The library volunteer roles in Islington, greater london

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.  

Description

Do you have an interest in how technology can enable people with sight loss to live connected, independent lives? We'd love you to get involved in our regional hubs, working with our technology service coordinators to help people with sight loss develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to use everyday technology.

How often will I be needed?

• 4 Hours per Month

Key requirements

• This role requires one reference.

Additional location information

• Barking Central library Barking Learning Centre 2 Town Square Barking IG11 7NB

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 16 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• Good communication skills
• Patient approach to training
• Natural tech user

Description

Do you have an interest in how technology can enable people with sight loss to live connected, independent lives? We'd love you to get involved in our Tech Hub to help people with sight loss develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to use everyday technology. We particularly need people who are comfortable with Android phones and tablets – training will be provided to support your knowledge.

How often will I be needed?

• 4 Hours per Month

Key requirements

• 2 references

Location

Region

• Greater London

Additional location information

• Hammersmith Library Shepherds Bush Road Hammersmith W6 7AT

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 16 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• Good communication skills
• Patient approach to training
• Natural tech user

We’re looking for full stack developers to help us create a ground-breaking web app that promotes sustainable living and climate action.

You will play a major role in:

• developing the server-side logic;
• ensuring high performance and responsiveness;
• ensuring front-end optimization;
• designing and maintaining database schemas.  

What are we looking for?

Three years web development experience with working knowledge of Python and, preferably Django framework.  Ability to:

• Write clean, efficient, and maintainable code that powers the application's back-end logic;
• Integrate user-facing elements;
• Optimize components for maximum performance & scalability;
• Build & maintain reusable component libraries to ensure consistency.

Preferably with PWA experience. 

What difference will you make?

You will play a key role in delivering this innovative app and in ensuring it reduces carbon footprints, and, inspires and enables sustainable action across the population.

You will be at the forefront of bringing climate action into people’s homes across the UK, making sustainable living accessible and appealing to everyone – and driving real environmental impact.

We’re looking for frontend a web developer to help us create a groundbreaking web app that promotes sustainable living.

You will play a major role in implementing a series of design upgrades to improve the UX and ensure accessibility, browser compatibility and web standards. Your main task will be to convert design ideas into responsive HTML/CSS components.

What are we looking for?

UK based developers with experience of translating design files into clean, semantic HTML/CSS code and establishing component-based architecture. Ability to:

• Convert design mockups/wireframes into responsive HTML/CSS components;
• Build & maintain reusable component libraries to ensure consistency
• Collaborate with designers & developers to translate visual designs into functional code;
• Optimize components for maximum performance & scalability.

What difference will you make?

You will play a key role in delivering this groundbreaking app and in ensuring it reduces carbon footprints, and inspires and enables sustainable action across the population.

You will be at the forefront of bringing climate action into people’s homes across the UK, making sustainable living accessible and appealing to everyone – and driving real environmental impact.

Proxy by IWI Overview

Proxy by IWI is dedicated to fostering thoughtful and engaged feminist responses to mainstream media, popular culture, legal issues, and advocacy.

Published daily, Proxy is committed to delivering ambitious and distinctive journalism. The publication covers topics that are of greatest significance to women’s human rights, focusing on people, ideas, laws and institutions from a feminist viewpoint and extending beyond. Proxy features original investigative reporting, insightful analysis, compelling arguments, and personal reflections, all designed to offer a multifaceted feminist take on current affairs.

Principal Responsibilities

· Maintain a thorough understanding of global trends and developments concerning women's human rights.

· Submit two articles per month for publication, each typically between 600 and 800 words in length.

· Ensure accuracy by obtaining supplementary material and further information from archives, reference libraries, and                  interviews with informed individuals.

· Conduct interviews in a variety of circumstances as required.

· Establish and maintain contacts to facilitate news gathering, including relationships with the police, emergency services,            local councils, community groups, health trusts, press officers from various organisations, and members of the public as            needed.

· Work collaboratively with the IWI and Proxy team to produce clear and precise content in accordance with house style              guidelines.

· Undertake research and write feature articles, occasionally contributing to subsidiary publications and supplements.

Requirements

· A minimum of four years’ experience in research and/or reporting.

· Proven interpersonal and collaborative abilities, able to work independently as well as part of a team.

· Flexibility, initiative, and robust problem-solving skills.

· Experience within multicultural settings and an awareness of cross-cultural differences.

· Dedication to promoting women’s human rights.

· Strong listening skills.

· Outstanding writing skills, including adaptability in writing styles and responsiveness to editorial guidance.

· Excellent analytical capabilities for precise understanding of subject matter.

· Superb organisational skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects and adhere to tight deadlines.

· Creative thinking in conveying messages innovatively.

· Rigorous attention to detail, including proficiency in proofreading one’s own work.

· Exceptional written English skills.

Second Life

We partner with communities to collect, trace, and recycle plastic, creating jobs and preventing pollution.​

Our growth so far has been powered by corporate partnerships.
But there's significant catalytic and concessional funding available for organizations doing exactly what we do, and right now we're not capturing it. We need the help of a Grant Writer & Institutional Funding Lead to change that. 

This is a high-leverage role for an experienced development professional who knows the climate, ocean, and circular economy funding landscape, and who can turn that knowledge into successful proposals. You'll own the full grant lifecycle from prospecting to reporting, working directly with the CEO and Program Director.

What you'll do:
- Map the global funding landscape relevant to Second Life: bilateral aid agencies, multilateral institutions, climate funds, major foundations, corporate foundations, impact investors offering grant capital, and prize-based funders.
- Build and maintain a prioritized funder pipeline with clear fit assessment, ticket sizes, timelines, and decision-maker contacts.
- Recommend which opportunities to pursue and which to pass on.
- Read and critically review our in-progress and recently submitted grant applications; provide structured written feedback and proposed edits.
- Lead the writing of concept notes, letters of inquiry, and full proposals.
- Translate field reality (collection sites, collector incomes, recycling pathways) into the language funders use (outputs, outcomes, impact, theory of change, MEL frameworks).
- Own grant reporting timelines and deliverables across all active grants
- Partner with marketing on funder-facing communications, impact stories, and thought leadership that strengthens grant competitiveness
- Build internal systems: proposal templates, internal library of strong language, proof points and reusable section, AI usage etc. so this function can scale.

Minimum Hours per Week:

4-6 hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

Are you looking for a meaningful volunteering opportunity where you can make a real difference? We are currently recruiting new Volunteer Mentors to join our growing, diverse network of dedicated volunteers.

At Hope for the Young, our mission to support young refugees and asylum seekers in London as they overcome the many challenges of starting a new life in the UK. From navigating education systems to building confidence and social connections, our Volunteer Mentors play a crucial role in helping young people achieve their goals and fulfil their potential.

What You’ll Do as a Mentor

• Meet with a young person (mentee) once a week for 1–3 hours, usually in a local café, library, or community space in London

• Set education and personal development goals and offer guidance, support and motivation towards these

• Commit to mentoring for a minimum of six months

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from people of different ages, cultural backgrounds, and professional experiences. You don’t need prior mentoring experience - just empathy, patience, and a genuine desire to support a young person.

We’re especially keen to build a diverse pool of mentors to reflect the backgrounds and experiences of the young people we support. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from those with lived experience of forced migration, as well those with ethnically diverse backgrounds. 

What We Provide

When you volunteer with us, you’ll receive:

• A comprehensive induction and training to prepare you for the role

• Ongoing 1:1 support from a dedicated Mentoring Coordinator

• Reimbursed expenses for all meetings and activities with your mentee

• Invitations to regular social events for mentors and mentees

• The opportunity to join a passionate community committed to making a positive impact

Why Volunteer With Us?

As a mentor, you will have the opportunity to make a tangiable difference in a young person's life, and you will also be able to:

• Develop your coaching, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Gain a deeper understanding of the refugee and asylum seeker experience

• Join a supportive and inspiring community of volunteers

If you’re passionate about supporting young people and want to help someone build a brighter future, we’d love to hear from you!

As a Community Outreach Volunteer, you’ll play a vital role in helping people in Havering know where to turn when they need urgent mental health support. You’ll be out and about in the community spreading the word about the Havering Crisis Café — chatting to local people, connecting with community centres, faith groups and local organisations, and sharing information through leaflets and posters. This is a great role for someone confident, friendly and passionate about making support more visible and accessible in the community.

What you will be doing

• Promoting the Havering Crisis Café within the local community
• Visiting community centres, libraries, GP surgeries, faith settings and other local spaces
• Handing out leaflets and displaying posters
• Helping build positive relationships with local organisations and community groups
• Feeding back any insights, questions or community needs to the team

The skills you need

• Friendly, approachable and confident talking to new people
• An interest in mental health, wellbeing and community support
• Good communication skills and a respectful, non judgemental 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 - 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.

This friendship group was started to provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to make friends, go on monthly trips and overall have a lot of fun. You can help us make that happen!

An opportunity is available to volunteer at a friendship group for adults with learning disabilities No prior experience is required. Enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and a supportive attitude are what matter most.

Projects You May Support

Volunteers can choose to help with one or both projects:

1. Friendship Group

• When: Every Tuesday during term time, 1:30pm–4:30pm
• Where: Canning Town Library

Key Responsibilities:

• Supporting participants during various activities (e.g., reading tasks).
• Encouraging communication and helping build friendships.
• Boosting confidence through positive interaction.
• Assisting with setting up and packing away activities.
• Helping individuals get refreshments.
• Building trust through calm, kind engagement.
• Reporting any concerns, incidents, or disclosures to staff.

2. Joy Hub

• When: Usually the last Tuesday of each month during term time (timings may vary; activities announced up to 4 months in advance).
• Purpose: Monthly free outings planned by the Friendship Group—examples include bowling, cinema, theatre, and museum visits.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensuring everyone feels included.
• Encouraging individuals to participate and build confidence.
• Helping with practical tasks such as navigating meeting points, refreshments, and transitions between activities.
• Building rapport through supportive, calm interactions.
• Reporting any concerns or incidents to staff.

Skills You’ll Develop

• Communication: Adapting language, using non-verbal cues, and practising active listening.
• Empathy & Patience: Understanding diverse needs and responding calmly.
• Teamwork: Working collaboratively with staff and volunteers.
• Leadership: Taking initiative while supporting individuals with varying needs.
• Problem-Solving: Managing challenges in a person-centred environment.
• Composure: Staying calm in potentially challenging situations.

Useful Experience (Not Essential)

• Disability awareness
• Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality, and disclosure
• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals
• Understanding of neurodiversity and person-centred approaches

Enthusiastic learners are encouraged to apply even without direct experience!

DBS will be provided!

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.

Please note this is a volunteer role:

Bridge the Gap Ending Digital Poverty C.I.C is a community interest organisation based in Hackney, dedicated to supporting families, children, and the wider community. We strive to provide an inclusive, non-discriminatory service where everyone feels welcome. We invite you to join our friendly team as a Volunteer Digital Skills Champion and help shape our future. This role will be based in our community hubs, this could be job centres, food banks, libraries etc. If you have 3-6 hours to spare per week, are tech-savvy, and live in or near Hackney, don't miss the chance to support those in need and make a difference!

Role Description

• Must live in or be local to Hackney
• To support residents in basic tech knowledge using digital devices such as Laptops, tablets /Ipads or phones
• To support/guide participants to navigate through their devices safely
• To support residents on a one to one basis weekly
• To Develop and maintain positive relationships with residents enabling them to build confidence
• Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries at all times
• To support residents to give feedback on what they have learnt
• Understand safeguarding or willing to undertake training
• Knowledge of basic first aid

Commitment

The role requires a weekly commitment of around 3-6 hours on a weekly basis.

Bridge the gap ending digital Poverty C.I.C are committed to achieving an inclusive environment which provides equality of opportunity and freedom from unlawful discrimination for everyone who works within and accesses our organisation and services.

Benefits

• work in a supportive team
• company events
• Training
• volunteer Travel/lunch reimbursed
• opportunity to grow within BTG
• DBS
• And many more

Ready to apply?

All applications are completed online. You’ll answer some simple questions and upload your CV/Cover letter.

If applicants need support they will not be negatively assessed, instead helped through the process. Please get in touch.

Job Type: Part-time/Volunteer

Benefits:

• Company events
• Discounted or free food
• Free or subsidised travel
• Store discount

Application question(s):

• Do you have safeguarding training
• Do you have Basic first aid training?
• Are you flexible throughout the week to supporting the community hub sessions?

Experience:

• Computer literacy: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Hertfordshire’s Family Centre Service brings children’s centres, health visiting and school nursing together, to provide a more joined-up service for children, young people, and their families.

The centres deliver a range of support groups and activities for children and their families to help them be healthy, grow and develop. To make it easy for families to fit sessions and services around their busy lives, access is available from any Hertfordshire Family centre. We have locations across the entire county so please do enquire ensuring you have provided your postcode.

Main Tasks/ Responsibilities/ Activities

To represent Family Centre Services within local communities and help strengthen the link between families and the centre by promoting services and support available.

Key Responsibilities:

· Promote Hertfordshire Family Centres by attending toddler and parent groups and local activities.

· Distribute leaflets, posters, and other promotional materials in community venues (e.g. libraries, health centres, nurseries, shops).

· Talk to parents, carers, and professionals about the Family Centre offer, signposting them to services and activities.

· Share updates on Family Centre activities through word of mouth, local networks, and community noticeboards.

· Provide feedback to Family Centre staff about local needs, events, and opportunities for engagement.

· Represent the Family Centre in a positive and professional way at all times.

Skills / Abilities / Experience / Qualities

· Friendly, approachable, and confident in talking to new people.

· Good communication skills.

· Reliable and able to work independently as well as part of a team.

· Enthusiasm for supporting children, families, and the local community.

· Respectful of diversity and inclusive of all families.

· Knowledge of the local area and networks

Training / Support

· A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided.

· Requirement to undertake One YMCA online training courses

· To understand and implement One YMCA’s policies.

· Ongoing support and regular 1:1 meetings

· Access to organisational events throughout the year including Socials, Conferences and Training opportunities. 

Additional Information

· Undergo enhanced DBS check

· X2 References required

· Undertake additional training as and when required

· We offer to pay volunteers’ “out of pocket” expenses within agreed guidelines

Summary of role

We are looking for teachers with a recognised ESOL qualification to support clients on a 1:1 basis with speaking, reading and writing English for an hour or so each week.

How does this role make a difference?

This support provided by volunteers to our clients really helps them progress with their English. Often clients do not have opportunities to learn English outside of the classroom or interact with a British-born person, so this opportunity is invaluable to them. Improving our clients English also enables individuals to access our other services such as, the employment team and digital inclusion, which will in turn, improve their employment prospects and assist in integration in their local community.

Who will you be helping?

Our clients are refugees, migrants and asylum seekers who are unable to afford or access English classes at colleges. We have many clients at the Centre who need one-to-one support with their English, mostly around listening and speaking, fluency and confidence building. We can also offer additional sessions to clients who are accessing external ESOL classes who feel they need additional 1:1 support.

What will you be doing?

We would like you to meet a client for 1 – 2 hours each week, this can be at the Centre or in a public place such as a café or library or where possible on-line. You will provide them with individual support with their English.  

Your responsibilities:

• Be able to commit at least one hour a week to your client for up to six months.
• Create an agreed Individual Learning Plan.
• Meet with your client at an agreed time and place.
• Be able to encourage and motivate your client.
• Be able to plan an hour’s English session based on the client’s ability and need.
• Send a short progress report to the Learning & Employment Manager after every meeting with your client.
• Participate in the Centre induction and safeguarding training.
• Attend quarterly group meetings, at the Centre, with other English Learning Volunteers at an agreed time.

What are we looking for?

• You have a recognised ESOL qualification e.g. CELTA or a Trinity or Cambridge Certificate
• You have excellent listening and clear communication skills.
• You are able to encourage and motivate a person.
• You are friendly, patient and reliable.
• You will have the ability to get on with people from a wide range of backgrounds

We cover travel expenses.