Volunteer roles in Bristol

​Who are Governors for Schools?

Governors for Schools operates across England and Wales to improve educational standards and ensure all children and young people have the chance to realise their full potential.

We believe the key to improving school performance is effective governance. By finding, nurturing and supporting a committed network of governors, we drive positive systematic change that benefits each and every student, regardless of their background.

Governors for Schools recruits and matches volunteers with school governing boards and provides ongoing support.

What’s involved?

There are governor vacancies across England and Wales. Some schools are also looking for remote governors who don't need to live near the school they support.

Governors volunteer at board level to set the strategic vision for their school. This involves constructively challenging current processes, using your unique skills to support senior leaders, and overseeing school finances. You’ll be involved in areas such as monitoring, budget management, and data analysis. As well as putting your expertise to good use, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your professional skills. Ultimately, you’ll work towards facilitating the delivery of a broad and exciting curriculum and oversee wellbeing and inclusion initiatives. Governance represents a fantastic opportunity to develop yourself while making a real impact on the education of children and young people.

Governors work collaboratively with the headteacher and other members of the board, including parents and school staff. In most schools, full board meetings are held termly, as are committee meetings. Many governors will sit on a committee linked to their expertise or interests, such as teaching and learning or finance and resources. In addition to attending meetings, governors will need to read the papers in advance, complete training courses, and occasionally visit their school.

Governors usually support schools for a period of four years and with an estimated time commitment of 7 hours per month. During these hours, you will attend meetings, read papers, attend training sessions, and make occasional visits to school.

Who can be a governor?

The most important part of being a governor is the ability to ask questions, provide support and have the best interests of the school at heart. You don't have to be a parent or have experience in education to become a governor. Schools seek a  wide range of skills to support the board, including finance, HR, and data analysis.

Boards also need governors with a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences to ensure a range of perspectives are considered during board meetings.

Schools welcome professional experience, as well as community insight and experience of working collaboratively.

You need to be aged 18 or above and there are certain criminal convictions that would exclude you from the role. A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be carried out by the school.

What’s the process?

You can find out more about the school governor role by attending one of our recruitment webinars.

You can complete your online profile on the website, including your motivation to take on the role, your skills and your school preferences. Your regional Partnership Manager will then look at vacancies that match your requirements. Once a school is identified, you will have the opportunity to discuss the role with them in more detail, visit the school, and observe a meeting. If appointed, a DBS check will take place and, in some cases, the school will seek references.

Ongoing support

Governors for Schools isn’t just a matching service. We want to help you thrive in your role through bespoke and ongoing support. We provide eLearning and monthly webinars covering a variety of topics to increase your knowledge of the education sector and governance. You’ll also have access to The Key for School Governors, an information hub designed to show new governors the ropes and offer a useful point of reference for existing governors.

The Role:

Are you passionate about food and want to make a meaningful difference in your community? Join us as a Cooking Volunteer at our Day Centre, where we provide support to individuals who are rough sleeping and/or with a history of homelessness.

In this role, you’ll be preparing and cooking hearty meals for our clients, helping to bring comfort, routine, and nourishment to their day. You’ll also be responsible for cleaning up as you go and ensuring the kitchen is left tidy afterwards.

What you’ll be doing?

You’ll be preparing delicious meals for our clients and making a real difference in the lives of people who need it most. Your time, care, and cooking skills can bring comfort and support to those on their journey to a better future.

You'll also be:

• • Meal planning with clients
  • Stock-taking and ordering
  • Preparation and cooking
  • Clearing and cleaning

Desirable skills and qualities:

Your enthusiasm for our cause and your willingness to get stuck in are the most important, along with a calm and friendly manner, good listening skills and having empathy for our clients.

A food hygiene qualification is desirable but it can also be completed as part of our induction training.

What’s in it for you?

• • The feel-good factor that comes from doing something worthwhile
  • Learning new skills and access to further training
  • Work experience
  • Using & developing cooking skills, preparing wholesome, home-cooked meals.
  • You’ll receive a warm welcome and full induction to help you settle into the role and get to know more about our Day Centre and the people we support.
  • Your time & care will directly impact on the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness

DBS Checks and references

Our services aim to reflect the diversity of the communities they’re based in. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly people with lived experience.

All applicants who volunteer with our clients will be expected to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. A criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from becoming a volunteer, the decision will depend on the type of offence and its relevance to the role.

If you would like to discuss any convictions you may have, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator using the link below. All information will be dealt with according to our Data Protection Policy. We also request contact details for us to obtain references, ideally we need two.

Get in touch

To find out more, just click on the Application tab above and submit your contact details, so we can call you for an initial chat, we don't need a CV or letter. 

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

The Role:

Our Day Centre provides vital support to individuals experiencing rough sleeping by offering a safe, welcoming space. Here, they can find warmth or shade, enjoy a hot meal, connect with positive company, and engage with essential services in a neutral, supportive environment.

We are currently looking for compassionate and dedicated people to join us in supporting the day-to-day operations of our Day Centre. This role is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by helping ensure vulnerable members of our community receive the care and support they need.

What you’ll be doing?

• Welcoming and registering attendees 
• Managing refreshments – providing tea, coffee and biscuits to our clients
• Assisting with serving food
• Supporting staff with the delivery of activities
• Helping to set up, clean and tidy at the end of the session
• Chatting with our clients and occasionally playing games

Desirable skills and qualities:

Your enthusiasm for our cause and your willingness to get stuck in are the most important, along with a calm and friendly manner, good listening skills and having empathy for our clients.

What’s in it for you?

• The feel-good factor that comes from doing something worthwhile which makes a real difference to people's lives
• Full induction into the role
• Access to free training courses through Julian House
• Learning new skills, such as basic hospitality and customer service skills

DBS Checks and references

Our services aim to reflect the diversity of the communities they’re based in. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly people with lived experience.

All applicants who volunteer with our clients will be expected to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. A criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from becoming a volunteer, the decision will depend on the type of offence and its relevance to the role. If you would like to discuss any convictions you may have, please contact the person named in the advert.

All information will be dealt with according to our Data Protection Policy. We also request contact details for us to obtain references, ideally we need two.

Get in touch

To find out more, just click on the Application tab above and submit your contact details, so we can call you for an initial chat, no need to worry about a CV or letter.

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience in business development, corporate partnerships, account management, sales, CSR, philanthropy, or fundraising to use their skills to make a tangible difference in the lives of refugees.
You will play a key role in helping Plateful Café develop relationships with local and national businesses, generating support through corporate donations, sponsorship, employee volunteering, catering contracts, and long-term strategic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities
Corporate Engagement

• Identify and research prospective corporate partners aligned with Plateful Café's mission.
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of potential supporters and business contacts.
• Introduce Plateful Café to local businesses, corporate foundations, and employers.
• Arrange introductory meetings and networking opportunities.
• Support the development of corporate partnership proposals and presentations.

Income Generation

• Help secure financial donations, sponsorships, and in-kind support.
• Identify opportunities for corporate grant funding and charitable giving programmes.
• Promote employee fundraising opportunities and workplace giving schemes.
• Explore sponsorship opportunities for training programmes, events, and community activities.

Catering and Enterprise Development

• Promote Plateful Café's corporate catering services to local businesses.
• Identify opportunities for meetings, events, lunches, conferences, and hospitality catering.
• Support the development of long-term catering relationships and repeat customers.
• Help position Plateful Café as a preferred socially responsible catering supplier.

Employee Volunteering and Skills Sharing

• Develop opportunities for corporate volunteering.
• Encourage businesses to provide mentoring, employability support, and workplace visits for our trainees.
• Build relationships that create pathways into employment for refugees completing our training programmes.

Strategic Support

• Provide advice on corporate engagement and relationship management.
• Help strengthen our corporate partnership strategy.
• Support impact reporting and stewardship of existing partners where required.

We Are Looking For Someone Who Has
Essential

• Experience working in a corporate environment, business development, account management, sales, marketing, CSR, partnerships, fundraising, or a related field.
• Excellent networking and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence engaging with senior stakeholders and business leaders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and proactively.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and supporting refugees.

Desirable

• Experience within the charity or not-for-profit sector.
• Knowledge of corporate social responsibility (CSR), ESG, or social value initiatives.
• Experience securing sponsorships, partnerships, or fundraising income.
• Existing business networks in London.
• Experience developing corporate volunteering programmes.

What You Will Gain

• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of refugees and people seeking asylum.
• Experience supporting a growing and ambitious social enterprise charity.
• The chance to shape and influence our corporate partnerships strategy.
• Opportunities to meet business leaders, charity professionals, and community partners.
• A reference and recognition for your contribution.
• The satisfaction of helping create employment opportunities and brighter futures for people rebuilding their lives in the UK.

Our Values
At Plateful Café, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to contribute, belong, and thrive. We celebrate diversity, value lived experience, and use food to bring communities together.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from individuals with experience of migration, displacement, or supporting diverse communities.

As a Volunteer Donor Relationship Co-ordinator, you will play a crucial role in forming and maintaining relationships with our donors, ensuring they feel valued and appreciated, whilst forming & implementing a strategy to keep them donating. This role would suit someone who is confident, enthusiastic about building strong connections, and passionate about the welfare of refugees & asylum seekers.

Key responsibilities:

• Identify and approach local high net worth individuals/businesses to approach for a regular donation
• Develop a donor relationship strategy aimed at maximising engagement and satisfaction.
• Personally reach out to existing donors to thank them for their contributions (& send seasonal cards/other personalised messages to maintain positive relationships).
• Build relationships by engaging with donors via phone calls and emails to understand their motivations for donating and gather feedback used to improve our efforts.
• Encourage previous donors to continue their support.
• Keep detailed and accurate records of all our donor interactions to ensure we have up-to-date information on our supporters.
• Create and distribute surveys to gain insights into our donors’ needs and expectations.
• Further down the line, host webinars or live Q&A sessions to answer donor questions and provide updates on our work.

Requirements:

• Strong communication abilities
• Proficiency with google docs/sheets
• Excellent organisational skills
• A confident individual who is comfortable engaging with a diverse range of people
• Pro-active approach and work with minimum supervision
• Can commit a minimum of 2 hours per week

GHRI is seeking qualified Nutritionists and Dietitians to provide nutritional guidance and support through our telemedicine platform.

Responsibilities

Conduct nutrition assessments

Develop personalized nutrition recommendations

Educate patients on healthy eating habits

Support preventive healthcare initiatives

Requirements

Degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, or related field

Strong counseling and communication skills

Passion for health promotion

GHRI is seeking volunteer pharmacists to provide medication guidance and pharmaceutical care through our telemedicine services.

Responsibilities

Counsel patients on medication use

Identify potential drug interactions

Promote medication adherence

Provide pharmaceutical information to patients and healthcare teams

Requirements

Degree in Pharmacy and valid practicing license

Strong attention to detail

Excellent communication skills

GHRI is looking for compassionate nurses to support patients through our telemedicine platform.

Responsibilities

Assist with patient assessments

Provide health education and counseling

Support follow-up care for patients

Monitor patient progress and report concerns

Requirements

Nursing qualification and valid license

Excellent communication skills

Passion for community health and patient care

Are you passionate about making a real impact in global healthcare?

The Global Health Reform Initiative Foundation (GHRI) is looking for a Volunteer Partnership Coordinator to help us expand our reach and build meaningful collaborations with hospitals, organizations, and supporters worldwide.

�� About GHRI

GHRI is a global health initiative focused on improving access to healthcare for underserved communities through telemedicine, digital health solutions, and strategic partnerships.

�� Your Role

As a Volunteer Partnership Coordinator, you will:

Reach out to hospitals, NGOs, and healthcare organizations for collaboration

Identify and connect with potential partners and sponsors

Support outreach to investors and donors

Assist in developing partnership proposals and presentations

Help grow GHRI’s global network and visibility

�� Who We’re Looking For

Strong communication and networking skills

Passion for healthcare, humanitarian work, or social impact

Confidence in outreach (email, LinkedIn, messaging)

Self-motivated and proactive mindset

Experience in marketing, sales, or partnerships is a plus (but not required)

�� What You Gain

Hands-on experience in partnership development and global outreach

Opportunity to build a strong professional network

Letter of recommendation and recognition for your contribution

Flexible, remote working environment

Be part of a mission that saves lives and improves access to healthcare

Unify Giving is a social impact platform on a mission to transform the way people support those experiencing homelessness and hardship. We are building technology that connects donors, businesses, charities, and vulnerable individuals in a transparent, dignified, and meaningful way.

Our platform is being built by a passionate community of volunteers, innovators, technologists, and social impact leaders who believe business can be a force for good.

As we continue to grow, we are looking for dedicated individuals to join our Sales & Partnerships Team.

Who We’re Looking For

This opportunity is ideal for:
 •  Experienced sales professionals between roles who want to stay active and build something meaningful.
 •  Aspiring sales professionals looking to gain real-world experience.
 •  Individuals returning to work after a career break.
 •  People who are passionate about helping others while developing valuable commercial skills.
 •  Self-motivated individuals who believe in loyalty, integrity, and long-term relationships.

Most importantly, we’re looking for people who genuinely care about making a difference.

What You’ll Be Doing
 •  Building relationships with businesses and potential partners.
 •  Introducing organisations to the Unify Giving mission.
 •  Helping secure merchant, corporate, and community partnerships.
 •  Identifying opportunities to grow our impact.
 •  Representing a platform focused on social good and innovation.
 •  Contributing ideas and helping shape our growth strategy.

What You’ll Gain
 •  Hands-on sales and business development experience.
 •  Mentorship and support from experienced founders and business leaders.
 •  The opportunity to build your professional profile and network.
 •  Meaningful references based on performance and contribution.
 •  Experience working within a fast-growing social enterprise and technology platform.
 •  The satisfaction of helping create real social impact.

Our Culture

At Unify Giving, we believe loyalty works both ways.

We understand that many talented people are facing difficult circumstances in today’s job market. We value commitment, effort, honesty, and character above polished CVs.

If you join our team, you’ll be treated with respect, supported in your development, and given opportunities to grow alongside the organisation.

We’re not simply looking for salespeople.

We’re looking for people who want to be part of a movement that combines technology, business, and compassion to help humanity.

Interested?

Love fashion? Know your brands? Know your retro from your vintage? We are looking for people that love clothes and accessories to help us select, research, prepare, photograph and list our stock for sale on Oxfam’s bespoke online shop. No previous experience is necessary, we will provide full training.

During these uncertain times Oxfam’s work to tackle global poverty is more vital (and more challenging) than ever before. Can you use your fashion knowledge to help us raise money to support and empower some of the world’s most vulnerable communities?

What you can do at the shop:

You can get involved with any of the following:

· Selecting the best stock from the amazing donations we receive

· Researching rare and valuable stock

· Preparation and presentation of stock

· Photography and editing

· Creating accurate and engaging online listings

· Creating engaging content for the shop's social media platforms

· Upcycling items, or creating new items from waste textiles

What we can offer:

Oxfam's core values are empowerment, inclusiveness and accountability, and we stand by these in all aspects of our work. We provide a safe, friendly and supportive environment and we have a range of tasks to suit all potential volunteers. When you volunteer with us you will have the opportunity to develop your skills (and enhance your CV) and bring your own ideas into the shop. You will be warmly welcomed and you will feel a sense of ownership over the work you do. We will provide full training, giving you the benefit of our experience. We provide references for our volunteers, and we believe nobody should be out of pocket to volunteer with us, so if you live outside the Cotham area we can help with reasonable travel costs.

What our team have to say about working at the shop:

“Oxfam has given me my first relevant volunteering experience – I’ve learnt about a range of different items as well as how an organisation works – and it gives me a chance each week to switch my focus away from uni work!”

“You come across lots of interesting items, but it can be a thrill when you find something rare or out of the ordinary”

“I’ve been here for four years and I love it – very friendly team, very varied – dealing with high end clothing, antiquarian books, household items and much more – it’s great to find new homes for unwanted goods”

What we ask for:

· Enthusiasm for selling stuff online!

· A willingness to learn and to work within Oxfam's core values

· A commitment of a 3 hour shift per week for at least 3 months

· A commitment to abide by all shop health and safety processes

What your help will enable us to do:

Every pound raised in these incredibly challenging times supports Oxfam’s aim of ending extreme poverty. This income is vital to empower people to help themselves out of poverty, and, crucially, it allows us to act immediately when a disaster happens - saving lives and providing essential resources to help rebuild communities.

Can you help us raise as much as we can to continue our work this year? We won't live with poverty. If you feel the same way we would love to work with you!

Job description

What is the befriending service?

• The Befriending Service links volunteers 1:1 with a disabled child/young person.
• Links are based on shared interests and activities, which you can enjoy doing together, either in the young person’s home or out in the community.

What experience do I need?

• You do not need any previous experience with disabled children or young people
• We ask that you are friendly, caring, reliable and able to make a commitment to visit a young person regularly.

What will I be doing?

You will volunteer within WECIL’s befriending service for disabled children/young people and their families. This involves:

• Spending time regularly with a disabled child or young person in their home or their local community.
• You will not be asked to administer medication or deliver personal care in this role.

Who am I responsible for?

• You are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person you are linked with.
• All links are risk-assessed and carefully monitored by your Coordinator.

How often will I be needed?

• We typically ask for volunteers to commit to 1-4 hours a week
• The days / times are agreed between the volunteer and the family.
• We ask for a minimum commitment of 6 months to ensure the child and their family are able to benefit fully from the relationship.

What about expenses?

• Volunteer travel expenses can be reimbursed on receipt of a claim form. You won’t be left out of pocket.

Any Perks?

• Ongoing training and support to develop skills and confidence
• Professional references provided for committed volunteers
• Volunteer socials to meet like-minded people and build friendships
• Expenses are covered
• A welcoming and supportive environment

Time2Share@WECIL is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects its staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Our first priority is to ensure the safety of the children we support. 

Unfortunatly we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. 

Would you like to help tackle loneliness, one conversation at a time?

Loneliness and isolation can have devastating effects on a person’s mental and physical health. We are a registered charity providing a pathway of support to alleviate the hurt and distress, and the impact on mental and physical health, caused by loneliness and social isolation. 

The aim of face-to-face Individual Support is to provide in-person supportive social contact for people who are hurt by loneliness.

Volunteers support Friends (people who use our services) on a one-to-one basis. After completing training, volunteers will be linked with a Friend who they will phone for around one hour every two weeks. This is arranged at a mutually convenient time. 

We ask volunteers to think of this as a longer term volunteer role due to the training and time we take in order to give our volunteers, and Friends, the very best service. You will also need to consider occasional time spent in training for your role and for continuous development. 

For all our roles:

Due to our Safeguarding regulations, unfortunately we are only able to accept applications from UK residents. 

Enhanced DBS checks for working with vulnerable adults (formerly called criminal records bureau checks)  which we will organise (no cost to this) and two references are required.

For any roles involving driving Archway Friends, we will need to see evidence of insurance and driving license as well as MOT and tax documents for the vehicle to be used.

We will happily cover out of pocket expenses (eg mileage or costs for coffee out with Archway Friend).

We provide training relevant to the roles as well as ongoing supervision, guidance and support for all volunteers.

This flexible home volunteering role is worthwhile and rewarding. Make a real difference writing letters. As a Volunteer Penpal Writer you’ll be a key member of the Letterbox Team. Your letters will cheer someone up and establish a trusting, supportive relationship with a client who might be lonely or socially isolated.

What tasks can this role include (some or all of the following):

• Writing letters to clients
• Building trust and companionship with a client through correspondence. Omega befriends a variety of people including: caregivers, the lonely, isolated or people with ill-health.
• Liaising with the Letterbox Team by email or post.
• Respecting service standards, appropriate boundaries and recognising the policies and procedures that are necessary when befriending adults at risk.
• Making suggestions to help us improve the service we provide to clients and Volunteer Pen pal Writers.

This role could be for you, if you:

• Enjoy writing and receiving letters
• Are enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Associate strongly with Omega’s values and strategy
• Have knowledge or understanding about a variety of client issues including caring, feeling isolated and lonely and its impact on people and society
• Have satisfactory written and inter-personal communication skills
• Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can show this in practice
• Are committed to inclusion, treating people with dignity and respect

What support and training will be provided?

• Feedback from clients and colleagues
• Regular and ongoing support from Letterbox Team Leader
• Answering questions
• Stationary and pre-paid envelopes can be provided making the service free.
• Opportunity for peer support events and invitation to Omega events
• Reward system and opportunity for volunteer of the month rewards

What are the benefits for you?

• Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life by doing something you enjoy
• Joining the Omega Team, who are taking action against loneliness and isolation as well as helping people in crisis
• An opportunity to enhance your CV or learn new skills
• An opportunity to engage with your community

Location of the role:

• Mainly your home

When are you needed?

• At a time to suit you