Volunteer counsellor volunteer volunteer roles

Childline Volunteer Counsellor- Someone who wants to make a difference to children’s lives by being there to listen when they feel they have no one else to turn to. As a Childline counsellor, you’ll be there for young people and listen to them as they open up about whatever is worrying them, whether it’s bullying, abuse, self-harm or family relationships – you’ll be there to support them.

What you’ll do

You’ll volunteer in our Leeds Childline base, offering counselling support to children and young people over the phone or through our 1-2-1 online chat. Your supervisor will help you develop and evaluate your counselling skills. After your initial training, you will be able to help young people as well as identify when a child or young person may be at risk, but don’t worry a supervisor will be on hand to give you plenty of support.

What you’ll get

You’ll receive training sessions over 12 weeks to prepare you for the role. When you start your regular shifts, a supervisor will be around all times to support you. Every shift includes a briefing and debriefing alongside other volunteers. Supervisors will also give you regular one-to-one support and group supervisions.

What we’ll need from you

Signing up to be a Childline counsellor is a big commitment and requires lots of training so, we do ask people to stay in the role for a minimum of one year.

We’ll also need to do some routine safeguarding checks, including an enhanced criminal record check and at least two satisfactory references with at least one covering a period of five years or more with no gaps. It’s nothing to worry about, and we can answer any questions you have about this.

Who’s right for the role?

While we think this role is suitable for a whole range of people, we are particularly looking for those with the following qualities and experience.

• Passionate about helping young people and children
• Great communication skills
• Empathetic and perceptive
• able to think on your feet
• works well within a team
• emotional resilience

Why volunteer with us?

Not only will you gain valuable experience throughout your volunteering journey, you’ll also have access to useful resources including a catalogue of online training, discount portal and NSPCC inMind – an online mindfulness resource.

You’ll be fully supported throughout your volunteer journey with us and will have a dedicated key contact should you have any questions along the way.

Volunteer / Student Counsellor Placement

Organisation: OPTION180 Ltd
Contract Type: Student Placement (Voluntary)
Hours: Part-time, Term Time Only (Approx. 3 hours per day)
Location: School-based settings
Expenses: Lunch provided + travel expenses covered (up to 3 miles)

About OPTION180 Ltd

At OPTION180, we value our people and the dedication, compassion, and expertise they bring to our service.

Working with us means making a real difference every day, supporting children, young people, and families to recover from trauma and build brighter futures.

We are a specialist social care and family support service offering therapeutic interventions alongside comprehensive family assessment and support. Our work addresses the complex challenges families may face, including:

• Parental substance misuse
• Mental health difficulties
• Domestic abuse

Our mission is simple yet powerful: to empower families not just to survive, but to thrive despite adversity.

As a growing organisation with plans for national expansion, we are seeking passionate trainees and qualified clinicians who are willing to volunteer their time to gain valuable, hands-on experience with our client groups.

Counselling Placement Opportunities

We offer enriching placement opportunities for trainee Counsellors and Play Therapists looking to develop their clinical skills in real-world settings.

You will work therapeutically with:

• Children and young people
• School staff
• Parents and carers

across primary and secondary education settings.

Within a safe and supportive environment, you will use a combination of:

• Talking therapies
• Creative and play-based approaches

to help young people explore and manage challenges such as:

• Anxiety and stress
• Low mood
• Relationship difficulties
• Emotional and behavioural concerns

What We Offer

• Safeguarding training
• Specialist training in working with children and young people
• Clinical hours that contribute towards accreditation
• Weekly (half-day) placement during term time
• Ongoing supervision and professional support
• Exposure to wider family support and assessment services

Essential Requirements

Applicants must:

• Hold student membership with BACP, NCPS, or an equivalent professional body
• Be currently enrolled in a Therapeutic Course
• Must have their own Enhanced DBS check

Please note:

• This is a voluntary placement and not a salaried role

Summary

Signpost offers one-to-one counselling, coaching, outreach, creative therapies, group therapy, and parent support for children and young people aged 5-25.

Detailed description

We are seeking qualified and compassionate children’s counsellors with specialisms in play therapy, art therapy, or drama therapy to volunteer their time and skills to support children navigating emotional, behavioural, or developmental challenges. As a Volunteer Therapist, you will provide a safe, creative, and therapeutic environment where children can express themselves and begin to heal.

·Provide 1:1 or small group therapeutic sessions using your specialised modality (play, art, or drama).

·Build trusting relationships with children to support emotional expression and psychological wellbeing.

·Collaborate with staff and carers to ensure continuity and appropriateness of support.

·Maintain clear and confidential records of sessions and observations.

·Participate in supervision (where applicable) and team meetings.

·Support safeguarding and child protection practices in line with organisational policies.

Skills / Abilities / Experience / Qualities

·A recognised qualification in Play Therapy, Art Therapy, or Drama Therapy (BACP registration required)

·Experience working therapeutically with children and young people.

·A trauma-informed, child-centred approach to counselling and therapy.

·Excellent communication, empathy, and listening skills.

· A commitment to ethical practice, confidentiality, and safeguarding.

·Willingness to undergo an Enhanced DBS prior to starting).

 Training / Support

·A full induction to Signpost will be provided

·Requirement to complete mandatory online training

·A menu of optional training will also be made available

·Ongoing support and regular 1:1/supervision sessions

·Reimbursement of travel expenses (if applicable).

·Opportunities to attend team meetings and One YMCA events, socials and conferences

Additional Information

·x 2 references required

·Valid insurance cover

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Qualified Counselling Supervisor to provide online supervision for our trainee counsellors. Our service provides free and low cost counselling to those on low income and those who are marginalised.

Responsibilities:

• Group Supervision:
  • Facilitate one (two hour) group supervision sessions for trainee counsellors per month.
  • Create a safe, supportive, and reflective learning environment.
  • Facilitate discussions around client work, ethical dilemmas, and professional development.
  • Encourage self-awareness, critical thinking, and the integration of theory and practice.
  • Provide constructive feedback and guidance to trainees.
  • Monitor trainee progress and identify areas for development.

• Ethical and Professional Practice:
  • Ensure supervision adheres to the ethical guidelines of the [Relevant Professional Body, e.g., BACP, UKCP].
  • Maintain accurate and confidential records of supervision sessions.
  • Stay up-to-date with current counselling theory, practice, and ethical guidelines.
  • Recognise and manage potential conflicts of interest.
  • Contribute to the development of the counselling service.

Person Specification:

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified and experienced counselling supervisor with a recognised supervision qualification, or a practising counselling working towards a supervision qualification.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP) and adherence to their ethical framework.
• Significant experience in providing counselling supervision, particularly in a group setting or working towards.
• Demonstrable knowledge of counselling theory, practice, and ethical guidelines.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to create a safe and supportive learning environment.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Ability to maintain clear and accurate records.

What difference will you make?

Ongoing Professional Development:

• Your support will help our counsellors stay up-to-date with the best practices.
• You will gain valuable experience working with a diverse client group.
• You will lead, guide, and mentor trainee or peer counsellors.
• Gain new insights and knowledge by listening to different client cases and approaches from supervisees.
• Stay sharp on ethics, safeguarding, and modern research theories.

Join Us as a Trustee – Make a Difference for LGBT+ Mental Health

About Us

elop is an award-winning LGBTQ+ mental health and wellbeing charity with 30 years of experience delivering high-quality, LGBTQ+ affirmative support. We provide counselling, wellbeing programmes, advocacy, and specialist training for professionals, schools, and organisations across London and the Essex borders. Our mission is to empower LGBTQ+ communities, improve mental health, amplify our voices, and promote equality through education, awareness, and support.

The Role

We are seeking new trustees to help guide our work and shape our future. As a trustee, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring our charity remains sustainable, inclusive, and impactful for the communities we serve.

You’ll Be Involved In:

· Setting strategy, policies, and goals

· Overseeing finances and safeguarding assets

· Ensuring strong governance and regulatory compliance

· Supporting CEO and senior leadership team in delivering mission

· Working collaboratively with the CEO to ensure strong governance and regulatory compliance

· Promoting elop and representing us at events

· Bringing your skills, knowledge, and lived experience to board discussions

Commitment

Time: 8–12 hours per month

Term: Minimum of 2 years

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from people who are LGBTQ+ and share our passion for mental health and wellbeing. We are particularly keen to hear from those with skills, experience, or knowledge in:

· Event and individual fundraising

· Human resources

· Building Management

· Knowledge of managing building works

· Corporate Fundraising

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, trans and non-binary people, and others from underrepresented backgrounds. We believe diverse boards make the strongest organisations.