Employment volunteer roles

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.

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.

Who are we: 
We are Buttons & Bubbles CIC. We are dedicated to increasing inclusion and representation across society for disabled families. We take a positive and proactive disability and illness. We don't conform to society's and the media's view that disability is awful, and you have no quality of life. Although we fully acknowledge it gives rise to come of the most heartbreaking and challenging times you will ever face. We ask everyone who joins Buttons & Bubbles to embrace this perspective. If you don't agree with it, then sadly we're not the right organisation for you. 

About the role: 
 
We are looking for people to help lead some our teams across the organisation. We are volunteer led and manage 65+ volunteers across the country, most of them remoately. There are 10 different teams ranging from creative to business development. We are looking for up to 10 people to help with the coordination of feedback, delegation of tasks and assisting with running monthly meetings. We have a very diverse team of volunteers from all different culture, religons and disabilities. 

Our values: 

We embrace disability and neurodiversity; it makes us a stronger and more brilliant team. No robots at Buttons & Bubbles, thank you! 

What are we looking for? 

We are looking for a few individuals who may have the following skills and experience. Don't worry if you haven’t as full training will be provided.

Skillset; 

• Communication skills  

• Coordination skills

• Delegration 

• Knowledge or previous experience of working with disabilities. 

• Knowledge of inclusive design and work practices or open to learning.

• Organised  

• Adaptable  

• Willing to learn and develop  

• Thrill of building an online community. 

• Have a basic DBS check

• Positive attitude towards disability or illness 

Benefits of joining Buttons & Bubbles C.I.C:  

• Gaining valuable experience. 

• Improving your confidence 

• Allows you to explore potentially different areas of interest. 

Benefits of volunteering with us:  

• Making a difference to the community 

• Makes a positive impact on people 

• Develop your current skill set and gain new skills. 

• Displays your level of commitment to future employers. 

• Displays your ability to balance and schedule your time effectively when seeking future 

• Employment opportunities

Our Gardener Volunteers support our homes by helping to maintain their outdoor spaces through weeding, pruning and planting, so that the people we support can enjoy spending time in a beautiful environment. 

We are currently looking for volunteer gardeners for one of our services, who can support with the following tasks:

• Create planters

• Provide general maintenance of our gardens

• Watering, planting, weeding and pruning

• Maintaining flower beds

• Creating/improving/maintaining our sensory garden spaces

Skills required 

In order to become one of our gardener volunteers you will be:

• Knowledgeable about plants

• Confident using gardening equipment

• Punctual and reliable

• Friendly and approachable.

Training required for this role (all delivered vis e-learning)

• Safeguarding

• H&S

• Manual Handling

• How to be Eye Care Aware

• Fire Safety

• Infection Control

• Data Security and Confidentiality

• First Aid

All these courses will take approximately 40-60 minutes, apart from the First Aid which is 2 hours.

Benefits

This is a fantastic opportunity to give something positive back to society and have a direct impact on people’s lives.

Gardening is a great way to get out and about, stay fit and meet new people.

Volunteers can claim travel expenses.

About Us 

Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK. This year we are celebrating our 225th anniversary, having pioneered specialist support across multiple generations since 1799!

We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, who may also have sight loss. Our support ranges from providing person-centred support across our many supported-living and residential care provisions. Furthermore, we provide specialist eye-care services to children and adults alike and assists people to find paid employment for the very first time.

SeeAbility provides the resources and expertise that make this possible, we support people to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.

The Befriender 'In Home' Volunteer will play an important role by providing companionship to someone we support at our supported living service by spending time with them, visiting them in the home and doing activities they enjoy. These might include chatting over a cup of tea, reading books, playing board games, etc.

Skills Required

· To be kind, empathetic and friendly

· To have a good sense of humour and love to chat

· To be punctual and reliable

· To be able to deal with information in line with our data protection and confidentiality procedures

Training required for this role (all delivered vis e-learning)

· Safeguarding

· H&S

· Manual Handling

· How to be Eye Care Aware

· Fire Safety

· Infection Control

· Data Security and Confidentiality

· First Aid

All these courses will take approximately 40-60 minutes, apart from the First Aid which is 2 hours.

Benefits

· This is a fantastic opportunity to have a direct impact upon the lives of others. 

· Befriending is a great way to keep active and meet new people.

· SeeAbility provides training and this can help you to develop new skills.

· Volunteers can claim travel expenses.

About Us

Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK. This year we are celebrating our 225th anniversary, having pioneered specialist support across multiple generations since 1799!

We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, who may also have sight loss. Our support ranges from providing person-centred support across our many supported-living and residential care provisions. Furthermore, we provide specialist eye-care services to children and adults alike and assists people to find paid employment for the very first time. SeeAbility provides the resources and expertise that make this possible, we support people to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.

The Befriender 'In Home' Volunteer will play an important role by providing companionship to someone we support at our supported living service by spending time with them, visiting them in the home and doing activities they enjoy. These might include chatting over a cup of tea, reading books, playing board games, etc.

Skills Required

· To be kind, empathetic and friendly

· To have a good sense of humour and love to chat

· To be punctual and reliable

· To be able to deal with information in line with our data protection and confidentiality procedures

Training required for this role (all delivered vis e-learning)

· Safeguarding

· H&S

· Manual Handling

· How to be Eye Care Aware

· Fire Safety

· Infection Control

· Data Security and Confidentiality

· First Aid

All these courses will take approximately 40-60 minutes, apart from the First Aid which is 2 hours.

Benefits

· This is a fantastic opportunity to have a direct impact upon the lives of others. 

· Befriending is a great way to keep active and meet new people.

· SeeAbility provides training and this can help you to develop new skills.

· Volunteers can claim travel expenses.

About Us

Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK. This year we are celebrating our 225th anniversary, having pioneered specialist support across multiple generations since 1799!

We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, who may also have sight loss. Our support ranges from providing person-centred support across our many supported-living and residential care provisions. Furthermore, we provide specialist eye-care services to children and adults alike and assists people to find paid employment for the very first time. SeeAbility provides the resources and expertise that make this possible, we support people to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.

Outdoor Learning Volunteer Officers are a key part of our team at Skelton Grange Environment Centre and are involved in:
- Supporting and leading environmental activities with young people and the local community.
- Planning and preparing sessions - and sometimes even developing new activities to help young people connect with nature.
- You will be trained and supported by experienced project staff and work as part of a team with paid staff, trainees and other Volunteers.

Typical activities for the Outdoor Learning Volunteer role include:
- Running environmental education sessions for school visits during term time.
- Running play activities for groups of children and young people during the school holidays.
- Keeping education day resources up to date and developing new resources, activities or materials as required.
- Helping with the general running of the centre and the project, including both development work and routine maintenance to ensure we are an inspiring location for visitors to experience nature.

Benefits to you:
We aim to involve our Outdoor Learning Volunteer Officers in:
- Running a range of outdoor education and play activities and events with schools and community groups on the Skelton Grange Environment Centre site.
- Planning, risk assessing and running safe and engaging activities outside for children.
- All the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to run the sessions, from bushcraft skills to plant identification to working with children.

The role will give you the opportunity to use your skills and experience in a supportive environment and aims to support you into being able to run activities and lead groups independently.
It's a chance to do something very satisfying and worthwhile and have lots of fun with some great people!
If you want to use this role to move on into employment in the environmental sector we can also provide you with a range of useful training courses, job opportunity information, interview guidance and references.

We will provide expenses to cover volunteer travel costs.

What you need:
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are keen to work with young people and to connect people with green spaces.
People volunteer with us for all sorts of reasons: you may have lots of skills that you are keen to share, or you might be looking for something worthwhile to do with your time, or you might be wanting to launch a career in the environment sector.

Become the new friendly face in your local Tŷ Hafan charity shop!

This opportunity is a great way to develop new skills and enjoy yourself at the same time.

Our shops generate funds that directly support the whole family, from medical care and therapeutic services for children, to emotional and practical care for families, to sibling support activities & experiences.

Your role will help us continue providing vital care and support to Tŷ Hafan children and their families.

About our Porthcawl Shop:

Porthcawl is a lovely destination seaside town with a one street shopping area in close proximity to beaches, a funfair and some fabulous ice cream parlours!

There is often entertainment in the band stand opposite the shop and who can forget the famous Elvis festival.

Mandy, her staff team and their loyal volunteer team provide first class customer service and have built relationships with our lovely regulars who shop with us, very kindly donate their pre-loved items as well as buy their weekly lottery ticket. 

Considerations:

Age requirement: 16+

Location: 54 John Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BD  

Commitment:Our shops operate Monday-Saturday, 9am-4:45pm and we appreciate any time you can spare, but ideally at least 2 hours per week.

Shifts will be discussed during your informal chat.

Background checks: We will ask you to provide us with the details of two referees.

Activities include:

• Providing a warm and friendly welcome to all customers entering the shop;
• Helping customers to locate items they are looking for;
• Serving customers at the till;
• Taking donations and promoting Gift Aid;
• Selling and processing our raffle/lottery tickets;
• Acting as an ambassador for Tŷ Hafan, promoting our Big Ambition within your local community.

This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally binding one or an employment contract.

Become the new friendly face in your local Tŷ Hafan charity shop!

This opportunity is a great way to develop new skills and enjoy yourself at the same time.

Our shops generate funds that directly support the whole family, from medical care and therapeutic services for children, to emotional and practical care for families, to sibling support activities & experiences.

Your role will help us continue providing vital care and support to Tŷ Hafan children and their families.

About our Neath Shop:

Our Neath shop is situated on Queen Street in the town's city centre, merely a two-minute stroll from both the bus and train stations.

It is one of our two outlet-style shops, famous in the town for its £1 section, where customers can snag an entire outfit for less than a fiver!

This stock is clearance stock from our other shops and is given a final opportunity in Neath to sell to maximise the most from all our donations.

Hannah leads a team of energetic staff and volunteers, and between them, turnover a huge amount of stock each week.

They make sure that customers have the best shopping experience and leave with a smile on their face. 

Considerations:

Age requirement: 16+

Location: 17 Queen Street, Neath SA11 1DN

Commitment:Our shops operate Monday-Saturday, 9am-4:45pm and we appreciate any time you can spare, but ideally at least 2 hours per week.

Shifts will be discussed during your informal chat.

Background checks: We will ask you to provide us with the details of two referees.

Activities include:

•  Sorting and pricing donations according to our guidelines (or your own knowledge if applicable);
•  Preparing items for sale, including steaming, ironing, tagging and labelling;
•  Moving items to the shop floor;
•  Keeping the stockroom clean and safe;
• Creating attractive displays to showcase our unique donations.

This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally binding one or an employment contract.

Become the new friendly face in your local Tŷ Hafan charity shop!

This opportunity is a great way to develop new skills and enjoy yourself at the same time.

Our shops generate funds that directly support the whole family, from medical care and therapeutic services for children, to emotional and practical care for families, to sibling support activities & experiences.

Your role will help us continue providing vital care and support to Tŷ Hafan children and their families.

About our Penarth Shop:

Our Penarth shop seeks to celebrate the town’s diversity in the way our team thoughtfully curates the mixture of preloved items its occupants have generously donated.

We offer high street to designer names, tea sets to linens, vinyl to hatpins, toys and books for all ages and plenty in between. 

Lisa and her team of superstar volunteers will do their best to help you find just the thing and the chance to buy a winning lottery ticket, too.

Considerations:

Age requirement: 16+

Location: 1a Stanwell Road, Penarth CF64 2AB   

Commitment:Our shops operate Monday-Saturday, 9am-4:45pm and we appreciate any time you can spare, but ideally at least 2 hours per week.

Shifts will be discussed during your informal chat.

Background checks: We will ask you to provide us with the details of two referees.

Activities include:

• Providing a warm and friendly welcome to all customers entering the shop;
• Helping customers to locate items they are looking for;
• Serving customers at the till;
• Taking donations and promoting Gift Aid;
• Selling and processing our raffle/lottery tickets;
• Acting as an ambassador for Tŷ Hafan, promoting our Big Ambition within your local community.

This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally binding one or an employment contract.

We are looking for someone keen to move into the area of advising small charities on management and governance issues.

We are a very ambitious local grant-making charity that also offers various training, support and consultancy services to small charities and community groups in West London. Our broad-ranging plans are now beginning to bear fruit and so we need volunteers to help us in the following areas as demand for our services continues to grow:

· Supporting small groups and start-ups with basic governance and management issues

· Assessing the impact of our services on groups

· Outreach to new groups

· Possibly helping out with grant application assessments when needed

Our ideal candidate would have a good all-round background in management, consultancy or organisational professional services gained over a number of years, but they need not be experienced in the areas mentioned above. You'd be given full training, with the opportunity to shadow the people already working in these areas. Far more important is adaptability, initiative, an ability to get on well with people from all sorts of backgrounds, and good organisational and writing skills. Most crucially you would have a demonstrable commitment to our ideals of promoting a strong and influential civil society in West London. You will thrive on challenges and find rewards in seeing our objectives achieved.

You would ideally be able to commit an average of 1 day a week and the work would involve dealing with our groups during office hours, so you will probably be someone who is working part-time, or is perhaps retired or semi-retired, or is otherwise not in full-time employment.

Much of the work would be taking place from home, but it will also involve some face to face contact with clients, so living in or around the Ealing, Hounslow or Hillingdon boroughs would be an advantage.

All reasonable expenses will be reimbursed and refreshments provided where suitable.

This volunteer role involves being available for a mix of weekly drop-in IT sessions in which you will provide ‘floating support’ as well as pre-arranged one-to-one sessions in order to help clients complete more specific tasks relevant to them.

Digital Inclusion provides a crucial resource, helping people to take positive steps to improve their lives, by overcoming digital exclusion, accessing learning and securing work. In an average session, clients undertake independent learning and tasks, such as; completing searches on the internet, formatting documents and using email, paying bills, filling in forms etc

Increasingly, clients are asking for help with social media platforms, such as; logging into Facebook account, creating a LinkedIn profile or Instagram account to promote their business, or help with blogging.

How does this role make a difference?

All of life’s activities - including job seeking, accessing and managing benefits and housing - take place online.  Clients without IT skills are hugely disadvantaged.  This role provides clients with support, helping them to overcome initial fears or learning barriers.  With increasing confidence, they will be able to access the internet independently.

Who will you be helping?

Users are adults from diverse backgrounds and can range from those who are complete computer beginners, learning the basics of IT, to those needing access to the resource for learning, job search or managing household finances. The service helps clients seeking to address digital skills gaps and improve their confidence in order to access the internet.

What will you be doing?

• Meeting clients and carrying out weekly, one-to-one coaching sessions
• For the remaining time, offering ‘floating support’ to other clients, such as completing searches on the internet, formatting documents and using email

· Helping new clients to complete an IT Initial Basic Skills Assessment

What are we looking for?

• Although advanced technical skills are not required, a good understanding of MS Office (Word and Excel mostly) and a breadth of experience in using the internet are essential in order to coach and help vulnerable clients develop their skills.

• The confidence and willingness to work closely with clients and actively approach them where required. 

· You have some experience assisting or coaching others.

· You are patient, a good listener and have the ability to motivate others.

· You are available for a period of at least six months to give you time to develop a rapport and fulfil learning objectives with the clients.

What is the time commitment?

We have open access and prebooked sessions for clients twice a week, on Mondays or Fridays, for a miniumn 3 hour slot per week.

We are asking for a 6 months commitment to enable you to build trusting relationships with clients and develop in your role.  Volunteers find this goes very quickly! 

How will you be supported?

· There is ongoing support by the Learning and Employment Manager.

· Free access to a range of e-learning modules on the Centre’s online e-learning platform

· You will be reimbursed for reasonable and agreed ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses such as travel, and also lunch if volunteering a full day.

What is the recruitment procedure?

Application form> Informal interview> Ideally two reference checks> DBS check> Trial period

Job Title: Finance Assistant                                                                           

Reports To: Finance  Manager 

Location: Remote

Employment Type: Volunteer (12 hours/week for 6 months)

About the Project – “Solta o Jogo”
“Solta o Jogo” is a vibrant cultural competition and festival celebrating Brazilian heritage through Capoeira, music, dance, acrobatics, and a Brazilian arts & crafts fair. Hosted at Kingston University Townhouse, the event invites the community to participate in free performances, workshops, and exhibitions promoting cross-cultural understanding.

As part of this initiative, we are seeking a Finance Assistant to support the day-to-day financial operations of Quilombo UK. This is an ideal role for someone looking to apply or gain hands-on experience in finance within the Third Sector, while contributing to a meaningful, community-led cultural project. 

Position Overview:
The Finance Assistant will support the Finance Manager in tasks such as financial data entry, expense processing, reconciliation, and reporting. This role requires someone with good numerical skills, attention to detail, and a proactive mindset. The opportunity offers valuable exposure to nonprofit financial processes, along with flexibility and training support.

Key Responsibilities:

Finance & Data Entry:

• Collect and accurately enter financial data into spreadsheets and databases.

• Assist in processing staff and volunteer expense claims, ensuring proper documentation and approval.

• Support with checking account balances and assisting in payment reconciliation tasks.

Budgeting & Analysis:

• Help perform calculations and draft basic financial reports.

• Review department budgets regularly and report discrepancies to the Finance Manager.

• Assist in auditing financial records and preparing financial statements.

Reconciliation & Compliance:

• Reconcile discrepancies in financial records and propose corrections.

• Adhere to the organisation’s financial policies and reporting procedures.

• Respond to internal finance queries and offer support where needed.

Continuous Improvement:

• Suggest improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, or cost savings.

• Maintain accurate documentation and support reporting for audits or internal reviews.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• Graduation required; relevant coursework or volunteer experience preferred.

• Previous experience in finance, bookkeeping, or administrative support is advantageous.

• Understanding of basic accounting principles is desirable.

Skills:

• Strong numerical skills and analytical mindset.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.

• Excellent organisation, time-management, and attention to detail.

• Ability to communicate clearly with internal stakeholders.

• Professional, self-motivated, and able to work independently.

Benefits:

• Gain real-world experience in finance and bookkeeping within a nonprofit setting.

• Learn financial processes used in the Third Sector.

• Receive mentoring and training to develop finance and administrative skills.

• Work remotely with a supportive and mission-driven team.

• Reimbursement of local travel expenses if in-person attendance is required.

Equality Statement

Quilombo UK is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment. We promote equal opportunities in line with the Equality Act 2010. Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated, and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Job Title: Personal Assistant                                                                         

Reports To: Department Manager 

Location: Remote

Employment Type: Volunteer (12 hours/week for 6 months)

About the Project – “Solta o Jogo”
“Solta o Jogo” is a vibrant cultural competition and festival celebrating Brazilian heritage through Capoeira, music, dance, acrobatics, and a Brazilian arts & crafts fair. Hosted at Kingston University Townhouse, the event invites the community to participate in free performances, workshops, and exhibitions promoting cross-cultural understanding.

As part of this initiative, we are seeking a Personal Assistant to support daily coordination, scheduling, and communication tasks across departments. This remote volunteer opportunity is ideal for someone who is detail-oriented, proactive, and looking to gain experience in nonprofit administration while contributing to a meaningful community-driven programme. 

Position Overview:
The Personal Assistant will be responsible for organising meetings, managing calendars, supporting internal communications, and assisting in day-to-day administrative operations. This role plays a vital part in ensuring smooth coordination between teams, and offers autonomy, flexibility, and mentorship opportunities for someone looking to develop or apply their administrative and organisational skills in the Third Sector.

Key Responsibilities:

Administrative Support & Coordination:

• Manage meeting schedules, appointments, and internal calendars.

• Organise virtual events, staff briefings, and team check-ins.

• Support in planning and executing internal conferences or training sessions.

Data & System Management:

• Maintain and update internal databases and contact lists.

• Implement and uphold procedures and administrative systems.

Staff Liaison & Communication:

• Act as a point of contact between managers and teams.

• Assist in internal communications and task follow-ups.

General Administrative Tasks:

• Contribute to internal meetings with updates and suggestions.

• Provide ad hoc administrative support to leadership and teams as needed.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• No specific degree required, but relevant administrative or office support experience is preferred.

Experience:

• Prior experience as an administrative or personal assistant is an advantage.

• Familiarity with coordinating meetings, managing data, or supporting organisational logistics.

Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication.

• Excellent organisational and time-management abilities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.

• Proactive, professional, and able to work independently or collaboratively.

• Strong team player with attention to detail.

Benefits:

• Gain valuable administrative and coordination experience in the nonprofit sector.

• Receive support and mentorship to build confidence and skills.

• Work flexibly in a fully remote setup with a collaborative team.

• Build your network within a mission-driven cultural organisation.

• Reimbursement of local travel expenses (if in-person support is required for specific events).

Equality Statement

Quilombo UK is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment. We promote equal opportunities in line with the Equality Act 2010. Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated, and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.