Stories volunteer roles

Role summary

As a Volunteer Community Connector, you will play an important role in the Compassionate Communities programme by helping to normalise conversations around death and dying, grief and loss. We believe that breaking down these taboos and getting people talking is key in helping communities support each other.

Your role will involve:

• Supporting and facilitating ‘compassionate conversations’ about death and dying, grief and loss in the community - promoting social connectedness. This may include signposting to relevant community support or care provision.

• Offering an informal, empathetic listening ear around topics such as life limiting illness, caregiving, dying and bereavement.

• Offering your support for informal sessions or larger events that may be held in community groups, charities, cafes or other organisations.

Main duties of this role:

• Attend and support public-facing events focused on compassionate conversations and awareness-raising (how to have difficult conversations).

• Offer a welcoming, supportive presence and engage people in meaningful conversations in a non-judgmental manner.

• Sensitively listen to people’s experiences, stories or questions related to serious illness, loss and caregiving - answering questions where able; or signposting or referring to your line manager where unable to respond.

• Help to promote Compassionate Communities principles and the work of St Helena in a positive, accessible way.

• Connect with St Helena staff and partners before and after events to give feedback and receive support.

• Assist with basic event logistics such as setting up spaces, offering refreshments, distributing materials, and collecting informal feedback.

• Work flexibly across community venues.

• Establish contacts within the community and build relationships

• Understand and adhere to confidentiality and data protection regulations at all times. 

Training and Supervision:

• Online mandatory training relevant to the role

• Compassionate Conversations training – online/in person

• Dedicated line manager for training and support with regular meetings 

Experience and Qualifications required:

• Experience in a role involving interaction with the public, especially in a supportive or listening capacity

• Understanding of the importance of compassion and empathy when discussing sensitive topics

• Ability to maintain personal and professional boundaries

• Comfortable speaking with people from a wide range of backgrounds 

Exeter City of Literature exists to celebrate and support literary heritage and activity, locally and globally. We work across Devon on a variety of bookish projects that help to make everyone love stories and storytelling.

We have a variety of opportunities throughout the year from helping at our largest annual event - The Book Market in June - to participating in Book Fairies and our Silent Book Club events.

We are looking for volunteers to join the GBSL project run by the Sickle Cell Society and help increase life-saving blood donations in Black-heritage communities.

What you’ll do:

• Raise awareness about the importance of ethnically matched blood for people with Sickle Cell
• Help grow the movement through community events and social media
• Encourage friends, family and community networks to register as donors
• Share facts and real stories about blood donation

It’s shaping up to be a busy year at Locate International, with a lot of important stories to tell. We need people who can help us tell them – and play a huge part in resolving cases.

We’re looking for more people to join as volunteer media officers – this will involve writing press releases for our missing and unidentified appeals, giving interviews and forging partnerships with broadcasters and publishers.

The right people will be able to write well, will ideally have a journalistic background, and will have experience dealing with different media outlets and their demands. But they must also be able to work with sensitivity and care.

We meet for an hour every Tuesday night on Zoom, and volunteers are expected to contribute an average of six hours a week.

At Doorstep Library, we’re dedicated to bringing the magic of books and the joy of reading directly into the homes of children who need our support.

With 1 in 4 children in the UK leaving primary school unable to read or write properly, we recruit and train in-person and online volunteers to introduce children from under-resourced areas to the pleasure of reading.

What’s Involved?

As a Doorstep Library reading volunteer, you’ll visit the same families via Zoom every week with eBooks to share with the children and encourage their love of reading.

You will:

• Handpick eBooks from our online portals based on the children’s age, interests, and reading level
• Join families via Zoom with your volunteer partner for 20-minute reading sessions  
• Make notes after the session to keep track of how the child/ren are progressing

Our unique home-based approach allows our volunteers to build trusting relationships with families, helping them to connect with the community and equip them with the skills they need to succeed later in life.

When and Where?

You can be based anywhere in the UK to become a Doorstep Library online volunteer.

• Time commitment: One evening a week (Regular Volunteer), one evening every other week (Semi-Regular Volunteer) or once every 3 weeks (Stand-In Volunteer) during school term times
• Hours per week: 2
• Days: Our projects run on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays from 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Why volunteer with Doorstep Library?

• It's incredibly fun! You get to explore your inner child and share your passion for books and reading.
• We invest in our team of volunteers to ensure they are valued, supported and are developing.
• You will be a part of the Doorstep Library community of families, volunteers and staff members.
• You can make a real difference to the lives of others. Providing you with a real sense of purpose and achievement.
• You give back to the community you live in or the community you visit every week.
• You build your confidence and improve your self-esteem and mental well-being.
• You will develop skills and enhance your C.V. 

Doorstep Library is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and all those it comes into contact with. All volunteers undergo rigorous safer recruitment processes including specified interview questions, a DBS check, and the collection of written and/or verbal references.  Safeguarding training is a mandatory part of the induction process for all volunteers, and they are expected to always adhere to our safeguarding policies and procedures.  

Eastern Angles is seeking a new Chair to lead our Board, working alongside our CEO in delivering our vision and achieving our mission with our three principles of Grow, Nourish and & Wonder. 

The Chair provides strategic leadership to the Board, working alongside the CEO to ensure that Eastern Angles’ vision goals are achieved with a continued view to the community.

As Chair, you will be a primary ambassador for Eastern Angles. We are looking for someone who has a clear and actionable plan for how they will help us grow as a company, particularly in line with our values.

We are particularly interested in hearing from those with experience in governance and facilitating fundraising efforts, ideally in a comparable context.

The position is voluntary and will be a four-year term, with the option to extend for up to a further four years.

Are you looking to build experience in communications while supporting children’s education in Malawi?

The Mlambe Project is a small but impactful charity building sustainably constructed school blocks in rural Malawi. We’re looking for a volunteer Communications & Social Media Intern to help us share our story and grow our online presence — all in just around one hour per week.

What you’ll do:

• Create and schedule engaging social media posts and update website
• Help tell the story of our school building projects and the people we work with
• Share updates, photos and impact stories
• Suggest ideas to grow awareness and engagement
• Support the team in Malawi to take engaging content

Who this would suit:

• Students or recent graduates
• Anyone wanting experience in the charity or international development sector
• Creative self-starters who enjoy writing and storytelling

Why volunteer with us?

• Gain real, hands-on experience
• Build your CV and portfolio
• Work flexibly around your schedule
• Contribute directly to improving education access for children in Malawi

This is a small time commitment with meaningful impact.

If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with a short introduction about yourself and why you’re interested.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

Children With Voices has been serving Hackney for over 25 years — and we need someone passionate about storytelling to help us share that story with the world.

As our Volunteer Social Media & Marketing Manager, you'll take the lead on our digital presence across Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook — creating content that celebrates our community, raises our profile, and helps us reach the families, partners, and supporters who need to know we exist.

This is a creative, community-driven role at the heart of a nationally recognised grassroots charity.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Develop and manage a content calendar across Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook

• Create engaging posts, reels, and stories that reflect the heart of our work

• Grow our online community and engagement with families, supporters, and partners

• Monitor analytics and share simple monthly insights with the team

• Support the CEO in amplifying key campaigns, appeals, and announcements

• Ensure all content aligns with Children With Voices brand, values, and safeguarding guidelines

• Collaborate with programme staff to capture stories, photos, and milestones

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

ESSENTIAL

• Active user of at least two of: Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook

• Creative flair and a genuine love of community storytelling

• Good written communication and an eye for design

• Understanding of safeguarding principles when working with children and families

• Reliable, self-motivated, and able to work independently

HELPFUL BUT NOT ESSENTIAL

• Experience using Canva, Adobe tools, or similar

• Background in marketing, communications, journalism, or a related field

• Knowledge of the Hackney community or similar urban settings

• Experience working with charities or community organisations

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN

• Real-world experience managing social media for a nationally recognised charity

• A portfolio of live, impactful community content

• A reference from our CEO for your professional portfolio

• The chance to be part of something that genuinely changes lives in Hackney

• Ongoing support and guidance from our leadership team

Our shops help raise vital funds, and volunteering with us is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, and join a fantastic team.

On site we have two shops to volunteer in. The Showroom is Martlets primary furniture and home goods store and the Discount Shop is home to our £1 clothing rails. Both are hubs for our local community to share stories and bag a bargain! We work together with the warehouse to take in the majority of donations for the charity.

Volunteering in our shops offers a variety of exciting tasks. From sorting and pricing donations to spotting hidden gems, you'll roll up your sleeves in the backroom and assist on the shop floor. Engaging with customers is key, whether you're serving with a smile, working the till or helping donors complete Gift Aid forms.

Sembeza Africa

We deliver Quality Physical Education using sports and Traditional African Games to empower Ugandan youth.

Copywriter

Are you passionate about children, stories and writing, Sembeza Africa is looking for a copywriter who is able to

• Write, edit, and continuously improve all website content
• Turn raw program data and field updates into engaging impact stories and impact reports
• Support grant applications and develop proposals and funding materials that clearly connect activities to impact
• Create clear, consistent messaging for campaigns and events across all communication channels
• Develop newsletters that keep partners, donors, and supporters informed and engaged
• Write clear, compelling copy for brochures, flyers, banners, and other print or digital promotional assets
• Write press releases, media briefs, and external announcements for key milestones or events
• Develop internal writing guidelines and templates to maintain and enforce Sembeza Africa’s brand voice across all content
• Identify content gaps and proactively improve how Sembeza Africa communicates its work

Skills and Qualifications

• Have proven experience in copywriting, content writing, or communications.
• Strong writing and editing skills with the ability to produce engaging content.
• Understanding of storytelling for impact, fundraising, and audience engagement.
• Basic knowledge of SEO and digital content best practices.
• Strong research skills to support accurate and informed content creation.
• Proactive and takes initiative without waiting for instructions.
• Strong attention to detail and a high standard for quality.
• Good communicator and able to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for work delivered.
• Adaptable and able to handle shifting priorities.
• Able to work independently and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Available to attend at least 75% of internal meetings**.**

Minimum Hours per Week:

10+ hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

About Talkthru

Talkthru is a specialist counselling charity based in Huddersfield, offering free, confidential support to individuals and families affected by pregnancy loss, baby loss and other birth-related trauma. As we continue to grow, we are looking to raise awareness and reach more families who need us—this is where you come in.

The Role

We are looking for a creative, sensitive, and driven Content Creator to help increase our charity's visibility, tell impactful stories, and reach communities who need support. This is an opportunity to make a real difference by using your storytelling and digital skills to foster connection, healing and support for bereaved families.

Responsibilities

• Create engaging and sensitive content for our social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
• Develop posts that align with our tone: warm, empathetic, and respectful
• Help promote key campaigns, events, and awareness initiatives
• Support the creation of blogs, short videos, or graphics (Canva or similar)
• Creating or refreshing website content, ensuring it aligns with our tone and mission
• Collaborate with our team to share real stories, testimonials, and resources (with consent)
• Monitor engagement and adapt content to help reach wider audiences

We’re Looking for Someone Who:

• Has experience or strong interest in content creation
• Understands how to handle sensitive topics (e.g., trauma, grief) with care
• Is a thoughtful communicator and a strong storyteller (written and/or visual)
• Is comfortable working independently and meeting deadlines
• Has experience with Canva, social media scheduling tools, or basic video editing (a bonus, not essential)
• Has a heart for our mission and a commitment to supporting grieving families

PUBLICITY & MARKETING VOLUNTEER

Across the UK, our 65 local branches work with disabled people to help them live the lives they choose. Our network of skilled volunteers respond to thousands of requests each year to design and make customised equipment free of charge.

Our Publicity & Marketing volunteers play an essential role in publicising and raising awareness of their local branch’s activities.

What the role involves

This is a varied role that each branch tends to do a bit differently, but it will involve:

• Collecting case studies from the clients we help

• Writing stories for the local press

• Distributing literature

• Arranging talks

• Working with the Central Team to promote panel activities

We can support you to develop the skills you need for this role, and there’s an induction that covers all the areas above. You’ll also have chance to discuss your role and any additional needs with us.

What you’ll need for this role

• Confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email

• Confident using social media platforms

• Warm, approachable and confident to engage with clients to gather their story

• Able to follow REMAP policies and procedures

• Able to apply disability, equality, and inclusion practices

• Able to keep people’s personal details safe

• A commitment to our values

You’ll also need to complete the induction checklist and some online training.

If it works better for you, there’s a possibility this role could be done remotely.

Why volunteer

When you volunteer with us, you join a community of committed people with a passion for helping to improve the lives of others. We’re a volunteer led organisation and we couldn’t do what we do without your hard work, skills and commitment.

N.B. We’ll reimburse any out-of-pocket expenses during your time with us.

Organisation overview
Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees is a local charity formed in March 2017. We are a small but growing charity, whose volunteers and supporters have come together to welcome and help support the refugees who have fled the fighting and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and are now resettling in our community.
Starting with just one refugee family, we have expanded our efforts over the years and are proud to have supported about 70 families as they settle and rebuild their lives in our community. Currently we support 150 refugees and have over 100 volunteers, of whom 75 provide the service to the refugees. We are completely funded by donations and fundraising.

The role:
To lead SWR’s operational team (‘the VLT’) that helps refugees move from crisis to confidence and citizenship—ensuring every family is supported and nothing important is missed. The team also supports those volunteers assisting the refugees along their path to independence. The VLT is a friendly group of able and energetic people who specialise in different areas of refugee and volunteer support.

What we are looking for:
The VLT is a friendly group of able and energetic people who specialise in different areas of refugee and volunteer support. They need someone who is good at leading teams, who can orchestrate their activities and make sure that nothing important is missed. This also involves being good at working with people and working calmly and methodically through the issues which arise.

What you’ll actually be doing:
● Leading the team. Your role is all about supporting and motivating the team around you, helping it to focus on key issues and, as refugee needs change, adjusting the team and building it to address the emerging needs of our refugee community.
● Operational oversight: This is the operational heart of the role. You ensure, with the team, that issues are tracked and resolved.
● Support to the leads: You’ll support our specialist leads (which are principally, family, data, housing, employment and language).They are likely to be far more expert in their subject areas but you’re their support and sounding board.
● The board liaison: You’ll be the voice of the VLT working with the board Chair. As the VLT Chair you are an important voice in setting operational norms and priorities.
● Liaison with other agencies at the operational level such as the Refugee Council.
Is this for you?
● You can deal with people: You have empathy and good judgement to handle difficult situations for volunteers who care deeply, sorting out problems with them while keeping focused on professional outcomes.
● You’re naturally organized: You can separate out the important from the less important, the urgent and the non-urgent in juggling resources. You can spot the issue that others may have forgotten.
● You have the capacity: This role may take 7 hours per week, often less but on occasion more.

The handover:
Our current chair is stepping down in August 2026. We’d love a successor to start "shadowing" the Volunteer Leadership Team and the chair’s role within it in the late spring or early summer to see how the operational system works to benefit the refugees and meet some of the volunteers who make the services happen.

Why this role matters
Without an effective Chair, small problems can become bigger problems for both the families we support and the volunteers assisting them. You will be the person ensuring operationally that SWR remains a reliable and compassionate support to the refugees, and an excellent place to be a volunteer in. When a refugee or a volunteer reaches out, they are supported by a system that works and people that care.

What will you get:
You will get deep satisfaction and enjoyment from working closely with a deeply dedicated and fun VLT team, as well as the hugely dedicated trustees and wider volunteer membership. You, and your team can see life-changing success stories first-hand, and help shape the future of a lean and highly effective local charity.

Help4Homeless is a youth-led charity based in Peterborough, tackling homelessness through community action, advocacy, and outreach. We're looking for a creative and passionate Social Media & Content Volunteer to help us grow our online presence and tell our story to the world.

This is a fully remote, flexible role - perfect for someone who lives and breathes social media and wants to use those skills for something that genuinely matters.

What you'll be doing:

• Creating and scheduling engaging content across our social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok etc.)
• Helping develop a consistent brand voice and visual identity online
• Suggesting and implementing ideas to grow our following and engagement
• Keeping our audience updated on news, events, and impact stories
• Collaborating with our team via WhatsApp and email - all remote and relaxed

What we're looking for:

• Someone with a genuine passion for social media and content creation
• Good eye for design (Canva experience is a bonus)
• Self-motivated and able to work independently
• Care about homelessness and want to make a difference
• Any experience in charity, marketing or communications is a plus but not essential

Why volunteer with us?

• Fully flexible - work when it suits you
• Real responsibility and creative freedom from day one
• Build your portfolio with meaningful, visible work
• Be part of a passionate, youth-led team making real impact in Peterborough and beyond