Experienced educators volunteer roles

Become a Trustee of Young Citizens and help light the spark of active citizenship for children and young people 

With citizenship education set to become statutory in primary schools, votes at 16 on the horizon, and growing concern about the health of our democracy, this is a pivotal moment to join Young Citizens as a Trustee. 

For over 35 years, Young Citizens has helped children and young people understand society, engage in democracy and make a positive impact in their communities. Through flagship programmes like The Big Legal Lesson, The Big Democracy Lesson, the Make a Difference Challenge and the National Mock Trial Competitions, we bring citizenship to life in classrooms and communities across the UK – reaching 300,000+ young people every year. 

Our five-year strategy, Lighting the Spark, is focused on making sure every young person in the UK experiences powerful, practical and immersive citizenship learning. As a Trustee, you will help shape this next phase of growth, strengthen our financial sustainability, and ensure we make the most of the opportunities ahead.

This is a voluntary role (reasonable expenses reimbursed) and a chance to play a strategic part in strengthening UK democracy through education. 

Role Snapshot 

• Shape Young Citizens’ strategic direction and monitor performance 
• Ensure compliance with charity law and our governing document 
• Safeguard the charity’s values, reputation, and financial integrity 
• Oversee effective use of resources and long-term sustainability 
• Support and advise the CEO, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives 
• Act as an ambassador, promoting Young Citizens and building relationships with partners, funders, and supporters 

Why join as a Young Citizens Trustee? 

Being a Young Citizens trustee is a strategic and deeply rewarding opportunity. You will: 

• Help steer a national charity at a pivotal moment for citizenship education and democracy 
• Collaborate with fellow trustees bringing expertise in education, law, finance, communications, governance, and public affairs 
• See our impact first-hand by attending key events such as programme launches and the National Finals of our competitions 
• Support a small but highly skilled staff team (around 13 colleagues across the UK) and a network of 1500+ professional volunteers 
• Contribute to decisions on resource investment, digital development, programme growth, and deepening impact 

In short, you’ll help ensure hundreds of thousands of young people every year gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate meaningfully in society. 

What We Are Looking For 

We’re seeking two trustees who can help Young Citizens expand our reach, influence, and financial resilience. You don’t need prior trustee experience, we provide a full induction, safeguarding training, and ongoing support.

We’re especially interested in those with expertise in one or more of the following areas: 

• Citizenship teaching or school leadership – understanding how schools work and how to embed civic learning and active citizenship across the curriculum. 
• Marketing, communications and influencing – building brands, running campaigns, shifting perceptions and engaging educators, young people and supporters. 
• Business growth, strategic partnerships and business development – scaling organisations, securing strategic partnerships and growing mission-aligned income streams. 
• Digital transformation or innovation – using digital tools, products or platforms to grow impact. 
• Fundraising and income generation – philanthropy, trusts and foundations, corporate fundraising or individual giving. 

We continue to welcome applications from those experienced in leadership, public service, law, finance, policy or youth engagement.

If you’re ready to help steer a national charity at a pivotal moment for citizenship education, influence strategy and strengthen UK democracy through education, we’d love to hear from you!

Role Requirements 

The role requires around 4–6 hours per month, including preparation and engagement between meetings. Trustees attend four board meetings a year at our St Paul's office (usually weekday evenings), monthly online finance updates, and an annual Away Day. Appointments are for an initial three-year term, with potential renewal. While day-to-day operations are led by the Chief Executive and senior team, trustees hold ultimate responsibility for governance and compliance.

To learn more about the role and the application process, please refer to the job pack for full details. 

 | Social Impact Family)�� Location: New Barnet
�� Children: Founders’ Triplets
⏰ Time Commitment: 2 hours per day | Monday–Friday (flexible by agreement)

✨ About This Opportunity

This is not a traditional nanny role — and we’re not a traditional family. We are a social-entrepreneur family building purpose-led businesses, community initiatives, and alternative education pathways rooted in home education, Montessori philosophy, practical life skills, and conscious parenting.

We believe:

• Children learn best through real life, not rigid systems
• Home, environment, rhythm, and example are the first classroom
• Education should develop the mind, hands, heart, and spirit

We are looking for a warm, curious, playful, and intentional individual to support our triplets through Montessori-inspired role play and hands-on learning — someone who sees childhood as sacred, powerful, and full of possibility. This role is ideal for someone who wants experience, mentorship, alignment, and future opportunity, not just hours on a CV.

�� What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll be supporting our children through purposeful play, routine, and exploration — helping them build confidence, independence, coordination, communication, and imagination.

Core Responsibilities:

• Facilitate Montessori-inspired role-play and learning activities
• Encourage independence, curiosity, and self-expression
• Create a calm, respectful, emotionally safe learning environment
• Engage the children in structured but joyful daily rhythms
• Support learning both indoors and outdoors

Example Activities:

Indoor Learning

• Practical life skills (pouring, sorting, cleaning, care of space)
• Sensory exploration
• Early language and communication games
• Counting, matching, and sequencing
• Role-play scenarios (real-life inspired)

Outdoor Learning

• Nature walks and observation
• Balance, coordination, and movement play
• Garden-based learning
• Imaginative outdoor role-play
• Mindful exploration and curiosity-led discovery

�� What You Will Gain

This role is designed to give back to you as much as you give to us.

You will gain:

• Hands-on experience in Montessori and home-education practice
• Direct mentorship from a social-entrepreneur family
• A deep understanding of alternative education models
• Experience that supports careers in:
  • Early years education
  • Montessori or Waldorf settings
  • Child psychology or development
  • Social entrepreneurship
  • Community-based education projects
• A reference and real-world learning, not just theory

 Future Paid Opportunities: This role begins as voluntary, but this is not unpaid forever.

As our companies and community initiatives scale:

• This role is intended to transition into a full-time 10hr days paid position
• Additional paid opportunities may open within:
  • Education projects
  • Family-run ventures
  • Community and youth programmes
• Long-term alignment, reliability, and shared values will be rewarded

We believe in growing with our people, not replacing them.

�� Who This Role Is Perfect For

• purpose-driven individuals
• Students or graduates in childcare, education, psychology, or social sciences
• Montessori-curious or Montessori-trained individuals
• Creatives, carers, educators, or community builders
• Those disillusioned with rigid systems and inspired by conscious living

You don’t need to be perfect — you need to be present, patient, consistent ,curious, and aligned.

Schedule

• 2 hours per day
• Monday to Friday
• Flexible timing by mutual agreement

Become a Young Trustee of Young Citizens and help light the spark of active citizenship for children and young people!

With citizenship education set to become statutory in primary schools, votes at 16 on the horizon, and growing concern about the health of our democracy, this is a pivotal moment to join Young Citizens as a Young Trustee.

For over 35 years, Young Citizens has helped children and young people understand society, engage in democracy and make a positive impact in their communities. Through flagship programmes like The Big Legal Lesson, The Big Democracy Lesson, the Make a Difference Challenge and National Mock Trial Competitions, we bring citizenship to life in classrooms and communities across the UK – reaching 300,000+ young people every year.

Our five-year strategy, Lighting the Spark, is focused on making sure every young person in the UK experiences powerful, practical and immersive citizenship learning. As a Young Trustee, you will help shape this next phase of growth, strengthen our financial sustainability, and ensure we make the most of the opportunities ahead.

This is a voluntary role (reasonable expenses reimbursed) and a chance to play a strategic part in strengthening UK democracy through education.

Role Snapshot: 

• Contribute to shaping Young Citizens’ strategic direction and monitoring performance
• Help ensure compliance with charity law and our governing document (training provided)
• Safeguard the charity’s values, reputation, and financial integrity
• Support effective use of resources and long-term sustainability
• Work with fellow trustees to advise and support the CEO
• Act as an ambassador for Young Citizens, promoting our mission and building connections

Why join as a Young Trustee?

• Play an important role in guiding a national charity at a critical time for civic education.
• Bring your perspective as a young person to Board discussions - your lived experience matters.
• Gain governance experience, develop leadership skills, and learn how charities operate.
• Receive full induction, safeguarding training, and ongoing support, including a mentor trustee.

In short, you’ll help ensure hundreds of thousands of young people every year gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate meaningfully in society.

What We Are Looking For

We’re looking for young trustees who bring fresh ideas, big-picture thinking, and a collaborative spirit. You’ll approach the role with openness and integrity, ready to learn, grow, and champion Young Citizens beyond the boardroom.

We welcome applications from young people aged 18–25 who are passionate about active citizenship and youth voice. You do not need prior board experience - training and support will be provided. We’re looking for potential, and learning as you go is part of the role. If you have experience or interest in any of the following areas, that’s great (but not essential):

• Citizenship education or youth engagement
• Marketing, communications, or influencing
• Business growth and partnerships
• Digital innovation or technology
• Fundraising and income generation

We also welcome diverse experiences or educational backgrounds, including leadership, public service, law, finance, policy, or community involvement.

If you want to play an active role in guiding strategy and making decisions that matter, ensuring hundreds of thousands of young people every year have the skills and confidence to engage fully in society, we’d love to hear from you!

Role Requirements

The role requires around 4–6 hours per month, including preparation and engagement between meetings. Trustees attend four board meetings a year (usually weekday evenings in London), monthly online finance updates, and an annual Away Day. Appointments are for an initial three-year term, with potential renewal. While day-to-day operations are led by the Chief Executive and senior team, trustees hold ultimate responsibility for governance and compliance. 

To learn more about the role and the application process, please refer to the job pack for full details.

Education Volunteer Role Description 

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

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

Why do we need you? 

Laura Chepner is our Education Officer, and she is looking for a volunteer to support her in her role. Laura has a background in education, with a degree in Primary Education which preceded a decade of teaching and a short stint in the role of SENco (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). Shortly after that, Laura theorised vegan-inclusive teaching, published An Educator’s Guide for Vegan-Inclusive Teaching and worked as the UK’s first vegan-inclusion education specialist until joining The Vegan Society. 

At The Vegan Society, Laura supports vegan learners in education who have been discriminated against by acting as an intermediary between their families and the institution. Additionally, Laura supports educators by creating resources and delivering training sessions on what it means to be vegan-inclusive in their practice. Furthermore, Laura empowers parents/guardians to ask for vegan-inclusion by creating documents, with the help of The Education Network, that they can present and highlight their rights. 

What does this role involve? 

We support vegan learners and their families by offering practical resources, including tips for discussing veganism with schools, understanding legal protections and addressing concerns like catering and inclusivity. Our resources aim to help create an educational environment where vegan families feel respected and valued. This role will involve creating resources for families and educators. For example, template letters, guidance on legal protections, policy review requests, learning materials for children and much more.

What training and support is available? 

The ideal candidate for this role will have a background in Primary Education and be comfortable working independently. However, we are always willing to invite volunteers along to staff training when possible and to deliver training on specific skills in-house, as identified throughout the volunteering period. This role is remote, so support from the Education Officer will be available through email and phone calls as required. Monthly reviews with the Volunteering and Engagement Officer will also be conducted to ensure the volunteer is happy in their role. 

What skills would be useful in doing this role? 

• Qualified teacher

• Good written English

• Competent using Microsoft Office

• A strong understanding of the aims, campaigns and tone of voice of The Vegan Society 

• The ability to work independently. 

What does my availability need to be?  

This is an ongoing role and tasks will be requested by Laura on an ad hoc basis, volunteers can accept or decline each task. Volunteering can be done outside traditional working hours and in any time zone, although meetings and staff support will only be available between 9am and 5pm UK time. We ask volunteers to commit to a minimum of six months to make the best use of recruitment and induction time and to get the best out of their volunteering experience.

Who does this role report to?

Laura Chepner, Education Officer and Kaya Gromocki, Senior Volunteering and Engagement Officer.

Volunteer Role: Training Designer / Trainer (Learning & Development)

Location: Remote (UK‑based)

Time Commitment: Flexible

The Heart of Our Development

Do you believe in the power of great training to transform confidence, skills, and futures? As the Ranger Cadets expand across England, we are building a world‑class Learning & Development function to support both our adult volunteers and our cadets (young people).

We are seeking passionate Training Designers and Trainers who can help us create engaging, practical, and inspiring learning experiences — all delivered remotely.

Whether you are an experienced L&D professional or a natural educator with a flair for designing learning journeys, this role is central to our mission of preparing every young person to be truly “Prepared for Life.”

Your Strategic Impact

As part of our Learning & Development Team, you will shape the training that underpins our entire organisation. You will help ensure our volunteers feel confident and supported, and that our cadets receive high‑quality, age‑appropriate learning experiences.

You may choose to focus on adult volunteer training, cadet programme development, or both.

You will lead on:

Training Design

• Creating engaging, accessible training modules for adult volunteers (e.g., safeguarding, leadership, youth engagement, first‑night readiness).

• Designing fun, structured, and developmental sessions for cadets aged 8–17 (e.g., life skills, teamwork, resilience, outdoor skills).

• Developing lesson plans, facilitator guides, e‑learning content, or activity packs.

Training Delivery (Optional)

• Delivering virtual workshops or induction sessions for new volunteers.

• Supporting cadet units with remote masterclasses or specialist sessions.

Curriculum Development

• Helping shape a national training framework that supports consistent standards across all Ranger Cadet units.

• Working with the Chief Ranger and Programme Leads to identify training needs and create solutions.

Quality & Evaluation

• Reviewing existing training materials and improving clarity, engagement, and accessibility.

• Gathering feedback to ensure our training remains relevant, modern, and impactful.

What We Are Looking For

Creative Learning Designers

You enjoy turning ideas into structured, engaging learning experiences.

Clear Communicators

You can explain concepts simply and confidently, whether in writing or during live sessions.

Organised & Reliable

You can manage your own workload and deliver training materials to a high standard.

Passionate About Development

You care deeply about helping volunteers and young people grow, thrive, and discover their potential.

Experience (Any of the Following):

• Learning & Development

• Teaching or youth work

• Curriculum design

• Training delivery

• Instructional design

• Or simply a passion for helping others learn

Why Join the Learning & Development Team?

Shape the Future of Our Organisation

Your work will directly influence the skills, confidence, and safety of every volunteer and cadet.

Build Your Professional Portfolio

Gain experience in curriculum design, e‑learning, facilitation, and youth development within a national charity.

Flexible & Remote

Perfect for those who want to make a meaningful contribution from home, on a schedule that suits them.

Create Lasting Impact

The training you design will empower volunteers and inspire young people for years to come.

Help Us Build a World‑Class Training Programme

Behind every confident volunteer and every thriving cadet is exceptional training. Help us design it.

RANGER CADETS

#PreparedForLife

Learning and curriculum designers wanted to help East London Waterworks Park deliver its environmental learning goals.

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. 

We are looking for volunteers to develop learning content and resources, such as lesson plans and educational materials, to support our environmental learning goals. This role will focus on creating school-friendly resources for our website and collaborating with educators to enhance our offerings.

The role would include:

• Developing online learning resources for our website (on-going project)
• Designing or tailoring existing lesson plans and activities for schools 
• Supporting the creation of ELWP’s Under 18s volunteering policy
• Supporting outreach efforts to promote ELWP’s existing learning programmes

Schools, universities and youth groups we've collaborated with include:

• Waltham Forest College 
• Henry Maynard Primary School, Walthamstow
• Buxton School, Leytonstone
• Kingsmead Primary School, Hackney
• Daubeney Primary School, Hackney
• UCL 
• Royal College of Art
• University of Westminster 
• Project Zero
• Voyage Youth 
• Loyola University Chicago 
• Vanderbilt University Nashville

We're looking for people to lead on these projects and facilitate the direction of the learning working group.

The Learning Circle currently meets monthly on a Wednesday evening at 8pm for an hour on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

Ideal candidates have experience in curriculum design, teaching, or educational resource development. Creativity, strong writing skills, and an understanding of outdoor or environmental education will be valuable. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role.  

Your support will help young people and learners improve their environmental knowledge of design and research as well as contributing to our community-owned park. This will in turn provide a sense of stewardship over the land once the park is created and student's ideas have been built into the park. Creating learning projects with educational institutions will also help our charity with the strategy to buy the land through showing the value of our environmental education programme before we create the park. 

You will have a significant impact on the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. By volunteering in this role, you will help shape the future of East London Waterworks Park as a community-led environmental learning space. This will also help our charity with the strategy to buy the land through showing the value of our environmental education programme before we create the park. If you’re interested in joining us, we’d love to hear from you!

Medaille Trust is one of the leading providers of support to survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK. We are working to provide refuge and freedom for survivors and fighting to see slavery in all its forms become a thing of the past. The need for this work has never been higher, there are more than 50 million estimated victims of modern slavery worldwide, and over 120,000 potential victims in the UK.

We operate ten safe houses and five outreach hubs, staffed round the clock by specialist staff, working with more than 600 men, women and dependent children each year.  We work to raise awareness in the UK and to provide preventive work in source countries. Our Pursue work helps survivors to engage with police and within the legal system to seek justice and to secure convictions against their perpetrators.

This role is based in the Hampshire area.

We are looking for Volunteers to help support us with coordinating and delivering activities, tasks will include:

•Organising and delivering activities for service user participation, which may include craft, arts, exercise/sport, education, wellbeing activities.

•Consulting service users to gain their feedback about what activities they would like to participate in.

•Helping to create a varied programme of activities.

•Offering a safe and comfortable experience for all service user, showing awareness of service users’ varying physical and mental well-being needs.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and have a wide range of experience and motivations for wanting to volunteer with us. Whatever your reason for deciding to volunteer, we want to make sure you enjoy your time with us and know just how much we value your support.

This role requires maturity, and an ability to engage with adults in a trauma informed way, while working alongside staff members to deliver the activities in line with agreed procedures and systems

Volunteers need to:

•Be at least 18 years old

•Be able to get to the venue in Southampton

•Be computer literate to be able to complete any online training

•Be able to regularly commit to volunteer monthly

•Be willing to have an enhanced DBS check

•Have knowledge and understanding of human trafficking issues or willingness to learn

•Have knowledge and understanding of mental health conditions or willingness to learn

•Have an understanding of the importance of professional boundaries in the role

•Have the ability to maintain confidentiality

This position is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

This role is restricted for females under the Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 and is subject to satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service checks.