Volunteer roles in Islington

Citizens Advice offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. Through our national network of charities, we give people the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem.

We are Citizens Advice—the people’s champion. We empower individuals with the knowledge and confidence they need to move forward, no matter who they are or what challenges they face.

Help shape the future of Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice is one of the UK's leading charities, providing trusted advice to millions of people every year. We're looking for an experienced finance leader to join our Board as a Trustee, helping to ensure we remain financially resilient, well governed and able to deliver lasting impact for the people and communities we serve.

This is an opportunity to contribute your expertise at the highest level of the organisation, influencing strategic decisions and supporting the long-term sustainability of a charity with a vital public mission.

About the role

As a Trustee, you'll work alongside fellow Board members to provide strategic direction, effective governance and constructive challenge. You'll help ensure Citizens Advice continues to deliver on its purpose while remaining financially strong and well positioned for the future.

We are currently seeking a Trustee with significant financial expertise who can bring strategic insight to the Board and support our approach to financial governance, sustainability and long-term planning.

Subject to approval by our membership, the successful candidate may also be appointed as Treasurer of the charity.

About you

You'll be a professionally qualified finance leader with substantial experience of leading finance within a large and complex organisation.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience of developing and delivering financial strategy and governance.

• A strong understanding of high-performing finance functions, including financial planning, budgeting and forecasting.

• The ability to support effective strategic decision-making through sound financial oversight and insight.

• Experience of strengthening financial sustainability and diversifying sources of income.

• A track record of coaching and supporting senior finance professionals.

• The ability to explain complex financial issues clearly and confidently to senior leaders and Boards.

Previous non-executive or Trustee experience is welcome but not essential. We value the different perspectives and experiences that people bring to our Board.

We're looking for someone who is

• Passionate about the mission and values of Citizens Advice.

• A collaborative and inclusive leader who values openness and partnership.

• An excellent listener who builds trust and strong relationships.

• Able to provide constructive challenge with diplomacy and respect.

• Someone who demonstrates integrity, authenticity and sound judgement.

• Ambitious about the difference Citizens Advice can make for people and communities across the UK.

As a Trustee, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to one of the UK's most respected charities. Your expertise will help shape strategic decisions, strengthen our financial future and ensure Citizens Advice continues to provide trusted advice for generations to come.

If you're an experienced finance leader who wants to use your skills to make a national impact, we'd love to hear from you.

We hope you will consider making an application to join our Board as Trustee of Citizens Advice.
To apply, please provide:

• A CV (no more than three sides) or equivalent biographical information.
• A short covering letter that explains your motivation, suitability, availability and confirms that you would not be subject to any conflict of interest.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is of strategic importance within the organisation and recognised as integral to all we do as a service.

Central to pursuing our EDI mission is building diverse and inclusive teams in which everyone has a sense of belonging. We believe inclusion is a social justice issue - a principle that underpins our all EDI work. To that end, we particularly welcome applications from people we would like to see better represented in our organisation and sector - people of colour, LGBTQ+ people and disabled people. We follow the social model of disability. We will offer an interview to disabled candidates who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident Interview Commitment where they meet our selection criteria in their application. Some of our roles attract a high volume of applications and in some circumstances where it is not practicable or appropriate, we may limit the number of interviews offered to disabled and non-disabled candidates. We will provide reasonable adjustments as needed.

We have been awarded the top charity in Third sectors' employer index, where it's recognised that Citizens Advice is an organization that not only prioritizes the people we serve but also values the wellbeing of its employees.

Please note, in the event of a high number of applications, we reserve the right to close the application early.

This vacancy closes at 23.59 on the closing date.

👑 HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA: Lead the Digital Revolution for the Black Panthers!

Club: Kenningwell United Women’s Football Club (KUWFC) – Home of the Black Panthers
Location: Remote / South London 
Commitment: 4–5 hours per week (Highly flexible, shaped entirely around your schedule)
Role Type: Voluntary Leadership / Director Level Portfolio Builder

🔥 THE MISSION: STEP INTO THE DUGOUT. TAKE THE REINS.

Women’s football is no longer the future—it is the present. At Kenningwell United WFC, we are building something historic. We are the Black Panthers: a fierce, competitive, and deeply inclusive football family battling in the Greater London Women’s Football League. Our First Team and Development squads are tearing up the pitch. Our community programs are changing lives across South London.

The story is epic. The ambition is massive. Now, we need the mastermind to engineer how the world sees it.

We are not looking for someone to just hit "publish" on basic match scores. We are seeking a Head of Social Media. A digital commander. A strategic visionary who wants to take full ownership of a sports brand, lead a creative narrative, and put the Black Panthers on the global digital map.

If you are looking for a leadership role where you have 100% creative control to build an empire, inspire a community, and showcase your strategic genius, this is your throne.

📋 THE PLAYBOOK: YOUR LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

As the Head of Social Media, you will sit at the very heart of the club’s off-pitch operations, working directly with the board, management, and media team to shape our voice:

• 🎯 Brand Architecture: Define and execute the overarching digital strategy and aesthetic for Kenningwell United WFC across Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook.
• 🧠 Content Direction: Oversee the content calendar, ensuring high-octane match-day coverage, engaging player profiles, behind-the-scenes narratives, and community spotlights are perfectly timed.
• 👥 Team Mentorship: Lead, inspire, and collaborate with junior content creators and match-day volunteers, helping them sharpen their skills and execute your vision.
• 📈 Growth & Analytics: Track our digital footprint, analyze engagement metrics, and pivot strategies to continuously expand our reach and fan loyalty.
• ⚡ Crisis & PR Management: Serve as the guardian of the Panther brand, ensuring all output aligns with our core values of equality, empowerment, and community spirit.
• 🤝 Commercial Alignment: Partner with the sponsorship and events teams to create high-value, creative digital campaigns for our club partners and holiday sessions.

⚡️ THE PROFILE: WHO YOU ARE

This is a high-impact role requiring a blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership. You are:

• 🗺️ A Strategic Thinker: You look at social media as a chess board. You know how to build a narrative over weeks and months, not just day-to-day.
• 📣 An Experienced Communicator: You possess a strong command of digital marketing, social media trends, and audience behavior.
• 🖤 A Champion for Women's Sport: You are genuinely fired up about the growth of women's football. You understand its unique culture and want to amplify it.
• 👑 An Inspiring Leader: You love collaborating, giving constructive feedback, and helping a team pull together toward a massive goal.
• ⏰ Organized & Reliable: You can dedicate 4–5 hours a week to steer the ship, maintaining consistent communication with the club board.

🎁 THE PERKS: WHAT WE OFFER YOU

We know your time and expertise are valuable. In exchange for your leadership, we offer a massive platform to supercharge your career or personal goals:

• 🎨 Absolute Creative Sovereignty: No corporate red tape or rigid hierarchies. If you have a bold idea, you have the green light to execute it. This is your sandbox.
• 💼 Director-Level CV Rocket Fuel: Step into future job interviews with proven experience as a Head of Department for an established football club. You will have real metrics, team leadership experience, and strategy documents to show off.
• 🎟️ The Ultimate Match-Day VIP Experience: Full, unrestricted pitch-side and dugout access on match days. Be a recognized, core part of the inner match-day squad.
• 👔 Elite Executive Reference: Receive a highly detailed, executive-level letter of recommendation from the Club Board and Chairman to propel you into senior roles in sports, media, or marketing.
• 🐾 The Panther Legacy: Become a cornerstone of a club that is actively changing the landscape of local grassroots football for girls and women in South London.

🐾 READY TO LEAD THE HUNT?

Take charge of the narrative. Help the Black Panthers rule the digital jungle!

To apply for this leadership position,  . Please include a brief summary of your background,, and a short note outlining your initial vision for the Black Panthers' social media presence.

Kenningwell United WFC proudly welcomes and celebrates leaders from all backgrounds. Come help us grow the game for every single girl and woman in South London!

🐈‍⬛ Social Media Content Creator (Volunteer) – Be the Voice of The Black Panthers!

Club: Kenningwell United Women’s Football Club (KUWFC)
Location: Remote / South London (Pitch-side access at Dulwich Park)
Commitment: Up to 3 hours per week (Fully flexible around your schedule)
Role Type: Voluntary / Portfolio Builder

The Opportunity

Want to build a killer portfolio in sports media? Join Kenningwell United WFC, the "Black Panthers" of South London. We are an ambitious, inclusive, and fast-growing club competing in the Greater London Women’s Football League.

From our competitive First Team to our development squads, we are building a new legacy—and we need YOUR creative voice to show the world what it means to be a Panther.

What You’ll Do:

• 📸 Capture the Power: Craft vibrant posts, reels, and TikToks that capture the intensity of our matches and training.
• 🎙️ Tell Our Story: Share real-time updates, behind-the-scenes stealth moments, and player interviews.
• 💬 Build the Pride: Grow our online community and bring our South London supporters closer to the action.
• 💡 Innovate: Experiment with new trends, audio tracks, and graphic styles to make our feed stand out.

What We’re Looking For:

• A passion for social media (Instagram, TikTok, and X are your second language).
• Excitement about the rise of women’s football and community sports.
• Basic skills in Canva or phone video editing apps (CapCut, etc.).
• A reliable, creative team player ready to contribute just 3 hours a week.

What You’ll Get (The Perks):

• 🎨 Creative Freedom: Full ownership over the look and feel of a sleek football brand.
• 📁 Portfolio Gold: Real-world assets and analytics to show future employers or universities.
• 🎟️ Pitch-Side Access: Free entry to match days and a front-row seat to every goal.
• 👔 Career Launchpad: A glowing professional reference and CV credits to power your next step.
• 🖤 The Panther Family: A supportive, fun, and deeply welcoming club environment.

Ready to join the hunt?

Kenningwell United WFC welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds. Come help us grow the game for every girl and woman in South London! 

We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.

We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:

· Asking people you know who might be willing to have a collection box in their business

· Approaching local businesses to display the boxes and collect loose change from their customers

· Building and maintaining relationships with your box holders to inspire loyalty and encourage people to continue giving year after year

We are looking for people who are:

· Have a warm, friendly and confident outlook

· Willing to learn about the work of YBTC

· Able to communicate with a range of different groups

· Are creative and imaginative – spotting opportunities to boost your distribution

· Are well organised and enjoy meeting new people

· Reliable and able to commit to agreed requirements

· Collecting the boxes in your area as and when required and taking to your YBTC contact

We can offer you:

· Induction and ongoing training

· Ongoing support and supervision in your role

· The opportunity to learn new skills

· YBTC commitment to health and safety

Our Vision/Mission

To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and research.

Hours: Variable – depending on individual circumstances and what people can do

Location: Variable – we are looking to extend our reach of peer support walks throughout Yorkshire

Main Tasks:

We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our

volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.

We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might

vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:

· Support our regular wellbeing/peer support walks

· Welcome participants and help them feel comfortable, fostering a friendly and inclusive atmosphere

· Encourage conversations among participants, offering a listening ear

· Be attentive to the well-being of all participants during the walk

· Offer information on YBTC services

· Attending occasional training sessions or volunteer meetings organised by YBTC

We are looking for people who are:

· Are warm and non-judgemental

· Reliability – are punctual and committed to scheduled walks

· Collaborative mindset to work effectively with staff and volunteers

· Basic physical fitness to complete the walks, awareness of the needs of participants with

different mobility/health conditions

We can offer you the following:

· Full induction and ongoing training

· Ongoing support and supervision in your role

· Opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people

· The satisfaction of making a positive impact on those affected by brain tumours

Background

Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea’s Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support

Across Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading

brain tumour charity. Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child

brain tumour patients, together with their families.

We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new

approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours will improve outcomes for patients.

At YBTC we are a small team who are growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain

tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumours are diagnosed in the region

every week.

Our charity values are: Integrity, Compassion, Community & Ambition.

Our Vision/Mission

To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire through local support and research.

As an Outreach Volunteer, you will help raise awareness of the Beacon Partnership and the support we provide to individuals and the local community. You will play an important role in helping people learn about our services, activities, events and volunteering opportunities. 

This is a friendly, community-focused role that is ideal for someone who enjoys meeting people, communicating with others and getting involved in local activities. 

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing Group providing supported living accommodation for young women in recovery and receiving support with drug and alcohol issues.

A confident and experienced hypnotherapist, with appropriate qualifications and interest in working with clients affected by addiction. The successful applicant will be someone who can provide supportive and calming sessions tailored to the individual needs of the client to promote their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Activities

• 1:1 or group Hypnotherapy sessions for residents
• Provide a safe, relaxing, therapeutic environment for the activity to take place.
• Suitable candidates must hold a professional qualification
• Volunteers may be asked to have professional liability insurance

Support

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training.
• Volunteers have a named supervisor providing day-to-day support and encouragement.

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on your availability and the needs of service users.  It might be every week or fortnight, 3 to 4 hours, ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

Job Title: Honorary Treasurer (Trustee)
Location: Westminster, London (Fully Remote)
Role Type: Volunteer / Trustee

About our community: The Guild of Benevolence are passionate about extending financial, educational, and mental health support to Marine Engineers and their families. We are a small, warm, and dedicated team who truly care about making a long-term difference.
A new chapter for our team: Following the retirement of our long-serving Treasurer, we are seeking a qualified finance professional to serve as Treasurer on our Board of Trustees. The Treasurer will provide strategic financial oversight, ensure regulatory compliance, and advise the board and Business Manager on long-term sustainability.

How You'll Help Us:
Guide our finances: Work alongside our Business Manager to keep our budgets on track and help us stay on course for a secure future.
Keep us on course: Ensure our annual accounts and charitable filings, such as the Charity Commission, are completed smoothly.
Share the story behind the numbers: Help the Board make well-informed decisions by sharing clear, financial updates at our meetings 4X per year.
Protect our resources: Offer considered oversight and guidance on our financial policies.

What we're looking for:
A professional background or qualification in accounting, such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, CPA, or equivalent experience.
Familiarity with NGO or charity finance is a bonus.
A warm, collaborative approach and the ability to work well in a team.

Time commitment: Approximately 4-10 hours per month, including our Trustee meetings held quarterly. This role is remote working but you are welcome to visit us in the office in Central London to meet and spend time with the team.

Ready to join us? If you are looking for a rewarding Trustee role where your skills will help improve lives, we'd love to hear from you.

Service

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing Group providing supported living accommodation for young women in recovery and receiving support with drug and alcohol issues.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and compassionate volunteer with good interpersonal skills and a desire to teach guitar, who will support young women to develop their guitar skills and positively encourage their creative expression.

Location

East London.

Commitment

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on your availability and the needs of service users.  It might be every week or fortnight, 3 to 4 hours, ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

DBS

This role requires us to carry out a check through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Activities

• Providing guitar lessons to residents, as well as supporting their individual musical goals.
• Developing and delivering individual session plans and documented session outcomes in order to assist each resident’s personal growth.

Support

• Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training.
• Volunteers have a named supervisor providing day-to-day support and encouragement.

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors.

As a great communicator with ‘green fingers’ you will create a calm, nurturing environment in which to support the residents to gain gardening skills and to explore the possibility of growing their own food. 

Activities

Inspire the residents to take an interest in the outdoor space at Amy’s Place and involve them in the development of a regular gardening and/or food growing club.

Help residents to develop their gardening skills and knowledge specific to growing food, through group workshops and individually tailored support, guidance and encouragement.

Commitment 

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of the residents. It might be every week or fortnight ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

Requirements 

This role will require us to carry out an enhanced check through the disclosure and barring service.

Support 

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training
•  Reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed
• The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons

Help older people claim welfare benefits through home visits, form-filling and friendly support.

About Us

Age UK Buckinghamshire is a local, independent charity and part of the wider Age UK Network. We support older people across the county through vital services including befriending, information and advice, dementia support, practical help at home, and welfare benefits support - helping people stay independent, connected, and supported.

Our work is more important now than ever. Many older people face growing challenges such as the rising cost of living, social isolation, and difficulty accessing support. 

As demand for our services continues to increase, community support is essential to help us reach more people in need. By raising awareness of what we do, we can ensure that older people know where to turn for help, and inspire others to support our work through volunteering, fundraising, and partnership.

What do Welfare Benefits Volunteers do?

Help older people boost their income by becoming a Welfare Benefits Volunteer.

Many older people face financial difficulties because they are not claiming all the welfare benefits they are entitled to. At Age UK Buckinghamshire, we support older people to access the benefits they deserve by offering personalised advice and practical help.

Our trained volunteer advisors visit people in their own homes to guide them through the claims process, completing benefit forms on their behalf and ensuring applications reflect their individual circumstances.

Following full training, you will be matched with clients for one-off home visits, usually lasting one to two hours. Along the way, there’s often time for a friendly chat, and perhaps a cup of tea, while making a real difference to someone’s quality of life.

What skills does a Welfare Benefits Advisor need?

• Empathy and patience with older people
• A professional, friendly and approachable manner
• Attention to detail and good record-keeping skills
• A non-judgemental approach
• Willingness to learn about older people’s benefits

What training do we provide?

Successful applicants complete 2 training sessions covering the needs of older people and welfare benefits.  At the end of this initial training, you will be “buddied” with one or more experienced volunteers, first as an observer and later as an advisor until you have the knowledge and confidence to undertake one-to-one visits.

How much time do we expect you to give?

Once trained, you can commit to as many or as few visits per week as you wish. Each visit takes, on average, about 1 – 2 hours.  There are quarterly meetings that provide support and additional training days from time to time to keep up with new legislation.

What is our commitment to you?

• We will provide initial and ongoing training to help you develop your knowledge and skills.
• We will continue to support you in your role, providing information and advice as necessary.
• We will discuss with you any problems you may have with your role, or any concerns we have.
• We will reimburse reasonable, approved out of pocket expenses.

Become a Community Discharge Support Service Volunteer and help someone get back on their feet when they come home from hospital.

What do Community Support Volunteers do?

Our friendly Community Support Volunteers visit people when they have come home from hospital, typically once a week for 4 – 6 weeks.

At a time when people are recovering and really appreciate a bit of extra help you could be supporting with shopping and light housework. But it’s often the company and encouragement of our volunteers that is appreciated the most as we check in and chat!

By doing this we help with recovery and reduce the chance of readmission to hospital.

You can also help from our office in Aylesbury  by making welfare and check in calls with our clients and helping to arrange these visits.

What you will get out of it

It's a great way to make a real difference to someone's life at a time they especially need it.

You'll be giving something back to your community

You get to be part of Age UK Buckinghamshire's volunteer team

Volunteers tell us they find this really rewarding and get lots out of it themselves.

What is expected of me?

Community Support Volunteers are expected to visit each client once a week for up to 6 weeks.

These visits are flexible, based on your availability.

Our office support volunteers are asked to help for 1 – 2 hours a week.

Volunteers complete a short relevant training session and provide references.

Age UK Bucks ‘Age Better Bucks’ volunteers will support local older people to achieve personal goals – by helping them navigate and take advantage of a Support Plan devised by as community worker, that is designed to help them meet the challenges of older age.

This could be by phoning them to provide encouragement, explanation and support, and to check on progress, and also to help them with attendance at appointments and going to new groups or activities.

What do Age Better Bucks Volunteers do?

• Work with the Community Support Connector from Age UK Bucks to accept a client and understand their goals and support plan – and which services they have been referred to for support
• Contact the client to introduce yourself, and explain what you can help them with and if that’s OK with them
• Agree how your support is best provided – e.g. weekly calls for progress and encouragement, or help with something specific on their plan. That could be a home visit (if appropriate) to help them make a call or prepare for an appointment; attend a group or activity with them; or help them take a bus etc.
• Report back to the Community Support Connector if there are any issues or concerns and agree when your support can stop
• Ideally, you’d support a few clients each week or month, depending on how much time you have

The role is to support and help the client to access the referrals and support put in place for them – and not to support them with care or specific needs yourself. Referrals might be to local care services, to local groups or clubs, or to an occupational therapist for home adaptations, other voluntary organisations and support groups etc.

Our Age Better Bucks Service

Age Better Bucks supports over 65s who could benefit from extra support to manage their well being and remain independent. It is for older people experiencing challenges or need extra support to stay independent and well – for example increasing loneliness/isolation; bereavement; health/mobility decline; mood change.

Our team of support workers will assess their needs and circumstances specific to them, and develop an action plan with them to ensure more support and help can be arranged. We check in with the client after 6 weeks to see how they are getting on, and after 6 months to see how they are and check if anything has changed, got worse or improved.

The service is designed to give people the tools, contacts and support to make positive changes and especially to tackle the impact of loneliness and isolation.

An action plan, or support plan, will be devised with all clients, identifying their main goals based on their individual needs and challenges, and referring them, with their consent only, to other services and support we agree can help. At this stage we’ll assess if a volunteer like you can help then take full advantage of this support.

What you will get out of it

• Join an enthusiastic team of people who want to make a difference
• It's a great way to support older people making a real difference to their lives
• You'll be giving something back to your community
• You get to be part of Age UK Buckinghamshire's volunteer team
• We will reimburse reasonable, approved out of pocket expenses
• Volunteers tell us they find Volunteering really rewarding and get lots out of it themselves
• You will be fully supported by our Team and wider Age UK Buckinghamshire support.

What is expected of me?

We tell you about each client and ask if you’d like to take it up. You would then arrange and complete the call or visit when convenient. The work you do is conducted in line with guidance we provide and you must comply with necessary procedures including Data Protection/Confidentiality and Personal Safety.

After the visit/contact you will complete and submit a contact form. Volunteers complete relevant training, provide references and complete a DBS check.

Key skills and requirements

• Good listener, clear communicator and able to maintain confidentiality. A good conversationalist!
• Ability to lead the conversation, provide feedback to the team and summarise the conversation.
• Non-judgmental. Able to respect others’ differences and choices
• Patient, flexible and reliable
• Able to work independently with guidance and support
• Ability to travel around the area to visit people
• A regular commitment to give 1-2 hours a week would be appreciated but the role is flexible, you can work from home, do visits, only make calls, whatever works for you.
• An interest in helping older people live the lives they want

Befriending Volunteer 

Would you like to offer companionship to someone who feels lonely, help them rebuild confidence, reconnect with their community, or simply brighten their week with a friendly chat? 

What do Befriending Volunteers do?

Our volunteers support older people (50+) who may be feeling lonely, isolated, or cut off from their usual activities. Volunteers help clients rebuild confidence, reconnect socially, and enjoy meaningful conversation. 

Support can take different forms depending on the client’s needs: 

Short-term Face-to-Face Support (up to 6 months) 

• Visiting someone regularly to help them work towards personal goals 

• Encouraging confidence to get out and about again 

• Supporting them to re-engage with interests, community groups, or social activities 

Long-term Befriending (for those most isolated) 

• Providing stable, ongoing social support 

• Regular facetoface or telephone companionship 

• Building a consistent and trusting relationship 

National Telephone Befriending 

• Offering friendly conversation over the phone 

• Providing regular social contact for people unable to meet in person 

This is a rewarding and varied volunteer role where every person you meet will be different — and you’ll have the chance to make a meaningful difference to their wellbeing. 

What you will get out of it

• A chance to support older people and make a real positive impact 

• A meaningful role where relationships grow and confidence returns 

• Opportunities to meet new people and experience new things 

• Being part of Age UK Buckinghamshire’s volunteer team 

• Full training, ongoing support, and guidance from your Outreach Support Worker 

Our volunteers tell us they find befriending incredibly fulfilling and often get as much from the relationship as the client does 

What is expected of me?

• We will talk you through each potential match before you decide to take it on 

• Most volunteers commit around 1–2 hours a week 

• Shortterm matches typically last up to 6 months; longterm befriending is ongoing 

• Time may be spent visiting someone at home, accompanying them to a local activity, or chatting with them by phone 

• Volunteers complete a short online training program and provide references 

• A DBS check will be required (provided at no cost) 

Who can volunteer?

If you are warm, friendly, patient, and enjoy chatting with people, this could be the role for you. You do not need any formal qualifications, just a desire to support someone who is feeling vulnerable or alone.