Supporter care volunteer roles

We are busy team delivering the Supported Internships programme in Stafford (ST18). The programme is based around employment and leisure for young adults with learning disabilities between age 16 and 25. We help people to develop skills for work in a employment setting and build their confidence.

We prepare them for work, and help them improve their Maths and English skills in a classroom setting, as well as:

• Improving their confidence and communication skills
• Building on their social skills with each other and out in the community
• Keeping them inspired and engaged

What You will be doing:

• You will support staff in the classroom with activities
• You will support learners to improve their Maths and English skills
• You will engage with learners, to improve their confidence and independence
• You will encourage learners to try new things and gain new skills
• Out in the community you will support staff to keep learners motivated and engaged

As a volunteer you will help Mencap staff deliver the classroom sessions assisting young adults to improve their skills, and be a support in the community.

**The classroom sessions run from 9am - 4.30pm. Monday and Tuesday. We require a volunteer to be able to commit to one day per week or fortnightly for the academic year. **

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.

Would you like to help end food insecurity and tackle climate change in Greater Manchester, whilst gaining valuable experience and skills? Or perhaps you'd just like to keep busy and active and make new friends, whilst supporting a great cause.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

Induction, training and support.
Practical experience and transferable skills in food redistribution and warehousing.
A reference (after 2 months with us).
An understanding of warehousing and logistics.
Expenses:
Reimbursement of travel costs of up to £5 for public transport, and up to £6 for car drivers.
Up to £3 towards lunch, if you have special dietary requirements. (We provide lunch, so will contribute towards the cost of a meal, should you bring your own, if what we are offering isn't considered suitable; e.g. a diet that's restricted for health, ethics or religion).

ABOUT US
As a sustainability charity, we take donated surplus (over-stocked) food and redistribute it to people in need.
The initiatives we support include food banks, schools, community groups and charities.
Our vital work supports people experiencing extreme hardship and prevents good food going to landfill, where it would contribute to climate warming through greenhouse gas emissions. 
We need help in our warehouse to receive and record supplies, load and unload vans, and prepare orders for delivery. In return, we offer training and support to help you obtain skills and experience if you are seeking work. If you're not looking for a job, volunteering with us is rewarding in many other ways; offering an opportunity to make friends, keep physically active and support your community.

This role is vital to FareShare's work, ensuring that the food in our warehouse is sorted, labelled and organised into orders.
It is perfect for someone who is:

a) Looking for a practical activity to keep busy and physically fit.
b) Looking for experience and skills to gain employment in the food industry, warehousing or customer service.
c) Wanting to help their community and help tackle global warming.
d) Wanting to make new friends.

Our volunteer roles are available Monday to Friday, for a whole or half day, with shifts between 8:30-am-12:30pm and 12:30-4:30pm. 
Volunteers are typically involved on one day a week.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Receiving, sorting, cataloguing and storing chilled and ambient food and preparing orders for delivery. 
Ensuring food quality and safety by checking ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates.
Unpacking deliveries, recording and categorising food.
Assembling food orders.
Assisting our Community Food Members with their order collections.
Maintaining health and safety and hygiene standards. 
Helping with cleaning and other routine tasks.

PERSON SPECIFICATION: You must...
Be reasonably physically fit to carry out tasks, including lifting and loading.
Speak English well in order to communicate clearly with our Community Food Members, and to understand and follow instructions and health and safety rules. 
Have basic literacy and numeracy skills to record details of donated food.
Be able to work to Health and Safety standards.
Be happy to complete tasks independently according to instruction.
Be positive, friendly and enthusiastic about tackling food waste and food insecurity.
Be reliable and able to commit to an agreed session/day.

LOCATION
We are located in Maynard House, New Smithfield Market, Openshaw, M11 2WJ, which is easily reachable on public transport. We have free-onsite parking and secure storage for bicycles.

​IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be a UK resident and living within easy commuting distance of our base in order to volunteer with us. This is because our volunteers must be able to reliably commit to regular shifts for our roles.
We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

Know someone else who might be interested in volunteering with us?
Please pass our details on to them as we always welcome new people on our teams. :)

We are looking for the 'practical hands' to help our families reclaim their childhood. Use music to help families regulate, bond and feel joy again. Whether you sing, drum, strum or play something unique, you’ll help create soothing, expressive sessions that support emotional wellbeing.

We are seeking a diverse, proactive team of volunteers to support a 6-week summer programme (July 20 – Aug 28) across three refuge houses. Our mission is to rebuild parent-child bonds and bring joy back into childhood for families recovering from domestic abuse. You will be volunteering alongside Children Family workers throughout the summer, and will be invited to join an end of summer party.

Volunteer with us!

At Acorns we provide care and support for life limited or life threatened children and their families. We are a charity, so most of the care that we provide is funded through fundraising and through our shops.

To help us to continue to provide the care that we do, we are looking for fun and enthusiastic volunteers to join us in our Acorns charity shops. Our shops are exciting and dynamic, with no two days being the same. From our walk-in customers, to receiving donations, and everything in between!

Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer work experience from 6th July to 16th July as we’re already at full capacity during that period.

We are also seeking an individual with the potential to progress into a Key Volunteer position.

As a Shop Volunteer with us, you will be:

• Engaging with customers
• Accepting and sorting donated stock
• Pricing donations for sale
• Working on the till

Fox and Goose shop is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. You can volunteer the hours that suit you, but it would be great if you could support in the shop for at least 3 hours a week.

As a Trustee of Nottinghamshire Hospice, you will play a vital leadership role in shaping the future of our hospice. This is an opportunity to contribute to an established Board of Trustees who are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the Hospice. 

You will use your skills and experience to guide the future of the hospice, safeguard its resources and champion a culture shaped by Compassion, Trust, and Ambition. 

A

s a Meet and Greet Volunteer, you'll help create a warm, welcoming environment for people using our services. Offer a friendly chat, a listening ear, and support to help people feel valued, connected, and less alone. If you're empathetic and approachable, we'd love to hear from you.

What you will be doing

Greeting visitors, providing a safe and friendly environment, and “checking in and chatting” with service users.

Offering beverages to our visitors while maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen and service areas.

Provide emotional support, active listening, and mental health assistance to individuals in distress.

Ensure the environment is safe, maintain accurate records and adhere to safeguarding, food hygiene and GDPR

The skills you need

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, a non-judgmental attitude, and the ability to listen.

Able to create a welcoming and inclusive setting that encourages involvement and openness.

Approachable, respectful, and supportive with the ability to remain calm in interactions while demonstrating an empathetic and person-centred 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

Job Description:

Public Sector & Commissioning Lead — Living With Hope CIC

Living With Hope CIC is seeking a strong Public Sector & Commissioning Lead to help strengthen our relationships with councils, commissioners, referral partners and public sector stakeholders.

We provide safe accommodation and structured support for individuals escaping or recovering from domestic abuse. Our mission is to restore stability, dignity and opportunity.

This is not a passive advisory role.

We are looking for someone who understands how local authorities, commissioning teams, Adult Social Care, housing departments and public sector referral pathways operate and who can help us build the credibility, relationships and structure needed to secure sustainable placements and partnerships.

The role will involve:

• Supporting engagement with local authorities, commissioners and public sector stakeholders
• Helping identify the correct decision-makers and referral routes
• Strengthening our credibility with councils and commissioning teams
• Supporting the development of commissioning packs, service overviews and partnership materials
• Helping the organisation understand public sector requirements, expectations and processes
• Supporting introductions, relationship-building and follow-up strategies
• Helping convert conversations into referrals, placements, contracts or formal partnership opportunities
• Ensuring public sector activity contributes directly to income generation, sustainability and organisational value

We are especially interested in someone with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Local authority commissioning
• Adult Social Care
• Housing, homelessness or supported accommodation
• Domestic abuse services or victim support pathways
• Public sector procurement or contract management
• Council partnership development
• Health, social care or community safety services
• Working with CICs, charities or social enterprises delivering public services

This position is currently voluntary, but it is designed for someone who wants to play a serious role in helping a growing organisation build public sector credibility and secure meaningful outcomes.

Expected commitment: approximately 1 board meeting per month, plus commissioning-related input where required.

If you understand council systems, commissioning routes and how to turn public sector relationships into real outcomes, we would welcome a conversation.

Could your leadership skills help shape the future of a Hopian?  Hopian is a registered charity that provides advice and support for adults and children who have experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse through the provision of refuge accommodation and community support services.  We also provide support and access to counselling for people affected by Child Sexual Exploitation.

The Role of Trustee and executive Trustee roles are voluntary positions. A Trustee for the Board is expected to meet the requirements of the board in line with the charities governing documents, governing good practice and legal requirements.  We also have a vacancy for a Treasurer should you be interested please visit our Hopian website - recruiter link below for further details.

Trustee Responsibilities :

The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for the success of the charity. A Trustee is a Board Member and has a number of responsibilities in order to ensure robust management of the charity including:

• Make decisions objectively in the interests of the charity.
• Implement Hopian’s Vision, Mission, and Values.
• Lead on the aims and objectives of Hopian by raising awareness of domestic and sexual abuse, and child sexual exploitation and abuse and its impact on individuals and their families.

Trustee Duties :

• Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy.
• Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document (i.e. constitution or memorandum and articles of association), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources in pursuance of its charitable objects (i.e., the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects) .
• Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.
• Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation.
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
• Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation.
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds.
• To work in the interests of the charity and not for personal gain.
• To ensure that the Board Members takes proper professional advice on matters in which it does not have competence.
• Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive.

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Tasks:

• To work with other Board Members to form an effective governing body for the charity.
• To attend meetings and to read papers in advance of meetings.
• Ensure that the charity’s focus places services users centrally.
• To understand and be committed to the mission of the charity.
• To maintain a long-term overview of the charity and its work.
• To make strategic and major decisions about the charity objectives, policies and procedures.
• To attend sub-group meetings as appropriate.
• To participate in other tasks that may arise from time to time such as interviewing for new staff, helping with appeals and fundraising.
• To keep informed about the activities of the charity and wider issues which affect its work.
• To monitor and evaluate the work of the charity on a regular basis. This includes receiving reports from staff, staff supervision, receiving feedback from service users and other agencies .
• To ensure that the charity is a good employer of its paid and voluntary staff .
• Provide opportunity for staff to meet with the board.

Person Specification

We are looking for a  Trustee who has an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship. It is expected that a Trustee takes ownership to develop and maintain this understanding and application of duties. In addition to having:

• A commitment to the organisation.
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Good, independent judgement.
• An ability to think creatively.
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

Experience & Knowledge

• Understanding and evidence of commitment to equal opportunities and diversity statement 
• Be objective and unbiased 
• Be supportive and approachable 

Time Requirements

To be able to attend scheduled committee meetings each year and read papers for each board meeting. To be available to for consultation, support and guidance on an ad hoc basis. Much of this contact will be via online, telephone or email.

PR )Help us raise awareness, grow our community and bring more smiles to children across the UK.

Make a Smile is looking for a proactive, creative PR Officer to help share our story. If you enjoy communicating, building relationships and spotting opportunities, this role offers a meaningful way to make an impact.

What You’ll Do

• Seek out PR opportunities locally and nationally
• Build relationships with newspapers, radio, TV, university media and online platforms
• Pitch stories, arrange interviews and support chapters with media engagement
• Help organise university Instagram/TikTok takeovers and newsletter features
• Attend networking events and build connections with supporters and public figures
• Ensure our social media pages are high‑quality and on‑brand
• Work with the Website and Video Officers to share media features and create inspiring content
• Add interested contacts to our mailing list and help produce a monthly newsletter

Who This Role Suits

You don’t need formal PR experience - just enthusiasm and confidence. You’ll thrive if you:

• Enjoy writing, storytelling or creating content
• Feel comfortable reaching out to people and building relationships
• Are proactive and organised
• Have an interest in media, marketing, journalism or communications
• Want to gain experience in PR within a supportive charity environment
• Care about Make a Smile’s mission and want to help us reach more families

What You’ll Help Us Achieve

• Greater visibility for Make a Smile 
• Stronger volunteer recruitment and fundraising 
• Consistent, high‑quality branding across chapters
• More opportunities to showcase the impact of our work

Brightview Farm – Trustee Opportunity

Help shape a charity that actually changes lives, not just policies.

Brightview Farm isn’t a typical education charity. It’s a place where young people with Special Educational Needs find safety, purpose and a way back into themselves through animals, land, meaningful work, and steady adult relationships.

We’re growing — in impact, ambition and responsibility — and we’re looking for new Trustees who want to use their expertise where it genuinely matters.

Why Join Us?

As a Trustee, you’ll play a key role in guiding a charity that blends education, care and nature-based practice to help young people build confidence, skills and independence. You’ll be joining a Board that believes in doing things properly: thoughtful governance, trauma-informed practice, and a deeply human approach to learning.

You’ll help us:

• Set a clear, values-driven strategic direction
• Support a passionate CEO and a team working at the sharp end of SEN provision
• Strengthen and expand our high-quality Alternative Provision offer
• Ensure the environment remains safe, nurturing, and genuinely transformative
• Bring your insight, curiosity, judgement and lived experience into conversations that shape the future of the farm and the young people we serve

Who We’d Love to Have Around the Table

You don’t need to be an expert in everything — nobody is. But experience in any of the following would be a real asset:

• SEN, education, youth work or social care
• Mental health, behaviour support, occupational therapy
• Horticulture, farming, land management or animal care
• Safeguarding, charity governance, fundraising, finance or communications

What Matters Most

• A grounded commitment to inclusion and person-centred practice
• An understanding — or willingness to learn — about the realities faced by young people with SEN and their families
• Integrity, humility, and good judgement
• The ability to both challenge and support in equal measure
• A belief that diverse voices make better decisions

If you want your time and expertise to directly support young people who deserve better than the system often gives them, we’d love to talk. We are ideally looking for someone in Essex/Herts who would be able to visit our site and meet other trustees/staff face to face on occasion

Get in touch for an informal conversation. We are currently based near Great Dunmow Essex.

Volunteer Safeguarding Lead
Guardian Light Foundation (GLF) & Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd (GLE Ltd)

Role Type: Volunteer
Location: Remote / Hybrid (as required)
Time Commitment: Approximately 8–12 hours per month

Role Overview

The Volunteer Safeguarding Lead will be responsible for ensuring that Guardian Light Foundation and Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd maintain the highest standards of safeguarding for children and vulnerable individuals. This role is critical in creating a safe, compliant, and supportive environment across all services and activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and regularly review safeguarding policies and procedures

• Act as the main point of contact for all safeguarding concerns or incidents

• Provide guidance and support to staff and volunteers on safeguarding matters

• Ensure all team members understand and follow safeguarding protocols

• Manage and document safeguarding reports, ensuring appropriate action is taken

• Liaise with external agencies (e.g. social services, local authorities) where required

• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and best practice

Requirements

• Experience in safeguarding, social care, counselling, or a related field

• Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and best practices

• Ability to handle sensitive situations with professionalism and confidentiality

• Good communication and organisational skills

• Commitment to the mission and values of GLF and GLE Ltd

Additional Information

• An Enhanced DBS check will be required for this role

• Training and support will be provided where necessary

• This is a voluntary role, but it offers valuable leadership experience and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact

How to Apply

Please submit a short expression of interest outlining your experience and why you are interested in this role.

As a Meet and Greet Volunteer, you'll help create a warm, welcoming environment for people using our services. Offer a friendly chat, a listening ear, and support to help people feel valued, connected, and less alone. If you're empathetic and approachable, we'd love to hear from you.

What you will be doing

Greeting visitors, providing a safe and friendly environment, and “checking in and chatting” with service users.

Offering beverages to our visitors while maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen and service areas.

Provide emotional support, active listening, and mental health assistance to individuals in distress.

Ensure the environment is safe, maintain accurate records and adhere to safeguarding, food hygiene and GDPR

The skills you need

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, a non-judgmental attitude, and the ability to listen.

Able to create a welcoming and inclusive setting that encourages involvement and openness.

Approachable, respectful, and supportive with the ability to remain calm in interactions while demonstrating an empathetic and person-centred 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.

Are you looking to get involved in the local community or perhaps have an interest in mental health? Volunteering in our mental health services is a rewarding and varied opportunity for someone who is interested in working in this field. You will support by offering a listening ear and will offer individuals tailored mental health support, alongside our team of trained workers. We are looking for a volunteer to facilitate a Men’s group. The group provides a safe, welcoming place for people to meet, share experiences and support each other’s growth. We’d love to find a resident in Haringey, but this is not essential for the role.

What you will be doing

• Facilitate discussions
• Create a supportive environment for men to connect, share experiences, and empower each other
• Prepare hot drinks and snacks
• To negotiate/facilitate conflicts or disagreements that may arise during group meetings.

The skills you need

• Ability to create and maintain a safe environment where participants’ thoughts and feelings are valued, and group members are treated with fairness, equity and respect
• Experience of facilitating groups.
• Strong listening and 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 - 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 Meet and Greet Volunteer, you'll help create a warm, welcoming environment for people using our services. Offer a friendly chat, a listening ear, and support to help people feel valued, connected, and less alone. If you're empathetic and approachable, we'd love to hear from you.

What you will be doing

Greeting visitors, providing a safe and friendly environment, and “checking in and chatting” with service users.

Offering beverages to our visitors while maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen and service areas.

Provide emotional support, active listening, and mental health assistance to individuals in distress.

Ensure the environment is safe, maintain accurate records and adhere to safeguarding, food hygiene and GDPR

The skills you need

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, a non-judgmental attitude, and the ability to listen.

Able to create a welcoming and inclusive setting that encourages involvement and openness.

Approachable, respectful, and supportive with the ability to remain calm in interactions while demonstrating an empathetic and person-centred 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