Participation worker volunteer volunteer roles
Organisation: Manchester Young Lives
Locations: MYL Adventure Playgrounds (Wythenshawe, Moss Side, and Ardwick)
Time Commitment: Minimum one evening per week (3hrs)
Reporting to: Play and Youth Manager
Main contact: children, young people, staff/volunteers, parents/carers, partner agencies
We have several volunteering opportunities across our programmes.
- Play sessions: 4pm and 6pm (ages 6 to 13 years)
- Youth sessions: 6:30pm–8:30pm (ages 11 to 18 years
- Holiday playschemes: 12pm to 4pm (school holidays)
About the Charity
Manchester Young Lives is a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting children and young people aged 6–18years to develop confidence, wellbeing, and positive life skills. We provide safe, inclusive spaces where children and young people can play, learn, socialise, volunteer, grow and learn life skills through the power of play and youth work approaches.
Main purpose of the role
The Volunteer Play and Youth Worker will work both indoors and outdoors as a part of the team to support the delivery of play-based and youth activities for children and young people aged 6 to 18 years. Working alongside staff and other volunteers, the role helps create a safe, engaging, and supportive environment that promotes fun, learning, social and personal development.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the preparation and running of play and youth sessions to provide a varied, safe and stimulating environment in both indoor and outdoor settings.
- Help create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all participants
- Build positive, age-appropriate relationships with children and young people
- Encourage participation, teamwork, creativity, and positive behaviour
- Support children and young people with a wide range of needs, abilities, and backgrounds
- Assist with setting up, organising, and tidying activity spaces and equipment
- Work collaboratively with staff and volunteers to ensure sessions run smoothly
- Adhere to MYL policies and procedures in particular safeguarding, Health and safety, confidentiality, equality, diversity and inclusion.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- A genuine interest in working with children and young people aged 6–18 years
- Friendly, reliable, and approachable
- Ability to work well as part of a team
- Good communication and listening skills
Desirable
- Experience working with children or young people (voluntary or paid)
- Understanding of play work, youth work, or community-based work
- Creative, sporting, or practical skills to support activities
- Basic awareness of safeguarding and child protection
Personal Qualities
- Enthusiastic and positive
- Patient, caring, and supportive
- Respectful of diversity and inclusion
- Willing to learn and follow guidance
Training and Support
- Full induction into the charity and its services
- Volunteer training programme provided
- Ongoing support and supervision
What You’ll Gain
- Opportunities to develop skills and gain experience in play and youth work
- Work experience and training opportunities
- Hands-on experience working with children and young people
- The opportunity to make a real difference in young people’s lives
- A volunteer reference after an agreed period (usually 6 months)
Manchester Young Lives is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The highest priority is given to following guidance and regulations to safeguard children and young people.
Volunteers are required to undergo safer recruitment checks including an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Children’s and Young People’s Activities Volunteer
Help young carers enjoy safe, fun, worry-free breaks from their caring role.
You support children and young people aged 5 to 25 during trips, club sessions, workshops, and holiday activities. You help them meet others, grow in confidence, and enjoy time for themselves. The role involves travel across Solihull so you can attend events and activities when needed.
Your tasks
• Support the Lead Sessional Worker during planned activities and outings
• Help create a safe, welcoming, inclusive space
• Encourage young carers to join in and feel confident
• Follow safeguarding, risk, and safety guidance
• Attend team check-ins and required training
What you bring
• Experience with children or young people
• Calm, adaptable approach
• Confidence working in busy group settings
• Good communication and teamwork
• Flexible availability for evenings and school holidays
What you gain
• Meaningful impact on young carers
• Training and skill development
• Experience in youth support and group work
• A place in a friendly, supportive volunteer team
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Background information:
Harry’s HAT is a UK-based charity focussing on paediatric hydrocephalus. Our mission is to make life better for children and their families who are affected by hydrocephalus. We work towards this aim through:
• Awareness: raising awareness of paediatric hydrocephalus through workshops and training.
• Research: supporting research and funding training (for front-line medical, health and social care workers) to increase understanding of the condition.
• Signposting and support: directing families affected by the condition to organisations that can offer support, advice and guidance and by providing access to our peer-to-peer programme. We do not, however, provide advocacy.
We currently have a vacancy on our Trustee Board for an individual with experience in fundraising and income generation. The Charity is ambitious about extending its reach and ensuring that more families and professionals can benefit from our work. To achieve this, we recognise the importance of growing and diversifying our income.
Key responsibilities of the role:
• Actively participating in Trustee Board meetings.
• Attending quarterly Fundraising and Risk Group meetings, held in the evening for approximately 1.5 hours.
• Working closely with the CEO to support the fundraising pipeline and to ensure all grant applications complement the mission and values of the charity.
• Working with the CEO and other Trustees to strengthen the charity’s fundraising strategy and ensure it aligns with our long-term goals.
• Supporting the development of sustainable income streams, including grants, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and community fundraising.
• Providing ad-hoc input on subjects raised by the Trustee, staff, and volunteer teams.
• Voting on grant applications from medical professionals and clinical researchers. Trustee would also be able to participate in specific projects if they wished to.
Required skills and experience:
The ideal candidate will have experience of fundraising or income generation in a charity or relevant setting. The key attributes for the role are as follows:
• Knowledge of different fundraising approaches such as grants, corporate partnerships, or community fundraising.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to display sound judgement and objectivity.
• Experience of working in partnership with healthcare or other relevant organisations or programmes.
• Clear understanding of the importance of safeguarding.
• Discretion when working with sensitive information, and strict adherence to confidentiality when required. Time commitment
• Attendance at six Trustee Board meetings per year (usually Sunday evenings, 18:00–19:30, via Teams).
• Attendance at quarterly Fundraising and Risk Group meetings (1.5 hours, evening).
• Attendance at two 1-2-1 meetings per year with the Chair of Trustees.
• Participation in the AGM and other relevant meetings as needed.
• Timely responses to communications from Trustees, staff, and volunteers.
• Completion of mandatory online training modules. Term and remuneration
• The initial term is 1–3 years, which can be extended by agreement.
• This is a voluntary role. Out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.
• All new Trustees, including the Vice Chair, will serve a 3-month probation period.
#trustee #fundraising
We’re a small, family-led charity dedicated to improving life for children and young people with hydrocephalus.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.