Patient support volunteer volunteer volunteer roles

Do you enjoy walking, meeting others and having a good chat? If so, we have the perfect volunteering role for you!

Join our team and inspire others to exercise through a weekly walk. You will create an opportunity for people to support each other, provide that additional boost to exercise and go for a walk even when they may not be feeling the motivation.

What you will be doing

• Coordinate and facilitate weekly walks in local parks to the service alongside other volunteers
• Meet with the walking group weekly
• Hold conversations with people attending the group, checking in on their wellbeing and providing a listening ear/friendly face
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages participation

The skills you need

• Inspire and motivate people to attend the walking group
• Ability to identify, manage any possible risks that may arise during the walking group. Training will be provided
• Willing and able to go on a weekly walk lasting approximately 60-90 minutes
• Good communication skills
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

As a Co-opted Committee Member (CCM) on our Clinical Services Committee, you'll have nursing expertise and want to influence positive change, share your expertise, and help us deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care. This is an exciting opportunity to bring your skills and experience to help shape and oversee our clinical services.

A CCM is not a board member but an opportunity to contribute your specific professional expertise without the commitment or responsibility of a full trustee.

You will:

• Provide independent advice and scrutiny on clinical governance and service delivery.

• Support the committee in ensuring high standards of patient care and compliance with best practice.

• Bring your professional insight to inform decision-making and strategic planning.

What we're looking for:

• A proven commitment to improving palliative and end-of life care

• A senior registered nurse with experience in clinical practice and healthcare leadership.

• Strong understanding of clinical governance, patient safety, and quality improvement.

• Commitment to our mission and values, with the ability to work collaboratively.

• Knowledge of the national healthcare landscape

The role is voluntary, with a commitment of approximately 4 meetings per year.

Closing date: Monday 2 February 17:00

Interview date: Monday 9 February - morning

About WE Care Home Improvements

WE Care Home Improvements is a local, independent, and award-winning home improvement agency. Our mission is to enable more older and disabled people, those on low incomes, and other vulnerable people, to get the support they can trust to live independently in the home of their choice. We are also not-for-profit. Any money generated goes back into the organisation to support our clients and help vulnerable people pay for essential works that they couldn't afford themselves.

The impact of poor housing on health and well-being is well documented. It results in significant medical need, particularly for older people and is a contributory factor to a number of health conditions. The costs to the NHS are also very significant particularly around cold and damp homes and risks of falling. Falls are the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people and are a major precipitant of people moving to long term nursing or residential care.

Our vision is that all homes enable safety and wellbeing. We deliver this mission by being a values-based organisation. We work in a collaborative way and value all our colleague’s individual skills, experience, and knowledge. We also understand how important it is to support each other in order to deliver the best outcomes for clients. And we have flexible working arrangements to help ensure that our colleagues can maintain a good work/life balance.

Our colleagues know what a difference their work makes to the lives of local people. We live and breathe our organisational values, which guide our work from day to day. These are:

· We are experts

· We are resourceful

· We are caring

· We act with integrity

We provide home improvement services and products to increase independence, comfort, and mobility in the home. We support everyone aged over 60, as well as people of all ages who have a disability, are on a low income or coming out of hospital. Our support includes specialist advice on home adaptations and accessible bathrooms.

We also provide home improvement and repair services in the Bristol, Bath and Northeast Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, and South Gloucestershire areas. We provide help for individuals that are leaving hospital and completing minor repairs such as fixing a leaking tap. 

About the Making Space project

​​As the name suggest, our innovative Making Space service helps people with hoarding tendencies make space in their homes. This project was developed in partnership with the Psychology Department of Bath University and is funded by Bristol City Council. Compulsive hoarding is a hidden issue and can severely impact on people’s quality of life preventing them from living safely and comfortably in their homes. Hoarding is also associated with shame and people can be reluctant to work with support services.

We offer comprehensive training to our volunteers to help them build the trust of the clients they work with and develop a more complex understanding of an individual’s life experiences (often traumas) that lead to accumulating possessions. 

Since Covid our service has experienced unprecedented demand, and we are urgently recruiting for more volunteers in the Bristol area. We are looking for committed, enthusiastic and passionate volunteers who, after training, will help empower clients to manage their clutter. We adopt a therapeutic and patient approach with everyone we work supporting them to make their homes safe and comfortable. 

To get an insight into the lives of people with hoarding difficulties, click the link to watch this video.

​​What will you be doing and how often?

​Volunteering for our Making Space project is a unique opportunity to make a difference. Not only will you be helping people struggling with hoarding make more space in their homes, but you’ll build up a supportive and trusting relationship with them helping to overcome the stigma associated with the condition:

• Empower clients to understand why they gather possessions and why they find it challenging to let go of them.
• Build a therapeutic relationship with the client and together form a plan for clearing areas of the house and organising their possessions.
• Coordinate the clearance of the client’s items; ensuring they have consented to which items are being cleared and agreed to how they are being distributed (i.e. charity shop, recycled etc.).
• The role involves working on a 1-2-1 basis with your client in their home and often alongside a Making Space Caseworker. We will apply for an enhanced-DBS check, and you need to provide us with details of two referees who will be asked to complete a detailed reference for you. 
• The length of a visit is flexible, usually 2hrs every 7-14 days with a client.
• We will review how things are going with your client every 6-9 visits.
• Volunteers will work in liaison with Caseworkers and our Volunteer Coordinator, with mutual support from other Making Space volunteers.

Personal qualities

• ​​A passion for supporting vulnerable people with complex needs.
• ​Have a warm, empathetic and non-judgemental manner.
• ​The ability to accurately record your visits, have access to email and demonstrate basic computer skills.
• ​Good listener and patient and reliable.
• ​Have confidence to support people with complex needs on a 1-2-1 basis in what can be a challenging environment.
• ​​Have access to a car, bike or able to travel on public transport (all travel expenses will be covered). 

We are looking for a patient and chatty volunteer who can communicate with a clear and loud voice, to visit a lovely gentleman in his 70s in Woolwich. His love for music is something he would love to share with a visitor, enjoying the 50s, 60s and 70s through sound.

This gentleman is blind and communicates differently depending on the day. His engagement may fluctuate between quietly appreciating your company and loving a long chat. Your visit would be a gentle check-in — sharing a cuppa, a chat, and simply being present.

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 and, 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 Check in visit role, meaning that your visits are likely to be short - on average 30 minutes or less. Some of the people we visit may be unable to communicate with words. Sometimes the person might choose not to meet with their visitor. Your visit is however very important, and these are some of the things you could be doing on a visit:

• Checking in on their well-being and speak to support staff to get an update on how the person is doing

• You might be able to bring a treat that the person enjoys, like chocolates or fruit.

• Some people we support enjoy sensory experiences so items that will stimulate their senses can also help you create a sense of connection with the person you visit.  Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions.                                                              

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.

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.

Listen, learn and make a difference in shaping the future of end-of-life care. By listening to real experiences from patients, families, and healthcare professionals and capturing their experiences, you’ll ensure every voice is heard and every story matters.

Availability: 3 - 5 visits per month - flexible to suit your schedule

Why this role matters

End-of-life care is one of life’s most important stages. Your role will help ensure it’s delivered with compassion, dignity, and excellence. By listening to patients, families, and healthcare professionals, you’ll capture real stories and feedback that shape better care for the future.

What you’ll do:

• Visit local hospitals and engage with patients, families, and staff
• Conduct interviews and surveys to gather insights
• Record experiences sensitively and accurately in their own words
• Summarise key findings to support research and improvement initiatives

Why you'd be a perfect fit:

• Friendly and empathetic
• Enjoy listening to others
• Comfortable talking to people from all walks of life
• Passionate about making a difference

What you’ll gain:

• Full training, ongoing guidance and wellbeing support
• A Marie Curie email address for professional communication
• Wellbeing resources and recognition for your contribution
• Reasonable expenses covered

Perks:

• Travel and expenses reimbursed
• Access to discounts on shopping, dining, travel and more

Our busy Homework Club is part of our delivery of child and family support services, in order that low income and vulnerable families have improved access to services, employment opportunities and life chances.

Do you have some teaching or coaching exeperince either as a parent, classroom assistant or teacher? On Fridays afternoons from 3.30-5.30pm the Centre provides an after-school Homework club during term time. Children from three local primary schools, and a few from Year 7 attend the club.  Many come from families where English is a second language.

Volunteers sit on a table with 1 or 2 children and provide help with their homework, maths and English work mostly, and some reading.  Volunteers commit to one session a week on Friday (3.30 – 5.30pm). 

Our Mission

Each Person Matters: The Cardinal Hume Centre enables families, children and young people to overcome poverty and avoid homelessness.

What are we looking for?

• Ideally you have some experience in teaching, either professionally, voluntary or at home with your own children. 
• You are friendly, patient and can have rapport with children easily.
• Able to help with maths and English at primary school level. 

What is the time commitment?

• Ideally at least one academic term
• Fridays, 3.30 – 5.30pm at The Cardinal Hume Centre and we are trialing an outreach sessions at a local Library & Hotel on otger weekdays

How will you be supported?

• You will be supported by the Family Services staff team. 
• You will have access to wide range of e-learning topics.  Child safeguarding and fire safety awareness is mandatory for all new volunteers.
• You will be reimbursed for travel expenses.

Are you able to volunteer some time to make a difference to a national cancer charity?  We are looking for an experienced Executive Assistant that has some time each month to work remotely with occasional in person opportunities if desired, as a volunteer to support the governance of Neuroendocrine Cancer UK.

About the Charity

We exist to address the unmet needs voiced by the neuroendocrine cancer community, supporting patients and their loved ones with the physical and psychological burden of neuroendocrine cancers. Through awareness, research, better funding and support, we can give our community the attention it deserves.

Our vision is for a world in which people know how to recognise, diagnose, treat, care for, and cure patients with neuroendocrine cancer.

We are a Charity driven by strong values of equity, excellence, collaboration, honesty, transparency and integrity         

The Role

We currently have a Board of 7 Trustees that supports the Chief Executive and Leadership Team in the development and implementation of its Strategic Plan and the governance of the charity.  The Board is currently reviewing whether the current governance structure requires some development as the charity continues to grow.

The Executive Assistant to the Board is a new post to assist the smooth operation of the governance of the charity, in particular with the running of Board meetings.

Working remotely, you will assist the Chair and Chief Executive by organising hybrid and remote Board meetings, ensuring agendas are accurate and clear and distributed in a timely manner, confirming attendance, attending meetings remotely and providing summary minutes for approval.

Presently, there are 2 remote Board meetings each year, which last up to 2 hours and an away half day in London, which is a hybrid meeting.  It is likely that the number of meetings will increase to in the region of 5 a year.

You will be able to attend all these meetings remotely, although you will be encouraged to join the away half day meeting, but this will not be mandatory, and your travel and subsistence expenses will be paid.

As the Board embarks on a governance review, you will be given the opportunity to contribute your experience and thoughts to this process and assist the Chair with future Trustee recruitment.

It is envisaged that in addition to attendance of Board meetings, there will be an annual time requirement in the region of 20 to 30 hours a year, managed in your own time.

Skill Sets/Experience

Essential:

· Executive Assistant or Board Secretary experience

· Attention to detail

· Strong organisational skills

· Good verbal and written communication

· Microsoft products including Word, Excel and Forms

· Agenda setting

· Compiling PDFs of reports on shared drives/remote access

· Minute taking

· Remote meetings via Teams and Zoom including assisting with presentations

Desirable:

· Charity/third sector governance

Do you live in Wales and want to gain valuable skills, have new experiences, and support vulnerable people? We are offering 1 young person aged 18–25 the opportunity to volunteer for up to 4 months with the Portuguese Red Cross in Guimarães, Portugal from April - August 2026.

The Portuguese Red Cross in Guimarães supports the local community through a wide range of voluntary activities focused on social inclusion, education, health, and youth engagement.

Volunteers will be involved in several impactful projects, including:

• Supporting elderly people through digital inclusion and companionship
• Promoting healthy lifestyles and safety awareness among children and teenagers
• Assisting in shelters for homeless individuals and long-term care patients
• Organising creative and educational activities in schools, hospitals, and foster homes
• Helping with social media, fundraising, and community events.

Volunteers will stay in a shared house near the city centre, just a short walk from the Red Cross headquarters. The house includes shared bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and a terrace. Volunteering hours will not exceed 35 hours per week, and volunteers are entitled to two consecutive days of rest. While most weekends are free, occasional weekend activities may take place.

This is a fantastic opportunity to explore your interests, develop new skills, and make a difference in a vibrant and historic city. For more details on the role and the projects available, please refer to the full role description. The most important thing we want to see is your motivation for this placement!

Typical tasks may include:

• Assisting with educational games and workshops in schools and hospitals
• Supporting digital literacy sessions for elderly people
• Helping manage donations of clothes, food, and essentials
• Creating engaging content for social media and awareness campaigns
• Participating in climate change and health awareness projects
• Designing and leading your own community-based initiatives.

The volunteers will be working in a range of projects, which will give them the chance to explore the different kind of social action that the Portuguese Red Cross undertake in Guimarães.

This is a great opportunity to get involved in social action projects and find out what you are interested in. For more details on the role and the projects available, have a look at the role description. The main thing we want to see is your motivation for this placement!

Please note that only young people (aged 18-25) based in Wales can apply for this role. Depending on the situation at the time, we will either run an in-person selection day or run Teams interviews with shortlisted candidates.

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.

We are looking for a patient and caring volunteer to visit a man in his 50s who lives in a supported living home in central Leicester. He enjoys browsing holiday brochures, watching sports and films, and singing along to karaoke. A big fan of planes and football, he also likes cooking simple meals, gardening, and listening to music. He’s independent with many things like making drinks and snacks, and has a great sense of routine, plus, an impressive mug collection! If you enjoy good company and light-hearted activities, this could be a lovely match.

This is a Stop and stay, let’s get busy visitor role which means the person you will be visiting can communicate actively with you and take part in choosing or planning activities. As you get to know each our you may choose to ‘go out’ either with or without support from the staff that supports the person you visit. 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 an hour or longer, depending on what you 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 • Enjoying a walk • 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.

 | 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

Inclusive Boards is delighted to support Bowel Cancer UK in their search to appoint three new Trustees. 

Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. They support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease, and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.

Bowel Cancer UK is entering a defining period for the charity. Their strategy places bold focus on early diagnosis, improved treatment and care, accelerating research, and ensuring that every voice—especially those less often heard—shapes their direction.

About the Trustee opportunities:

We are seeking three talented and committed Trustees with a particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Professional healthcare (not only medics) with experience in research and caring for bowel cancer patients
• Fundraising / income generation

The charity is also keen for the Board to reflect more fully the UK-wide nature of their role and work, noting particularly that they don’t currently have a Board Member from Wales, as well as groups disproportionately affected by bowel cancer. For example, research shows that:

• Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with bowel cancer in an emergency setting. These are often at a later stage, when bowel cancer is harder to treat.
• Black people are more likely than white people to be diagnosed in an emergency setting, when bowel cancer is harder to treat.
• People from ethnic minority groups have a lower participation rate in the bowel cancer screening programme than white people.

Bowel Cancer UK is committed to widening the diversity of the Board to reflect a broad and inclusive range of backgrounds and skills, and would welcome applicants who reflect the diverse communities that they serve.

Are you a Farsi speaker looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community?
We invite you to become a volunteer for our Talking Bubble Project!

Many older adults and vulnerable individuals from the UK’s Farsi-speaking community experience loneliness and isolation. One of our female befriendees is especially keen to improve her English skills and would benefit greatly from a supportive volunteer who can help her build confidence through regular, friendly conversations.

What is the Talking Bubble Project?

A phone-based service that connects volunteers with individuals who may feel isolated or lonely. Through regular calls, you’ll help build friendships, brighten someone’s day, and offer emotional support — in a way that’s sensitive to their cultural and language needs.

In this case, we are looking for a Farsi-speaking volunteer with a good command of English, so conversations can be held in English while using Farsi as needed to ensure understanding and comfort.

Why volunteer with us?

✔ Support a fellow Farsi speaker in the UK
✔ Help someone practice and improve their English in a safe, friendly way
✔ Make a real difference in someone’s life
✔ Enjoy flexible volunteering hours
✔ Receive training, ongoing support, and a reference upon completion
✔ Boost your own sense of fulfilment and purpose

✅ What’s required?

✔ Completion of online Safeguarding Adults Level 2 training (funded by us)
✔ A DBS check (also fully funded)
✔ A kind, patient, and compassionate approach
✔ Ability to hold conversations in both English and Farsi

How to get involved:

Apply through the CharityJob website – no previous experience needed.
This opportunity is open to UK residents only.

Help us bring connection, confidence, and kindness to someone eager to grow.

This is a befriending role to visit a 75-year-old die hard Watford FC fan in Borehamwood. He is looking for a man to join him at home for a cup of tea, to watch Final Score with him, and in time perhaps take him in his wheelchair to feed the ducks nearby or to Church on a Sunday.

His mobility and verbal communication are limited, so patience and a loud, clear voice are key. It may take some time to get to know one another, but soon enough you’ll find you can get an enthusiastic thumbs up for football talk and maybe even a cheeky grin if you make an impressive joke!

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 will start as 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.

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