Live volunteer roles

Who are Governors for Schools?

Governors for Schools operates across England and Wales to improve educational standards and ensure all children and young people have the chance to realise their full potential.

We believe the key to improving school performance is effective governance. By finding, nurturing and supporting a committed network of governors, we drive positive systematic change that benefits each and every student, regardless of their background.

Governors for Schools recruits and matches volunteers with school governing boards and provides ongoing support.

What’s involved?

There are governor vacancies across England and Wales. Some schools are also looking for remote governors who don't need to live near the school they support.

Governors volunteer at board level to set the strategic vision for their school. This involves constructively challenging current processes, using your unique skills to support senior leaders, and overseeing school finances. You’ll be involved in areas such as monitoring, budget management, and data analysis. As well as putting your expertise to good use, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your professional skills. Ultimately, you’ll work towards facilitating the delivery of a broad and exciting curriculum and oversee wellbeing and inclusion initiatives. Governance represents a fantastic opportunity to develop yourself while making a real impact on the education of children and young people.

Governors work collaboratively with the headteacher and other members of the board, including parents and school staff. In most schools, full board meetings are held termly, as are committee meetings. Many governors will sit on a committee linked to their expertise or interests, such as teaching and learning or finance and resources. In addition to attending meetings, governors will need to read the papers in advance, complete training courses, and occasionally visit their school.

Governors usually support schools for a period of four years and with an estimated time commitment of 7 hours per month. During these hours, you will attend meetings, read papers, attend training sessions, and make occasional visits to school.

Who can be a governor?

The most important part of being a governor is the ability to ask questions, provide support and have the best interests of the school at heart. You don't have to be a parent or have experience in education to become a governor. Schools seek a  wide range of skills to support the board, including finance, HR, and data analysis.

Boards also need governors with a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences to ensure a range of perspectives are considered during board meetings.

Schools welcome professional experience, as well as community insight and experience of working collaboratively.

You need to be aged 18 or above and there are certain criminal convictions that would exclude you from the role. A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be carried out by the school.

What’s the process?

You can find out more about the school governor role by attending one of our recruitment webinars.

You can complete your online profile on the website, including your motivation to take on the role, your skills and your school preferences. Your regional Partnership Manager will then look at vacancies that match your requirements. Once a school is identified, you will have the opportunity to discuss the role with them in more detail, visit the school, and observe a meeting. If appointed, a DBS check will take place and, in some cases, the school will seek references.

Ongoing support

Governors for Schools isn’t just a matching service. We want to help you thrive in your role through bespoke and ongoing support. We provide eLearning and monthly webinars covering a variety of topics to increase your knowledge of the education sector and governance. You’ll also have access to The Key for School Governors, an information hub designed to show new governors the ropes and offer a useful point of reference for existing governors.

Who are Governors for Schools?

Governors for Schools operates across England and Wales to improve educational standards and ensure all children and young people have the chance to realise their full potential.

We believe the key to improving school performance is effective governance. By finding, nurturing and supporting a committed network of governors, we drive positive systematic change that benefits each and every student, regardless of their background.

Governors for Schools recruits and matches volunteers with school governing boards and provides ongoing support.

What’s involved?

There are governor vacancies across England and Wales. Some schools are also looking for remote governors who don't need to live near the school they support.

Governors volunteer at board level to set the strategic vision for their school. This involves constructively challenging current processes, using your unique skills to support senior leaders, and overseeing school finances. You’ll be involved in areas such as monitoring, budget management, and data analysis. As well as putting your expertise to good use, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your professional skills. Ultimately, you’ll work towards facilitating the delivery of a broad and exciting curriculum and oversee wellbeing and inclusion initiatives. Governance represents a fantastic opportunity to develop yourself while making a real impact on the education of children and young people.

Governors work collaboratively with the headteacher and other members of the board, including parents and school staff. In most schools, full board meetings are held termly, as are committee meetings. Many governors will sit on a committee linked to their expertise or interests, such as teaching and learning or finance and resources. In addition to attending meetings, governors will need to read the papers in advance, complete training courses, and occasionally visit their school.

Governors usually support schools for a period of four years and with an estimated time commitment of 7 hours per month. During these hours, you will attend meetings, read papers, attend training sessions, and make occasional visits to school.

Who can be a governor?

The most important part of being a governor is the ability to ask questions, provide support and have the best interests of the school at heart. You don't have to be a parent or have experience in education to become a governor. Schools seek a  wide range of skills to support the board, including finance, HR, and data analysis.

Boards also need governors with a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences to ensure a range of perspectives are considered during board meetings.

Schools welcome professional experience, as well as community insight and experience of working collaboratively.

You need to be aged 18 or above and there are certain criminal convictions that would exclude you from the role. A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be carried out by the school.

What’s the process?

You can find out more about the school governor role by attending one of our recruitment webinars.

You can complete your online profile on the website, including your motivation to take on the role, your skills and your school preferences. Your regional Partnership Manager will then look at vacancies that match your requirements. Once a school is identified, you will have the opportunity to discuss the role with them in more detail, visit the school, and observe a meeting. If appointed, a DBS check will take place and, in some cases, the school will seek references.

Ongoing support

Governors for Schools isn’t just a matching service. We want to help you thrive in your role through bespoke and ongoing support. We provide eLearning and monthly webinars covering a variety of topics to increase your knowledge of the education sector and governance. You’ll also have access to The Key for School Governors, an information hub designed to show new governors the ropes and offer a useful point of reference for existing governors.

Role Purpose
To support refugees and asylum seekers in developing their English language skills (ESOL – English for Speakers of Other Languages), helping them to build confidence, integrate into the community, and access education, employment, and essential services.

Key Responsibilities

· Assist in delivering ESOL classes to adult learners at varying levels of English proficiency

· Support learners one-to-one or in small groups with speaking, listening, reading, and writing

· Help prepare learning materials and classroom activities

· Encourage participation and build learners’ confidence in using English in everyday situations

· Provide informal conversational practice and support

· Offer cultural orientation where appropriate (e.g., local services, daily life in the UK)

· Monitor learner progress and provide feedback to the ESOL coordinator

Skills and Experience

· Good standard of written and spoken English

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills

· Patience, empathy, and cultural sensitivity

· Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds

· Teaching or tutoring experience essential

· TEFL/ESOL qualification essential

Personal Qualities

· Supportive and encouraging attitude

· Reliable and committed

· Flexible and adaptable

· Interest in refugee support and community integration

· Time Commitment - typically 2 hours a week (flexible depending on availability)
Minimum commitment of 6 months preferred

Training and Support

· Induction and ongoing support provided

· Supervision from ESOL coordinator or lead tutor

· Benefits of Volunteering

· Gain experience in teaching and community work

· Develop cross-cultural communication skills

· Make a meaningful impact in the lives of refugees and asylum seekers

Be part of a supportive and welcoming team

Change a life. Mentor a Fatherless Boy. 

Who are we? 

At Chapter2, a Reading-based charity that mentors fatherless boys through a network of 1:1 male volunteers. Our mentoring is long-term and activity based in order to develop meaningful trusted relationships that can have a positive impact on a boy's life. 

What sort of person are we looking for? 

If you are a man living within a 45-minute drive of Reading, Berkshire, then we’d love to hear from you. We recruit, train and match men with boys aged 8 - 16 that do not have a healthy male role model. Our mentoring is activity-based, and we match mentees with a mentor based on their shared interests. You will be committed to walking alongside your mentee for a minimum of 2 years; meeting him for 1-2 hours a week/fortnightly. Most of the mentoring is doing normal activities a father might do with his son ie go for a bike ride, kick a football around, take a walk, etc. We also offer montly group activities that you and your mentee can access for free. In the past these have included paintball, laser tag, bushcraft, footgolf, beach day, go karting, rock climbing, etc. 

What do we offer you? 

You will receive high-quality training at the beginning of your mentoring journey, as well weekly check-ins from your mentor manager, who will support you throughout your time as a mentor.  Additional training is also provided throughout your mentoring journey. Most activities mentors do with their mentees is free, but we do cover some expenses if an activity has an associated cost. 

How do I apply? 

Register your interest on our website and we’ll send you an email within 1 working day. 

Safer Recuritment

The safeguarding and well-being of our mentees is of the utmost importance, and applicants will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check and, where necessary, an overseas background check.

There is also an assessment process which includes an application, references and interview.

Successful applicants will also be required to complete Basic Safeguarding training. 

Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading youth charity for enterprise and financial education, helping young people develop the skills, confidence, and mindset they need to thrive in work and life.

Since our founding, we have supported 7.2 million young people through financial and enterprise education opportunities. Through our ambitious 2024–2030 Transforming Futures strategy, we are working to ensure every young person has access to the financial education, enterprise capability, and work readiness they need to succeed.

We are seeking to appoint three new Trustees to join our Board at an exciting and pivotal time for the charity.

We are particularly interested in candidates with senior expertise in one of the following areas:

• Finance – ideally a qualified accountant interested in chairing our Risk and Audit Committee

• Governance – with experience in employment law and/or charity law

• Human Resources – senior-level HR leadership experience

We are looking for strategic and community-minded individuals who can help strengthen our governance, guide our future direction, and support our mission to improve life chances for young people across the UK.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting strategic leadership and governance

• Safeguarding the charity’s financial stability and reputation

• Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance

• Providing specialist expertise to Board discussions and decision-making

• Acting as ambassadors for Young Enterprise and our mission

We are particularly interested in applicants who offer:

• Strong strategic thinking and sound judgment

• Commitment to young people and social mobility

• Collaborative leadership and communication skills

• Understanding of good governance

• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and safeguarding

We strongly encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with lived experience of disadvantaged communities or supporting young people facing barriers to opportunity.

This is an unpaid role with reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed. Trustees are expected to attend Board meetings (primarily London-based), undertake training, be willing to participate in committee work if applicable, and contribute approximately 7–10 days annually. Appointments are for an initial three-year term, with potential reappointment for up to six years.

Keeping Young People Safe

We are committed to keeping young people safe. All successful candidates will undergo an enhanced DBS (England & Wales) check and receive safeguarding training.

At Young Enterprise, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful candidates will receive ongoing safeguarding training throughout and be expected to uphold excellent safeguarding practice at all times.

How to Apply:

Please refer to our information pack for full details.

To apply, please send:

• An up-to-date CV (PDF format)

• A supporting statement (maximum two sides of A4) outlining your suitability for the role, based on the essential criteria in the person specification

Applications should be received by 23:30 on 31 July 2026. We will be assessing applications on a rolling basis and may shortlist and invite candidates to interview before the closing date.

At YE we are passionate and committed to keeping your data safe and secure.  Full details can be found in the YE People’s Privacy Notice.

Join us in shaping brighter futures for young people across the UK.

Our vision for volunteering

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

The difference you will make to cats and people

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising volunteers use their passion for cats and people to raise the vital funds needed to help more cats and kittens in need. As a fundraising volunteer we want to support you to fundraise in whatever way suits you best, whether that’s organising a fundraising event, fundraising online, promoting fundraising activities on social media, completing administration or supporting the development of new fundraising ideas! Whatever your skill set, this could be the role for you! 

What you can expect us to

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

What we need from you

This is a really flexible role – you can choose what you’d like to get involved with, for example:

• face-to-face fundraising. Organising or helping with fundraising events, running supermarket collections and fundraising stands, monitoring collection tins 
• online fundraising. Setting up online appeals and writing impactful cat case studies that maximise donations
• marketing. Spreading the word about our fundraising activities, for example on social media and with the local press
• completing administration. Processing donations, sorting and recording donated goods, completing Gift Aid paperwork
• championing our work. Getting involved with developing new fundraising ideas and increasing community engagement
• photography. Capturing images of cats in care, cats we are helping, events and all things Cats Protection
• You’ll need to be aged 18+ to volunteer in this role. If you’re aged 16-17, you’ll need to be supervised by a friend, family member, or guardian over the age of 18 in order to carry out any fundraising activity.

Time expectation

This is a flexible role that can fit around your other commitments to suit you. You’ll be part of a team raising vital funds while having fun in the process!

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

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

Our Interview Style & Vision

At Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil, we believe some of the deepest conversations happen outside of traditional media environments.

Nature creates openness, grounding, vulnerability, reflection, peace, and authenticity.

Our interview style focuses on:

• real conversations,

• emotional honesty,

• human connection,

• calm environments,

• and cinematic storytelling through authentic settings.

This is about creating meaningful experiences rather than manufactured media moments.

Key Responsibilities

Hosting & Interviewing

• Conduct emotionally intelligent and engaging interviews

• Create a safe, respectful, and comfortable environment for guests

• Guide meaningful conversations around lived experiences, healing, trauma, growth, transformation, and truth-telling

• Represent the platform professionally and compassionately

Story & Guest Development

• Identify and connect with potential guests and storytellers

• Build relationships with survivors, advocates, community voices, and inspiring individuals

• Help develop compelling story ideas and conversation themes

• Collaborate with outreach and production teams where stories are already sourced

Outdoor & Field-Based Filming

• Conduct interviews in natural or visually meaningful environments

• Ensure recordings are captured clearly and professionally

• Use high-quality smartphones or filming equipment where available

• Pay attention to lighting, sound quality, environment, and presentation

Examples of locations may include:

• beaches,

• riversides,

• forests,

• rooftops,

• mountain settings,

• parks,

• countryside locations,

• or culturally meaningful community spaces.

Community Representation

• Act as a positive representative of the platform and mission

• Build trust and connection within communities

• Help create conversations that encourage awareness, healing, empowerment, and education

Equipment & Requirements

Hosts should ideally have access to:

• Minimum a high-quality smartphone with strong video capability

• Reliable internet and communication access

• Basic understanding of lighting and filming environments

• Confidence communicating on camera and in public environments

Professional filming experience is welcomed but not required.

Authenticity, emotional intelligence, and communication ability are more important than perfection.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for individuals who are:

• natural communicators,

• emotionally intelligent,

• calm and grounded,

• confident speaking with people from different backgrounds,

• passionate about storytelling and human connection,

• creative and self-motivated,

• and aligned with the mission of truth, healing, and empowerment.

This role may suit people interested in:

• podcasting,

• presenting,

• journalism,

• media,

• storytelling,

• advocacy,

• mental health awareness,

• social impact,

• filmmaking,

• content creation,

• community leadership,

• or public speaking.

What You Will Gain

• Real-world hosting and interviewing experience

• Opportunity to build a public profile and media presence

• Portfolio-building opportunities across podcasting and storytelling

• Networking and relationship-building opportunities

• Experience working within a growing media and advocacy platform

• Creative freedom and personal growth opportunities

• Leadership and media mentorship

• Opportunity to develop your own audience and storytelling identity

• Potential future paid opportunities and long-term media career pathways

• Direct pathway into a future paid role

• The chance to help build a nationally recognised media and survivor-support platform

• COS opportunities for top performing staff members 

This role is designed as a long-term pathway opportunity to a paid position and lifestyle transformation.

We don’t operate on individualism—we build through collectivism, meaning:
  As the platform grows, your role, influence, and opportunities grow with it

The Vacancy

This voluntary role offers an opportunity to help ensure that Methodist investments are in line with our values and shape a more just world.  As a member of the Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment (JACEI), you would help advise the Central Finance Board, the body with legal responsibility for investment, on ethical issues, for example around climate, conflict, children, human rights or AI. 

Time Commitment

The time commitment is approximately 3 - 4 days each year, to include: preparation for and presence at JACEI committee meetings which take place four times a year, usually from 12.30pm - 3.30pm, and can be on zoom or in person at Methodist Church House, as well as other meetings, reading or correspondence as appropriate.

About You

We are looking for an experienced, committed person who has transferable skills.  This individual will:

• Be a member in good standing of the Methodist Church in Britain
• Be able to bring expertise or experience to the work of the committee.  This may be in ethics, business or theology, or in one of the areas of concern to the committee, for example human rights, climate or AI.  Such understanding may be gained through academic study, professional practice, voluntary activity, or lived experience.
• Be able to absorb details and think strategically
• Be curious and committed to ethical investment
• Be able to work as part of a team

If you meet most of the requirements, we encourage you to apply; transferable skills and experience will also be taken into consideration.

Informal Enquiries

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Revd Sheryl Anderson, Chair of JACEI. For questions or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact HR Team.

Key Dates

Closing date:12 July 2026

Shortlisting date: 21 July 2026

Interview date (online): 29 July 2026

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if sufficient applications are received. 

Our vision for volunteering

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

The difference you will make to cats and people

Our publicity team leaders have the important role of supporting a wider team of publicity volunteers. As a team our publicity volunteers collectively keep members of the public informed of the vital and varied ways we help our cats in need. Raising awareness is crucial to us being able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us. A higher profile can help raise funds, raise awareness of adopting a cat, promote neutering and encourage as many people as possible to learn about feline welfare.

You can expect us to 

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

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Communicating with others including newsletter, social media and website volunteers
• Advising others on the content of newsletters and web posts
• Interacting with others to make sure information is positive, accurate and consistent
• Liaising with your volunteer group and our Head Office to organise media campaigns
• Responding to local media requests if required

Time expectation 

Our publicity team leaders usually spend 3 to 4 hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

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

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

Our vision for volunteering

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

The difference you will make to cats and people

Unfortunately, thousands of cats each year are abandoned or have strayed and rely on charities like Cats Protection for help. Becoming a trap, neuter and return (TNR) volunteer is one way you can make a real difference to cats in your local area. Our TNR volunteers help reduce the number of feral cats by raising awareness of our TNR programmes, setting humane traps to safely capture cats, taking them to local vets to be neutered, and hopefully returning them back to their territory. Local TNR programmes are crucial, as feral and abandoned cats present a huge challenge for communities across the UK.

You can expect us to 

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

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Trapping cats using humane methods
• Taking cats to local vets to be neutered 
• Returning cats to their territory or finding a suitable alternative

The role might also include:

• Regular feeding of feral colonies
• Promoting neutering by building relationships with farmers, land owners and local businesses
• Liaising with vets to promote and arrange neutering 

Time expectation 

This is a flexible role and the hours will vary depending on the number of cats identified for specific TNR campaigns. Our current TNR volunteers spend about 2 to 3 hours per week in this role which can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed. 

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

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

Do you want to see more happiness and kindness in the world? We’re looking for dynamic Volunteers to be part of creating exactly that!

About the Role:

Our volunteers bring people together for shared online learning experiences, based on positive psychology, that boost the wellbeing of everyone involved.

Our groups and courses can be run online or in-person in your local area.

- The amazing 6-week Happiness Habits Course is designed to be run by pairs of volunteers.  It features expert videos, science-backed exercises and the chance to form meaningful connections. Our course has been specially designed to gather the insights of the world's leading experts on six fundamental aspects of a happy and meaningful life: Gratitude, Self-Care, Relationships, Resilience, Kindness, and Meaning. It is a very impactful (many say life-changing) experience.

- Alternatively, you can get involved by supporting a Monthly Group, bringing like-minded people together to learn evidence-based tools for creating a happier and more meaningful life. Explore the monthly themes and encourage people to set personal actions towards happiness, that support both themselves and others.

Volunteering with Action for Happiness is a path of action that consistently feels like you are making a difference in the world. You don’t have to be an expert - or be happy all the time. If you are a warm and enthusiastic person that is more than enough to get started.

Why Volunteer with Us?

Do something that matters: spreading happiness and witnessing people transform for the better is a huge source of meaning.

Grow your skills: inspiring others, learning together and reinforcing your own happiness skills all contribute to personal growth.

Build community: meeting like-minded people, building lasting friendships and belonging to a global community contributing to a better future for all.

How do I know it’s right for me?

Try out free VOLUNTEER TRAINING via the Action For Happiness website and decide for yourself.

We've designed it especially to help you answer questions like this as it explains thoroughly what being a volunteer involves and helps you reflect on your readiness.

What is the time commitment?

You'll need to set aside a couple of hours for the training initially and a few more for planning your course or group and connecting with your co-volunteer. Then you'll need a couple of hours per session for facilitating (x6 weekly sessions for a course, or x1 session per month for a group). 

- Apply today! Together, we can inspire change that ripples out through people’s lives, communities and the world.
 

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

Children With Voices runs transformative programmes for children and young people across Hackney — from alternative education and SEN support to holiday hunger programmes and youth activities.

As a Volunteer Junior Youth Worker, you'll be hands-on in those sessions — supporting our team to deliver safe, fun, and empowering experiences for children and young people.

If you care about children and want to build a career in youth work, education, or social care, this is the place to start.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Support programme leads in delivering youth sessions, activities, and workshops

• Build positive, trusted relationships with children and young people

• Assist with session preparation, set-up, and clear-down

• Support children with additional needs under the guidance of experienced staff

• Help ensure all activities are safe, inclusive, and enjoyable for every child

• Contribute to a welcoming and positive session atmosphere

• Report any safeguarding concerns immediately to the named lead

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

ESSENTIAL

• Genuine passion for working with children and young people

• Warm, patient, and able to connect with young people from all backgrounds

• Willing to learn and take direction from experienced staff

• Commitment to safeguarding and child protection principles

• Reliable, enthusiastic, and a team player

HELPFUL BUT NOT ESSENTIAL

• Experience working or volunteering with children or young people

• Studying or interested in youth work, education, social care, or a related field

• Knowledge of SEN support or trauma-informed practice

• First aid qualification (or willingness to obtain one)

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN

• Supervised, real-world experience in youth work and programme delivery

• A professional reference from our CEO and programme leads

• Exposure to alternative education, SEN support, and community provision

• A strong foundation for a career in youth work, education, or social care

• The chance to make a genuine, lasting difference to children's lives in Hackney

Our vision for volunteering

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

The difference you will make to cats and people

Without the passionate and committed teams of volunteers across Cats Protection we wouldn’t be able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us for help. The purpose of this role is to support the organisation with communications and administration at a local level. You’ll play an active part in the branch committee and support the branch with record keeping and planning, thus enabling more cats to be helped.

You expect us to

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

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Disseminating relevant organisation-wide information and updates to the branch volunteers
• Supporting engagement and communication between the branch and wider organisation
• Drafting committee meeting agendas and taking and sharing meeting minutes
• Supporting the efficient running of the branch by ensuring administration processes are carried out effectively
• Supporting the administration and update of the branch annual plan 
• Sign-posting queries from members of the public
• Keeping branch records and information up to date and secure, using Cats Protection systems – training will be provided

Time expectation

Our support volunteers usually spend 2-5 hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

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

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

Why we want you

Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, so we are growing our network of dedicated caseworkers.

Come and join our team! You will be making a real difference to the lives of those who need financial, practical, and emotional support. We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.

What you will be doing

• Arranging to talk with potential beneficiaries (on the phone or face to face) at a mutually convenient time
• Understanding peoples’ support needs and gathering information to assess their circumstances
• Typing written case reports to apply for financial assistance
• Sign-posting to services providing specialist support, such as mental health or housing support
• Keeping beneficiaries and the SSAFA regional office up to date with progress

The skills you need

• Friendly and approachable
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Non-judgemental
• Reliable
• Basic IT skills

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
• Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team
• Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Access a range of training and learning opportunities

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information.