Youth work volunteer roles

Youth engagement is a core part of our how we function. We have a network of paid Young Associates as well as 2 Young Trustees (under 25 years old). We are now looking to strengthen our Governance with the appointment of another Young Trustee, ideally someone with relevant lived experience and/or has participated in Youth Careers Collective programmes.

Essential criteria

- A commitment to realising Youth Careers Collective’s mission

- Experience of effective, fair and impartial decision-making

- A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the duties of effective Trusteeship

Desirable criteria

- Experience of operating at Board or Committee level, either executive or non-executive

- Experience of strategic development and implementation

- Some experience, knowledge and understanding of the charity sector

- Some experience, knowledge and understanding of state schools and colleges

- Experience of income generation, policy, marketing and communication, or digital

We do not expect applicants to have all the above experience, and welcome first-time Trustees and will provide training and support on the role. We also welcome candidates with links to our priority area of west London, those from ethnic minority and black backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve, and from candidates with disabilities.

For more information please read the full recruitment pack.

Description

The National Youth Advocacy Service is a wonderful children's rights charity dedicated to supporting and empowering young people who have experienced care.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers in Launceston to befriend and mentor a young person in care.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in a young person's life! 

Young Person quote:'It gives you a friend that you can spend time with doing the things you like to do’ 

Children and young people in care truly deserve an adult who can share their time, engage in fun activities, and build a trusting and meaningful relationship. Your visits can easily fit into your schedule, allowing you to juggle your commitments while being a positive role model for a young person. 

Volunteer quote: "Volunteering with NYAS has reinforced my belief in the crucial role of community support in empowering the next generation.  Witnessing the positive changes and growth in the young person I support highlights the tangible impact that dedicated volunteers can have on building a brighter future for vulnerable individuals." 

We kindly ask for just a few hours once a month for a minimum of two years.

A set budget will cover activities and travel expenses so you can focus on making a difference without any worries. 

If you're interested, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you for considering this opportunity! 

Expectations

• Two-year commitment
• Minimum age of 18
• Based in the UK
• DBS check
• Digital risk assessment compliance
• Completion of training relevant to the role
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports

Benefits

This is a worthwhile opportunity where you will make a positive difference to the life of a vulnerable young person, become part of a leading national children's charity, gain valuable experience, meet new people and have fun!

Description

The National Youth Advocacy Service is a wonderful children's rights charity dedicated to supporting and empowering young people who have experienced care.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers in Swindon to befriend and mentor a young person in care.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in a young person's life! 

Young Person quote:'It gives you a friend that you can spend time with doing the things you like to do’ 

Children and young people in care truly deserve an adult who can share their time, engage in fun activities, and build a trusting and meaningful relationship. Your visits can easily fit into your schedule, allowing you to juggle your commitments while being a positive role model for a young person. 

Volunteer quote: "Volunteering with NYAS has reinforced my belief in the crucial role of community support in empowering the next generation.  Witnessing the positive changes and growth in the young person I support highlights the tangible impact that dedicated volunteers can have on building a brighter future for vulnerable individuals." 

We kindly ask for just a few hours once a month for a minimum of two years.

A set budget will cover activities and travel expenses so you can focus on making a difference without any worries. 

If you're interested, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you for considering this opportunity! 

Expectations

• Two-year commitment
• Minimum age of 18
• Based in the UK
• DBS check
• Digital risk assessment compliance
• Completion of training relevant to the role
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports

Benefits

This is a worthwhile opportunity where you will make a positive difference to the life of a vulnerable young person, become part of a leading national children's charity, gain valuable experience, meet new people and have fun!

ABOUT MARY’S

At Mary’s Youth Club, we’re not just a youth club – we’re a vibrant, inclusive community where young people aged 10–19 (up to 25 for those with disabilities) come together to share, grow, learn, and enjoy themselves. We believe in creating joyful and enriching experiences that empower every young person who walks through our doors. 

Our open access youth club runs exciting and diverse programmes Monday to Friday, including school holidays. Whether it’s the energy of drop-in activities like gaming, sports, and board games, or the focused buzz of creative arts, health and wellbeing sessions, life skills workshops, or youth-led social action – there’s always something happening at Mary’s. Young people help shape our programmes, and we champion their independence, creativity, and voice. 

Young people describe us as “like a family” – a safe, friendly, and welcoming space where they can be themselves. Our team is deeply rooted in youth work values: inclusion, equality, justice, reflection, and lifelong learning. Together, we work to support young people to navigate challenges and take steps toward brighter futures. 

VOLUNTEER WITH US! 

Volunteer role title: Volunteer Chef/Cook/Kitchen Staff

Hours: 2-3 hours on a Friday evening, from about 4.30/5pm

Help us to meet our goal of creating healthy meals for young people, by volunteering in our kitchen! 

We are looking for volunteers with a passion for cooking, nutrition and healthy eating, to assist in the kitchen independently, as a group, or alongside our youth workers and young people, preparing a warm meal for up to 40 young people.

You are welcome to come along as an assistant volunteering with the rest of the team, but we would also love volunteers who are interested in heathy eating to lead on this initiative, teaching those young people who choose to volunteer in the kitchen, food preparation skills, how to cook nutritious foods, as well as sharing the joy of eating together 

This role will include: 

• helping to prepare hot food by chopping vegetables, cooking etc 

• serving the young people during the Friday evening dinner service. 

• helping with cleaning up the dining room and the kitchen

If you are interested in taking a more active role/lead on this project then you would also lead on the menu planning and budgeting 

The commitment 

• We are looking for people who are able to commit 2-3 hours on a Friday, from 4.30/5pm

• This commitment is during term time (please note that additional volunteering in school holidays is beneficial to Youth Club delivery but not essential) 

Experience 

You do not need to have experience in catering, or to have volunteered before, as you will be well looked after by the team, but if you are interested in leading on this project then it would be beneficial to be able to demonstrate your knowledge/passion 

Training 

You will be given a full induction to Marys Youth Club.

This includes access to our training platform. The mandatory training for this role includes: 

• Food hygiene and safety 

• Safeguarding 

• Health and Safety 

• Equality and diversity 

Essential for This Role

Safer Recruitment Checks:

• DBS is essential for this role (we will provide this)

• Completion of mandatory training modules as outlined above 

• Interpersonal skills

• Time Management skills 

• Team Work

• Ability to get stuck in 

• Commitment to/ interest in, the work that we do 

In return 

You’ll be sharing your time and skills and gaining accreditations and valuable CV boosting skills

We will also provide, references and/or a volunteer certificate 

Reasonable travel expenses can be covered 

Note that we do also have other volunteer roles, both in the office and working directly with young people, so if you aren’t able to commit to Friday evenings, or have interests other than cooking/volunteering in the kitchen, then get in touch to discuss 

Application Process 

All potential volunteers are asked to first attend a volunteer intro call

After this intro call, potential volunteers are invited to come to the youth club to meet the young people and the youth workers, this is a chance to see if volunteering with us is a good fit 

If you are invited to progress with your application, you will be asked to complete a DBS, provide us with 2 references, and complete the mandatory training listed above. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SPONSORSHIP, THEREFORE YOU DO NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK

Description

The National Youth Advocacy Service is a wonderful children's rights charity dedicated to supporting and empowering young people who have experienced care.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers in Whitchurch to befriend and mentor a young person in care.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in a young person's life! 

Young Person quote:'It gives you a friend that you can spend time with doing the things you like to do’ 

Children and young people in care truly deserve an adult who can share their time, engage in fun activities, and build a trusting and meaningful relationship. Your visits can easily fit into your schedule, allowing you to juggle your commitments while being a positive role model for a young person. 

Volunteer quote: "Volunteering with NYAS has reinforced my belief in the crucial role of community support in empowering the next generation.  Witnessing the positive changes and growth in the young person I support highlights the tangible impact that dedicated volunteers can have on building a brighter future for vulnerable individuals." 

We kindly ask for just a few hours once a month for a minimum of two years.

A set budget will cover activities and travel expenses so you can focus on making a difference without any worries. 

If you're interested, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you for considering this opportunity! 

Expectations

• Two-year commitment
• Minimum age of 18
• Based in the UK
• DBS check
• Digital risk assessment compliance
• Completion of training relevant to the role
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports

Benefits

This is a worthwhile opportunity where you will make a positive difference to the life of a vulnerable young person, become part of a leading national children's charity, gain valuable experience, meet new people and have fun!

Description

The National Youth Advocacy Service is a wonderful children's rights charity dedicated to supporting and empowering young people who have experienced care.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers in Shaftesbury to befriend and mentor a young person in care.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in a young person's life! 

Young Person quote:'It gives you a friend that you can spend time with doing the things you like to do’ 

Children and young people in care truly deserve an adult who can share their time, engage in fun activities, and build a trusting and meaningful relationship. Your visits can easily fit into your schedule, allowing you to juggle your commitments while being a positive role model for a young person. 

Volunteer quote: "Volunteering with NYAS has reinforced my belief in the crucial role of community support in empowering the next generation.  Witnessing the positive changes and growth in the young person I support highlights the tangible impact that dedicated volunteers can have on building a brighter future for vulnerable individuals." 

We kindly ask for just a few hours once a month for a minimum of two years.

A set budget will cover activities and travel expenses so you can focus on making a difference without any worries. 

If you're interested, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you for considering this opportunity! 

Expectations

• Two-year commitment
• Minimum age of 18
• Based in the UK
• DBS check
• Digital risk assessment compliance
• Completion of training relevant to the role
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports

Benefits

This is a worthwhile opportunity where you will make a positive difference to the life of a vulnerable young person, become part of a leading national children's charity, gain valuable experience, meet new people and have fun!

We are honoured to be supporting the wonderful Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People to recruit four new Trustees to their Board. 

Rainbows Hospice for Children & Young People is based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and is the only Hospice across the East Midlands that delivers a comprehensive range of support services, nursing and care for babies, children and young people with life threatening and life limiting conditions and their families.

As a Trustee for Rainbows Hospice your commitment will make a direct difference to the families they support. The work involved in being a Trustee can be demanding but is also immensely rewarding, providing both expected and unexpected opportunities for personal development. You will be joining a multi-skilled and talented Board of Trustees, currently twelve, who have a collective responsibility to govern their work.

The rewards of working with, and learning from, people of different backgrounds and skills will be great. You will help plan and fulfil their strategic future and make policy decisions to ensure they are accountable to the families, supporters, the Charity Commission and the public in general.

The team are looking for four Trustees to join them and have identified the following three skill areas of interest at this time;

Leadership
• Proven leadership experience aligned with organisational values and culture
• Collaborative, compassionate leadership style (non-hierarchical approach)
• Ability to inspire and bring people along
• Strategic oversight experience at board level
• Senior leadership role required (e.g., Director or CEO level)

Business/ Finance
• Strong understanding of charity finance to support the Director of Finance
• Broad commercial acumen beyond just retail
• Senior-level experience with a track record in innovation and growth
• Ability to contribute strategically to financial oversight and decision-making

Strategic Income Generation/ Retail
• Retail experience is essential and currently missing from the board (used to have a retail trustee on the board from Boots)
• Strategic income generation experience is desirable, though partly covered by the CEO
• Ability to challenge and support investment decisions to drive income
• Understanding of both operational and commercial aspects of retail
• Senior-level experience (e.g., Director of Retail at a large national charity like Cancer Research UK Senior Director

The best Boards are diverse, with people who have a real understanding of the needs to be met and others who have specific skills and knowledge that can complement that. Rainbows supports babies, children, young people and their families from many multi cultural and multi-ethnic communities across the East Midlands. We welcome applications reflective of the region and rich diversity of the communities we serve.

For more information, please download the job pack attached above.

The closing date is Monday 30th March 2026

Interviews are to be held w/c 13th April.

Valued Recruitment is working exclusively with Rainbows to recruit for their Board of Trustees. We are an ethical recruitment company, intent on hiring inclusively and transparently.

To apply, we welcome a CV and a 1-2 page covering letter detailing your interest in the role. 

Accessibility is incredibly important to us here at Valued Recruitment and at Rainbows. If you would like any accessibility amendments or support throughout the application and interview stage, please don’t hesitate to let us know. No question or request is too big or too small. We want this process to be comfortable and enjoyable and a chance for you to bring your best self to the process.

Youth Helper work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By supporting our Youth Leaders to deliver a sessions across our range of programmes. In this role, you'll support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Helpers also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Must be able to attend meetings and attend courses when they become available

Pursuing the role

We are looking to run a volunteering interview selection session on:

• 03/04/2026, Details of times, venue, etc to be confirmed.

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role via our learning portal.

• Training for role - Complete any mandatory training required for role details of course including dates, time & venue TBC.

Closing date for these opportunities is: 03/04/2026

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Our partner is a small Suffolk based charity working to create a Creative Youth Hub, Nursery and Playscape for children and young people in the local area, following the loss of the former youth centre.

The Treasurer will hold the Board to account for the charity’s finances and help maintain a clear and transparent financial framework. Working closely with fellow Trustees and the wider team, you will oversee budgeting and reporting, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and support financial planning as the project develops. The role will involve managing multiple income streams, including grants and donations.

The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant or experienced finance professional with strong financial management skills and the confidence to advise fellow Trustees. Experience of charity finance and governance would be helpful but is not essential.

This is a rewarding opportunity to support a community led capital project with significant local impact. The role is expected to require around 1 to 3 hours per week initially, increasing as the project moves forward, with attendance at regular Board meetings either in person or via Zoom.

_______________________________

For more Trustee and Treasurer roles please visit the AfID website

Description

The National Youth Advocacy Service is a wonderful children's rights charity dedicated to supporting and empowering young people who have experienced care.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers in Coleford to befriend and mentor a young person in care.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in a young person's life! 

Young Person quote:'It gives you a friend that you can spend time with doing the things you like to do’ 

Children and young people in care truly deserve an adult who can share their time, engage in fun activities, and build a trusting and meaningful relationship. Your visits can easily fit into your schedule, allowing you to juggle your commitments while being a positive role model for a young person. 

Volunteer quote: "Volunteering with NYAS has reinforced my belief in the crucial role of community support in empowering the next generation.  Witnessing the positive changes and growth in the young person I support highlights the tangible impact that dedicated volunteers can have on building a brighter future for vulnerable individuals." 

We kindly ask for just a few hours once a month for a minimum of two years.

A set budget will cover activities and travel expenses so you can focus on making a difference without any worries. 

If you're interested, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you for considering this opportunity! 

Expectations

• Two-year commitment
• Minimum age of 18
• Based in the UK
• DBS check
• Digital risk assessment compliance
• Completion of training relevant to the role
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports
• Ability to complete online tasks and reports

Benefits

This is a worthwhile opportunity where you will make a positive difference to the life of a vulnerable young person, become part of a leading national children's charity, gain valuable experience, meet new people and have fun!

Youth Helpers work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By supporting our Youth Leaders to deliver a session across our range of programmes. In this role, you'll support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Helpers also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team. 

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Pursuing the role Closing date for these opportunities is: 28/12/2026

We are recruiting Youth Helpers to assist at our various Cadet and Badger groups in the Surrey area.

Youth Helpers work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units by supporting our Youth Leaders to deliver a sessions across our range of programmes. In this role, you'll support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Helpers also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) -  31/01/2026.

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

This role is assisting in leading a youth unit in the Dacorum St John Network

Pursuing the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is: 20th July 2026.

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

We are looking to recruit people for our Youth Programme, for a minimum commitment of 10 weeks. The Youth Programme works with young refugees and asylum seekers in the Epirus region of Northern Greece, providing them with a sense of community and experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise receive!

There are some specific applicant requirements, however the most important is to have a strong desire to work with young refugees and have the commitment to improve the situation for them here in Greece. Second Tree works in a transparent way in a challenging and changeable situation on the field; therefore, an ability to learn quickly and be open to feedback is vital.

Your role would include:

We are looking to recruit people that are open to filling one (or more) of the following roles within our Youth Programme. Whilst these should guide applications, the roles often overlap and are interchangeable. Imagination and flexibility is encouraged when applying: let us know your suggestions on how we can use your skills!

The roles range across:

• Children’s English Teacher: responsible for the planning and delivery of the programme’s English classes. Classes focus on low level English learning and must be fun and engaging. TEFL/equivalent experience is preferable, but not essential.

• Excursion Lead: responsible for the planning and leading of weekend excursions, a highlight of the programme for participants! Excursions require an organised, methodical planner who is engaging and confident leading groups of children.

• Workshop Lead: responsible for facilitating workshops that can be either thematic, reinforcing the vocabulary learned in English class to make it more practical and interactive, or focused on social and emotional learning, helping students develop their self-awareness through creative and mindful activities, or touch upon any scientific/mathematical knowledge the teacher might bring. 

No matter the role(s) filled, team members are expected to help plan, prepare and participate in various community engagement activities such as: picnics, community excursions, sporting events, etc.

You should be able to:

• Be consistent with your application of behaviour management techniques

• Be honest and transparent; be able to give and receive feedback in the most straightforward way

• Manage a wide range of tasks and intense workload effectively and efficiently 

• Communicate in English, both written and orally

• Deliver programme activities and carry out administrative and logistical tasks

• Plan and deliver effective and dynamic educational activities

• Care for people: the interests of the people we work with should always be your first concern

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience with young children and teenagers in educational and leisure activities

• Experience working as a Scout leader or a leadership role in other such youth activities

• Experience working in the refugee context

What do we offer?

• A nurturing and collaborative working environment. We work hard to help our team members grow, investing in personal and professional development.

• Accommodation in a shared house

• Transportation to/from work

• After completion of a three-month trial, if you commit long-term, a small monthly expenses refund

In certain periods of the year, demand is extremely high, and the shared houses might be full. If you have the means to pay for your own accommodation, please let us know. We would still be happy to host you if space is available. However, in a situation where the shared houses are full, this would allow us to offer an opportunity to someone that cannot afford to pay rent.

Have experience leading a team of this type?

Consider applying to become a Youth Programme Coordinator. Whether your experience lies in the humanitarian sector or elsewhere, we are looking for people with expertise that can drive us forward as an organisation. 

Looking for an internship?

If, because of your degree or for any other reason, you would like to have your period at Second Tree credited as an internship, just apply to the vacancy that you’re interested in and mention this. We have agreements with several universities across Europe, and in many other cases, these agreements can be developed on an ad hoc basis.