Volunteer programme manager volunteer roles

VOLUNTEER ROLE: COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Lead the Voice of a Movement Built for Men

MINDSET isn’t just a charity. It’s a cultural shift. A brotherhood. A mission to redefine what strength looks like for men across England.

We speak to men in a way that feels real — through action, honesty, challenge, and connection. No jargon. No judgment. No shame. Just real conversations, real growth, and real change.

Now we’re looking for a Communications Manager who can take that voice and amplify it — across communities, across platforms, across the country.

If you’re someone who believes in the power of storytelling, who understands how words can change lives, and who wants to help men feel seen, heard, and understood — this role is for you.

Why This Role Matters

Men are struggling in silence. Men are carrying weight they never talk about. Men are searching for spaces where they can be honest, vulnerable, and strong.

Your work will help:

• Break the silence around men’s mental health

• Challenge stigma and stereotypes

• Share stories that inspire courage and connection

• Build a national voice for preventative men’s wellbeing

• Bring men into a movement that feels like home

This isn’t just communications. This is impact. This is identity. This is giving men their voice back.

What You’ll Lead

As our Communications Manager, you will:

• Shape and lead MINDSET’s communications strategy across all channels

• Craft powerful, honest, human‑centred storytelling that reflects our mission

• Manage social media, newsletters, campaigns, and public messaging

• Work with the Head of External Affairs to amplify our national voice

• Support service teams by sharing stories from workshops, programmes, and events

• Build a consistent brand tone rooted in honesty, courage, and brotherhood

• Create content that speaks directly to men — in language they actually respond to

• Help position MINDSET as a leader in men’s wellbeing and personal growth

You’ll be the storyteller behind the movement.

Who We’re Looking For

• A passion for communication, storytelling, and human connection

• Strong writing skills and a feel for authentic, emotional messaging

• An understanding of social media and digital engagement

• A belief in preventative mental health and positive masculinity

• Emotional intelligence and a people‑first mindset

• A desire to help shape a national movement

• The courage to speak up for men who feel they can’t

If you’ve ever thought, “Men deserve to be heard — and I want to help tell their stories,” then you already understand the heart of this role.

What You’ll Be Part Of

MINDSET is building:

• Peer‑led support groups across England

• Action‑based wellbeing programmes

• Workshops that build resilience, confidence, and emotional strength

• Talk Zones in barbershops, gyms, and workplaces

• A digital platform for mental fitness and personal growth

• A national movement that redefines strength, vulnerability, and brotherhood

Your voice will help carry this movement into the world.

What You’ll Gain

This is a volunteer role — but the impact is real and lasting.

You’ll gain:

• Leadership experience in communications and brand storytelling

• A powerful portfolio of mission‑driven content

• The chance to shape the public identity of a growing national charity

• A supportive team that feels like a brotherhood

• A role that grows with you as the movement expands

• The knowledge that your words helped change — and even save — lives

If This Mission Speaks to You… Step Forward.

Men need us. Men need you. And together, we can build something powerful — something that helps men not just survive, but thrive.

Apply now. Join the movement. Reset the mindset — for others, and for yourself.

Equip, Empower and Inspire Our Volunteers at SUNSHINE

SUNSHINE is a start-up grassroots, volunteer‑powered community based loneliness charity bringing joy, connection and belonging to people who need it most. We create warm, uplifting spaces where no one stands alone — ever. From coffee mornings to community socials, every SUNSHINE moment is designed to spark smiles, laughter and genuine human connection.

As we grow, we’re looking for a thoughtful, organised and people‑focused Learning & Development Manager to support our Founder & CEO by leading the training and development of our volunteers — ensuring they feel confident, equipped and ready to shine in their roles.

This is a wonderful opportunity for someone who loves helping others grow and wants to shape a learning culture rooted in kindness, empowerment and belonging.

The Role

As Learning & Development Manager, you will design, coordinate and deliver training that helps our volunteers feel supported, skilled and ready to make a difference. You’ll play a key role in building a confident, capable and joyful volunteer community.

This role is perfect for someone who:

• Enjoys developing people and creating positive learning experiences.

• Has experience in training, facilitation, coaching or people development.

• Is organised, warm and encouraging.

• Wants to help shape a young, hopeful, community‑led charity.

• Believes in kindness, dignity and human connection.

Key Responsibilities

1. Volunteer Training & Development

• Design and deliver training sessions for new and existing volunteers.

• Create simple, accessible learning materials and resources.

• Ensure volunteers feel confident, prepared and supported in their roles.

• Identify training needs and develop pathways for growth.

2. Onboarding & Induction

• Lead welcoming, uplifting induction sessions for new volunteers.

• Introduce volunteers to SUNSHINE’s values, culture and ways of working.

• Help new volunteers feel at ease, informed and ready to get involved.

3. Ongoing Support & Coaching

• Offer guidance, encouragement and confidence‑building support.

• Check in with volunteers to understand their needs and experiences.

• Help volunteers develop skills in communication, hosting, safeguarding and community engagement.

4. Culture & Values

• Champion SUNSHINE’s ethos of joy, kindness and radical welcome.

• Help nurture a learning culture where volunteers feel safe to grow.

• Model empathy, warmth and positive leadership.

What You Bring

• Experience in training, facilitation, coaching or people development.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• A warm, supportive and encouraging approach.

• Good organisation and attention to detail.

• A commitment to SUNSHINE’s values of joy, belonging and kindness.

What You’ll Gain

• A meaningful role shaping the development of a growing volunteer community.

• The chance to build a learning culture rooted in warmth and empowerment.

• A close working relationship with the Founder & CEO.

• A supportive environment where your contribution truly matters.

• The joy of seeing volunteers grow in confidence and connection.

Help Us Equip Volunteers to Bring More SUNSHINE Into the World

If you’re someone who loves helping people grow, believes in kindness and wants to build something beautiful for your community, we’d love to hear from you.

Together, we can make sure every volunteer feels ready to shine — and no one stands alone.

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy?

Volunteers are essential to Shannon Trust and bring their energy, ideas and skills to train mentors in prisons, support learners in the community and enhance our business support team.

We are looking for volunteers to provide training and support to our mentors in prison. There may be some additional preparation and/ or administrative tasks in between volunteering days at the prison.

Our prison volunteers nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by delivering training sessions for prison mentors and offering ongoing advice, guidance and support through mentor meetings.

Volunteer recruitment dates

The closing date for applications to attend our next round of training is 26 April 2026. In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare. We will respond to all applications. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview between 27 April and 8 May 2026. This is an opportunity for you to meet our regional team, to find out more about you and for us to share more information about the volunteering role.

Training:

You'll be given high quality training to prepare you for volunteering with Shannon Trust. This takes place over 4 training sessions and via our online training portal. We ask that volunteers aim to complete the training in one course as this means that you will be ready to start actively volunteering. The next training sessions for volunteering for people applying to be a prison based volunteer will take place as follows.

Please check that you can attend all of the training the dates prior to applying:

• 27 May 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 3 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 10 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 1 July 2026, 10am-4pm (in person session, London)

You’ll also receive the opportunity to attend ongoing training sessions and peer support meetings during your time as a volunteer to build your skills and experience.

Why we want you

Shannon Trust’s vision is of a future where everyone can experience the positive impact of learning. As a prison volunteer your role will be at the heart of our organisation as you support our mentors in prisons. This will include delivering training to new mentors and supporting existing mentors to develop and deliver our Turning Pages and Count Me In programmes. You will be volunteering alongside Shannon Trust facilitators and / or frontline prison staff to empower mentors and ensure no one is left out of learning.

What you will be doing

• Delivering initial, and ongoing, training to mentors in prisons
• Supporting and encouraging the Shannon Trust facilitator and mentors to attract new learners and expand the reach of the Shannon Trust programme
• Arranging and leading mentor meetings to develop mentors’ skills, share good practice and to provide support to mentors to find solutions to concerns
• Supporting facilitators to engage prison staff and people in prison to set-up, maintain and develop the Shannon Trust reading and numeracy programmes across the whole prison, and contributing to progress planning for how to progress and achieve this
• Using your skills to build positive relationships with frontline prison staff, people in prison and other organisations
• Training and supporting mentors to collect and submit data and learner feedback
• Supporting with the planning of, and attendance at, celebration events
• Collecting and sharing good news stories and feedback
• Attending area meetings and sharing good practice with other volunteers
• Engaging with quarterly reviews to receive support and discuss progress
• Acting as an ambassador for Shannon Trust in all that you do, sharing the vision and values of the charity throughout your volunteering

The skills you need

• A commitment to providing non-judgemental support to people in prison
• Able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and have flexibility to visit the prison at times required
• Strong communication skills and are able to use these to inspire others
• Able to deliver engaging training and identify training and support needs for mentors
• Able to manage own time and prioritise
• Able to keep up to date with Shannon Trust news and communications and share relevant information with the wider prison team
• Able to use IT

What's in it for you

• Developing and growing your understanding of the HMPPS structure and prison system
• Reasonable, out of pocket, volunteering expenses are
• You will receive induction training and ongoing training to support and develop you in your role
• All volunteers receive ongoing support and quarterly reviews to enable you to gain the most from your volunteering experience
• We recognise and are grateful for the added value that volunteers bring to our organisation
• We provide flexible volunteering opportunities, subject to the requirements of your role

Are you looking for a fresh challenge that makes a positive difference to the lives of Young People throughout the UK?

At Childline we are actively recruiting new Volunteers. 

What will I be doing?

• Your shift will consist of 3hrs30mns counselling, sandwiched between a 15mns brief before your shift and a 30mns debrief post shift. This is to ensure that you can start and finish your shift with any support you require from your Practitioners.
• On shift you will take contacts from Young People who rely on the service that Childline offers. Childline is not there to solve problems, we are a listening service for Young People and in each contact your role is to engage the Young Person, explore their situation and to support them in deciding their next steps.
• The contacts you would take from Young People can come in 3 ways. Traditional phone call contacts, live chats via instant response typed messaging or less commonly via 'PIBS' which are essentially emails sent by Young People in the knowledge the response will not be 'live' and instant.

What impact will this have?

• Childline is a unique service, valued greatly by the Young People who contact us.
• It provides a safe place for Young People to talk confidentially to our Volunteer Counsellors, an option that many of them do not have elsewhere.
• Young People rely on us being there for them 24/7. In an average month, Childline London takes approx. 1,500 live chats, 900 voice calls and 300 PIBs.
• However, the demand for the service often outstrips the supply as Young People who desperately need our service cannot always get through.
• That is why we are actively recruiting new Volunteers to be able to meet the need of all Young People who are in distress and need the support that Childline provides.

Training

• Childline offers a full 12 week online training programme to new Volunteers. This consists of one 4 hour session per week.
• During the training, you will meet other Volunteers in your cohort and have access to your 2 dedicated Childline Trainers.
• As part of the training, you will also go in person to the London Base for observation and mentored shifts which give you a face to face insight into how the Counselling Room works.
• You will also have access to a dedicated Volunteer Engagement Lead to give you a London Base tour (optional) and generally be on hand to answer any questions or queries you may have - big or small, if they matter to you they matter because you are giving your time to volunteer and Childline wants to offer you every level of support.
• Once you pass through training and become a qualified Childline Volunteer Counsellor, the development opportunities do not stop there. You will have access to a multitude of mandatory and optional training courses that are accredited and 100% free to all Volunteers.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR / MANAGER — URBAN YOUTH (HYBRID VOLUNTEER ROLE)

Lead the movement. Shape the culture. Build the crew.

Urban Youth is a brand new start‑up charity bringing street-based youth work, pop-ups, and high-energy support to young people across London. We’re taking over unused spaces, showing up where teens actually are, and building a youth work model that feels more like a street wear fashion drop than a service.

But every movement needs a heartbeat. A culture. A crew. And that’s where you come in.

We’re looking for a Volunteer Coordinator/Manager to lead our recruitment drive, build our volunteer programme from scratch, and shape the spirit of Urban Youth as we prepare for launch.

If you love people, thrive in start-up energy, and want to help build something meaningful from day one, this role is for you.

What You’ll Do

As our Volunteer Coordinator/Manager, you’ll be the architect of our volunteer community — the person who turns enthusiasm into action and strangers into a family.

You’ll:

• Lead our volunteer recruitment drive across London and online

• Build our volunteer programme, pathways, and onboarding experience

• Shape a culture rooted in positivity, belonging, continuous improvement, and team spirit

• Support volunteers across street teams, pop-up crews, remote roles, and creative teams

• Develop simple, effective systems for communication, scheduling, and support

• Help create a volunteer experience that feels energising, empowering, and unforgettable

• Work closely with our leadership team to prepare Urban Youth for launch

This is a chance to design the volunteer journey from the ground up — the tone, the vibe, the rituals, the sense of community.

Who You Are

You don’t need years of experience — just the right energy, heart, and drive.

You might be:

• A natural people-person who loves building community

• Someone who thrives in fast-moving, creative environments

• A believer in youth work, inclusion, and giving young people a fair shot

• A builder — someone who enjoys shaping systems, culture, and teams

• A positive force who lifts others up and brings out their best

Most importantly, you care about creating a volunteer family where everyone feels valued, supported, and part of something bigger.

Why This Role Matters

Urban Youth is about to launch — and volunteers will be the engine behind everything we do.

You’ll be the one who:

• Sets the tone for our entire organisation

• Builds the team that powers our street work

• Creates a culture young people will feel the moment they meet us

• Helps transform an idea into a movement

This is a founding role. A legacy role. A chance to help write the first chapter of Urban Youth.

If you want to help build a charity from scratch — and shape a culture rooted in hope, energy, and community — we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and become the heartbeat of Urban Youth.

We are looking for a friendly and motivated volunteer to support our Governance Manager with various administrative tasks.

You will help us to ensure we only store up to date and relevant information in compliance with policies such as Document Retention and Disposal, Confidentiality, Data Protection and Health and Safety among others.

This is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to use their administration and organisation skills to support an organisation working with vulnerable women.  If you are looking to gain hands-on experience in governance and charity administration in a supportive environment, this is the perfect opportunity for you! We will provide relevant training and help you to identify career development opportunities.

JOB PURPOSE:

This Role Transforms Volunteer Activity Into Structured, Ethical, High-Impact Operations

At Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C., our work is powered by people. Volunteer contribution is not just support, it is community, capacity and impact. The Volunteer Operations Analyst ensures that this contribution is organised, visible and aligned with the organisation’s mission, safeguarding responsibilities and growth.

You will play a key role in connecting people, systems and structure—ensuring that volunteer engagement is consistent, well-managed and sustainable as the C.I.C grows.

This is not a purely administrative role. It is insight-driven, systems-focused and central to how the organisation operates effectively behind the scenes.

This role exists to:

• Support the coordination and tracking of volunteer activity across teams

• Translate organisational needs into structured volunteer workflows

• Maintain and improve systems for onboarding, engagement and offboarding

• Monitor volunteer participation, capacity and gaps

• Support compliance with safeguarding and organisational policies

• Ensure consistency, documentation and scalability in volunteer operations

You are the link between volunteers, systems, operations and organisational visibility.

About the Role

To provide operational support, coordination and systems oversight for volunteer engagement across the organisation—ensuring that volunteers are effectively onboarded, supported, tracked and aligned with the C.I.C’s mission and safeguarding values.

Why This Role Matters

Strong volunteer operations:

• Ensure volunteers are supported, organised and able to contribute effectively

• Maintain safeguarding, compliance and ethical standards

• Create visibility of who is doing what across the organisation

• Build sustainable systems that reduce confusion and duplication

• Strengthen the organisation’s ability to grow and deliver impact

Without this role, volunteer engagement can become inconsistent, unclear and difficult to manage. With it, the organisation operates with clarity, structure and confidence—ensuring that every contribution is meaningful and well-supported.

Experience Qualification and Requirements

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in:

• Google Sheets / Microsoft Excel

• Data tracking and reporting tools

• Ability to organize and interpret large sets of data

Analytical Skills

• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking ability

• Ability to identify patterns, trends and inefficiencies

• Detail-oriented with a structured approach to analysis

Communication Skills

• Ability to present data in a clear, concise and actionable format

• Strong written communication for reporting

Organisational Awareness

• Understanding of how teams and workflows interact

• Ability to think in systems, not just tasks

Preferred Background in:

• Operations 

• Business Administration

• Data Analysis or related fields

Preferred previous experience in:

• Operations analysis

• Project tracking

• Process improvement roles

• (Experience working in remote or volunteer-based organisations is an advantage)

Main Responsibilities/ Key Duties

Core Objectives:

• Provide clear visibility into operational performance across all teams

• Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks and process gaps

• Recommend practical, data-backed improvements

• Support leadership with structured reporting and insights

• Strengthen accountability and operational clarity across the organisation

Key Responsibilities:

1. Data Tracking & Performance Monitoring

• Develop and maintain centralized tracking systems (e.g., Google Sheets)

• Monitor key operational metrics across departments, including:

• Volunteer recruitment and onboarding timelines

• Task completion rates across teams

• Program and project delivery timelines

• Ensure data is accurate, up-to-date and consistently maintained

2. Reporting & Insights

Prepare weekly or bi-weekly operational reports for leadership

• Clearly highlight:

• Performance trends

• Delays and inefficiencies

• Areas requiring attention

• Translate raw data into clear, actionable insights

3. Process Analysis & Mapping

Document and map existing workflows across functions (HR, Programs, Operations, Teams, etc.)

Identify:

• Bottlenecks

• Redundant steps

• Communication breakdowns

• Provide structured recommendations for process improvement

4. Risk Identification & Escalation

Proactively flag:

• Missed deadlines

• Workflow delays

• Inactive or unresponsive team members

• Escalate findings to the Operations Manager with supporting data and context

5. Systems & Process Optimization

Recommend improvements such as:

• Workflow restructuring

• Automation opportunities

• Standardized templates and tracking systems

• Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of existing systems and suggest refinements

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with:

• HR Team (for recruitment and onboarding tracking)

• Team Leads (for task and performance tracking)

• Operations Coordinator / Executive Assistants (for workflow visibility)

• Ensure alignment between data insights and operational execution

Scope and Boundaries for the role:

To ensure clarity and efficiency:

The Operations Analyst WILL:

• Analyze data and workflows

• Provide insights and recommendations

• Track and report performance metrics

The Operations Analyst WILL NOT:

• Manage or supervise team members

• Enforce task completion or chase individuals

• Schedule meetings or handle administrative coordination

• Make final operational decisions

Working Relationship:

The Operations Analyst will:

• Report directly to the Director of Central Operations & Executive Coordination

• Support decision-making but will not replace leadership authority

• Work collaboratively across all teams while maintaining objectivity and independence

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Accuracy and consistency of operational data

• Timeliness and quality of reports

• Clarity and usefulness of insights provided

• Number and impact of process improvements implemented

• Increased efficiency in key workflows (e.g., reduced onboarding time, improved task completion rates)

What Success Looks Like in This Role:

Within the first 60–90 days, the Operations Analyst should:

• Establish a centralized operations tracking system

• Deliver consistent and structured performance reports

• Identify at least 2–3 key operational inefficiencies with clear recommendations

• Provide leadership with improved visibility into organisational performance

Please note: this role would be based in our Bristol region and would potentially cover HMP Guys Marsh, HMP The Verne and HMP Portland.

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy?

Volunteers are essential to Shannon Trust and bring their energy, ideas and skills to train mentors in prisons, support learners in the community and enhance our business support team.

We are looking for volunteers to provide training and support to our mentors in prison. There may be some additional preparation and/ or administrative tasks in between volunteering days at the prison.

Our prison volunteers nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by delivering training sessions for prison mentors and offering ongoing advice, guidance and support through mentor meetings.

Volunteer recruitment dates

The closing date for applications to attend our next round of training is 26 April 2026. In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare. We will respond to all applications. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview between 27 April and 8 May 2026. This is an opportunity for you to meet our regional team, to find out more about you and for us to share more information about the volunteering role.

Training:

You'll be given high quality training to prepare you for volunteering with Shannon Trust. This takes place over 4 training sessions and via our online training portal. We ask that volunteers aim to complete the training in one course as this means that you will be ready to start actively volunteering. The next training sessions for volunteering for people applying to be a prison based volunteer will take place as follows.

Please check that you can attend all of the training the dates prior to applying:

• 27 May 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 3 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 10 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 1 July 2026, 10am-4pm (in person session, London)

You’ll also receive the opportunity to attend ongoing training sessions and peer support meetings during your time as a volunteer to build your skills and experience.

Why we want you

Shannon Trust’s vision is of a future where everyone can experience the positive impact of learning. As a prison volunteer your role will be at the heart of our organisation as you support our mentors in prisons. This will include delivering training to new mentors and supporting existing mentors to develop and deliver our Turning Pages and Count Me In programmes. You will be volunteering alongside Shannon Trust facilitators and / or frontline prison staff to empower mentors and ensure no one is left out of learning.

What you will be doing

• Delivering initial, and ongoing, training to mentors in prisons
• Supporting and encouraging the Shannon Trust facilitator and mentors to attract new learners and expand the reach of the Shannon Trust programme
• Arranging and leading mentor meetings to develop mentors’ skills, share good practice and to provide support to mentors to find solutions to concerns
• Supporting facilitators to engage prison staff and people in prison to set-up, maintain and develop the Shannon Trust reading and numeracy programmes across the whole prison, and contributing to progress planning for how to progress and achieve this
• Using your skills to build positive relationships with frontline prison staff, people in prison and other organisations
• Training and supporting mentors to collect and submit data and learner feedback
• Supporting with the planning of, and attendance at, celebration events
• Collecting and sharing good news stories and feedback
• Attending area meetings and sharing good practice with other volunteers
• Engaging with quarterly reviews to receive support and discuss progress
• Acting as an ambassador for Shannon Trust in all that you do, sharing the vision and values of the charity throughout your volunteering

The skills you need

• A commitment to providing non-judgemental support to people in prison
• Able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and have flexibility to visit the prison at times required
• Strong communication skills and are able to use these to inspire others
• Able to deliver engaging training and identify training and support needs for mentors
• Able to manage own time and prioritise
• Able to keep up to date with Shannon Trust news and communications and share relevant information with the wider prison team
• Able to use IT

What's in it for you

• Developing and growing your understanding of the HMPPS structure and prison system
• Reasonable, out of pocket, volunteering expenses are
• You will receive induction training and ongoing training to support and develop you in your role
• All volunteers receive ongoing support and quarterly reviews to enable you to gain the most from your volunteering experience
• We recognise and are grateful for the added value that volunteers bring to our organisation
• We provide flexible volunteering opportunities, subject to the requirements of your role

Disclaimer

In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early.

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy?

Volunteers are essential to Shannon Trust and bring their energy, ideas and skills to train mentors in prisons, support learners in the community and enhance our business support team.

We are looking for volunteers to provide training and support to our mentors in prison. There may be some additional preparation and/ or administrative tasks in between volunteering days at the prison.

Our prison volunteers nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by delivering training sessions for prison mentors and offering ongoing advice, guidance and support through mentor meetings.

Volunteer recruitment dates

The closing date for applications to attend our next round of training is 26 April 2026. In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare. We will respond to all applications. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview between 27 April and 8 May 2026. This is an opportunity for you to meet our regional team, to find out more about you and for us to share more information about the volunteering role.

Training:

You'll be given high quality training to prepare you for volunteering with Shannon Trust. This takes place over 4 training sessions and via our online training portal. We ask that volunteers aim to complete the training in one course as this means that you will be ready to start actively volunteering. The next training sessions for volunteering for people applying to be a prison based volunteer will take place as follows.

Please check that you can attend all of the training the dates prior to applying:

• 27 May 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 3 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 10 June 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 1 July 2026, 10am-4pm (in person session, London)

You’ll also receive the opportunity to attend ongoing training sessions and peer support meetings during your time as a volunteer to build your skills and experience.

Why we want you

Shannon Trust’s vision is of a future where everyone can experience the positive impact of learning. As a prison volunteer your role will be at the heart of our organisation as you support our mentors in prisons. This will include delivering training to new mentors and supporting existing mentors to develop and deliver our Turning Pages and Count Me In programmes. You will be volunteering alongside Shannon Trust facilitators and / or frontline prison staff to empower mentors and ensure no one is left out of learning.

What you will be doing

• Delivering initial, and ongoing, training to mentors in prisons
• Supporting and encouraging the Shannon Trust facilitator and mentors to attract new learners and expand the reach of the Shannon Trust programme
• Arranging and leading mentor meetings to develop mentors’ skills, share good practice and to provide support to mentors to find solutions to concerns
• Supporting facilitators to engage prison staff and people in prison to set-up, maintain and develop the Shannon Trust reading and numeracy programmes across the whole prison, and contributing to progress planning for how to progress and achieve this
• Using your skills to build positive relationships with frontline prison staff, people in prison and other organisations
• Training and supporting mentors to collect and submit data and learner feedback
• Supporting with the planning of, and attendance at, celebration events
• Collecting and sharing good news stories and feedback
• Attending area meetings and sharing good practice with other volunteers
• Engaging with quarterly reviews to receive support and discuss progress
• Acting as an ambassador for Shannon Trust in all that you do, sharing the vision and values of the charity throughout your volunteering

The skills you need

• A commitment to providing non-judgemental support to people in prison
• Able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and have flexibility to visit the prison at times required
• Strong communication skills and are able to use these to inspire others
• Able to deliver engaging training and identify training and support needs for mentors
• Able to manage own time and prioritise
• Able to keep up to date with Shannon Trust news and communications and share relevant information with the wider prison team
• Able to use IT

What's in it for you

• Developing and growing your understanding of the HMPPS structure and prison system
• Reasonable, out of pocket, volunteering expenses are
• You will receive induction training and ongoing training to support and develop you in your role
• All volunteers receive ongoing support and quarterly reviews to enable you to gain the most from your volunteering experience
• We recognise and are grateful for the added value that volunteers bring to our organisation
• We provide flexible volunteering opportunities, subject to the requirements of your role

Disclaimer

In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early.

Gift of Friendship Programme Volunteer Befriender  

Background

Age UK Croydon has received a generous donation from The Julia Rausing Trust as part of its wider partnership with Age UK, the national charity, to help fund its crucial friendship services that support older people in the local area.

This ‘Gift of Friendship’ from the Trust aims to help older people experiencing loneliness and isolation. Loneliness often stems from factors like bereavement, living alone and declining health. Loss of mobility or senses can leave many older people feeling disconnected, while financial worries can increase existing feelings of isolation. This can have serious consequences, undermining resilience and increasing risk of physical and mental illness.

Volunteers Befrienders are offering support and company to people who may need that extra confidence to attend a local activity in Croydon. You could accompany someone to a local lunch group or activity or even just going with them to a park for a nice walk. They build relationships in the process, which enable meaningful conversations and help to identify support needs and other services and activities that will help maintain their clients’ mental health. A key aim of the role is to support people with achieving their goals to live a happier life, accompany them, and build their confidence back to get out into the community and feel more independent.

Commitment 

Minimum of 6 months from start of the GoF Befriending match, includes:

· 30-minute informal interview.

· Willing to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

· 1-hour core induction.

· Mandatory training sessions.

· Up to 1-2 hours a week engagement with your befriendee

· Weekly accurate records of interactions with your befriendee

· Regular check-in calls with Befriending Coordinator

Purpose of Role

Staff will assess the client and you will be given their profile and a support plan. Core tasks will include:

· Weekly companionship contact in person.

· Encouraging and accompanying to visits to other social events and activities in the local area e.g., a walk, GP, an IT class.

· Spotting additional needs and identifying services and activities to address these.

· Submitting a weekly report on the contact to include contact type, signposting and any concerns.

Support Provided 

• Full remote training and induction provided.
• We will complete the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application with you.
• Supervision and direct contact with the Befriending

Co-ordinator/Manager.

· Join and participate in peer support groups and meet other volunteers to share experiences and good practice.

Skills and attributes Required

· Good communication with a friendly approachable manner

· Solution focused.

· Comfortable working alone.

· Good record keeping.

· Good listening skills

· Reliable and committed to do at least 1 visit a week for the committed period.

· Applicants must be over the age of 18.

· Basic IT skills may be required depending on client’s needs.

Benefits

· Learn new skills.

· Enhance career prospects.

· Meet people.

· Make a difference.

· Gain confidence

· Travel expenses and hot drinks reimbursed

· Social and celebration events

· Exclusive invites to join and support community projects

The English class is a part of the Creative Arts and Skills Programme (CASP). It is a safe space for clients to improve their English at their own pace, making friends and immersing themselves in learning to forget some of their daily challenges, whilst being continuously supported by our team of dedicated staff and volunteers throughout their journey.

This weekly English class is a relaxed and friendly space for clients of all language and literacy abilities to practice their English together and develop the confidence to later enrol in a formal college ESOL course. While this class is mostly for beginners, it is also attended by clients who are less comfortable in busy environments and would prefer to learn or improve their English in a smaller group. Some clients are already in college and use this space for extra practice.

We are looking for two volunteers to facilitate this class. The volunteers will work together to develop new class material, and will alternate fortnightly as the main teacher and the support teacher.

Main tasks and activities

• Plan, prepare and deliver high quality English language teaching that meets the differing needs of our clients, taking into account individual learning styles
• Monitor progress and provide regular feedback to each student throughout the term
• Take part in education and training events or schemes as required by the programme
• Keep accurate and timely registers, plus records of travel and other expenses
• Contribute to the development, evaluation, and improvement of the English class, in order to meet learners' needs by actively working as a member of the CASP at HBF
• Keep in contact with the Community and Integration Manager and report any concerns around client wellbeing, following safeguarding procedures when needed

Skills and experience needed

• Understanding of, and commitment to, the objectives of the Helen Bamber Foundation;
• A demonstrable empathy for our vulnerable clients, including asylum seekers, refugees and survivors of torture and trafficking;
• An understanding of the challenges facing our client group;
• Punctual, reliable and self-motivated with a positive, ’can-do’ attitude;
• Hold a Basic ESOL Subject Specialist qualification (e.g. TEFL, CELTA, university degree);
• Proven experience of teaching as an ESOL/EFL teacher ;
• Experience of informal and community education;
• Experience working with vulnerable people;
• Strong facilitation skills with a focus on inclusivity and community-building
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage own time and workload, and to prioritise a range of competing demands;

What you will get out of the role:

• A strong understanding of how HBF’s integration programmes contribute to the well-being of our clients;
• An appreciation of the processes and systems that asylum seekers and refugees navigate within the UK;
• Access to training opportunities within HBF
• Increased experience and confidence in teaching English as a second language;
• Increased teamwork skills;
• An ability to multi-task between competing priorities.

Please provide a Cover Letter along with your CV to be considered for this role.

We are looking for up to ten UK university students to join our volunteer Student Ambassadors team and help Ygam achieve its social purpose by reaching out to students at university. This will be achieved by advising Ygam on the needs of students, supporting with content development, organising activities at your campus, and join us at events to raise awareness of gaming and gambling harms.

We are seeking individuals who are outgoing, with a confident personality. You will enjoy engaging with other students and be able to advise us on the experiences of students with regards to gaming and gambling. 

"We are looking few candidates to join our volunteer human resource programme and gain real world experience in your chosen field. While we only have few vacancies available through this programme, other options are available if your skills match our criteria".

About the Role

HR Liaison plays a pivotal role in driving the success of our flagship professional development initiative. This position is responsible for managing the end-to-end execution of the progrmme, ensuring seamless coordination between participants, Heads of Department (HoDs), and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will combine exceptional organizational skills with a passion for fostering professional growth, ensuring participants remain engaged and supported throughout their development journey.

Key Responsibilities

1. Programme Management

   • Oversee the effective implementation of the HR programme, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.

   • Welcome participants to the programme, providing orientation materials and clarifying expectations.

2. Participant Support & Progress Tracking

   • Conduct initial skills assessments to identify individual development needs.

   • Monitor and document participant progress, providing regular updates to stakeholders.

   • Schedule and coordinate meetings between participants and their respective Heads of Department (HoDs).

3. Coordination & Communication

   • Manage day-to-day operations, including scheduling sessions, sending reminders, and maintaining programme documentation.

   • Serve as the primary point of contact for participants, addressing queries and resolving issues promptly.

4. Engagement & Feedback

   • Design and organise feedback sessions to gather insights from participants and HoDs, using data to refine the programme.

   • Develop strategies to ensure active engagement (e.g., interactive workshops, milestone celebrations).

5. Reporting

   • Prepare progress reports for senior leadership, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

Required Skills

• Keen Eye for Detail: Ability to manage complex schedules, track progress meticulously, and maintain accurate records.

• Excellent Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication to liaise effectively with participants, HoDs, and stakeholders.

• Relationship Building & Networking: Proven ability to foster trust and collaboration across departments.

• Organizational Agility: Skilled in multitasking, prioritization, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Problem-Solving: Proactive approach to addressing challenges and improving programme delivery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in coordinating professional development programmes or similar initiatives.

• Familiarity with data analysis to assess programme effectiveness.

As a Volunteer Community Connector, you will support the Compassionate Communities programme by helping to grow and strengthen community engagement by encouraging discussion around grief and loss.

Your role will involve:

• Supporting and facilitating ‘compassionate conversations’ in the community and promoting social connectedness. This may include signposting to relevant community support or care provision.

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

• Helping to support informal sessions or larger events in partnership with community groups, workplaces, clubs and organisations.