Community volunteer roles

We are pleased to invite applications for the following opportunity:

Weekend Service Volunteers

Interested in making a difference in your community? Want to be inspired by other like-minded people? We would like to invite you to volunteer in a unique service user charity working with individuals who have or have had substance use issues. We have more than 10 different locations across London and Sussex, we will make sure to find the best place and role for you.

Build on Belief is keen to encourage applications from people with diverse lives and experiences, including ethnicity, gender, sexuality, social & economic background as well as lived or associated experience of alcohol and other drug problems. 

In return, we do our best to make volunteering fun, worthwhile, and pledge ourselves to treating everyone fairly and as an equally valued member of the team.

There are many ways you can volunteer with us such us helping to set up our space for the day ahead, making food and drinks, supporting staff with registration and contract filling, listening to and socialising with service users, monitoring behaviour in the service, answering phone calls, taking part in games and activities and so on. We will make sure to place you in the best role according to your skills, wishes and availability.

What can you get from volunteering with us?

· Paid travel expenses

· We provide food in our services for all volunteers and services users.

· We offer a wide range of training workshops that are intended to ensure you can undertake your role safely and with confidence. They are fun, informative, free to access and there is no written work! You may attend as many as you want as often as you want.

· We will offer you one-to-one supervision with a paid member of staff.

· We will always place your welfare above the needs of the charity.

· Any concerns you have about your role will be taken seriously and addressed to the best of our ability.

· Opportunity to grow within the organisation.

What do we expect from our volunteers?

· Commitment and Honesty

· Willingness to Learn

· Non-Discriminatory approach towards our service users, staff and other volunteers

· Appropriate behaviour: You will be working with an occasionally difficult and often vulnerable client group. You will have to work hard to maintain your boundaries. We will support you and provide you with training on how to have a healthy, meaningful experience.

· Teamwork: It is important to remember that we work together as a Team, and we will be there every step of the way to help you feel welcome and safe in our brilliant team.

Extra Information

Still in treatment and having the odd binge? We can work with that. Never had a paid job and with no real experience of routine and structure? Not a problem. Little or no education, and find it a struggle to read and write? It doesn't matter. Anxious and lacking in confidence? We can work on that together. The only caveat being that volunteers cannot be under the influence of a non-prescribed mind-altering substance when they turn up to volunteer.

Want to know more?

Get in touch with us and she will support you with the next steps.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Build on Belief, 2024.

Here’s 5 reasons you’ll love to volunteer in our shops:

1. It's fun

2. It's flexible

3. You'll learn and share skills

4. You'll be making a difference

5. You'll work with a great team

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams are key to raising vital funds for our work and act as incredible advocates for the rights of children both in the UK and around the world.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests. Candidates must be over 18.

Volunteering in the shop

Our Castle Cary Shop Volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

It’s up to you how much you commit. We have volunteers who support for a couple of hours a week and some do more. Many people volunteer either a morning or an afternoon each week - this is something that will be discussed at the selection stage, after you’ve applied.

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

In over 110 countries, we support children to transform their lives. By providing live-saving short-term help, and pushing for deep-rooted social change, we help children take, their future into their own hands. We believe every child has the right to learn. Every child should have good food to fuel their bodies and every child should have medicine when they're sick.

Skills and experiences we seek

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and to follow our policies as well as be an excellent representative for Save the Children.

We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities. Everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role that works for you.

What happens next?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal trial shift. It’s a great opportunity to visit the shop, meet some of our existing volunteers and have a go at some of the tasks that you would be supporting with as a shop volunteer. Hopefully allowing you to get a feel for the role and make sure it’s for you. We also ask for a couple of references (these don’t have to be formal workplace ones, just someone who has known you for over 6 months and isn’t related).

How to apply

Express your interest on email via the apply button.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

RSPCA South London

Our charity shop in the heart of SW17 7TW is looking for a friendly volunteer to join our team and help make our shop a huge success. Make new friends, have fun, and help us help more animals!

As a volunteer Charity Shop Assistant, you would join a small team working with the shop manager and 1-2 other volunteers to help make it a success and raise vital funds for animal welfare.

About Our Charity Shop

The shop plays an essential role in raising the profile of the RSPCA in our local community and funds for our branch so that we can continue our vital animal welfare work. Our shops sell a mixture of donated items, including clothes, books, bric-a-brac and collectables, and a selection of new items. We have positions available on the shop floor and in our stock room or you could volunteer to do a mixture of both.

Volunteer Charity Shop Assistant responsibilities

• Helping customers in the shop find what they need.
• Accepting donations of items and money from the public.
• Processing sales through the till and card machine, including Gift Aid.
• Sorting through donated items to determine what we can sell.
• Preparing donated items for sale by steaming and hanging and items.
• Merchandising stock on the shop floor.
• Creating attractive shop window displays.

What we are looking for in a volunteer Charity Shop Assistant

• Friendly volunteers who are confident talking to people.
• Retail experience would be ideal but is not necessary as full training will be given.
• We are ideally aiming for someone who is flexible and can offer an ongoing commitment.
• Good communication and numeracy skills.
• You will need to be aged 16 or over.

What we can offer you as a volunteer Charity Shop Assistant

• A way to meet new people and make new friends in your local area.
• A place where you will learn excellent new skills to add to your CV, such as customer service, multi-tasking, merchandising, and many more.
• An excellent induction and training programme relevant to your role.
• The opportunity to make a huge difference to the welfare of animals.
• Reimbursement for any reasonable travel expenses you may incur whilst volunteering with us.

If you’ve got the drive and compassion to volunteer with the RSPCA and are passionate about improving animal welfare, we’d love to hear from you!

We hope you are interested in volunteering for the South London Branch

Join us in making a real difference to the lives of animals in need.

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.

Here’s 5 reasons you’ll love to volunteer in our shops:

1. It's fun

2. It's flexible

3. You'll learn and share skills

4. You'll be making a difference

5. You'll work with a great team

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams are key to raising vital funds for our work and act as incredible advocates for the rights of children both in the UK and around the world.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests. Candidates must be over 18.

Volunteering in the shop

Our High Wycombe Shop Volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

It’s up to you how much you commit. We have volunteers who support for a couple of hours a week and some do more. Many people volunteer either a morning or an afternoon each week - this is something that will be discussed at the selection stage, after you’ve applied.

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

In over 110 countries, we support children to transform their lives. By providing live-saving short-term help, and pushing for deep-rooted social change, we help children take, their future into their own hands. We believe every child has the right to learn. Every child should have good food to fuel their bodies and every child should have medicine when they're sick.

Skills and experiences we seek

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and to follow our policies as well as be an excellent representative for Save the Children.

We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities. Everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role that works for you.

What happens next?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal trial shift. It’s a great opportunity to visit the shop, meet some of our existing volunteers and have a go at some of the tasks that you would be supporting with as a shop volunteer. Hopefully allowing you to get a feel for the role and make sure it’s for you. We also ask for a couple of references (these don’t have to be formal workplace ones, just someone who has known you for over 6 months and isn’t related).

How to apply

Express your interest on email via the apply button.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

About Circular Kitchens

Circular Kitchens is a social enterprise and membership platform designed to help restaurants, cafés, pubs, food stalls, and other catering businesses become fully circular: Plastic Free, Ecological, Local, and Zero Waste.

By working with the hospitality sector, we are helping regenerate local communities, strengthen regional food systems, and increase demand for ecological and regenerative agriculture in the UK. Our current focus is launching Circular Kitchens in Whitstable and supporting our first mover restaurants to achieve 3 Star Circular Kitchens certification. Based on learnings from this pilot, we are preparing to scale across the UK, growing our environmental and social impact.

Role Description

We are seeking a volunteer to support our operations and early-stage platform development, with a focus on how we manage restaurant tools, pledges, and audits using Coda.

Initially, the volunteer will have the opportunity to support updates to our existing Coda database to reflect new language, helping ensure outdated wording is replaced in line with our latest templates and that language is consistent across the platform.

As they become familiar with the structure, the volunteer may also contribute to the design of a Master Coda Document to help centralise data currently spread across multiple sections. This work supports the early foundations of a scalable platform designed to support hundreds of Circular Kitchens members over time. The role may also include light “vibe programming,” using AI tools to assist with formulas and logic within Coda tables.

An Ideal Candidate Will Be:

• A student or recent graduate with an interest in computer science, sustainability, business, data analytics, or a related field

• Technically confident (e.g. comfortable working with digital tools, spreadsheets, or information management platforms like Coda)

• Comfortable working with evolving, early-stage systems

• Well organised with strong attention to detail

• Interested in digital systems, platforms, or operational design

• Curious about startups, social enterprise, and/or sustainability

• Interested in learning and using AI tools to support “vibe programming” and contribute to more complex platform development over time

This is a voluntary role with a flexible time commitment, offering the opportunity to contribute to the operational backbone of a growing social enterprise and work closely with the founding team on systems designed to have real-world impact.

To apply, please share your CV along with a short note outlining your interest, any relevant experience, and your desired time commitment.

Based in Newtown, Powys, Rekindle is a vibrant and committed charity, providing mental health support to young people aged between 16 and 25 years, in Mid Wales and the Shropshire Borders. As Chair, you’ll play a key role in shaping Rekindle’s future and building on the momentum of recent successes.

What will you be doing?

As Chair of the Board of Trustees, you will be responsible for ensuring that the charity trustee board functions effectively, meetings are led inclusively, and the board carries out its duties. You will lead the board in governing itself well, setting the strategic direction of the charity, creating a positive culture within the charity and holding staff accountable. You will monitor the agreed actions from board meetings to ensure that decisions are implemented properly and in a timely manner and build a strong, positive and respectful relationship with staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and other stakeholders. You will also act as an ambassador for the charity, representing its interests and values to stakeholders.

Time commitment

• 4 board meetings per year, plus minimum 16 hours per month (to be reviewed annually)
• There may be additional time commitment required however there is no fixed requirement as we appreciate that each Board member has different amounts of time they are able to offer
• Ideally the Chair will be local to the charity.

 What are we looking for?

We are looking for an individual with a natural leadership style that is inclusive and collaborative. Rekindle is about to embark on some restructuring of its managerial tier; this will be with the help of Pilot Light and their 360 programme, and we would like the new Chair to be a part of this ideally.

Rekindle is currently developing a Youth Advisory Board that will consult and advise with the Board of Trustees once established, and so experience of this, although not essential, would be welcome.

Skills and experience:

• Demonstrable experience in leadership roles.
• Previous experience serving on a Board of Trustees.
• Ability to think strategically and drive organizational growth and impact.
• Experience in supporting and developing organizational strategy.
• 5-15 years of experience in governance and financial oversight.
• Must be located in commutable distance to Newtown, Powys.
• Experience in chairing meetings and creating an inclusive environment.
• Passionate about mental health, wellbeing and young people.

We aim to reflect the diverse communities, young people, and families we serve, and welcome applicants with lived experience relevant to our work.

What difference will you make?

Joining Rekindle's board as Chair offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a growing and dynamic charity. In recent years, Rekindle has expanded its operations, including employing seven staff members and moving to a larger premises, while maintaining its core services. The board is in a good, stable place. As Chair, you’ll play a key role in shaping Rekindle’s future and building on the momentum of recent successes.

Before you apply

The TrusteeWorks Team at Reach Volunteering are supporting Rekindle with their Chair recruitment. Applications should be made via TrusteeWorks in the first instance. 

To apply please submit your CV along with a covering letter stating why you wish to join the organisation and how your skills and experience would add value to the board. 

Here’s 5 reasons you’ll love to volunteer in our shops:It's fun

1. It's flexible
2. You'll learn and share skills
3. You'll be making a difference
4. You'll work with a great team

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams are key to raising vital funds for our work and act as incredible advocates for the rights of children both in the UK and around the world.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

Volunteering in the shop

Our Broughty Ferry Shop Volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

It’s up to you how much you commit. We have volunteers who support for a couple of hours a week and some do more. Many people volunteer either a morning or an afternoon each week - this is something that will be discussed at the selection stage, after you’ve applied.

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

In over 110 countries, we support children to transform their lives. By providing live-saving short-term help, and pushing for deep-rooted social change, we help children take, their future into their own hands. We believe every child has the right to learn. Every child should have good food to fuel their bodies and every child should have medicine when they're sick.

Skills and experiences we seek

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and to follow our policies as well as be an excellent representative for Save the Children.

We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities. Everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role that works for you.

What happens next?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal trial shift. It’s a great opportunity to visit the shop, meet some of our existing volunteers and have a go at some of the tasks that you would be supporting with as a shop volunteer. Hopefully allowing you to get a feel for the role and make sure it’s for you. We also ask for a couple of references (these don’t have to be formal workplace ones, just someone who has known you for over 6 months and isn’t related).

How to apply

Express your interest on email via the apply button.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

Are you interested in joining Acorn’s board of trustees?

We’re looking for someone who wants to make a real difference. If you’re passionate about social impact and excited by the idea of helping to shape the future of a vibrant, friendly charitable social enterprise, we’d love to hear from you.

Who are Acorn Early Years?

Acorn Early Years is a charitable social enterprise providing high‑quality childcare and early education across day nurseries, forest schools, out‑of‑school clubs, and specialist early years catering and training services. We are continuing to grow, despite the challenges facing the early years sector, and now operate 18 nurseries with just over 500 employees.

What are we looking for?

We’re seeking an enthusiastic individual to join our welcoming team of voluntary trustees. We are committed to building a Board that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, and we warmly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.

We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with finance, property, charity law and compliance, or local government expertise. You’ll bring:

• Strong communication and leadership skills
• A commitment to our values and mission
• Experience from any professional or personal context — previous trustee experience is desirable but not essential. We will support you to grow confidently into the role.

Our commitment to inclusion and support:

We want volunteering with us to be accessible to everyone. To support this, we:

• Reimburse all reasonable volunteer expenses, including travel to meetings
• Offer flexibility around meeting times where possible
• Provide accessibility support or adjustments as needed
• Foster a culture where every trustee’s voice is valued and respected

What does the role involve?

Being a trustee is an unpaid voluntary role, usually lasting at least three years. You will attend five Board meetings each year in Milton Keynes, and you may also choose to join one of our specialist trustee committees.

To find out more about the duties of a charity trustee, please see ‘The essential trustee (CC3)’ on the Gov. website. 

What difference will you make?

Our trustees play a very important role in our organisation, shaping and supporting our current work and the future direction and development of the organisation. As a trustee you will be joining the Trustee Board which has been making an impact since our charity was established in 2012.

How to apply:

To find out more, please see our Trustee Application Pack via our website - 'Work With Us/Become a Trustee' page.

If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact Santa Svike, Governance Lead, by visiting our website ('Work With Us/Become a Trustee' page)

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to the same email address.

Do you know your FYP from your CTR?

Can you build and manage a subreddit without summoning the mods?

And when we say “Shorts”, do you think watch time, hooks & retention - not what you’re packing for your next holiday?

Locate International are looking to expand our Media Team on a completely voluntary basis, with an average time commitment of around six hours per week.

Founded in 2019, we assist families in locating loved ones from unsolved missing persons cases and in identifying unknown deceased individuals.

By recruiting three volunteers - each specialising in TikTok, YouTube or Reddit - we can spread more breadcrumbs & ensure every case we take on has the best possible chance of being solved.

Our Media Team is a close-knit group of volunteers who meet via Zoom every Tuesday evening at 7pm (for one hour). Attendance at these meetings is important so we can support our Investigation Teams, plan appeals, and create a clear plan of action for the weeks ahead. We appreciate that availability can vary, but we ask that you attend as many sessions as possible to stay connected with the team and cases.

You will champion your platform - posting, monitoring engagement, and coming up with fresh ideas to help raise awareness of our cases. Sometimes this will be broad-reach content; other times it will involve niching down to target specific audiences who may hold vital missing pieces of the puzzle.

Everyone who volunteers with Locate International shares the belief that everybody deserves a name, and no family should endure the uncertainty of a missing loved one.

What we’re looking for:

TikTok Content Creator

Someone who understands trends, who can hook viewers in the first few seconds and encourage comments and sharing. You must be confident editing content directly within TikTok.

YouTube Content Creator

Someone who can create engaging, informative videos that encourage interaction. You should be confident with professional video editing, understand branding, and know how to craft compelling titles and optimise tags. Viral potential is a big plus.

Reddit Content Creator

A significant percentage of our website traffic comes from Reddit, yet we don’t currently have an official presence there. If you understand Reddit etiquette, the do’s and don’ts, and what’s involved in creating and managing subreddits - we need you.

What’s in it for you:

• Being part of a large, supportive team of dedicated volunteers.
• Working within a creative, passionate Media Team that encourages thinking outside the box.
• A regular one-hour Zoom meeting on Tuesday evenings, joining the team as often as possible to collaborate on live cases.
• The satisfaction of using your skills to make a meaningful difference to families & communities worldwide.

If you feel you have what it takes to be one of the volunteers we're looking for, please get in touch with your experience, expertise, and what you can bring to the Media Team. 

AGILE PROJECT MANAGER

Remote Volunteer

ZAKKI is a social startup focusing on creating an inclusive community for the elderly and people with disabilities. Our mission is to facilitate alms and donations collection and distribution to help the elderly and people with disabilities who work in the informal sector to get better livelihood through micro-business management, giving them greater market exposure.

We are still redesigning ZAKKI fully function product. We are expecting to develop the ZAKKI fully function product in the upcoming years.

ZAKKI provides equal volunteering opportunity for everyone regardless of age, sex/gender, color, race, creed, nationality/origin, marital status, sexual orientation, political belief, or disability that does not prohibit essential performance job functions. All matters relating to volunteering are based upon one’s ability to perform the job, as well as one’s dedication to ZAKKI’s Mission and needs.

The AGILE PROJECT MANAGER will manage either the UIUX Designer team or Developer team. He/She will collaborate with the Team Lead of the respective team to manage and lead the project.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing projects within the decided-upon timeline, and scope. They will also effectively monitor and present project updates to relevant stakeholders, and project team members.
 
Responsibilities
 •  Set project timeline
 •  Monitor project deliverables and manage the project documentation in one place.
 •  Update relevant stakeholders and team members on the project progress
 •  Coach and support project team members with tasks you assign them

General Requirement:

• • Very effective interpersonal skills including mentoring, coaching, collaborating, and team building
• • Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills with an ability to manage competing demands
• • In-depth knowledge and understanding of business needs with the ability to establish/maintain high level of customer trust and confidence
• • Solid understanding of and demonstrated experience in using appropriate tools:
• ⁃ Agile Project Management tools such as Jira, Asana or equivalent
• ⁃ Google Suite, all Office Tools
• • Excellent oral and written communications skills and experience interacting with both business and IT individuals at all levels including the executive level
• • Creative approach to problem-solving with the ability to focus on details while maintaining the “big picture” view

Specific Requirement:
Knowledge of one or more of these skills below is preferred;

• Knowledge on UI/UX Designing process
• Able to use versioning control system such as GIT, GitLab, Github.
• Proven ability to lead software development projects and ensure objectives, goals, and commitments are met

Interested applicant required to fill up this Google Form, based on the team he/she interested to be part of;

For part of DEVELOPER team
https://forms.gle/iY7xUbf63QpmdTXb8
select role AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

For part of UIUX Designer team
https://forms.gle/p2pkFdK3ejHZkgE17
select role AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

After the submission, you still able to edit your submitted response in case you need to update your supporting documents (i.e CV/Resume)

Providing a confidential non-judgemental listening ear to Residents and Staff. Supporting those wishing to develop their spiritual journey from a Christian perspective. The role will be based across one of our hostels in Watford, Borehamwood, Bishop's Stortford, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield or High Wycombe, 

Activities include:

• Proactively engaging with Residents and staff to build safe relationships and trust
• Offering a ‘listening ear’ to all and giving emotional support
• Sensitively discerning when to offer prayer and support from a Christian perspective, and when to use faith based language
• Be inclusive and welcoming to people of all religious faiths and none, referring people to other faith communities as appropriate
• Working alongside support staff, volunteers & local agencies
• Maintaining records of support and feeding back concerns about Resident welfare to Staff/Line Manager.
• Attend regular volunteer team meetings
• Being proactive in seeking spiritual and emotional support for your own benefit as this is a challenging role.

Additional activities could include:

• Facilitating group work for example: Retreat Programme, Bible Study, prayer or Mental Health Support.
• Welcoming new Residents by phone or in person
• Leading or helping with Chaplaincy lead events: Easter/Christmas activities, Remembrance Services
• Being an ambassador for YMCA’s mission in local Churches

Skills/Qualities/Experience:

• Be a good and active listener who can support others
• Be of a friendly, welcoming and cheerful disposition
• Self-motivated, reliable and punctual
• Sensitivity and courage to care for people experiencing a range of distressing situations including: grief, trauma, poor mental health, substance misuse, suicidal thoughts.
• A commitment to your own spiritual development
• A good understanding of the Christian faith, as well as some understanding of other faith traditions
• Ability to use both faith and non-faith based language, as appropriate
• Good communication skills in English; in person & over the phone
• A willingness to learn new things and get stuck in
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Respect the Christian ethos of the YMCA and uphold its values
• Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have

Training Support:

• A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided
• A one day ‘Chaplaincy Essentials’ training, plus a menu of additional training will be made available
• Online training: Safeguarding (Adults & Young People), Fire Awareness, Manual Handling
• Ongoing support and regular 1:1 meetings with your line-manager
• Team meetings and social events
• Mileage and expenses may be payable

You will need 2 x references and a DBS (we will apply for and fund this). 

Join us in our mission to save lives at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance

We are looking for volunteers to assist our Shop Managers in our brand new shop in Hemel Hempstead

Key Volunteer Activities:

• Assisting with the donations of stock, by sorting and steaming and preparing for shop floor
• Maintaining good stock rotation and levels at all times
• Helping with visual merchandising when needed
• Greeting customers in a friendly and approachable manner
• Understanding the Charities key standards and Values
• Becoming familiar with our Health and Safety Policies and being able to convey these to other volunteers
• Assisting the Shop Manager on daily tasks such as banking and stock takes, recycling and shop rotas
• Maintaining a clean and tidy work place which encourages a happy environment to work in
• Commitment to being part of a regular rota
• Giving any other assistance in relation to the smooth running of the shop as may requested by the Shop Manager
• We also have some specialist retail volunteering roles in our shops and warehouse e.g. helping with e-commerce
• Our shifts are 4 hours but we have a flexible approach so can work around the hours available to you. Regular sign-up to the rota is appreciated. However, ideally we would like you be able to cover 2 or 3 shifts a week

Join Our Team as a Volunteer in our Helpline!

Service: Helpline
Service Opening Hours: 24/7
Location: Waterside House, Sunderland.

About us
Mental Health Matters (MHM) is a national charity with over 35 years of experience in delivering high-quality mental health and social care services. We have a positive impact on the lives of people living with mental health needs in our local communities. We provide services across England, from Northumberland to Devon, led by a highly motivated and enthusiastic workforce who are committed to delivering the best quality services to those in need of support.

Everything about MHM is people focused, our people are central to delivering the highest quality of service and care to our clients and service users.

At our Mental Health Helpline, we offer a crucial lifeline, providing compassionate listening and crisis de-escalation for numerous NHS Trusts. We're on the lookout for empathetic and dedicated individuals to join us in delivering this transformative support.

About the role
Our Volunteers are incredibly important in supporting the work we do, and we value individuals who dedicate their time to find the perfect fit within our organisation.

We are currently excited to welcome volunteers to the Helpline, to support with our emotional support provision.

The service operates 24/7 but we welcome applications to fit around your availability and capacity.

You will be part of a team that provides emotional support and signposting to our callers and will be supported by the Telephone Support Workers and Shift Supervisors at all times.

About you

Your involvement at the Helpline will make a meaningful difference to those we support.

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on others’ lives?
Do you have empathy and understanding towards different perspectives?
Are you happy to work as part of a team?
Would you like to learn new skills and develop your abilities to listen and support people?

If these qualities resonate with you, we’d love to hear from you and explore how your unique skills and passions can enhance our service.

Requirements
No prior experience is required, and lived experience is always welcomed. We provide comprehensive training – all we ask is that you’re ready to take the next step in supporting others.

This is a great opportunity for someone with an interest in health and social care services and a drive to make a positive impact.

Please Note - Due to the nature of the role, our volunteers will need to be over the age of 18 and will be expected to complete an Enhanced DBS check.

Our commitment to you
When you choose to volunteer with us, you’ll have a dedicated support system in place. Our Helpline management team will collaborate to craft a personalised development plan that aligns with your goals of volunteering.

Your aspirations and interests, whatever they may be, will be at the forefront of this plan. We’re here to ensure that your experience as a volunteer is both fulfilling and aligned with what you hope to achieve through your time with us.

We also commit to providing reasonable travel expenses (up to £5 a day).

Be a hero to a young person in care!

Are you looking for a meaningful, long-term volunteering role where you can make a positive difference in a young person’s life?

If yes, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

We’re seeking compassionate, reliable adults to become Independent Visitors - volunteer mentors and trusted friends to children and young people in care.

What is an Independent Visitor?

An Independent Visitor (IV) is a volunteer befriender and mentor who visits a young person in care once a month, usually on weekends, to enjoy fun, supportive activities together. As an IV, you’ll be a consistent, caring adult outside their professional network - someone who chooses to be there, just for them.

This is a long-term role, and we ask volunteers to commit to at least two years to help build a strong, stable relationship.

We are currently prioritising and seeking applications from volunteers based in the Croydon or Kent area where we have a greater need for volunteers to support childen and young people. 

Why it matters

Young people in care often face instability and frequent change. Having a consistent adult who listens, encourages and simply spends time with them can be life changing.

“My IV is the one person who’s always there for me. They make me feel like I matter.” Young Person in Care.

Who can volunteer?

You don’t need previous experience - just the right values and commitment. We’re looking for caring people who are:

• Friendly and approachable
• Patient, empathetic and consistent
• A good listener
• Committed to visiting once a month for at least two years
• Willing to complete training and safeguarding checks

We particularly welcome applications from male volunteers and individuals from Black, Asian and other underrepresented communities.

What will you be doing?

As an Independent Visitor, you’ll:

• Meet your young person once a month for activities like going to the cinema, bowling, exploring parks or just having a chat
• Suggest age-appropriate outings based on their interests
• Keep in touch between visits with a weekly call or message (if they’d like)
• Occasionally join in on group events
• Create meaningful, lasting memories

Please note that all travel and activity expenses will be covered.

Training & ongoing support

Before you start, we’ll provide:

• Full initial training
• Ongoing support and one-to-one supervision
• Access to additional training through Southwark’s volunteer resources

Recruitment timeline

• Applications reviewed on an ongoing basis.
• Interviews: To be confirmed.

Ready to make a difference?

If you’re looking for a rewarding, long-term volunteering opportunity where you can support a young person one to one and help them thrive, we’d love to receive an application from you today!