Live volunteer roles

Are you someone who loves getting creative, catching a show, or simply enjoying a good chat over coffee and cake?

We’re looking for a friendly volunteer to spend time with a lovely lady with a learning disability who enjoys:

Arts & crafts Trips to the theatre Cooking and baking Scrapbooking And catching up over a cuppa and a slice of cake!

She’s looking for someone to share her interests, try new things together, and enjoy relaxed, sociable outings in the local community.

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

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

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

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

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

• Friendly and approachable
• Accepting of others who might be different to yourself
• Reliable and patient
• Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

• Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit
• Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training
• Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed
• Meet new people
• Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

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

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

We are looking for a friendly, patient befriending volunteer to visit a lovely gentleman in New Southgate. He is keen to find an attentive listener who will show an interest in hearing his imaginative stories and will giggle at his jokes. He would love for someone to accompany him to McDonalds for a treat, to join him in a bit of music trivia, or sometimes for just a cup of tea and a chit chat.

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

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

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

- Sitting and having a chat

- Checking in on their well- being

- Going out to a local café/pub for a meal/drink

- Take part on community activities like visiting a place of interest, go shopping etc.

- Enjoying a walk

- A craft activity at home

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

- Friendly and approachable

- Accepting of others who might be different to yourself

- Reliable and patient

- Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

- Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit

- Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training

- Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed

- Meet new people

- Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

About Mencap

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

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

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

Are you looking for a fresh challenge that makes a positive difference to the lives of Young People throughout the UK?

At Childline we are actively recruiting new Volunteers. 

What will I be doing?

• Your shift will consist of 3hrs30mns counselling, sandwiched between a 15mns brief before your shift and a 30mns debrief post shift. This is to ensure that you can start and finish your shift with any support you require from your Practitioners.
• On shift you will take contacts from Young People who rely on the service that Childline offers. Childline is not there to solve problems, we are a listening service for Young People and in each contact your role is to engage the Young Person, explore their situation and to support them in deciding their next steps.
• The contacts you would take from Young People can come in 3 ways. Traditional phone call contacts, live chats via instant response typed messaging or less commonly via 'PIBS' which are essentially emails sent by Young People in the knowledge the response will not be 'live' and instant.

What impact will this have?

• Childline is a unique service, valued greatly by the Young People who contact us.
• It provides a safe place for Young People to talk confidentially to our Volunteer Counsellors, an option that many of them do not have elsewhere.
• Young People rely on us being there for them 24/7. In an average month, Childline London takes approx. 1,500 live chats, 900 voice calls and 300 PIBs.
• However, the demand for the service often outstrips the supply as Young People who desperately need our service cannot always get through.
• That is why we are actively recruiting new Volunteers to be able to meet the need of all Young People who are in distress and need the support that Childline provides.

Training

• Childline offers a full 12 week online training programme to new Volunteers. This consists of one 4 hour session per week.
• During the training, you will meet other Volunteers in your cohort and have access to your 2 dedicated Childline Trainers.
• As part of the training, you will also go in person to the London Base for observation and mentored shifts which give you a face to face insight into how the Counselling Room works.
• You will also have access to a dedicated Volunteer Engagement Lead to give you a London Base tour (optional) and generally be on hand to answer any questions or queries you may have - big or small, if they matter to you they matter because you are giving your time to volunteer and Childline wants to offer you every level of support.
• Once you pass through training and become a qualified Childline Volunteer Counsellor, the development opportunities do not stop there. You will have access to a multitude of mandatory and optional training courses that are accredited and 100% free to all Volunteers.

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is recruiting six volunteers to sit on our new Advisory Council, which will support the work of the organisation by helping to guide our strategy and direction, develop new thinking around our grassroot activism, research, campaigning and advocacy work, and strengthen our solidarity networks, coalitions and allyships, especially with and amongst marginalised and racialised communities. 

The Advisory Council will complement our governing board (the Steering Committee). The aim is for the Council to take a broader, more long-term and strategic view of CAAT’s activities, provide fresh perspectives, and expand our networks. The Advisory Council will not have responsibility for financial, legal, or HR oversight of CAAT.

We are particularly warmly inviting those with lived experiences of international conflict and structural violence, and those involved in anti-militarist and intersecting social activism in collectives and movements. We also warmly encourage applications from people from marginalised communities and groups, including but not limited to LGBTQ+, BIPOC, neurodiverse, and disabled people.

More details are available in the attached Recruitment Pack or on the CAAT website. 

Are you someone who loves getting creative, catching a show, or simply enjoying a good chat over coffee and cake? Maybe you enjoy painting, crafting, or exploring local galleries, or perhaps you love trying new cafés, going for walks, or just sharing stories and laughs. As a volunteer visitor, you can turn your passions into friendship, spending quality time with someone who’ll appreciate your company, your hobbies, and your enthusiasm.

Watch a video about this volunteer role here

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

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

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

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

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

• Friendly and approachable
• Accepting of others who might be different to yourself
• Reliable and patient
• Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

• Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit
• Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training
• Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed
• Meet new people
• Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

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

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

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

The Role

Our Lotus Community works alongside the City of Edinburgh Council to provide accommodation for 14 young people (aged 16-18), who are unaccompanied asylum-seekers. They come from a variety of different countries.

The community is a step towards independent living, whilst they await a decision about their ‘leave to remain’ in the country. The asylum procedure can be a long, complicated, overwhelming and challenging process. We support the young people in the best way during this stressful time (and after). They are supported by social workers and a guardianship service as well.

What will you do as a volunteer?

We are looking for highly motivated individuals who work well independently, are proactive and can get involved in community activities. You will support the residents of the community and help look after your shared spaces in the flats. Most of the residents have basic living skills, including cooking, cleaning and budgeting. We offer further support where needed.

We can also help them gain confidence and knowledge of the local area. This is to enable them to take further steps towards independence and integration in the local community. This is also with the purpose of them moving on to accommodation that better suits their needs in the future.

Depending on the season, and interests and abilities of the residents, your tasks can include:

• Being a peer mentor and staying in touch with the residents via WhatsApp
• Organise our monthly community meeting
• Organise activities, which can be walks, cycling, board games night, karaoke, tea and cake (whatever your interests) for the residents to come along.
• Reporting issues with the flat, repairs etc.
• Making sure that all rooms always have the equipment needed (cleaning products, toilet roll, hand sanitiser, condoms etc).
• Updating your (online) calendar for the week, so everyone knows when you are volunteering and not.
• Working together with your fellow volunteer(s) to organise activities and arrange rota.

What you get:

Location: You will live in a studio bedroom in the flat alongside the young residents. You will not pay for rent or bills (including internet).

Time: 20 hours per week for minimum 6 months. These are during the evening and weekends, with exception for a few hours spent in meetings and alike.

You can volunteer and work part time at the same time. You will organise your volunteering hours with the other volunteer.

We will provide support and training needed for you to engage with the tasks and young people in a safe manner. Support, supervision and team meetings are every month.

ABOUT US

AkiOke Music Club is a CIO run by a small group of like-minded individuals, passionate about empowering young people with disabilities through music.

The AkiOke vision is to provide a fun and inclusive social environment for attendees to explore music, build confidence, and connect with others by singing.

Our aim is to provide a regular music/vocal training session using a range of technology to enhance singing experiences that encourages participation and social interaction for vulnerable young adults.

JOB FUNCTION

The post-holder will co-lead on the setup and delivery of AkiOke, a grassroots music and karaoke club. This joyful and inclusive weekly music-based social group is for adults with mild learning difficulties. You will work closely with a young adult with lived experience, who initiated the project and serves as its creative lead.

This role also involves collaboration the Volunteer Coordinator and Trustees, ensuring that all operations are guided by the lived experiences of participants and supported by sustainable outreach and funding strategies.

You will develop strategic and campaign plans and assist marketing volunteers in delivering effective, inclusive campaigns.

The Right to work in the UK is required for this post.

DBS will be required

Please see attached the full job description

In this role, you will build relationships and connect with people, places and organisations to raise awareness of stroke and of the Stroke Association within the community. By building these relationships you will contribute to improving the experience of people affected by stroke where they live and work. 

What would you be doing

• Providing a valuable extension to our teams based within local areas across Wales. 
• Build relationships with people, places and organisations to raise awareness of stroke and the Stroke Association. 
• Engaging with your local community to represent the Stroke Association. This could include delivering presentations or talks (either face to face or digitally), attending fundraising events or sharing your experience of stroke to others. 
• Helping to set up and support Stroke Café Groups. 
• Attending information points at community events or at local hospitals. 

What will you bring to the role?

You have…

• The passion and enthusiasm to raise the awareness of stroke and the Stroke Association. 
• Ability and willingness to share how people affected by stroke can access support from the Stroke Association. 
• An enjoyment of talking to people and communities, either one to one, or presenting to groups. This includes speaking to groups or individuals face to face or online digitally. (This is available to you only if you feel confident to do so – it is not a strict requirement of the role). 
• A keenness to demonstrate our values, and to help improve care and support for stroke survivors. 
• The ability to travel to venues and events by yourself. 
• A willingness to use technology e.g. Zoom and Microsoft Teams to engage with people outside of your local area, and our intranet and learning platform to access resources and training 

Requirements of the role:

• Must be 18+
• Ability to travel around your local community. 
• Have empathy and compassion for stroke survivors.
• Enjoy interacting with stroke survivors, community groups and local businesses.
• Ideally have lived or personal experience of stroke.
• Availability of a minimum of 2 hours on a weekly basis. 

What the role can offer you personally 

• Support with learning new skills – Full training provided. 
• Meeting new people, building a network and engaging with your local community. 
• In this role, you will build relationships and connect with people, places and organisations to raise awareness of stroke and of the Stroke Association within the community. By building these relationships you will contribute to improving the experience of people affected by stroke where they live and work. 
• You’ll have an opportunity to get together (either face to face/digitally) with other Community Connectors from your locality to discuss local priorities and opportunities 

Interested in applying?

If you are interested in applying, please contact: 

• Sally Head, Volunteer Manager. 

Our vision is for there to be fewer strokes, and for people affected by stroke to get the help they need to live the best life they can. 

Our core purpose is to be the trusted voice of stroke survivors and their families. We want to drive better outcomes in stroke prevention, treatment and lifelong support for everyone affected by stroke.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

You’ll play an important role in taking time to listen to people in crisis, understanding what’s driving their poverty and identifying agencies they can be referred to for specific help. You’ll enjoy being alongside an enthusiastic team of volunteers. Using your empathy, confidentiality and motivation to support others you will truly make a difference and help to change lives.

What you will be doing;

• Listening to clients who visit the centre for food – providing a non-judgemental ear
• Looking at ways we can help them further

Trustee Opportunity – Finance

International China Concern UK (ICC UK)

About Us

International China Concern (ICC) is a Christian development organisation dedicated to changing lives for children with disabilities in China.

• Mission: To ensure every child with a disability in China is embraced by love, fueled by hope, and empowered with life-changing opportunities.

• Vision: All children with a disability living fulfilling lives in a welcoming society that accepts and respects them.

As China continues to evolve economically and socially, ICC is keeping pace to meet today’s needs and anticipate tomorrow’s opportunities. We envision a future serving tens of thousands of children with disabilities and their families, while overcoming prejudice in the communities in which they live.

The Role

We are seeking two Trustees with strong financial management experience to join our Board and serve on our Finance Sub-Committee.

Commitment:

• 4–5 trustee meetings per year (2 in person, 2–3 online)

• Additional Finance Sub-Committee meetings (online and/or in person)

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide financial oversight and governance to ensure ICC UK’s sustainability, compliance and financial stability. 

• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the charity’s funds are invested properly.

• Contribute to strategic decision-making and risk management

• Support the Finance Sub-Committee in managing investments, reviewing budgets, reserves, financial reports, and policies

• Champion ICC’s mission and vision, acting as an ambassador for our work

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in financial management or accounting or auditing 

• Understanding of charity finance and trustee responsibilities

• Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate complex financial information clearly

• Commitment to ICC’s mission and values

• Committed Christian, able to provide a church reference

• We welcome a diverse board of trustees, including people from across the UK, ages, ethnic groups. 

Why Join Us?

By becoming a trustee, you will play a vital role in ensuring that children with disabilities in China not only survive but thrive. Your expertise will help ICC UK steward resources wisely, expand our impact, and build a more inclusive future. We offer a supported induction, training and mentoring as required. 

For more information about the role of a trustee, see this information from the Charity Commission: www(dot)gov(dot)uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3

How to Apply

If you are passionate about using your financial expertise to make a difference, we would love to hear from you. 

Please submit your CV and a 1-page cover letter outlining why you are suitable for the role and detailing your faith journey

#Trustee #Trusteeship #Finance #Finance Trustee #Trustee Finance Sub-Committee #Trustees #Board Governance #Board

We are looking for a patient and chatty volunteer to visit a lovely lady in Woodley, Reading. She loves soft, cuddly toys and rainmakers, and is known to enjoy a nursey rhyme or two! She is non-verbal, but understands everything you say to her, so a friendly and understanding approach is key. She would love to have you stop by for a cup of tea and a chit chat, and perhaps over time venture out for walks and shopping in the local community.

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

This is a Stop and Stay visit role, meaning that the person you’ll be visiting might have some verbal communication skills or they use sounds and/or facial/body expressions to communicate with you. The person you visit might choose to take part in simple activities or watch you doing the activities. Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions for things you can do. Visits will vary in length but tend to be around half an hour to an hour long.

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

• Sitting and having a chat
• Checking in on their well- being
• A craft activity at home
• Reading a book/magazine together

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

• Friendly and approachable
• Accepting of others who might be different to yourself
• Reliable and patient
• Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

• Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit
• Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training
• Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed
• Meet new people
• Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’re looking for frontend a web developer to help us create a groundbreaking web app that promotes sustainable living.

You will play a major role in implementing a series of design upgrades to improve the UX and ensure accessibility, browser compatibility and web standards. Your main task will be to convert design ideas into responsive HTML/CSS components.

What are we looking for?

UK based developers with experience of translating design files into clean, semantic HTML/CSS code and establishing component-based architecture. Ability to:

• Convert design mockups/wireframes into responsive HTML/CSS components;
• Build & maintain reusable component libraries to ensure consistency
• Collaborate with designers & developers to translate visual designs into functional code;
• Optimize components for maximum performance & scalability.

What difference will you make?

You will play a key role in delivering this groundbreaking app and in ensuring it reduces carbon footprints, and inspires and enables sustainable action across the population.

You will be at the forefront of bringing climate action into people’s homes across the UK, making sustainable living accessible and appealing to everyone – and driving real environmental impact.

The Plateful Café works to relieve poverty and isolation amongst refugees, asylum seekers and ethnic minorities in Lewisham. Our commitment is to reach the most vulnerable people in our community and help them access the support they are entitled to. The refugees training or employed by the Plateful Cafe will benefit from workshops, training skills and knowledge relevant for the catering industry. 

As a small charity, it is important to share information and updates through our communications and social media content, to help us fundraise and grow. We are looking for someone to assist us on creating copy for our blog as well as help with creating content for our newsletters, social media, print media and other promotional material over time.

With the launch of the physical Plateful Cafe taking place soon, this summer is an exciting time to join us.

Requirements: 

• Excellent communication skills in fluent English

• Has 1+ years experience of social media, copywriting, journalism, blog content creation, interviewing or similar skills (this does not have to include published work)

• Able to create interesting and engaging content

• Good computer skills

• Good time management skills

• Engaging and friendly

• Good team player

Desirable:

• Basic digital photography and editing skills

• An interest in supporting refugees and contributing to the work of Plateful Cafe

• Experience of working with refugees, people seeking asylum, vulnerable groups or lived experience

• Lives in London with ability to attend events and markets