24 Recovery volunteer roles in East of England

We are seeking a dedicated and friendly person with a passion for cooking to cook a healthy community meal for our lunch service on Tuesdays and/or Fridays.

The community kitchen chef volunteers will play a vital role in supporting Mind in Camden’s wider group services, including the Healthy Minds Community Programme and Phoenix Recovery Service. We support adults (18+) living in Camden who may be experiencing mental health challenges, isolation, or social exclusion.

A key part of our services is providing healthy home cooked meals for our community members twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays). As a Community Kitchen Chef volunteer, you will gain valuable frontline experience cooking a community meal for adults with a range of mental health needs. You will work collaboratively with other volunteer chefs to design healthy menus that are guided by suggestions and requests from our community members.  You will be challenged to create delicious meals using a limited budget and minimising food waste.

*Please note we require a minimum of 6 months commitment to your volunteering role.

Role Yoga Teacher Volunteer

Service Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviours.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and compassionate volunteer with good interpersonal skills, preferably with some mental health awareness training and knowledge of addiction recovery, to teach women interested in enjoying the benefits of physical activity whilst improving their yoga skills.

Location Hackney

Commitment This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of the residents. It might be every week or fortnight ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

DBS This role will require us to carry out an enhanced check through the disclosure and barring service.

Activities Deliver yoga classes for women interested in enjoying the mental health benefits of physical activity whilst improving their skills. Preferably the applicant will have mental health awareness training. At a minimum, you will have an understanding of addiction recovery and be sensitive to mental health struggles including eating disorders and body image difficulties.

Support § Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training § Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed § The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons

Role: Fitness Coach Volunteer

Service: Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviours.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and compassionate volunteer with good interpersonal skills, preferably with some mental health awareness training and knowledge of addiction recovery, to offer 1-2-1 coaching to women interested in enjoying the benefits of physical activity whilst improving their fitness skills.

Location: Hackney

Commitment: This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of the residents. It might be every week or fortnight ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

DBS: This role will require us to carry out an enhanced check through the disclosure and barring service.

Activities: Deliver 1-2-1 fitness coaching for women interested in enjoying the mental health benefits of physical activity whilst improving their fitness skills. Preferably the applicant will have mental health awareness training. At a minimum, you will have an understanding of addiction recovery and be sensitive to mental health struggles including eating disorders and body image difficulties.

Support: Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training § Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed § The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons

Within CPSL Mind's serives, our trainined Peer Mentor "walk alongside" individuals on thier recovery journey as they work towards specific personal goals through 1:1 work or group support. This service is offered Monday to Friday between office hours. 

Aims of the service is to:

• Reduce loneliness and social isolation among adults
• Improve mental wellbeing and confidence through regualar social contact
• Encourage informal physical activity, including walking, gentle exercise and community particiaption 
• Strengthen resilience by supporting individuals to access public services, groups and wider community provision
• Reduce reliance on statutory support 

Volunteer Video Editor & Digital Content Creator

Hope and Vision Communities Charity – Reading

Time commitment: Around 4–8 hours per week
Location: Reading, with flexible/remote working

About the opportunity

Hope and Vision Communities is a Reading-based charity supporting people as they move on from residential addiction treatment. We provide safe, family-sized homes where residents can continue their recovery, build relationships, develop independence and find their place in the community. Alongside a place to live, we offer practical and emotional support, opportunities to work, volunteer, retrain and socialise, and a community where people can feel supported for as long as they need it.

We’re looking for a volunteer with a passion for video and storytelling to help us share more of this work. From community activities and events to the everyday moments that show what recovery and rebuilding a life can look like, you’ll help us create content that gives people a better understanding of Hope and Vision and the difference our community can make.

The main focus will be video editing, including short-form content for social media and longer-form videos for platforms such as YouTube and our website. There will also be opportunities to help us tell the wider Hope and Vision story, including our work supporting people as they move towards independent living and our plans to develop our communities further.

If you also have skills or an interest in graphic design or website front-end development, we’d be very happy to make use of those skills. These are an added bonus rather than a requirement — what matters most is your ability to create engaging content and your interest in helping us share the work we do.

What you could be working on

Depending on what’s happening across the charity, your work might include:

• Turning footage from community activities, events and interviews into engaging videos
• Editing short videos for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube Shorts
• Producing longer-form videos for YouTube and our website
• Adding captions, music, graphics and simple visual effects
• Creating different versions of videos for different social media platforms
• Helping us make the most of existing footage and content
• Coming up with ideas for new video content and ways of telling our stories
• Working with members of the team to understand what we want each piece of content to achieve

If you have ideas about how we could make our content more interesting, accessible or effective, we’d love to hear them.

Additional creative skills

There may also be opportunities to get involved in other areas if these are skills you enjoy using.

· Graphic design could include creating social media posts, thumbnails, posters, campaign materials or other digital assets.

· Website/front-end skills could include helping improve the appearance and usability of our website, creating or adjusting page layouts, or making small front-end changes using technologies such as HTML, CSS or JavaScript.

These areas are entirely optional. The core requirement is an interest and ability in video editing.

What would suit this role?

Whether you’re looking to develop your experience, take on a new creative project, or simply enjoy making videos and would like to use your skills to support a local charity, we’d love to hear from you. You don’t need to have worked for a charity before.

We’d particularly like to hear from you if you:

• Have experience with video editing software such as CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro or similar
• Understand what makes video content engaging on social media
• Have a good eye for pacing, composition, music and storytelling
• Can work independently and manage your time
• Are comfortable taking feedback and working with others
• Are reliable and able to commit around 4–8 hours each week
• Care about the work charities and community organisations do

Experience with graphic design, motion graphics, photography, branding or front-end web development would be a bonus.

What you’ll get from volunteering with us

This is a chance to create content that reflects the work we do at Hope and Vision Communities and the people and communities we support. You’ll be working with real footage from our activities, events and projects, helping to show the difference our work makes in Reading and the surrounding communities.

As well as developing your video editing skills and building your portfolio, you’ll help us share more of what we do with a wider audience. Your work will help us tell our stories, showcase the people we work alongside, raise awareness of the opportunities and support we provide, and encourage more people to connect with and support Hope and Vision Communities.

Time commitment

We’re looking for approximately 4–8 hours per week, although we can be flexible about when those hours are completed.

Some work can be done remotely, with arrangements discussed around the needs of the charity and the volunteer.

Interested?

If this sounds like something you’d flourish at, we’d be pleased to hear from you.

Please get in touch with Hope and Vision Communities with a brief introduction and, if available, examples of your previous video, design or digital work.

You don’t need to have a perfect portfolio or extensive professional experience. If you have the skills, creativity and enthusiasm to help us tell our story, we’d like to hear from you.

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing Group providing supported living accommodation for young women in recovery and receiving support with drug and alcohol issues.

A confident and experienced hypnotherapist, with appropriate qualifications and interest in working with clients affected by addiction. The successful applicant will be someone who can provide supportive and calming sessions tailored to the individual needs of the client to promote their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Activities

• 1:1 or group Hypnotherapy sessions for residents
• Provide a safe, relaxing, therapeutic environment for the activity to take place.
• Suitable candidates must hold a professional qualification
• Volunteers may be asked to have professional liability insurance

Support

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training.
• Volunteers have a named supervisor providing day-to-day support and encouragement.

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on your availability and the needs of service users.  It might be every week or fortnight, 3 to 4 hours, ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

Become a Community Discharge Support Service Volunteer and help someone get back on their feet when they come home from hospital.

What do Community Support Volunteers do?

Our friendly Community Support Volunteers visit people when they have come home from hospital, typically once a week for 4 – 6 weeks.

At a time when people are recovering and really appreciate a bit of extra help you could be supporting with shopping and light housework. But it’s often the company and encouragement of our volunteers that is appreciated the most as we check in and chat!

By doing this we help with recovery and reduce the chance of readmission to hospital.

You can also help from our office in Aylesbury  by making welfare and check in calls with our clients and helping to arrange these visits.

What you will get out of it

It's a great way to make a real difference to someone's life at a time they especially need it.

You'll be giving something back to your community

You get to be part of Age UK Buckinghamshire's volunteer team

Volunteers tell us they find this really rewarding and get lots out of it themselves.

What is expected of me?

Community Support Volunteers are expected to visit each client once a week for up to 6 weeks.

These visits are flexible, based on your availability.

Our office support volunteers are asked to help for 1 – 2 hours a week.

Volunteers complete a short relevant training session and provide references.

Are you passionate about health and wellbeing? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others through movement and mindfulness? We’re looking for a Yoga and Fitness Instructor Volunteer to support our service users at Medway Recovery House. This role is a fantastic opportunity to share your skills and promote physical and mental wellbeing in a supportive environment.

What you will be doing

• Leading weekly yoga or fitness sessions tailored to the needs of our residents
• Encouraging participation and creating a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere
• Supporting individuals in building confidence and improving their physical health

The skills you need

• Experienced and qualified in yoga and fitness
• A friendly, patient, and encouraging approach
• Good communication skills

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 - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors.

As a great communicator with ‘green fingers’ you will create a calm, nurturing environment in which to support the residents to gain gardening skills and to explore the possibility of growing their own food. 

Activities

Inspire the residents to take an interest in the outdoor space at Amy’s Place and involve them in the development of a regular gardening and/or food growing club.

Help residents to develop their gardening skills and knowledge specific to growing food, through group workshops and individually tailored support, guidance and encouragement.

Commitment 

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of the residents. It might be every week or fortnight ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

Requirements 

This role will require us to carry out an enhanced check through the disclosure and barring service.

Support 

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training
•  Reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed
• The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons

Service

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing Group providing supported living accommodation for young women in recovery and receiving support with drug and alcohol issues.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and compassionate volunteer with good interpersonal skills and a desire to teach guitar, who will support young women to develop their guitar skills and positively encourage their creative expression.

Location

East London.

Commitment

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on your availability and the needs of service users.  It might be every week or fortnight, 3 to 4 hours, ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

DBS

This role requires us to carry out a check through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Activities

• Providing guitar lessons to residents, as well as supporting their individual musical goals.
• Developing and delivering individual session plans and documented session outcomes in order to assist each resident’s personal growth.

Support

• Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training.
• Volunteers have a named supervisor providing day-to-day support and encouragement.

Breakfast Club Volunteer

Locations: Amadeus House, 18 Corfton Road, Ealing, London, W5 2HT

Timings: Each Tuesday morning approximately 10.00 – 12.00

About Waythrough

Waythrough provides specialist support across mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. We delivery high-quality, evidence-based services designed around the real needs of the people we serve.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through over 250 services - and it's all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

The Crisis Recovery House supports people experiencing a mental health crisis, as an alternative to hospital admission, where appropriate. It also helps individuals discharged from hospital who need a brief period of intensive support.

This volunteer role supports the smooth running of the Tuesday Breakfast Club, creating a warm, welcoming and safe space for people accessing the service. As a Breakfast Club Volunteer, you help set up the space, greet attendees, support light activities and conversation, and contribute to a positive community atmosphere. You play an important part in helping service users build routine, confidence and connection as part of their recovery journey.

Tasks may include:

• Prepare the breakfast area in line with Food Hygiene regulations (training can be provided) and service guidance.
• Set up equipment, supplies and the environment to ensure the session starts smoothly and clearing up at the end of the session
• Welcome all guests warmly, helping to create a relaxed and inclusive space.
• Keep an accurate register of attendees, ensuring food allergies and dietary needs are recorded appropriately.
• Prepare and serve hot drinks and toast, ensuring hygiene and safety throughout.
• Introduce new customers to the Breakfast Club and explain what they can expect from the session.
• Support introductions among service users to help build confidence and social connection.
• Encourage the use of weekly planners or similar tools to support routine-building and recovery goals.
• Help facilitate informal group conversations and light activities, where appropriate.
• Liaise with the staff member on duty regarding any safeguarding or wellbeing concerns.
• Assist with clearing and cleaning the space at the end of the session.
• Follow all relevant Waythrough policies, including safeguarding, confidentiality, information governance and health & safety.
• Support the development and potential expansion of the Breakfast Club, including new ideas for activities, themed mornings or discussions.

Skills/qualities we would like you to bring to the role:

• Warm, friendly and approachable manner when engaging with service users
• Good communication skills and the ability to make people feel welcome
• Ability to engage respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds
• Comfortable chatting informally and supporting light group conversations
• Awareness of personal boundaries and when to seek staff support
• Organised and reliable, with good time‑keeping
• Caring, understanding and non-judgmental approach towards people with lived experience
• Able to work as part of a team and take direction when needed
• An understanding of Waythrough – information is available on our website
• A genuine interest in being part of the mission and vision of Waythrough
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries, adhere to Waythrough policies and media guidelines, engage in supervision, and complete relevant training

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy:

• Discounts from various schemes

• Training and personal development

• A chance to make a real difference in people’s lives

• Free induction and role-specific training

• Support from experienced staff and regular supervision

• Opportunities to meet new people and develop your confidence

• Reimbursement for travel and agreed expenses

• Valuable experience that can support your personal or career development

Inclusion and accessibility 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

Gardening Volunteer

Location: Amadeus House, 18 Corfton Road, Ealing, London, W5 2HT

Timings: Flexible

About Waythrough

Waythrough provides specialist support across mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. We delivery high-quality, evidence-based services designed around the real needs of the people we serve.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through over 250 services - and it's all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

The Crisis Recovery House supports people experiencing a mental health crisis, as an alternative to hospital admission, where appropriate. It also helps individuals discharged from hospital who need a brief period of intensive support.

As a Gardening Volunteer, you’ll work alongside staff and residents to care for the garden at Amadeus House and to co‑create engaging gardening sessions. Together, you’ll help maintain an inclusive, therapeutic outdoor space by sharing gardening skills, supporting hands‑on tasks, and contributing ideas for seasonal or themed activities. Your involvement will help make the garden a shared, welcoming environment that supports residents’ wellbeing and recovery.

Tasks may include:

• Taking a lead role in the garden’s day‑to‑day care and upkeep, working collaboratively with staff and residents.
• Maintaining the garden so it remains safe, tidy, welcoming, and vibrant — including planting, watering, pruning, and general tidying.
• Organising and delivering gardening sessions with residents, teaching and learning basic gardening skills together in an inclusive way.
• Supporting residents with hands‑on tasks such as planting, weeding, composting, and harvesting.
• Planning and delivering seasonal gardening activities (e.g., spring planting, autumn tidy‑ups) in collaboration with residents and staff.
• Helping develop themed areas such as herb gardens, raised beds, or flower and vegetable plots, encouraging shared ownership and creativity.
• Accompanying residents on visits to garden centres or local green spaces as part of gardening projects.
• Bringing enthusiasm, encouragement, and imagination to help make the garden a therapeutic and enjoyable shared space.
• Fostering teamwork, creativity, and a sense of collective pride in the garden.

Skills/qualities we would like you to bring to the role:

• Hands-on gardening knowledge with an enthusiasm for helping others grow their skills.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, along with basic IT confidence.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to keep track of tasks and share updates with the team.
• A caring, patient and non‑judgmental approach when working with people with lived experience of mental health challenges.
• Reliability and good time‑keeping.
• The ability to work collaboratively with staff and residents, while also being comfortable taking initiative or following guidance.
• An understanding of Waythrough’s work and a genuine interest in contributing to our mission and values.
• A commitment to maintaining confidentiality, professional boundaries, and Waythrough policies, and to engaging in supervision and completing relevant training (including safeguarding, boundaries, cyber security, DEIB, and health & safety).

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy:

• Discounts from various schemes

• Training and personal development

• A chance to make a real difference in people’s lives

• Free induction and role-specific training

• Support from experienced staff and regular supervision

• Opportunities to meet new people and develop your confidence

• Reimbursement for travel and agreed expenses

• Valuable experience that can support your personal or career development

Inclusion and accessibility 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

Hope and Vision Communities is a small charity based in Berkshire providing supported, move-on accommodation for people who have successfully completed residential rehabilitation. We are growing to expand who we can help to other geographical areas, as well as working on opening a women’s service.

Growing our services means that we also need to grow our fundraising income, and to help reach this, we are looking for a skilled volunteer who could help us take our communications to the next level. The role will support the Fundraising and Comms team with a focus on managing the charity’s social media posts; updates to the website and supporting event admin.

Key Tasks:

• Drafting posts for our social media platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)

• Supporting with copywriting for fundraising, website or press 

• Carry out desk based research to support relationship building 

Key Skills:   

• Experienced in using social media such as Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn

• A confident copywriter who can write for different comms channels 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

EXPERIENCE 

Relevant experience using digital communications tools and creating engaging content 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES 

Ability to present written and verbal information clearly, accurately and to a standard appropriate for external presentation and communication 

Ability to work well within a team and independently 

Understanding of issues faced by those recovering from addiction 

Demonstrated commitment to the vision, mission and values of the organisation 

You will be supported to succeed and gain real workplace experience with a great group of people and the chance to make a real difference to the people in recovery we support. 

MAIN PURPOSE: 

• To support the comms/fundraising team with sociial media and communication tasks. 

• Help us increase our outreach in the communities and beyond, build a group of supporters and regular donors.

Estimated need for the charity: 

Roughly 1-4 hours per week, whenever is most convenient for you. You will be working mainly remotely from home, although volunteers are very welcome to work from our offices in Hare Hatch. You must have access to your own laptop and secure internet connection. 

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves understanding, connection, and the chance to live a fulfilling life. Our volunteers play a vital role in supporting people affected by mental illness and helping create communities where no one feels alone. 

About the role

As a Volunteer Befriender, you will provide friendly, face-to-face support to people in East Hertfordshire who are experiencing mental health challenges. Your role will involve building positive, supportive relationships, encouraging confidence, and helping people feel more connected to their community. 

You may be asked to travel within the local area to meet with service users. Ideally, you will be able to offer at least 1 hour per week. 

Full training and regular supervision will be provided, so you’ll feel confident and supported in your role. 

This role requires an enhanced DBS check, which will be arranged and paid for by Rethink Mental Illness. 

As a Volunteer Befriender, you will: 

Meet with service users at times and places that suit their needs.
Offer emotional support by drawing on your own lived experience.
Encourage and support people to build social connections and take part in community activities.
Act as a “community connector” by signposting people to local services and opportunities. 

About the service

Our service works with adults (18+) who are known to mental health services and living with a mental health condition. We provide befriending support to people in the Hertfordshire towns of: Ware, Hertford, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Cheshunt, Cuffley, and Waltham Cross. 

What will make you a great fit for this role?

Good communication and listening skills.
A flexible, empathetic, and non-judgemental approach. 

It's not essential, but you may also bring: 

Knowledge of local services and community resources, including voluntary organisations.
Familiarity with the local area.
A commitment to supporting people in their recovery journey. 

How to apply 

To apply, please click the “apply now” button and complete a short interest form. You will have the opportunity to upload a CV and/or cover letter however, this is not mandatory. 

A member of the team will review your application and be in touch to update you on the next steps. If your application is successful, you will be invited to take part in an informal volunteer discussion. 

If you have any questions about the role or would like to find out more before applying, please contact the volunteer manager: