls at events
• help on collection days like supermarket collections events or street collections
• help at fundraising events such as quiz nights, cake sales and dances
• promoting a professional image of Cats Protection at events

Time expectation

This role is really flexible! You could choose to volunteer at one event for a couple of hours or attend multiple fundraising events.

We’ll keep you up to date with upcoming local events where volunteers are needed. You’ll then be able to choose which events you’d like to volunteer at and how many hours you’d like to give. However much time you can give, your contribution will help raise much needed funds to continue the work of Cats Protection.

You may be just the volunteer we've been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

Many older people in our communities face significant challenges - from loneliness, isolation, and frailty to financial hardship and managing lifechanging conditions like Dementia. The work we do is vital in ensuring they have access to the support and care they deserve.

Our team is deeply passionate about this mission. Many of us have personal experience supporting older relatives through similar challenges, and these lived experiences fuel our commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate services.

Following our successful merger in August 2023, our organisation is now moving forward with greater ambition and a renewed focus on expanding our reach. As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in shaping that future - helping us to serve more people, strengthen our services, and advocate for the needs of older people across Maidstone, Sevenoaks, and Tonbridge. 

We are looking for people from a financial background to help with oversight of our budgeting, planning, forecasting, investments, governance, reporting and financial decision-making. This is a great opportunity to work closely with organisational leaders to ensure every penny makes a difference.

Fundraising events helper

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

As a charity we can continue to help cats and kittens in need thanks to the donations we receive at fundraising events from generous members of the public. Our fundraising event helpers have the exciting and varied role of helping at local fundraising events - such as cakes sales, barn dances, quiz nights – and everything in between!

You can expect us to

• make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

You’ll be:

· help set up and/or man stalls at events

· help on collection days like supermarket collections events or street collections

· help at fundraising events such as quiz nights, cake sales and dances

· promoting a professional image of Cats Protection at events

Time expectation

This role is really flexible! You could choose to volunteer at one event for a couple of hours or attend multiple fundraising events.

We’ll keep you up to date with upcoming local events where volunteers are needed. You’ll then be able to choose which events you’d like to volunteer at and how many hours you’d like to give. However much time you can give, your contribution will help raise much needed funds to continue the work of Cats Protection.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

Bournemouth Foodbank is looking for committed and skilled individuals to serve as trustees.

The Foodbank is at an exciting time as we have just secured funding to develop a whole new branch of initiatives. We are a Pathfinder Foodbank, piloting new programmes for the Trussell Trust Foodbank Network.

Food poverty is a complex issue that requires a range of joined-up approaches to solve. Frontline services are vital; however, people need more than food for the next three days; they need to feel that they are seen and heard, and they need to know that they have a legitimate place in society. That’s why we are developing these new more than food initiatives and working to prevent dependency and the need for foodbanks in the future.

In order to meet the challenges ahead we are particularly keen to recruit Trustees with legal experience, fundraising, strong administrative skills and, availability to attend the Foodbank on an ad hoc basis (at least fortnightly) during weekdays. Lived experience using Foodbanks or similar crisis services, as well as anyone with a background in Health and Well Being services, or Hospitality would all be extremely valuable additions to our board of trustees.

Vital is to be committed to the vision of Bournemouth Foodbank and concerned about our local communities in BCP as well as social justice equal opportunities. You will want to be giving your time and skills to work alongside our board to shape the future services on offer to our local community and support our few paid staff team and over 150 volunteers.

The time commitment would be a few hours a month, the expectation to attend the Foodbank at least fortnightly during weekdays and some flexibility to support occasional events would be wonderful (but entirely optional).

Responsibilities

As a trustee you will share collective responsibility for the governance of Bournemouth Foodbank and all decisions made by the trustee board, ensuring the organisation is well run, fulfils its mission, is compliant with charity law and that the charity is open and accountable.

Key Tasks

• to approve, support, and guide the charity’s purpose, vision, strategy, goals and objectives;
• to manage the charity’s resources responsibly, including ensuring the charity’s assets are used only to carry out its purpose, avoid undue risk, and not over-commit the charity;
• to ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity, responding to changes in the local community as appropriate to ensure that key risks are identified, monitored, and controlled appropriately
• to ensure appropriate financial plans are in place, budgets are monitored, and progress is evaluated
• to help promote the organisation to key stakeholders and beneficiaries
• to ensure the charity has appropriate procedures to comply with current legislation and good practice, including employment, health and safety, equity, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, and GDPR compliance/data protection
• to prepare for (including creating agendas, taking minutes etc) and regularly attend and participate in trustee meetings and subcommittee meetings.

Are you committed to delivering high quality care? 

Do you have experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team? 

As a County Lead of Oxfordshire you will be part of the establishment of a County St John Council to oversee and guide volunteer Community Networks aims to create a structured and supportive framework that empowers volunteers to operate more effectively and efficiently.

 By providing strategic leadership, coordination, and oversight, the council ensures that volunteer efforts align with community needs and priorities while avoiding duplication of services. St John has embarked on a journey to achieve the goal of ensuring that every community and young person across the country is first aid confident. 

We are looking for a leader with a passion for local volunteering and helping communities to inspire and support volunteers on this journey across your county The post will also interact with relevant Communities of Practice to share learning, advice and best practice 

Can you help with our Collection Tins and Daffodil Boxes?

Distribute and collect our Marie Curie tins or daffodil boxes in your local community - in shops, cafés, pubs, sports and social clubs, pharmacies and other venues.

Availability: 1-2 hours per month required – totally flexible to suit you

Locations: Your hometown and surrounding areas

We welcome applicants aged 18 years or older for this opportunity - if that’s you, we’d love to welcome you to the team! 

What you'll do:

• Distribute and collect collection tins/boxes
• Count and bank donations securely
• Monitor and empty donation boxes regularly
• Identify new venues

Why you'd be a great fit:

• Friendly and bring a positive attitude
• A good organiser
• Comfortable talking to people from all walks of life
• Knowledge of your local area

What you get:

• Essential training delivered
• Ongoing guidance and wellbeing support
• Recognition for your time

Perks:

• Travel and expenses reimbursed
• Access to discounts on shopping, dining, travel and more

Ready to support your local community and make a real difference? 

Can you help us to bring in the funds we need to make the food bank a success? 

We are looking for a volunteer Fundraising Lead to play a significant role in shaping a fundraising strategy, help raise awareness of Bounds Green Food Bank (BGFB) and generate income through events, projects and fundraising activities.

We currently raise money through grants, individual donations and community projects. We would like to broaden our fundraising initiatives and are looking for someone to raise funds, meet fundraising targets, raise our profile with key funding partners, and inspire relevant groups to support us.

About Bounds Green Food Bank: 

Open since June 2020, we serve over 1,500 children and adults in the community. We are committed to improving lives by providing food and essential household items and helping alleviate household food insecurity. We strive to promote social inclusion by supporting people and families in crisis situations and needing assistance.

The role: 

• Work with the Board of Trustees to agree a fundraising strategy, including setting annual fundraising targets

• Help to develop a fundraising team

• Identify income-generating opportunities and develop projects

• Build, develop and maintain relationships to secure funding

• Provide guidance to other teams that support fundraising initiatives e.g. the Grants Writing Team, Events Team and the Communication Team

Person specification: 

• Passionate about food insecurity and reducing social isolation

• Experience working in a fundraising role, including grants, trusts and foundations

• Ability and willingness  to work to financial targets 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and attention to detail

• Able to work flexibly and under pressure

• Ability to be creative and entrepreneurial in order to find new ways to raise funds

Benefits:

• Gain access to free workshops for volunteers and upskill on a range of topics (conflict resolution, mental health first aid, arts and crafts, and more)

• Join free social events for volunteers (such as picnics, walks, creative workshops and celebration events)

• Give back to the community - one of the NHS’ 5 Ways to Wellbeing!

• Gain a sense of community and meet the huge team of volunteers

Fundraising advisors wanted to support East London Waterworks Park in developing and implementing our fundraising strategy.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

If you are a professional fundraiser and would like to help but are short on time, we would love to hear from you even if you are unable to get deeply involved. We would appreciate one-off or ongoing advice on the phone, online or in person. We would welcome feedback on our fundraising strategy and past applications, any advice about trust and grant fundraising, and any other advice you can give. 

The Fundraising Circle currently meets fortnightly on a Thursday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely. We understand that people may not have a lot of time to give, so we want to find volunteers who could give us one-off or ongoing strategic advice and support.

If you have experience in funding strategy, writing grants for funding applications, corporate fundraising, philanthropy, or any other aspect of fundraising, it would be great to hear from you. 

East London Waterworks Park is an exciting and ambitious project that offers many rewarding opportunities for our volunteers. You will have a significant impact on the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds and forest schools. 

By leading fundraising projects that explore how diverse professionals (architects, ecologists, web developers, community researchers etc.) collaborate to shape community infrastructure, volunteers will directly contribute to the development of a park that truly reflects the needs and desires of the local community. 

Without funding we won’t be able to make it happen. Your input will help us craft experiences that inspire, educate, and engage our service users, stakeholders, funders, and the general public, ultimately driving support for the park's mission and ensuring its long-term sustainability. So you will be directly contributing to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds.

Fundraising events helper

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

As a charity we can continue to help cats and kittens in need thanks to the donations we receive at fundraising events from generous members of the public. Our fundraising event helpers have the exciting and varied role of helping at local fundraising events - such as cakes sales, barn dances, quiz nights – and everything in between!

You can expect us to

• make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

You’ll be:

· help set up and/or man stalls at events

· help on collection days like supermarket collections events or street collections

· help at fundraising events such as quiz nights, cake sales and dances

· promoting a professional image of Cats Protection at events

Time expectation

This role is really flexible! You could choose to volunteer at one event for a couple of hours or attend multiple fundraising events.

We’ll keep you up to date with upcoming local events where volunteers are needed. You’ll then be able to choose which events you’d like to volunteer at and how many hours you’d like to give. However much time you can give, your contribution will help raise much needed funds to continue the work of Cats Protection.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.