On-site volunteer roles

Fight for Home Group Chair [Bristol]

Are you keen to use your creative energy or leadership skills to bring people together to fight for home?

Information about the role

This role will lead and shape our Fight for Home group. This will involve organising meetings, communicating with other group members and keeping the group engaged and enthusiastic.

With a team of other volunteers you’ll come up with ideas, plans and deliver fundraising events. As well as raising funds, you’ll also be sharing awareness of the local housing emergency within your local area. 

Location: Bristol

Suggested contribution: It’s flexible, but at least once a month, with potential for more volunteering in the lead up to an event. 

Availability: This is a flexible opportunity, with meetings and events likely to take place in evenings and weekends.

The above is the essential information you need to know. You can apply now by clicking ‘fill in an application’ or read on more for details. 

Main activities may include: 

• Leading a Fight for Home group, including communicating with other volunteers.

• Organising and hosting meetings with your Fight for Home group.

• Encouraging group members to come up with fundraising ideas.

• Leading the group to design and host fundraising events.

• Inspiring your network of contacts to support your fundraising events.

• Attending local events such as Rotary meetings or community fairs to raise awareness of Shelter and collect donations.

• Speaking about what we do and promoting national campaigns in your community

• Raising awareness of our local Community Hubs

This role fights the housing emergency by raising funds that enable Shelter to provide advice and support and campaigning for change. The events you’ll be attending are also great for raising awareness of the housing emergency and how people can get involved to help tackle it. 

Benefits of volunteering with Shelter

Volunteers are essential to Shelter’s mission to end housing injustice. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. The insights and life experiences our volunteers bring to Shelter are valued as much as their contribution through volunteering.

We aim to provide our volunteers with a positive experience. This is by prioritising accessibility and tailoring the support we provide to the needs of the individual. We make sure our policies and processes are equitable, which means that no-one is unfairly disadvantaged while volunteering because of their background or identity.

Your skills and experience 

Creativity and organisational skills may be useful, and you’ll need to be willing to collaborate as part of a team. But the most important thing is that you are passionate about joining our fight for home!

Supporting you

• You will be provided with an induction into your role, access to relevant learning and a copy of our volunteer handbook.

• The role, including learning and communications, are flexible, so can be tailored so they best suit your needs and preferences. 

• You will be able to claim reasonable volunteering expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer policy. Where financial circumstances would be a barrier to volunteering, we may be able to offer these funds in advance. 

• You will be able to access our volunteer support package, including our colleague assistance programme and Shelter’s network of mental health first aiders.

Next steps

You can apply for this role by clicking ‘fill in an application’. If you need to apply by an alternative method, please contact us.

We will then get back to you about your application. Shortlisted applicants will have a recruitment conversation to discuss the role further.

Upon offer of role, you will be asked to declare any unspent convictions. Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you can’t volunteer with us. We will have a conversation with you to discuss the convictions in relation to the role you have applied for. Sometimes it may limit the ways you can get involved. Please contact us if you require more information.

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As a Gardening Volunteer at Croft House, you’ll play an important part in creating and maintaining a welcoming, therapeutic outdoor space for residents. Working alongside staff and residents, you’ll help care for the garden while supporting engaging, hands-on gardening activities.

This role is about more than plants — it’s about connection, wellbeing and creating a shared space where residents can relax, learn new skills and enjoy being outdoors. Your ideas and enthusiasm will help shape seasonal projects and themed gardening sessions throughout the year.

Key Duties

• Support the general upkeep of the garden (planting, watering, weeding, tidying and seasonal maintenance).

• Work alongside residents to co-create and deliver inclusive gardening sessions.

• Encourage and support residents to take part in hands-on gardening tasks.

• Help plan and contribute ideas for seasonal or themed activities (e.g. spring planting, sensory gardens, harvest projects).

• Promote a positive, safe and welcoming outdoor environment.

• Follow guidance from staff to ensure activities are safe and accessible for all.

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has an interest in gardening (experience is helpful but not essential).

• Is friendly, patient and enjoys working with people.

• Feels confident supporting others in practical, hands-on tasks.

• Is reliable and able to commit to agreed volunteering times.

• Brings creativity and enthusiasm to help make the garden an engaging space.

• Values inclusion, wellbeing and creating supportive environments.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference while enjoying time outdoors and sharing your passion for gardening

Reach: Reach Drug and Alcohol Services is the commissioned community drug and alcohol provision for Dorset. It provides a range of support, interventions and treatments for adults and young people wanting to make positive changes to their drug and/or alcohol use, as well as offering support to family members and running campaigns and events that raise awareness of addiction and celebrate recovery in the community.

Reading Through Recovery -A weekly 90‑minute group supporting anyone on a substance or alcohol recovery journey, whether actively using or abstinent, through the shared experience of reading.​​

In a relaxed and inclusive space, participants bring a book they’re reading, explore themes that resonate, and dive into stories that spark insight and strength. Together, we share literature that has inspired, supported, or shaped our recovery journeys, with optional recommendations and themed reading ideas each week.​​

This is more than a book group, it's a place to find meaning, connection, and momentum in recovery.​

Details of the role & tasks

The role:

We are seeking enthusiastic readers to co-facilitate our new project – Reading Through Recovery. Volunteer group facilitators will help to make newcomers feel welcome, and empower everyone in the meeting to contribute, should they wish to.

This role is ideally suited to people with lived experience of recovery, either directly, or through supporting a close friend or family member, although we welcome applications from anyone with an empathetic, non-judgemental attitude that can build strong working relationships with others.

Tasks may include:

• Facilitating a non-judgemental space to allow participants to express feelings and share experiences freely.

• Foster a sense of community and trust

• Enable participants to connect through shared narratives, enabling them to relate to one another’s journeys.

• Encourage reflection and discussion.

Personal qualities

Skills we would love you to bring to the role:

• Welcoming, friendly and an ability to put other people at ease

• Confident and calm in group settings

• Good IT skills – the SMART Recovery UK training all takes place electronically and includes submitting some written responses via email

• Non-judgmental towards people facing challenges in their lives, including around drug and/or alcohol use and/or mental health

• Good time keeping

• Able to work as part of a team, on own initiative and to instruction

• An understanding of Waythrough – information is available on our website

• A genuine interest in being part of the mission and vision of Waythrough

• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, adhere to Waythrough policies and media guidelines, engage in supervision, and complete relevant training

Waythrough

What Volunteers can expect from us:

Volunteering with Waythrough offers people a unique chance to have a significant positive impact on people’s lives. We work both with and within diverse communities across the UK and every day we see people making positive changes to turn their lives around. We also offer:

• Regular supervision and support

• Induction and access to online and face to face training

• To learn and practice new skills within a teamwork setting

• To feel part of a team and the wider Waythrough organisation

• Reasonable travel expenses reimbursed with proof of journey

• Opportunities to progress and experience other areas of Waythrough's work

Our values:

Our values underpin everything we do – from how we work together through to how we design and deliver services. All our work to fulfil this vision is strengthened by our values.

• Kindness - be generous, caring and understanding.

• Courage - be bold, trust, commit.

• Respect - everyone deserves dignity.

Location: Some flexibility depending on staff and volunteer availability and ability to travel though meetings are currently held in Weymouth, Dorchester and on-line.

Timing: We are looking for someone who can offer around 2-3  hours a

Training: Volunteers have access to Waythrough’s training platform, LearningKind, and will be asked to complete an induction workshop ahead of their start date and a number of training modules within their first 3 months.

What experience do I need?

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

What will I be doing?

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

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

Who am I responsible for?

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

Who am I responsible to?

The parent/carer.

• You must ensure that the parent / carer’s reasonable instructions and guidance regarding the welfare of their child are adhered to and that clear communication is maintained.
• Feedback must be given to the parent/carer following a visit.

Your co-ordinator and Time2Share@WECIL.

• You must respond promptly to any contact from your co-ordinator.
• You are required to report monthly on any time spent with the child you are linked with, any activities undertaken, and to take part in the annual review.

How often will I be needed?

• We typically ask for volunteers to commit to 2-4 hours a week
• The days / times are agreed between the volunteer and the family.
• We ask for a minimum commitment of 6 months to ensure the child and their family are able to benefit fully from the relationship.

What about expenses?

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

Time2Share@WECIL is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects its staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Our first priority is to ensure the safety of the children we support. Time2Share@WECIL reserves the right to end a link without notice or giving reason

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.

Join TreeAction as a Conservation Volunteer 

Love being outdoors and want to make a real difference in your community? Join TreeAction and help us care for young trees and improve local green spaces across Sussex.

We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers to take part in our relaxed, hands-on conservation sessions. There’s no long-term commitment — just come along when you can and enjoy making a positive impact.

What you’ll do
Help care for newly planted trees by:

• Weeding

• Mulching

• Watering saplings

Sessions take place at:

• Adur Recreation Ground

• Southwick Recreation Ground

• Shoreham Recreation Ground

• Lancing Manor Gardens

What to expect

• Just 2 hours per session, once a month

• No commitment - join in whenever you are available

• No experience needed — full training provided

• Tools supplied

• A welcoming, supportive community atmosphere

What to bring

• Gardening clothes (long sleeves and trousers recommended)

• Sturdy footwear

TreeAction is a non-profit community interest organisation working to plant trees in schools, colleges, and public spaces, while supporting environmental education for young people. By volunteering with us, you’ll be helping to create greener, healthier places for everyone.

You’ll also be joining a growing community of nature lovers and conservationists — with social events throughout the year.

Come grow something meaningful with us 

Focus Birmingham is a dedicated charity supporting people with sight loss and complex needs, helping them lead fuller, more independent, and more connected lives. We’re currently looking for organised, caring, and reliable volunteers to join us as Admin Volunteers.

If you can spare just a few hours a week, you can play a vital role in keeping our services running smoothly and ensuring that people with sight loss receive the support they need. Your contribution behind the scenes, from your home or at our centre, helps create the strong foundations that allow our frontline teams to deliver life-changing support.

As an Admin Volunteer, you’ll assist with tasks such as updating records, making follow-up calls, organising information, preparing materials, and supporting staff with day-to-day administration. Your attention to detail and friendly approach will help us stay connected, responsive, and effective, and you won’t be doing it alone. We’ll support you at every step, from application and onboarding to ongoing training and guidance from our volunteer team.

We are looking for a creative Volunteer Art Teacher who can being inspiration and colour to our art sessions. We are looking for someone who will be able comfortable working various different art and craft mediums, including watercolours, clay, knitting amongst many others. 

You will be required to volunteer every other Thursday of the month, between 10-12, you will also be required to set up and take down at the start and end of every session. We are looking for commitment for at least 12 months 

We are looking for individuals who

• Have a passion for Art and Crafts, including watercolours, clay, knitting amongst others.
• Have strong communication skills.
• Have an awareness of safeguarding and GDPR
• Be empathic and understanding to the needs of others
• Experience of teaching or supporting people with a visual impairment is desirable but enthusiasm and a willingness to learn new skills are essential.

Benefits of volunteering with Focus Birmingham 

• Access to ongoing training
• Quarterly check ins
• Regular reviews 
• Aiding of professional development.

Our shops help raise vital funds, and volunteering with us is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, and join a fantastic team. Volunteering in our shops offers a variety of exciting tasks. From sorting, steaming, and pricing donations to spotting hidden gems, you'll roll up your sleeves in the backroom and assist on the shop floor. Engaging with customers is key, whether you're serving with a smile, working the till or helping donors complete Gift Aid forms.

Creating a warm, friendly and inviting space is just as important. You'll help design eye-catching window displays, keep the space tidy, and use your creativity to ensure everything looks its best, encouraging customers to return.

No special skills are needed as we’ll show you what to do, and we provide all the training you’ll need. But if you have any experience or particular interest, tell us; it may be helpful.

Read Easy UK provides free, confidential, one-to-one reading coaching for adults who struggle with reading, delivered through a dedicated network of local volunteer groups. Across the country, our volunteers are helping adults gain the skills and confidence to read, opening the door to new opportunities in work, family life and everyday independence.

As the Team Leader you are responsible for the proper and effective direction of your local group. This role will appeal to 
someone with enthusiasm and energy who will enjoy managing a team of diverse volunteers. Ideally, the Team Leader will remain in this role for at least two years.

You will be provided with a full induction and training, a Management Team Handbook and all the policies, and guidance specifically needed for this role, including access to support from a Read Easy UK Regional Adviser, as well as support from your local group. You will also be invited to Read Easy UK’s regional and national forums which create opportunity for you to network with volunteers from other groups.

What you will be doing
● Be a visible ambassador for your group, building meaningful relationships with stakeholders and representing Read Easy with pride.
● Champion the reputation of your group and Read Easy UK, helping everyone uphold the organisation’s values.
● Leading your group to develop strategically, so that it functions effectively in delivering reading coaching to as many people as possible.
● Inspiring and supporting team members, helping them thrive and enjoy the roles they love and managing succession planning for the group.
● Leading the Management Team in setting goals and planning activities
● Delegating projects to your Deputy Leader, such as setting up a new hub or developing remote coaching for your group, to reach even more people eager to learn to read.
● Ensuring that everyday tasks are delegated and effectively completed so that all on the Management Team are able to contribute to the success of Read Easy locally.
● Providing encouragement and support to Hub Leaders to help hubs grow and succeed.
● Leading meetings and setting agendas.
● Playing a vital role in ensuring the group meets its Constitution and Affiliation requirements, and that the guidance from Read Easy provided to keep things running smoothly is followed
● Liaising with other Team Leaders to discuss issues and share best practice
● Building strong relationships with your Read Easy UK Regional Adviser. 

The skills you need
● Strong leadership and team management skills and experience, with ability to motivate and inspire trust and confidence in others.
● An ability to think and act strategically, set goals, plan work and delegate.
● A willingness and ability to challenge others, deal with underperformance and manage conflict when necessary.
● Reasonable confidence in using IT. 
● The ability to use initiative and work independently. 
● A willingness to abide by Read Easy policies and procedures. 
● An open attitude that encourages two-way communication and willingness to ask for and offer support to the Team. 
● A non-judgemental attitude and respect for others, with a commitment to equality and diversity, so that you can make everyone feel valued and included. 
● Energy and enthusiasm with four to five hours a week to commit to the role. 

Help us turn community generosity into compassionate care.

We’re looking for a reliable and detail-oriented volunteer to support our retail team by helping to process money from our shops. You’ll play a key role in ensuring that funds are counted and banked promptly.

Our hospices provide vital care and support to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across the local areas. This care is only possible thanks to the incredible efforts of our shops and retail team.

This role will provide support to our Retail Office, ensuring that money from our shops is counted and banked in a timely manner. The time required will need to be one to two mornings per week.

At Chestnut Tree House we will be opening a brand-new Kitchen Garden to supply produce to our hospice kitchens. There are large beds which will cultivate vegetables as well as an area for fruit bushes and trees. An activities area with raised troughs for the children, young people and families to enjoy planting will be at the centre, with paths around the fruit and vegetable beds.

We are looking for someone with passion and knowledge to help us keep the area in tip top condition maintaining and developing the space.

As a Macmillan Information & Advice Hub Volunteer, you’ll get a chance to meet new people and be part of an amazing team of Volunteers. It is really important to us that we provide the practical and emotional assistance required to our clients and that's why both Macmillan and ourselves will give you the support, supervision, volunteer insurance, and training required for the role.

The Hub is a drop in facility aimed at giving advice to local residents living with cancer, their friends and family or even fellow professionals. You will be providing face-to-face assistance which will include giving out high quality Macmillan advice resources or signposting to other service (all with the support of an employed Co-ordinator). You will also be providing emotional support by showing empathy, actively listening, and providing encouragement and reassurance. The Hub is based in Hastings Town Centre (the old Town Hall) and you could volunteer for as little as half a day.

We are currently looking for 1 volunteer for Friday mornings and 1 for Friday afternoons

You will be reimbursed relevant costs and it's really easy to start the volunteering process with us. If you’re over 18 years old and ready to make a huge difference to a cancer patients life, just click on ‘Apply’ and start filling in your details!