Volunteer roles in East of england

Why we want you

As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community to ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.

Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.

What you will be doing

• Activity Organisers - Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Promoting SSAFA Services - Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
• SSAFA Storytellers -Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
• Community Connectors - Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects.
• Fundraising Heroes - Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
• Administrators - Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.

The skills you need

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Confident to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
• Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
• Basic IT skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

The Coroners' Courts Support Service (CCSS) is a registered Charity whose trained volunteers give emotional and practical support to bereaved families and other witnesses attending an inquest.

We need volunteers to provide emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending Inquests at Coroners' Court. Our volunteers at court also provide help and assistance to the Coroners' Officers, as and when required.

We are looking for reliable, supportive people with excellent communication skills. A mature and calm attitude is needed in order to be able to talk to people during a sometimes bewildering and emotional experience. Volunteers must be willing to undergo a period of observations and shadowing, as well as attend a 3 day training course. A minimum commitment of one day (9:00am - 5:00pm) per fortnight is asked for. Training and mentoring is provided and travel expenses to the court are reimbursed.

New volunteers should possess good communication and listening skills and the ability to empathise with people they support.

Carers Support is looking for a new Chair of Trustees to lead our Board and support the next stage of our development. This is an important voluntary role for someone with strong board or senior governance experience who wants to make a real difference to unpaid carers.

About Carers Support

We are an independent charity supporting thousands of unpaid carers of all ages across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. We provide advice, information, practical help, emotional support, training, young carers services and more.

Our vision is that all carers are recognised, valued and supported. We work closely with the NHS, local authorities and voluntary organisations, and hold the Trusted Charity quality mark

Main duties would include:

As Chair of Trustees, you will:

• Lead the Board and help set the charity’s strategic direction

• Support and work closely with the Chief Executive

• Make sure the Board fulfils its legal and governance duties

• Encourage a positive, open and inclusive Board culture

• Ensure meetings are well-run and support good discussion and decision-making

• Help the charity respond to the needs and views of unpaid carers

• Ensure risks, finances and performance are monitored effectively

You do not need previous chairing experience. We are looking for someone with solid board or committee experience who can guide a group and support strong governance.

What we’re looking for

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences. We are looking for someone who can bring:

• Board, governance or senior decision-making experience

• Calm, confident leadership and good people skills

• The ability to facilitate effective meetings or a willingness to learn

• Sound judgement and the confidence to ask questions

• A commitment to improving the lives of unpaid carers

• Time to prepare for and attend meetings

Time commitment

• 4 board meetings per year (2 hours each)

• Regular meetings with the Chief Executive

• Occasional committee meetings, events or development sessions

• Additional committee meetings, events or development sessions, as required

What you’ll gain

• A meaningful leadership opportunity with social impact

• Strategic experience in a respected local charity

• Supportive induction, training and ongoing guidance

• A warm and collaborative Board environment

 There’s lots more we could tell you, but why not apply and come and see for yourself.  If you’d like any further information, please email our recruitment team with your details and we’ll arrange for someone to call you back.

Please visit our website for all the information you need and details of how to apply.  All expressions of interest and CV’s should be returned to our recruitment inbox.

Closing date for applications is 30th September 2026 (however this vacancy may close early if we find a suitable candidate).

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer, and our workplace is free of barriers and fully accessible for people with disabilities.  We are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults; from recruitment of staff through to supporting our team working with families and carers in crisis.

Registered Charity No:  1063226

As a Tigrinya Interpreter Volunteer, you will be supporting women who speak little to no English and helping them to communicate with others in society. This role is necessary for our service user to feel included as well as supported. This would be a great opportunity for you to meet someone new and make a difference in their time at Hestia!

What you will be doing

• To maintain strict confidentiality and good working relationships
• To be able to meet with client when required for appointments and other professional meetings when needed
• Speech translating along with translating written documents from English to Tigrinya

The skills you need

• Fluent in Tigrinya
• Be understanding and patient, as well as sensitive to service user’s emotions
• A good communicator who is able to create a relaxing and nurturing environment

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Are you a fluent Farsi speaker with a passion for helping others? We are seeking dedicated volunteers to assist women in improving their English language skills. Improving someone’s understanding and spoken English language, will allow individuals to communicate and connect with people in their local community, widen their network of friendships and relationships and provide people opportunity to improve their employability skills.

What you will be doing

• To support people who are not confident with spoken English to develop these skills through conversational English sessions through 1:1 or in small groups.
• Agree a mutual agreeable time and frequency that works for both parties Engage in conversation, allowing the person to feel supported and comfortable to practice speaking English Preparing and delivering sessions independently including setting work and assessing
• To keep records of conversations and update the support worker on progress of sessions.

The skills you need

• Hold a TEFL qualification, or equivalent qualification to support individuals
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere
• Fluent in Farsi and English

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Do you have a passion for ballet and want to make a difference? We’re looking for a volunteer to support a beginner on a one-to-one basis. This role may involve a mix of remote and face-to-face sessions!

What you will be doing

• Deliver ballet sessions tailored to the individual’s beginner level
• Encourage and motivate the individual to build confidence and enjoy learning.
• Plan and adapt sessions to suit the individual’s pace and goals.
• Agree on session times and format (in-person or remote).

The skills you need

• Ballet experience required
• Qualification desired but not essential
• Patience and ability to teach beginners.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Reliable and committed to regular sessions.

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Are you creative? Would you like to support others to express their emotions through arts and crafting?

Art plays a valuable role in mental wellbeing with research showing that crafting, regardless of the medium you use can boost your mood, self-confidence and reduce stress overall.

What you will be doing

• To prepare arts and craft sessions, involving individuals in the planning process where possible
• Inspire and motivate individuals to develop their arts and craft skills, assisting them in the creation of their projects and supporting them to brainstorm and use their own initiative
• Encourage individuals to continue independent activities

The skills you need

• Experience of arts and/or crafts either in a professional, educational, or personal level
• Able to collaborate with individuals to plan an art group session and facilitate confidently
• A calm and patient manner
• Ability to provide a trusting, open, kind-hearted atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• An effective communicator with a patient and sympathetic nature

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun 

Volunteer your time at Hestia to make our gardens a beautiful place for our service users to enjoy all year through! Are you green fingered and have a passion for gardens and outdoor spaces?

At Hestia we have gardens and outdoor spaces which require your support to bring these back to life by keeping them maintained. We are recruiting for volunteers to motivate and inspire staff and people living in our services to get involved in gardening.

We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.

In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.

We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.

What you will be doing

• Inspire and motivate staff and people in the services to get involved in maintaining and growing the garden
• To provide tips on how to maintain and grow the garden - sowing seeds, planting bulbs, taking cuttings
• Provide basic maintenance such as cutting the grass, emptying bins, managing weed control and leaf raking
• Lead in planting and nurturing new trees, flowers, and various plants
• Provide best practice on how to use the correct gardening tools
• Inspire people in our services and staff to maintain a clean garden
• Advise staff on the costs of plants and garden necessities

The skills you need

• A basic knowledge/ experience of plant care and use of gardening tools7
• Calm and patient approach
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Could you be a star baker, master chef or perhaps you simply enjoy baking or cooking! We are recruiting for a volunteer to join our team supporting individuals to learn new recipes together as a group.

Baking and cooking helps to relax, get creative and indulge in our senses. Often, it can spark nostalgia and helps us to recreate positive experiences or memories. Inspire and motivate people in our services to do something that brings joy, an opportunity to learn new skills whilst connecting with others over sharing baked goods and delicious meals.

What you will be doing

• Research and plan new recipes for cooking/baking sessions in collaboration with the group each week
• Encourage individuals to participate in the sessions and delegate cooking tasks
• Support individuals to shop for ingredients needed for the session
• Support individuals each week in setting up for the sessions and tidying away afterwards
• Encourage individuals to participate in all aspects of the planning and attendance
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Food Safety Certificate/knowledge or willingness to complete relevant training
• Passion and knowledge of healthy eating and cooking
• Ability to engage, encourage and motivate individuals to participate in sessions
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Are you passionate about health and wellbeing? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others through movement and mindfulness? We’re looking for a Yoga and Fitness Instructor Volunteer to support our service users at Medway Recovery House. This role is a fantastic opportunity to share your skills and promote physical and mental wellbeing in a supportive environment.

What you will be doing

• Leading weekly yoga or fitness sessions tailored to the needs of our residents
• Encouraging participation and creating a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere
• Supporting individuals in building confidence and improving their physical health

The skills you need

• Experienced and qualified in yoga and fitness
• A friendly, patient, and encouraging approach
• Good communication skills

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

We are recruiting for volunteers to visit pharmacies to ascertain whether they have a consultation room to deliver the Safe Spaces Scheme.

Hestia and UK SAYS NO MORE operate over 4,500 Safe Spaces in pharmacies and banks across the UK, for anyone experiencing domestic abuse. Anyone can be affected by domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, race or identity. Domestic abuse is not always physical violence, and it can take many forms including emotional, sexual abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour. One in three women and one in seven men are affected by domestic abuse.

What you will be doing

• To visit Pharmacies and Banks/Building societies to check whether they have a consultation room to deliver the Safe Spaces Scheme
• Asking questions following a script

The skills you need

• Good communication skills, verbal and written
• Calm, friendly and patient manner

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Join our team of befrienders!

You will support us to reach some of the most isolated adults in your community, including individuals with complex needs, to reduce feelings of loneliness, build meaningful friendships, and improvement well-being. You will support people to recite a passion for a hobby or an interest, or encourage them to explore and participate in new social activities.

Through regular companionship and encouragement, you will help individuals rebuild their lives beyond crisis, increase their confidence, and strengthen their connection with their local community.

This is a complex needs service, and we are looking for volunteers who are confident, non-judgemental, and are able to support individuals facing a range of challenges.

What you will be doing

• Agree a mutual time and frequency to meet in the local community
• To develop and promote a positive relationship with your befriendee
• To encourage your befriendee to engage in social activities and support them in doing so whilst building their confidence
• To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
• Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals

The skills you need

• Good listening and communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere which motivates and inspires others
• Willingness to engage in activities in the community
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow professional boundaries

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Do you love little ones and understand the importance of supporting new Mums through this significant life change? Are you looking for a new opportunity to contribute your time in a supportive and friendly organisation?

We are looking for kind, empathetic and committed women to join a team of volunteers at our Friday mum’s programme. Each Friday between 20 and 30 mums’ gather to share experiences, dance with their babies and drink great coffee. Due to the nature of the project, we can only accept applications from women and each successful applicant will need to complete an enhanced DBS check.

Time Commitment:

At least twice a month on a Friday.

There are two time slots available per Friday session.

• 9.15am - 2.15pm

• 12.30pm – 4.30pm

We are looking to build a team of warm, reliable and compassionate volunteers to support our Friday Mums project, which provides a welcoming space for mothers and babies during the first year of motherhood at The Bridge. At each Friday session, we are looking to have two volunteers to give their time alongside a session lead from our staff team.

 Due to the nature of the project, we are only accepting volunteer applications from women. All volunteers will need two references and we complete a Enhanced DBS check.

About Friday Mums at The Bridge 

Friday Mums is a free weekly group for new mums (and pregnant women) to connect, feel supported and spend time with others who understand this stage of life. Unlike many baby groups, Friday Mums is designed to support mums as people, not just parents. 

The Bridge is a women’s health and wellbeing charity based in Southwark working to create inclusive and welcoming spaces for women of all identities to connect and thrive for over 90 years. We believe in a fairer society where women’s voices are heard and their health and wellbeing are valued and respected. Through our women-only gym, community café, wellbeing programmes and support groups, we help women care for themselves, support one another and challenge injustices together. 

Desired volunteer skills 

• Warm, friendly and approachable manner that helps build trust and rapport with new mothers.

• Excellent listening and communication skills, with the ability to engage sensitively and respectfully with mums from diverse backgrounds.

• Genuine empathy, kindness and emotional intelligence when supporting mothers experiencing the challenges of early motherhood.

• Patient, caring and attentive approach when interacting with both mothers and babies. Ability to foster positive relationships and contribute to a supportive, non-judgemental community environment.

• Reliable and dependable, with a strong sense of responsibility and commitment.

• Positive attitude, enthusiasm, and willingness to contribute as part of a small, collaborative team.

Interests and values 

• A genuine interest in maternal, infant and family wellbeing.

• Passion for supporting women's health, reducing inequalities and improving outcomes for families.

• Interest in perinatal health, child development or community-based health and wellbeing services.

• Commitment to creating inclusive, welcoming spaces that promote physical, emotional and social wellbeing.

• Desire to make a meaningful difference through community engagement and compassionate support.

• Barista experience or training is welcomed but not required. 

Typical responsibilities 

• Help set up and manage a safe, welcoming, baby-friendly environment for weekly Friday Mums sessions.

• Provide informal support and conversation to mothers, listening and encouraging participation in wellbeing activities.

• Engage positively and appropriately with babies to enable mothers to take part in discussions and activities.

• Support the delivery of group sessions through practical assistance and general organisation.

• Help café team with making coffees and teas for the mums when they arrive to the café space.

• Work collaboratively with staff and other volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the Friday Mums project.

We are looking for enthusiastic Badminton Session Volunteers to help lead and support our weekly badminton sessions!

We are looking for enthusiastic Badminton Session Volunteers to help lead and support our weekly badminton sessions, encouraging residents to improve their physical and mental wellbeing through sport.

Location:

Wycombe Badminton Centre

Crest Road

High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire

Session Times:

• Monday: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
• Wednesday: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Project Resilience provides easily accessible opportunities for our hostel residents to take part in a variety of social and sporting activities, helping to improve their overall health, wellbeing and confidence.

We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about badminton and enjoy encouraging others to participate in a fun, supportive and inclusive environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Planning, preparing and delivering engaging weekly badminton sessions.
• Helping with the set-up and tidying away of equipment.
• Encouraging residents to participate and supporting them to develop their confidence, fitness and badminton skills.
• Working closely with the Project Resilience Coordinator, maintaining open communication and providing feedback.
• Assisting with any related events or friendly tournaments where appropriate.

This role offers a rewarding opportunity to motivate and support vulnerable residents while helping them improve their physical health, mental wellbeing and social connections. You'll gain valuable coaching and leadership experience while making a positive impact within the community.

You will need:

• Previous experience of playing, coaching or leading badminton sessions.
• The ability to work as part of a team as well as on your own initiative.
• An empathetic and understanding approach to working with vulnerable residents who may have varying levels of fitness and sporting ability.
• A recognised sports coaching or fitness qualification is desirable (this does not need to be badminton-specific), or relevant experience leading sports sessions.

What we will provide:

• A full induction to the role and site.
• Mandatory e-learning and access to a range of optional training opportunities.
• Ongoing supervision and support from your line manager.
• Access to organisational events and celebrations throughout the year.

Please note: You will be required to undergo a DBS check, and we will require two references before you begin volunteering.