Volunteer roles for the Environment sector

About CSE

The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) supports people and organisations across the UK to tackle the climate emergency and end the suffering caused by cold homes. We undertake practical work to support households and communities to act on energy, alongside original research and analysis to inform local and national policy.

We are one of the UK’s leading sustainable energy charities, with a 45-year track record of award-winning impact, innovation and influence, as most recently detailed in our 2024–25 Impact Report available on our website.

About the role

Our Board of Trustees is critical to our continuing success. Trustees work collaboratively, providing support, insight and constructive challenge to help shape CSE’s strategy and ambition, and enhance our effectiveness and charitable impact.

Due to the planned stepping down of some of our board members, we are recruiting up to four new trustees to join the board and provide effective governance and support in the next phase of CSE’s development.

Who we’re looking for

All applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong interest in and commitment to CSE’s work and charitable objectives.

We are particularly seeking new trustees who bring expertise in at least one of the following areas:

• Knowledge and understanding of the community energy sector, including the challenges and opportunities of delivering local or community energy projects, and how these connect to national policy
• Expertise in organisational development, with a good appreciation of issues associated with employment law
• Experience of finance, accounting and audit, for example through holding a role with financial responsibility in an organisation or from having set up, grown or led a business
• Strong knowledge of voluntary and community sector (VCS) networks, including practical experience of community organising and an understanding of the role grassroots organisations play in affecting social change

We would also welcome applicants who bring:

• Broader expertise directly associated with at least one of CSE’s work programmes (fuel poverty advice and support, housing energy retrofit, community action on energy, local net zero delivery, future generations, or fairness in the energy system)
• Understanding of the causes and impacts of fuel poverty, and the solutions required to tackle it
• Knowledge of the UK energy system, including the policy and regulatory environment, and the transition to a fairer, more flexible, decarbonised energy system
• An understanding of the national policy environment underpinning CSE’s work, including experience of influencing national energy policy

We are keen to widen the range of perspectives represented on the board and welcome applications from young people, people from under-represented groups, disabled people, and people with lived experience of CSE’s work.

If you are interested but unsure whether you meet all of the criteria, we would encourage you to apply or get in touch for an informal conversation.

Find out more and apply

For more information on the role, including the full person specification and how to apply, please see the trustee candidate pack on our website. 

Closing date: Midday on Wednesday 10 June 2026.

Friends of the Earth [England, Wales and Northern Ireland] is part of the world’s most extensive grassroots network devoted to the cause of environmental and social justice. We are an environmental justice organisation that recognises that the climate and ecological breakdown deepens and amplifies existing economic and other inequalities that affect many marginalised communities. That means ensuring responses deliver a fair share of resources for all human societies, while safeguarding the planet and its eco-systems. Our 2021-25 strategy (currently being updated) worked towards our goal for 2030: that the next generation will enjoy an environment that’s getting better, including a safer climate, flourishing nature, and healthy air, water and food.

To help us deliver our mission, we need a top-quality Company Director and Treasurer to join us and work with the Board to lead us through a both a strategic and corporate governance review.

Being a member of the Friends of the Earth Limited Board is highly rewarding. As an independent member of the Board, you will be part of the governance team of the UK’s most successful and vigorous environmental justice organisation and you will be asked to advise on, develop, and scrutinise impactful strategies and initiatives.

The role is split between being an independent member of the Board of Directors and acting as the Treasurer for Friends of the Earth. As a member of the Board of Directors, you will be responsible for ensuring that Friends of the Earth is achieving its objectives and purpose, and is complying with its governing document and other legal requirements. The role of Treasurer is to maintain an overview of the organisation’s financial health and viability and ensure that clear financial information is presented to the Board. The Treasurer also chairs the Finance Committee, through which they will support with accounting and audit compliance, and ensure adequate financial controls and procedures are in place.

To apply, please see information pack for all details

Our partner is a UK environmental charity working to improve biodiversity, water quality and public engagement across a local river catchment, delivering a wide range of projects in partnership with public bodies and local communities.

The Treasurer will join the Board as a Trustee and chair the Finance Committee, providing oversight of financial performance and governance. Working closely with the Chief Executive and finance lead, the role includes reviewing budgets and financial reporting, supporting the development of financial policies, and ensuring appropriate controls and scrutiny are in place. The role also acts as a bridge between the Board and staff, offering both support and constructive challenge, while remaining strategic rather than operational.

The ideal candidate will bring financial experience, either through professional qualification or relevant senior-level roles, along with an understanding of charity finance and governance. You will be comfortable operating at Board level, able to communicate financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues, and confident contributing to strategic discussions.

This role involves around 8 meetings per year, including Board and Finance Committee meetings, with in-person meetings on the outskirts of Oxford and some flexibility for remote participation.

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For more Trustee and Treasurer roles please visit the AfID website.

Our partner is an environmental charity focused on protecting and restoring forests and supporting the communities that depend on them, with a particular emphasis on East Africa.

The Treasurer will join the Board of Trustees and provide oversight of financial management and governance. Working closely with the CEO and Finance Manager, the role includes monitoring financial performance, ensuring appropriate controls are in place, supporting budgeting and reporting, and helping trustees interpret financial information. You will also play a key role in overseeing financial processes linked to international operations.

The ideal candidate will bring strong financial expertise, with a recognised qualification and experience of organisational accounting. An understanding of charity finance is important, ideally with some exposure to international work. You will be comfortable operating at Board level and able to communicate financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues.

This role involves four Board meetings per year, alongside Finance Committee involvement and some ad hoc support, with an overall time commitment of around 10-12 days annually.

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For more Trustee and Treasurer roles please visit the AfID website.

ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect our planet and its people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene stakeholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.

Position

As part of ShareAction’s Board, the Trustee plays a vital role in the governance and strategic direction of the organisation. This role is key to ensuring ShareAction delivers its charitable objectives, remains financially sound and operates in line with its legal and regulatory responsibilities.

Our Trustees help make our ambitious 2026–2031 strategy happen as effectively as possible. They provide oversight, challenge and support, ensuring our work continues to drive lasting change in responsible investment.

A typical month in this role would include:

• Attending Board meetings and contributing to strategic decision-making
• Sitting on at least one Board sub-committee (such as Finance, Audit, Risk and Controls, or HR and Remuneration)
• Reviewing papers in advance and engaging constructively in discussions
• Supporting and constructively challenging the executive team
• Acting as an ambassador for ShareAction and, where appropriate, supporting fundraising and income generation

As part of this role, you will engage closely with fellow Trustees, the Chair of the Board and the Executive Team, forming strong working relationships and using your experience to help safeguard ShareAction’s assets, reputation and long-term impact.

Through your contribution, you will help ShareAction work towards its vision of a world where the financial system serves people and planet.

If this role sounds like something that would build on your experience and engage you, we’d love to hear from you.

Requirements

We’re keen to hear from you if you are passionate about ShareAction’s mission and bring skills or experience that will strengthen our Board. We particularly welcome applications from individuals who can contribute to a greater diversity of perspectives and lived experience.

We are especially interested in candidates with one or more of the following priority skills:

• Legal expertise, ideally as a qualified lawyer, with experience in charity law, pensions law, governance and/or financial regulation
• Senior management experience within the UK charity sector, particularly where combined with community engagement or organising experience

We would also welcome candidates with:

• Expertise in charity accounting
• Fundraising networks or experience

All Trustees are expected to:

• Be collaborative, thoughtful and willing to exercise independent judgement
• Commit to ShareAction’s values and objectives
• Be willing to learn about, and uphold, the legal duties and responsibilities of trusteeship
• Make the time commitment required for the role (around 1–2 days per month)

While we hope to appoint Trustees with many of these skills, we recognise that experience is transferable and encourage applications even if you don’t meet every criterion. This is an unpaid volunteer role.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 25 May 2026.

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities, and we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!

AtoANI Agriventure

We provide Farming-as-a-Service combining data-driven crop planning, direct distribution, and carbon credit monetization.

Carbon MRV and Climate Finance Specialist

Role Overview
AtoANI Agriventures is looking for a Carbon MRV and Climate Finance Specialist to support the development of frameworks for measuring environmental outcomes from sustainable agriculture initiatives. This role focuses on research and analytical support related to measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems, environmental impact monitoring, and emerging climate finance mechanisms related to agriculture and nature-based solutions. The volunteer will assist in reviewing methodologies for environmental monitoring, exploring approaches for quantifying ecosystem benefits from regenerative agriculture, and supporting the preparation of technical documentation and reports.

The role will involve working closely with the project team to help translate environmental data into insights that can support sustainable farming practices and climate-aligned agricultural initiatives.
This role is well suited for individuals interested in carbon markets, climate finance, regenerative agriculture, or environmental impact measurement.
Key Responsibilities

• Design digital MRV architecture for soil carbon monitoring.
• Assist in structuring MRV workflows for regenerative agriculture.
• Support research on carbon credit methodologies and soil carbon measurement.
• Align platform outputs with Verra methodology.
• Develop soil carbon quantification workflows.
• Coordinate for carbon issuance.
• Prepare documentation for carbon credit certification.
• Structure carbon pre-purchase agreements.

Key Outputs

• Soil carbon mapping system
• Carbon sequestration dataset
• Verra-aligned MRV protocol
• Carbon credit issuance pipeline

Volunteer Profile

• Background in Climate Science, Environmental Economics, Sustainability, or Policy
• Climate MRV Specialist
• Carbon markets expertise
• Experience with:
  • Verra Standard methodologies
  • Remote sensing for carbon
  • Climate finance
• Interest in carbon markets, nature-based solutions, or regenerative agriculture
• Strong research and analytical skills

Minimum Hours per Week:

7-9 hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

betterSoil

We improve soil fertility and climate resilience through compost, biochar, agroforestry, consulting and products.

Senior Data Scientist with Python skills

At betterSoil, we are building a digital solution, the betterSoil Farm Assistant, to support sustainable agriculture using data, satellite insights, and science-based recommendations. We are looking for a Senior Data Scientist to help us take this product to the next level.

Your Role

You will support the development and improvement of our Farm Assistant, working on data models, AI integration, and analytical logic that translates complex data into actionable insights for farmers.

What you’ll do

• Develop and improve data models and analytical frameworks for the Farm Assistant
• Work with Python and data pipelines to process and analyse agricultural and environmental data
• Apply and experiment with AI tools (e.g. Gemini, LLMs, ML models) to enhance recommendations and user value
• Translate satellite, weather, and soil data into meaningful outputs
• Collaborate with our developers, scientists, and product team
• Contribute to the technical vision and architecture of the product

What you’ll gain

• Work on a real-world climate-tech product with impact
• Shape an early-stage digital solution from the ground up
• Collaborate with an international, interdisciplinary team
• Apply your expertise to sustainability, agriculture, and climate challenges

Commitment

• Flexible, voluntary engagement
• Ideally ~10 hours per week, with flexibility depending on project phases

Who you are

• Strong experience in data science and Python programming
• Experience with AI/ML models and tools (e.g. Gemini, LLMs, or similar)
• Comfortable working with complex datasets (e.g. environmental, geospatial, or time-series data is a plus)
• Ability to translate data into practical applications
• Independent, structured, and motivated to contribute to a purpose-driven initiative

Minimum Hours per Week:

10+ hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

In preparation for our International Biodiversity Arts Exhibtion, we are seeking volunteer support from a reliable and trustworthy person who wishes to gain experience working for an environmental arts social enterprise. 

This is a remote role for a UK based person who is able to populate application information from spreadsheets into our online gallery inventory within a programme called Kunstmatrix.

The volunteer will also be able to prepare word documents of name and artwork labels to feature in our physical gallery.

The work required should take the volunteer between 5 - 15 hours, depending upon how quickly they can work. Prior to starting work, the volunteer will be able to meet for a video call at a time convenient to them and Insecta Collective director Elizabeth.

The work can be undertaken at any time of day, on any day of the week, providing it is completed within the specified deadline given when the volunteer meeting takes place.

In return for volunteer hours, the volunteer can enter their artwork into our open call exhibition for free. They will also recieve a certificate for their time and dedication.

Opportunity to use your expertise and knowledge of the planning system, sound grasp of related procedures and a keen interest in the environment. At CPRE London you will help us protect and improve access to London'sgreen spaces.

As a Senior Planning Volunteer for CPRE  this offers an opportunity to use your investigative skills on planning applications which affect Londoners' access to green spaces and help us to influence positive, environmentally friendly outcomes. You’ll also have the opportunity to contribute to national consultations and policy development.

You are accountable to the CPRE London Operations Director.

Hybrid working with occasional attendance at meetings. Our team will provide you with training and support to develop in your role.

This role would suit anyone with an interest in and knowledge of the planning system and environmental issues. CPRE London is dedicated to greening the city, sharing countryside's beauty, tranquillity, and accessibility. Volunteer with us to aid London in becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, boosting biodiversity, and enhancing life for wildlife and residents.

What will you be doing: 

• Investigating planning applications with an impact on London’s green spaces
• Preparing and submitting responses to influence the outcome of planning applications and appeals
• Visiting the local planning offices and proposed development sites to look at plans and record details
• Liaising with parish and district councils and other conservation bodies
• Seeking to influence local and neighbourhood plans
• Building relationships with local organisations to influence their management plans
• Liaising with the planning team and policy committee at National CPRE to contribute to consultations and policy development
• Proactively investigating the planning designation of green spaces in your local area to find out whether there is scope to strengthen these in order to better protect these sites for future generations.

What are we looking for: Skills / Experience

• An eye for detail and an interest in investigative work
• Knowledge of planning and environmental issues is essential 
• Some previous experience in the planning sector would be beneficial in this role
• Good local knowledge of one of these London boroughs would be useful: Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Newham, Haringey, Enfield, Harrow, Hillingdon, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Wandsworth, Lambeth, Hackney, Camden, Brent, Ealing, Hounslow, Merton, Sutton, Croydon, City of London, Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley, Havering,
• A willingness to visit the local planning office and proposed development sites
• Able to carry out tasks independently and as part of a team
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Access to a computer and the internet at home and be comfortable using them

Benefits of the role:

• Use your skills and experience to contribute to the success of our charity and make a positive impact on London’s environment 
• Meet like-minded people and enjoy being part of a team
• Enhance your CV by developing new skills and gaining valuable experience
• We’ll support you to develop in your volunteering role and provide you with relevant training
• We’ll give you a reference for your future work or volunteering
• Get involved with social events and workshops on a local and national level, including the annual CPRE conference
• The opportunity to attend a volunteer induction day at CPRE’s national office in London or a regional centre
• We are happy to provide out-of-pocket travel expenses

Manakal

We empower young people and underserved communities to become sustainability leaders through accessible, culturally-centered education and mentorship.

Social Media Content Creator

Manakal is looking for a creative, trend-aware, and purpose-driven individual to help strengthen our digital presence through engaging and meaningful content.
In this role, you will support the creation of visual and multimedia content that helps communicate Manakal’s mission, connect with our growing community, and expand our visibility across digital platforms.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who understands how digital content works today and wants to use creativity as a tool for social impac
What you will contribute to:

• Creating engaging short-form content for platforms such as Instagram Reels, TikTok, and other digital channels
• Supporting the development of visual storytelling aligned with Manakal’s mission and tone
• Identifying relevant content trends, formats, and creative opportunities that can be adapted to an impact-driven context
• Editing short-form videos and multimedia pieces in a dynamic and audience-friendly way
• Designing visual content optimized for engagement, clarity, and platform relevance
• Collaborating with the communications team to translate ideas, campaigns, and initiatives into compelling digital content
• Helping strengthen Manakal’s visibility, storytelling, and community-building efforts through creative communication

Requirements:

• Strong interest in digital communication, storytelling, and social impact
• Experience creating or editing short-form vertical video content (Reels, TikTok, Shorts, etc.)
• Familiarity with tools such as Canva, Adobe Premiere, After Effects, or similar
• Understanding of current social media content trends and what captures attention in today’s digital environment
• Ability to translate ideas into visually engaging and accessible content
• Creativity, initiative, and ability to work collaboratively in a remote international team
• Portfolio, sample work, or social media examples are highly encouraged and recommended

What You’ll Gain:

• Portfolio-building experience
• Creative ownership and autonomy
• Flexible, remote collaboration
• The chance to help shape the digital voice of an emerging international sustainability initiative

Minimum Hours per Week:

4-6 hours per week

Duration:

3-5 months

Eco-Stylist

We connect shoppers with vetted sustainable fashion brands, marketplace items, and educational guides.

Social Media Manager

The Social Media Manager will focus on engaging and growing our social media presence. Currently focusing on Instagram and Tiktok. This is an exciting opportunity to gain experience with potential for massive results.

We currently have 6k+ IG followers, 1k+ FB, 1.3k+ LinkedIn, 7.8k+ Pinterest, and just starting on Tiktok. It will be your job to grow and engage this audience, regularly analyzing performance, identifying opportunities, and tweaking your strategy.

Prior experience not required but must have strong interests in sustainability, fashion, and gaining marketing experience. Must also be excited about social media and the opportunities it presents for both growth, engagement, and storytelling.

Looking for entrepreneurial candidates who are extremely driven and self-motivated.

Benefits: includes mentoring. At the end of your 3-6 month internship we will assist you in your next career steps: informational interviews, jobs, letters of recommendation, grad school applications, etc.

Eco-Stylist is a growing startup and social enterprise, with a mission to make sustainable fashion the norm.

Our handle is @yourecostylist.

Minimum Hours per Week:

4-6 hours per week

Duration:

3-5 months

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is a local conservation charity working to protect wildlife and help 
people connect with nature. We believe that wildlife should be able to thrive alongside our everyday 
lives and that everyone is better off when they have access to nature. With a team of volunteers, we 
care for wild places to create space for nature and help communities create their own wild places. 
We help people experience the wildlife on their doorsteps and to take action to protect it. 

Join the Trust’s busy Individual Giving team to help look after our amazing community of 
members and donors

We need an Individual Giving Volunteer to support with office administration and preparation of 
regular membership communications and Welcome Packs, helping to care for and sustain the 
support of our regular donors.

Role responsibilities:
• Pack and send our Welcome Packs for new members and for Wildlife Watch families
• Pack and send our membership letters and other supporter communications 
• Stock-checking
• Checking, scanning and filing supporter documentation and records
• Supporting the team with general office administration and front of house enquiries
• Researching areas where the Trust can grow our community fundraising e.g. looking into 
local supermarket giving schemes

Skills and experience you will need:
• Willingness to letter stuff, frank and dispatch post
• Competence in using Microsoft Office – needed for some elements of the role
• Organisation and attention to detail
• Regular availability and reliability on a weekly basis
• Enthusiastic about wildlife and the work of the Trust
• Willingness to work as part of a team
• Willingness to work in accordance with all relevant Trust policies and procedures including Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Data Protection

Reasons to volunteer with the Trust
• Provide vital support for the Trust and help to look after our members and donors
• Opportunity to develop your skills and confidence
• Gain valuable experience of office administration and membership communications
• Receive support from a group of committed staff and volunteers working together to deliver our membership support activities
• Join a fun and friendly team to make a difference

Volunteer training and support
• Induction training covering an introduction to the work of the Trust and information on our 
policies and procedures
• Mentoring with an experienced staff member to guide and review your activities
• Training on membership administration and office support
• Reasonable travel expenses can be claimed with prior arrangement

Anticipated time commitment:
• One day/half day a week on either a Monday, Thursday or Friday. If you were looking to 
volunteer for more hours do drop us an email as it might be that this role could be 
combined with another.
• Support for membership administration will take priority but there may be an opportunity to 
get involved in other Trust activities

For more information about this role please see our website for contact details.

LEVAEBIO

We transform agricultural waste into sustainable bio-based leather alternatives for fashion and accessories.

EU Grant Writer & Narrative Strategist (Climate Tech / Bio-materials)

We are building Levaebio, a sustainable materials startup focused on next-generation bio-based leather alternatives derived from agro-waste and bio-binders.
We are looking for a skilled volunteer to develop compelling grant narratives and drive end-to-end application efforts for non-dilutive funding opportunities across Europe, particularly in climate tech, circular economy, and bio-material innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Draft high-quality grant applications and narratives (EIC, Horizon Europe, CBE, LIFE, etc.)
• Develop:
  • Problem statement
  • Innovation differentiation
  • Market opportunity
  • Environmental impact (CO₂ reduction, circularity)
• Translate technical concepts into clear, persuasive funding language
• Support creation of:
  • Pitch decks
  • Executive summaries
  • Concept notes
• Align applications with EU priorities (Green Deal, circular economy, sustainability)
• Take end-to-end ownership of grant applications, from concept to final submission
• Work on both:
  • Single-applicant grants (e.g., EIC Accelerator)
  • Consortium-based grants (e.g., Horizon Europe, CBE JU)
• Ensure compliance with grant guidelines, formats, and evaluation criteria
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen application quality and success probability
• Track submitted applications and iterate based on feedback or evaluation outcomes

Ideal Candidate:

• Prior experience in grant writing / startup fundraising content
• Strong writing and storytelling ability (especially for deep-tech or sustainability)
• Understanding of EU funding frameworks (EIC, Horizon, etc.) is a strong plus
• Ability to structure complex information clearly
• Detail-oriented, ownership-driven, and deadline-focused

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience in international deep-tech fundraising
• Exposure to EU grant ecosystem and evaluation criteria
• Close collaboration with founder (25+ years industry experience)
• Opportunity to contribute to a high-impact sustainability venture

Minimum Hours per Week:

7-9 hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

FibreLab

We transform businesses' textile waste into recycled materials locally, enabling circular supply chains.

IP Legal Advice: Licensing Agreement

We are looking for legal advice as we draft and sign a licensing agreement for our material innovation PaperTex (TM) with Ghana-based Revival.

Minimum Hours per Week:

0-1 hours per week

Duration:

One-off project