Volunteer roles in Lancashire

This is an exciting moment for us at SICK!, and we are thrilled to invite passionate, forward-thinking individuals to join our Board.

With our unwavering focus on mental and physical health, disability, inequality, and social change, our work has never been more relevant. We are proud of the growing impact we’re making locally and globally, and this is being recognised by our partners and funders who are investing in our long-term vision for the future.

Including Arts Council England who have committed to investing in our work as a National Portfolio Organisation 2023-2028.

In 2026, we present the latest iteration of SICK! Festival - with Beat One taking place throughout May.

Central to this is our Creative Resuscitation (CPR) model, which shifts us from a biennial, month-long festival to a year-round rhythm of seasonal “beats”. This structure is designed to disrupt unsustainable cycles, deepen relationships, and embed community voice and public outcomes across everything we do.

This festival, under SICK!’s new leadership, marked a pivotal moment in our journey as we deepen our commitment to engaging with pressing societal issues and sparking meaningful conversations.

We are looking to recruit new trustees, including but not limited to, with skills and professional qualifications in finance/accountancy, experience in communications or development and fundraising.

As an organisation, we are committed to ensuring our Board reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We are actively encouraging applications from people facing racism, those who identify as LGBTQIA+, individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and those with disabilities. We would also welcome applications from people with connections to Moston, Harpurhey, and Charlestown.

Join us and play a crucial role in shaping the future of SICK! as we continue our mission to challenge

perceptions, inspire action, and bring about real change.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Support our charity’s vital work at the heart of governance

TVS is a small charity working with rural schools in South Africa to empower vulnerable children through education. We are seeking a volunteer Secretary to our Board of Trustees. If you are organised, detail-oriented, and keen to play a pivotal role in the smooth running of a charity this is a fantastic opportunity to ensure our board meetings are well-organised, documented, and productive, helping us deliver our mission to our beneficiaries.

As Secretary, you’ll be responsible for preparing agendas and minutes, coordinating board communications, maintaining records, and supporting the trustees in compliance and governance matters. You will work remotely, with regular online or in-person meetings alongside our dedicated team of trustees and volunteers.

If you have strong administrative skills, a proactive attitude, and a passion for making a difference, we’d love to hear from you. Join us and help shape the future of our charity!

Communications Assistant

Are you a creative communicator who’s passionate about making a difference? Our charity is seeking one or more volunteer Communications Assistants to help us share our story, raise awareness, and engage supporters through a variety of channels.

In this role you would help to advise our board on developing strategies and take on a choice of responsibilities such as

Digital Content & Social Media: Managing day-to-day operations of social media channels (Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn), updating the website, and producing digital content like e-newsletters.

Campaign Support: Planning and executing marketing and communication campaigns that promote fundraising events and awareness-raising activities.

Brand & Internal Communications: Ensuring all communications maintain a consistent brand voice and tone, including internal communications with staff and volunteers.

Monitoring & Evaluation: Managing media monitoring platforms, analyzing social media analytics, and reporting on the effectiveness of communication efforts.

Support & Administration: Assisting with the creation of printed materials (leaflets, posters) and organizing photo libraries.

Do you want to be inspired by the impact of education? Schools across Blackburn are looking for skilled volunteers to support education by becoming school governors.

What will you be doing?

Governing bodies are responsible for the strategic management of a school and will make decisions about a wide range of issues

The core responsibilities involved are:

• Ensuring accountability
• Providing support and challenge to the schools senior leadership team
• Monitoring and evaluating the school’s progress
• Budgetary allocation and control
• Shaping plans for school improvement and overseeing their implementation
• Setting the school’s aims and values
• Appointing senior members of staff including the Head Teacher

The governing body is usually split in to a small number of committees, each responsible for one area such as finance or pupil achievement. These committees will meet separately from the main governing body to discuss relevant issues in more detail. Discussion is then fed back at a full governing body meeting.

A school governing body is made up of representatives from the school, the parents, the local authority and the local community.

What are we looking for?

You don’t need any specific skills or experience to be a school governor. You must be over 18, but you don’t need to be a parent or have experience working in education. Often, it’s the outside perspective you can bring that a school needs.

Professional experience in areas such as HR, finance, law, or project management are all useful to a school. But soft skills such as leadership, communication, and problem solving are also great additions.

What difference will you make?

Governors make decisions that affect schools for years to come. Our recent impact survey found that our volunteers bring £9.9 million worth of value to schools each year, and 9/10 volunteers would recommend being a governor to a friend. 

As a governor, you can visit the school to gain an understanding of the culture and ethos and to get the most out of the role. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet children, parents, and teachers, and see the impact of your work first-hand.

What's in it for the volunteer?

Volunteering as a school governor is a challenging but rewarding role. As part of the governing board, you’ll:

• help schools overcome challenges to ensure a bright future for children in your community
• work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds, challenging your own perspective and broadening your network
• gain experience outside of your job description and skills you can bring back to work

Before you apply

You will need to complete an application form and will have an interview with the school. DBS checks will be taken up.

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.

About YAUK

Youth Advantage UK is a charitable organization that uses a research-led approach to inform policy work and projects
that aim to promote and further the human rights of young people aged 11 to 25 across the United Kingdom.

Please note that this is a VOLUNTEER role.

We won't accept applications from individuals residing outside of the UK as we operate on the principle of bettering the lives of young people in the UK. Therefore, we require our volunteers to have an understanding of what it is like to live in the UK.

This is an opportunity for someone who holds a PhD or Research Master’s degree to join our team as a Research Manager, and use their experience in guiding and managing our research function(s). Initially there will be a focus on managing the preliminary research function, which carries out research on specific topics to best inform, guide and direct our work in protecting the rights and interests of young people.

Responsibilities

· To manage welfare of researchers

· Look after day to day management and support of teams, stand in for absences (including undertaking research tasks, where necessary).

· Monitor and report on performance

· To advise on and provide feedback on matters of research

· To line manage senior researchers

· To advise on, guide and manage research workflow, ensuring of ethical research and policy compliance

· To ensure of a focus on organizational goals

· To lead planning as required

· To have oversight on research being carried out and the outcomes of such, ensuring it is to a high standard

You will need

· A PhD or Master’s degree

· To have experience operationally in a research role

· To understand how to motivate a team and manage others

Benefits

This is a UK based 100% fully remote and flexible role with a time commitment of 5 hours per week.

Supportive Team and Management to enhance your skills and build on your experience.

Your work will help transform and empower many young people’s lives, rights and interests and assist in promoting equality for all young people.

Why volunteer with us?

We are a supportive and friendly organisation that takes pride in developing and nurturing our staff and providing them with excellent opportunities to thrive and further encourage their career growth and future aspirations.

We offer a fully remote working environment and a flexible and adaptable working schedule. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing organisation, enhance your skills, and gain valuable experience to help you begin your career in Research as we endeavour to grow our organisation and continue to make positive changes to the lives of young people. If this sounds like you and you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your CV.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Description

Youth Advantage UK (YAUK) is seeking a Volunteer Senior Researcher. The successful candidates will be allocated to lead one of our teams that either conducts, supports or progresses our short term or long term research projects. They should have excellent writing and speaking skills, IT literacy, and the ability to work well independently and in a team.

Responsibilities:

• To lead a small team of volunteers in conducting research or developing research

• To provide oversight of a number of tasks at once while providing support on specific issues as they arise

• To provide guidance to the team

• To work with management and the team to coordinate research projects and planning

• To provide advice and guidance to more junior team members

• To conduct or oversee research projects 

• To ensure of ethical standards at all times and monitor task progress to ensure of compliance

•    Requirements:

•    Experience of leading a small team in a charity or research or policy setting
•    Knowledge of issues affecting children and young people in the UK.
•    Knowledge of a range of research methods
•    Experience of writing or contributing to research or briefings and other policy documents.
•    Excellent writing and speaking skills.
•    IT literacy, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
•    Ability to work well independently and in a team.
•    Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
•    Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.

Benefits
•    Gain valuable experience in influencing research projects
•    Opportunity to work with a dedicated and passionate team.
•    Flexible volunteering hours.

TVS is a small, volunteer-led charity dedicated to working with rural schools in South Africa, aiming to empower vulnerable children through education.  We are recruiting a team of volunteers to work with our trustees to help us to continue our work to transform lives. If you are passionate about building relationships and driving positive change, you could make a significant impact as a volunteer Corporate Partnerships Officer, helping our charity connect with businesses, develop collaborative projects, and secure crucial support for our cause.

In this role you would advise our board on developing strategies and take on a variety of responsibilities such as

Conducting prospect research to identify potential corporate partners

Securing new partnerships with firms whose values align with the charity.

Relationship building maintaining regular, high-quality communication with partners

Organising and facilitating employee-led fundraising initiatives

Representing the charity at networking opportunities to raise the profile of the organization.

If you have experience in business development, networking, or simply a desire to make a difference, we encourage you to join us. You would be working remotely but would be at the heart of our organization, meeting up regularly, online or in person, with our trustees and fellow volunteers.

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic volunteer to join our Communications and Marketing team of volunteer professionals.

We are looking to appoint someone who has 7 or more years of professional experience in either Communications and Marketing and who has some experience of leading or / and managing a team in a Communications and Marketing environment.

Reports to: Head of Communications & Marketing 

Core duties and responsibilities

• To take part in department wide management and leadership activities
• To provide practical assistance to the Head of Department
• To support the planning of department activities
• To take on line management roles as assigned
• To provide effective supervision and guidance to other volunteers as delegated
• To work with the Head of Department to support progress and performance in relation to departmental activities to be undertaken
• To oversee departmental tasks
• To provide support and additional capacity with regards to progress of departmental relevant tasks

Requirements

• At least 7 or more years of relevant experience.
• Some experience (ideally 2 or more years) of managing or leading a team.
• To have some understanding of managing volunteers.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• IT literacy with own equipment (laptop and phone)
• Ability to work well in a team.
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.
• Previous volunteering experience or experience in any kind of start up desirable
• Right to volunteer in the UK

Benefits

• This is a UK-based, 100% fully remote and flexible role.
• Supportive team and management to enhance your skills and build on your experience.
• Your work will help transform and empower many young people’s lives, rights, and interests and assist in promoting equality for all young people.

About YAUK

Youth Advantage UK is a charitable organisation that uses a research-led approach to inform policy work and projects
that aim to promote and further the human rights of young people aged 11 to 25 across the United Kingdom.

Please note that this is a VOLUNTEER role.

We won't accept applications from individuals residing outside of the UK as we operate on the principle of bettering the lives of young people in the UK. Therefore, we require our volunteers to have an understanding of what it is like to live in the UK.

What we offer!

Anybody who wishes to help and contribute to a good cause are welcome to apply for one of our volunteering positions. We will speak to you about what your aims are to ensure that the volunteering position you are applying for is suitable. By volunteering you have the chance to learn something new and contribute to a successful organisation who is looking to help young people in the UK.

We are looking to appoint a volunteer who has management experience and who is able to support the functions of our Communications & Marketing Department through the effective management of our marketing team and marketing policy. These functions include: website, social media, engagement, events and sponsorship (as a temporary function within this department). 

Key accountabilities:

• Departmental strategic management 
• Marketing policy development 
• Social media output 
• Website development and design 
• Engagement and events 
• To take part in department wider management and leadership activities
• To support the planning of department activities
• To take on line management roles as assigned
• To provide effective supervision and guidance to other volunteers as delegated
• To oversee departmental tasks
• To provide support and additional capacity with regards to progress of departmental relevant tasks

Requirements 

• To have experience working in the charity sector or voluntary sector 
• To have experience in managing a team of people/volunteers 
• To be competent in IT, social media and website design 
• To be an effective communicator and leader
• At least 7 or more years of relevant experience.
• Some experience (ideally 2 or more years) of managing or leading a team.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• IT literacy with own equipment (laptop and phone)
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.
• Right to volunteer in the UK

Benefits

• This is a UK based 100% Fully remote and flexible role 

• Supportive Team and Management to enhance your skills and build on your experience.

• Your work will help transform and empower many young people’s lives, rights and interests and assist in promoting equality for all young people.

 Why volunteer with us?

We are a supportive and friendly organisation that takes pride in developing and nurturing our staff and providing them with excellent opportunities to thrive and further encourage their career growth and future aspirations. 

We offer a fully remote working environment and a flexible and adaptable working schedule. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing organisation, enhance your skills, and gain valuable experience to help you begin your career in Research as we endeavour to grow our organisation and continue to make positive changes to the lives of young people. If this sounds like you and you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your CV.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Grant and Sponsorship Proposals Writer needed to research and apply for funding opportunities.

What will you be doing?

• Grants & Sponsorship Proposals
• Grant Tracking & Reporting
• Additional Supportive Actions

Due to word limit, please refer to role description attached to this opportunity.

What are we looking for?

• Proven experience in grant writing, fundraising, or bid writing (charity sector experience desirable).
• Excellent research, writing, and editing skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret funding criteria and tailor proposals accordingly.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Analytical mindset for tracking and reporting on outcomes.
• Commitment to AuDHD UK’s mission and values.
• Lived experience of AuDHD or neurodivergence (desirable).
• Must be a UK resident as the role will require a DBS check

At St John Ambulance, we are looking to develop our volunteering offer and become an even more integral part of our communities through delivering community first aid and education. 

We need people who have a passion for helping others, care about their communities and want to make a difference. Through volunteering as an Emergency Responder, you’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering essential first aid and lifesaving clinical care at community and major events in your areas, including at sporting events, concerts, community festivals.

We will make sure you will have access to a proper induction to volunteering with SJA and the training you need for the role you take on. We will also provide you with a supportive environment while you are volunteering with us. Information about our volunteer roles are included in the role descriptions. What you can expect from SJA, and what we expect from those who volunteer with us, is included in the volunteer charter.

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

• Training for role - Will be required to attend 6 days of training, details of course including dates, time & venue tbc in Barrow in Furness, Ulverston, Kendal.

Closing date for these opportunities is: 30/04/2027

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Location: Remote

Job type: Volunteer

Time Commitment: 6 - 16 hours per week

We are seeking a Social Media Volunteer to support our communications activity by planning, creating and scheduling content across our digital platforms. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause while helping to strengthen our online presence and engagement.

What will you be doing (role overview)?:

You will help bring our communications to life by responding to requests from across the organisation and turning them into clear, engaging social media content. You will play an active role in planning posts that support campaigns, share key messages, and ensure our work reaches the right audiences.

What are we looking for (about you)?

We are looking for someone with strong social media experience who can commit around 6 to 16 hours per week and is confident working independently.

You will be comfortable engaging with colleagues across the organisation, taking initiative to shape and plan content as your understanding of our work develops. A proactive approach is important, as you will not only respond to requests but also help identify opportunities to strengthen our messaging.

Experience in using social media analytics is highly beneficial, along with a willingness to support the production of monthly or quarterly insights to help inform our approach.

An understanding of Long Covid or experience communicating within a healthcare context would be advantageous, although this is not essential.

Key Responsibilities:

· Drafting social media copy in line with our communications and brand guidelines.

· Creating simple, engaging visual content using Canva for use across platforms

· Building and scheduling posts in Buffer to support a consistent and timely content plan

· Ensuring a balanced and varied mix of content is planned and delivered across the week

· Adapting messaging and content appropriately for Instagram, BlueSky, LinkedIn and Facebook to suit each audience and platform

Application Process:

Please submit your CV and a short cover letter outlining your interest in the role and relevant experience.

Equal ops statement:

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We provide equal opportunities for all, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We actively encourage applications from all individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of Long Covid.

Closing statement:

If you are looking to use your social media skills to support a meaningful cause, we would welcome your application. This is an opportunity to play a direct role in raising awareness of Long Covid and supporting a growing community. We encourage early applications as the role may close once sufficient interest has been received.

Long Covid Support works in partnership with Nexilis HR, a third-party HR and recruitment provider, who will be handling this recruitment process on their behalf.

STAMMA is the leading charity for people who stammer in the UK.  We’re a small, award-winning organisation with big ambitions and a brilliant community, keen to create space and respect for people who stammer.

Stammering has historically been the target for humour and used to suggest inadequacy, leaving many who stammer facing daily ignorance, discrimination and disrespect.  This can affect job prospects and mental health, and cause depression and social isolation. It can make booking a GP appointment a nightmare, and prevent people from accessing a service altogether, leaving them feeling humiliated, degraded or disbelieved.  We’re here to change that.

We’ve a clear strategy for the next five years to achieve real and practical change for people who stammer by highlighting the inadvertent barriers they face within the workplace and as service users. We want to reach more people who stammer and grow our supporter base, but to do that we need to expand our training and advocacy services, whilst underpinning our helpline and family support.

We want to appoint a new Trustee with significant skills and experience within the charity sector to the Board. You’ll need to share our excitement and ambition for change. It isn’t essential that you stammer. This is an unpaid position, but travel expenses can be covered.  Trustee terms are for four years, and you will be expected to attend all Board meetings, up to five times a year, usually on a Saturday, either in-person at different locations across England, or online. There are also sub-committees and informal planning and preparatory discussions, usually held online.

We are looking for someone with experience of one or more of the following:

• Experience of working at a senior level in the voluntary sector, across more than one organisation, with a good understanding of how charities operate and are governed.
• Insight and leadership of people and culture (HR) function and/or service delivery and operations, and a passion for building inclusive, effective organisations
• Previous experience as a trustee or board member. Ideally having chaired a sub committee, board or similar.
• The ability to offer occasional support to the staff team during the working day (roughly two hour per month), providing guidance, insight or a sounding board when helpful
• Lived experience of stammering — whether personally or through close connection — so that the voices of people who stammer are at the heart of our work

Person Specification

• Values-led, with demonstrable passion and commitment to STAMMA and its strategic objectives.
• Proven track record as a senior leader with strategic experience within the charitable sector.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship with an ability to balance the boundaries between different leadership roles.
• Strong interpersonal skills (listening, tact and diplomacy) and relationship-building abilities.
• Ability to challenge constructively and ask questions appropriately.
• Team player, who respects and values the views of others and is able to speak their mind with tact and diplomacy.
• A commitment to EDI values and principles, including an understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to commit the necessary time to the role.

As a Trustee at STAMMA you would be expected to: 

• Develop and agree our long-term strategy.
• Ensure compliance with governing documents and regulations.
• Ensure that resources are spent in accordance with our Articles.
• Work with the Board to set goals and assess performance.
• Ensure that the organisation is run efficiently and financially stable.
• Protect the charity’s assets and ensure surplus funds are properly invested.
• Manage the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the CEO.
• Uphold STAMMA's values.