Volunteer roles

DofE Program Leader

Challenge Adventure Group (“CAG” for short and the operating name of CAG Trust) is a voluntary youth organisation for Knowle, Dorridge and beyond aimed at boys aged 10 and above.

As our name suggests, we provide challenging, adventurous and fun activities and the D of E Award for young people in their leisure time. Taking part in fun experiential activities enables members to develop their physical and mental skills and capacities and reach their full potential of becoming positive, active and happy citizens.

Summary

CAG was formed in 2009 and became a charity, CAG Trust, in 2019. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a UK charity that makes a difference to young people’s lives and prepares them for life and work. Young people from every possible background take part in the DofE programme each year to broaden their horizons, develop their leadership skills, learn to work with others, volunteer in their local communities, increase their employability, and prove to themselves they can succeed at a serious challenge. 

The DofE Leaders perform a vital role on behalf of the DofE and CAG. They are the adult leaders responsible for the management and training of a DofE group which could be at Bronze, Silver or Gold level. They lead, guide, train and support young people, agree their program choices, sign off their completed sections and approve their eDofE evidence.

Description

We are looking for someone to lead and train our DofE groups to a successful conclusion and take home an award to be proud of.

To get the most out of this role, you’ll probably have worked with young people before and have a love of the great outdoors and maybe into paddling, cycling, mountain biking or walking. You’ll be comfortable with the skills needed to complete expeditions (e.g. navigation, route planning, map reading, using a compass, campcraft) and be able to cope with changing and challenging situations. 

Formal qualifications in outdoor leadership (e.g. BEL or ML awards) or other skills (e.g.canoeing) are welcomed but not essential. CAG can provide training opportunities to the right person.

Key Tasks

Young people

• Ensure the delivery of high quality programs to young people in the DofE group.

• Manage the provision of a safe and enjoyable DofE programme for participants in the DofE group.

• Support participants to decide on their program choices and set their timescales and goals.

• Regularly encourage and review participation in chosen activities by participants.

• Train teams to undertake expeditions.

• Support expedition team(s) with their expedition planning.

• Coordinate with other CAG team members for the successful planning and completion of expeditions.

• Encourage the use of eDofE by participants, regularly approve uploaded evidence and agree the completion of sections.

• Celebrate achievements as often as possible.

CAG - the Licensed Organisation

• Keep in regular contact with the DofE Program Manager and CAG Trips Coordinator.

• Respond to requests from CAG in a timely manner.

General

• Regularly communicate with parents about DofE group plans / meetings etc.

• Use eDofE to measure the performance of the DofE group and to keep abreast of participation.

In addition DofE Leaders must undertake the e-induction and Introduction to the DofE courses.

Further training may be undertaken by completing the DofE Leadership Programme.

Ideally you should have / be:

• An ability to communicate with adults and young people, both verbally and in writing.

• An ability to organise and plan effectively.

• Office software literate.

• Able to provide inspirational leadership and motivate young people.

• Experience of working with young people.

• Build, maintain and facilitate effective working relationships with a wide range of people.

• Plan, manage and monitor your own tasks and time.

In addition you will need:

• Integrity.

• Committed to ensuring high standards.

• Commitment to DofE’s guiding principles & CAG ethos.

• Flexible approach.

• Self-motivated.

• A car driver or have ability to travel to attend events and meetings

• The post holder must be able to provide a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check, either a current or new application that can be made through CAG.

Making a difference - what impact will the opportunity have?

Your input is key to the running of CAG as well as securing its future.  This role puts you in a real position to support young people in developing their skills in expedition activities. You will play an invaluable part of the quality checking process of the expeditions. If you’re thinking of a career in teaching, youth work or outdoor education, or wish  to further your experience as an expedition expert, this role will give you invaluable experience.

What's in it for the volunteer? 

You would become part of our small, friendly team and you have the opportunity to use your time, skills and experience to make a real difference to CAG and the community in which we operate.   You will also have some fun, support a good  cause, gain skills and experience, and support the DofE. 

About the location

Where will the volunteer be working?

The volunteer can do some of the work remotely, for instance, access eDofE from home and contact participants via online messaging services.  However, most of your time will be spent working in close contact with the DofE participants at our unit in Bickenhill on Tuesday meeting nights or on some weekends away on training and practice expeditions.

Travel Limit

• Some remote work but mainly on Tuesday nights at our meeting place in Bickenhill, Solihull.

When will the volunteer be working?

Volunteer availability

• Mostly Tuesday evenings (CAG’s meeting night 7pm - 9pm during term time).

• Expeditions happen several times a year, in locations locally and further afield so you will need to be available for some weekends away for expedition training and practice - for instance in the Derbyshire Peak District, Shropshire etc.

Estimate of time commitment

• 0 - 4 hours / week and some weekends - the candidate will be able to offer further time as they wish.

Details

The volunteering could be long term. 

Application details

Successful applicants will require an enhanced DBS and two references.

Uniform Manager

Challenge Adventure Group (“CAG” for short and the operating name of CAG Trust) is a voluntary youth organisation for Knowle, Dorridge and beyond aimed at boys aged 10 and above.

As our name suggests, we provide challenging, adventurous and fun activities and the D of E Award for young people in their leisure time. Taking part in fun experiential activities enables members to develop their physical and mental skills and capacities and reach their full potential of becoming positive, active and happy citizens.

Summary

CAG was formed in 2009 and became a charity, CAG Trust, in 2019.  We have a distinctive uniform for meeting nights and for when we’re out and about on trips.  We are proud of our branding and both members and leaders enjoy wearing our variety of rugby-style shirts, cosy fleeces, soft shell jackets and hats.

When we do really special trips, like our legendary ski trip, we design a uniform specifically for that event - it’s different each time and serves as a reminder of what an awesome time was had by all participants.  All our uniform is high quality, long lasting and is built to withstand all our challenging adventures whether it be indoor climbing or scaling Snowdon.

We are looking for a volunteer to monitor and organise uniform orders, log and chase payments and distribute to / from suppliers and to / from members.

Description

Responsibilities:

• Carry out an annual audit of the uniform stock and liaise with the Treasurer and Membership Secretary to ensure that there are enough supplies available for each age group / size.

• Keep the uniform stock tidy and in good order by ensuring everything is in the right place.

• Maintain an inventory of items and keep track of numbers sold and numbers required.

• Research and source suppliers selling good quality, hardwearing kit.

• Ensure that suppliers are providing good value for money.

• Monitor and organise uniform orders in good time to restock supplies.

• Liaise with the Membership Secretary to remain aware of new members and their uniform requirements.

• Log and chase payments in conjunction with the Treasurer.

• Communicate frequently with the Group Leader and CAG Management Committee to keep them up to date.

We are looking for a volunteer who ideally should have / be:

• Commitment to CAG and its ethos.

• Organised and tidy.

• Self-motivated, proactive and good at managing your own time.

• The ability to build and maintain relationships.

• A proactive attitude.

• The ability to work as part of a team.

• A willingness to carry out a range of administrative tasks. 

• Excellent budgeting skills.

• A car driver or have ability to travel to attend events and meetings.

• The post holder must be able to provide a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check.

Making a difference - what impact will the opportunity have?

Your input is key to the day to day running of CAG as well as securing its future.  You will have a big impact because this role is essential to ensuring that CAG always has enough kit available for its new members to wear on meeting nights and for our trips and activities.

What's in it for the volunteer? 

You would become part of our small, friendly team and you have the opportunity to use your time, skills and experience to make a real difference to CAG and the community in which we operate.  Additionally we can offer you:

• The chance to be part of a charity at an exciting time in its development.

• The opportunity to make a difference to young people’s lives through outdoor trips, activities and adventures.

• Expenses, so you are not out of pocket.

About the location

Where will the volunteer be working?

The volunteer can partially work from home and will also be required to attend some weekly Tuesday night club meetings at Bickenhill to check on and distribute the uniform stock.

Travel Limit

The candidate should also be available for face to face Committee and other meetings.

When will the volunteer be working?

Volunteer availability

• Some weekly Tuesday evening club nights.

• You would need to be available to attend Committee meetings which normally take place in the evening.

• Very occasional weekends and evenings to attend events.

Estimate of time commitment

• 0 - 3 hours / week.

Details

The volunteering could be long term. 

Application details

Successful applicants will require an enhanced DBS and two references.

Program Manager

Challenge Adventure Group (“CAG” for short and the operating name of CAG Trust) is a voluntary youth organisation for Knowle, Dorridge and beyond aimed at boys aged 10 and above.

As our name suggests, we provide challenging, adventurous and fun activities and the D of E Award for young people in their leisure time. Taking part in fun experiential activities enables members to develop their physical and mental skills and capacities and reach their full potential of becoming positive, active and happy citizens.

Summary

CAG was formed in 2009 and became a charity, CAG Trust, in 2019. Our raison d’etre is to engage young people in outdoor activities by providing them with opportunities to go on night walks, build fires, cook on fires, try out some bush craft, go on bike rides, try indoor climbing, have a go at scuba diving in swimming pools, play team building games, enter cake competitions, attempt bushtucker trials, put up tents, learn navigation skills, keep fit by doing bleep tests, go karting, have a crack at skiing at Ackers Trust or on a ski slope in the Alps, eat curry at Christmas and much more.

Description

You will play an important role in putting together our termly program for our Tuesday meeting nights. There’s a lot involved in putting the program together and ensuring that all our members get the chance to join in these amazing experiences.  You will work in conjunction with the Group Leader to decide which activities to do and when and you will also have to coordinate with our team of volunteer leaders to ensure that there are enough staff available each week to run the program.

The key tasks of the role are to:

• Plan the weekly activities for each term in coordination with the budget and operational members.

• Schedule the activities at the clubhouse and nightly trips / events.

• Provide any materials etc required to carry out the planned activity.

• Book the event / location / trainer etc and organise transport.

• Produce a term summary including parent rotas to be sent out.

• Follow up with parents  / Leaders to ensure actions have been taken to meet activities planned.

• Troubleshoot any issues on the night if necessary.

• Ensure that there are enough staff available to run the program and arrange cover if necessary.

Ideally you should have / be:

• Ability to schedule and manage tasks effectively.

• Creativity and an eye for detail.

• Problem-solving skills.

• Risk management.

• Written and verbal communication skills.

• Cost control and budgeting skills.

• Teamwork and motivational skills.

• Organisational and multitasking skills.

• Office software proficient.

• Build, maintain and facilitate effective working relationships with a wide range of people and organisations.

• Plan, manage and monitor your own tasks and time.

In addition you will need:

• Integrity.

• Committed to ensuring high standards.

• Flexible approach.

• Self-motivated.

• A car driver or have ability to travel to attend events and meetings.

• The post holder must be able to provide a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check, either a current or new application that can be made through CAG.

Making a difference - what impact will the opportunity have?

Your input is key to the running of CAG as well as securing its future.  You will help make Tuesday meeting nights run smoothly by ensuring that the Leaders are free to focus their attention on the members having a great experience.  By producing a termly program this will enable parents to add the weekly activities to their diaries in good time and Volunteer Leaders to plan ahead and check out their availability.  Additionally we can offer you:

• The chance to be part of a charity at an exciting time in its development.

• The opportunity to make a difference to young people’s lives through outdoor trips, activities and adventures.

• Expenses, so you are not out of pocket.

What's in it for the volunteer? 

You would become part of our small, friendly team and you have the opportunity to use your time, skills and experience to make a real difference to CAG and the community in which we operate.  You will also have some fun, support a good cause and gain new skills and experiences. 

About the location

Where will the volunteer be working?

The volunteer can do most of the work remotely but may need to attend some Tuesday evening meetings to coordinate with our team of Volunteer Leaders.

Travel Limit

• Mostly remote work but some travel to Solihull will be necessary for Committee meetings and occasional Tuesday club nights.

When will the volunteer be working?

Volunteer availability

• Flexible so during office hours if necessary for certain events but evenings if preferred.

• You would need to be available to attend Committee meetings which normally take place in the evening.

Estimate of time commitment

• 0- 3 hours / week – the candidate will be able to offer further time as they wish.

Details

The volunteering could be long term. 

Application details

Successful applicants will require an enhanced DBS and two references.

👨‍🍳 Could You Be the Chef We're Looking For? 🍳

Age UK Hythe, Lyminge & Ashford is looking for a friendly and enthusiastic volunteer chef to help run our popular Community Breakfast Café at our Ashford centre.

📍 Location: Age UK Ashford, Farrow Court, Stanhope Road, Ashford, TN23 5RF
🗓️ Every Tuesday
⏰ 8:30am – 11:45am

You'll be preparing and cooking simple breakfast favourites, helping create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and making a real difference to older people in the local community.

This is a fantastic opportunity to:
🍽️ Share your cooking skills
💛 Meet new people
😊 Help reduce loneliness and bring people together
🌟 Give something back to your local community

Whether you're a retired chef, enjoy cooking at home, or simply love feeding people, we'd love to hear from you!

Do you want to be involved in helping to protect the white-clawed crayfish, the UK’s only native freshwater crayfish? Do you fancy helping us to survey river catchments to help us better understand their distribution and help out at events to champion this native crayfish? If so, then this role will be perfect for you!

Unfortunately the white-clawed crayfish has seen a dramatic decline across the country, mainly due to the introduction of the invasive signal crayfish and the crayfish plague it carries. North Yorkshire is one of the last strongholds for the endangered species, and so the North Yorkshire Crayfish Forum was set up in 2019 to develop a strategy to protect and preserve our local populations and the forum is now Yorkshire wide.

It is vital that we understand the distribution of the 2 species of crayfish (both the native white-clawed crayfish and invasive signal crayfish) in Yorkshire, with much of the available data for them being outdated and likely inaccurate. We are therefore recruiting Crayfish Survey Volunteers to help us survey 5 target river catchments (Derwent, Swale, Nidd, Ure and Foss), this will allow us to better understand the species distribution and help identify key areas where proactive work needs to be carried out to protect white-clawed crayfish populations!

Unfortunately, the white-clawed crayfish has seen a dramatic decline across the country, mainly due to the introduction of the invasive signal crayfish and the crayfish plague it carries. North Yorkshire is one of the last strongholds for the endangered species, and so the Yorkshire Crayfish Forum was set up in 2019 to develop a strategy to protect and preserve our local populations and is now Yorkshire-wide.

We are looking for volunteers to join us on either a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday 3-4 times per month to help us with these surveys. 

To undertake this role you will need to complete essential training which will help you to survey the crayfish correctly. Training dates to be confirmed but plenty of notice will be provided

🌟 Could you spare a few hours at the weekend to make a difference? ☕

Age UK Hythe, Lyminge & Ashford is looking for a friendly and reliable volunteer to help run our café on Saturdays and/or Sundays from 9.45am to 2.00pm.

As part of the role, you'll:
☕ Serve tea, coffee and light refreshments
💳 Use the till (full training provided)
😊 Welcome and chat with customers
🧹 Help keep the café clean and tidy
❤️ Be part of a fantastic team supporting your local charity

No previous experience is necessary – just a friendly approach, a willingness to help and a smile!

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, gain experience and support older people in your local community.

If you can spare a few hours on a Saturday, Sunday or both, we'd love to hear from you.

Are you looking for an opportunity to gain the experience and skills needed to kick-start your career within the conservation and wildlife sector?

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Northern Projects team on a dedicated learning and development programme specialising in rivers and wetlands.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT)’s mission is to create a Yorkshire rich in wildlife for the benefit of everyone – more wildlife, more wild places and more people having a strong connection to nature. Within our Northern region we manage 36 nature reserves, as well as a number of exciting projects. Enabling nature’s recovery takes time and effort and the North Team benefits from the help and support of volunteers to make our vision a reality, whilst providing a first-rate learning and development opportunity for people wanting to focus on a career in nature conservation.

The role of the River and Wetlands Voluntary Placement is for the volunteer to support and be involved in the management of conservation projects in North Yorkshire. Working alongside a team of knowledgeable staff, you will help in planning, development, and the practical delivery of this work. This role will allow you to get an in-depth understanding of working in the conservation sector - you will gain experience in developing river restoration and wetland projects on a local scale whilst working alongside landowners on private land. You will have an opportunity to be directly involved in projects which help to reduce sediment inputs into the watercourse, increase biodiversity and encourage natural flood management.

What will you be doing?

On this Voluntary Placement you will gain experience in supporting with river restoration and wetland creation projects in North Yorkshire. You will be based in our York office with field work largely carried out near Northallerton, Whitby and York. You will primarily assist our Project Officers in undertaking work on third party land, however there will also be the opportunity to support other members of the wider team to enhance your development. You have the opportunity to gain experience in the following areas:

• Riparian ecology and restoration (habitats located on the edge of rivers, streams, lakes and other water bodies).
• Land management techniques to improve water quality
• Wetland habitat creation
• Riparian surveys to identify sedimentation issues and other Water Framework Directive failures (WFD is a directive for the protection of all waterbodies).
• Assist in overseeing contractors undertaking practical conservation work (familiarisation with contracts etc.)
• Undertaking practical tasks such as tree planting, surveys, pond work & habitat creation
• Gain familiarisation with budgets and project management tools
• Mapping and GIS work using QGIS
• Publicising project work via traditional communications, social media and community engagement events.
• Coordinating volunteers for survey work and events.

What's in it for you?

• A full induction to the role
• Regular one-to-one with your line voluntary placement manager
• Ongoing personal development, allowing you to develop nature conservation skills and valuable experience towards a career in this highly competitive sector.
• External Training in Level 1 certificate in River Restoration with the River Restoration Centre (RRC)
• A programme of in-house training courses will be available throughout your traineeship.
• Access to our free varied internal volunteer training programme
• Branded uniform
• The Trust can contribute £15 per day of your voluntary placement to support with fuel and public transport costs
• An intensive and high-quality experience that will stand out on any CV, as a team member of one of the UK’s most vibrant and varied conservation organisations.

80% of volunteers on longer term placements with YWT have successfully found employment within the sector or gone on to relevant further studies.

Recruitment Information:

2 days per week, Monday- Friday with flexibility to suit the voluntary placement. Closing deadline for applications 9am, Thursday 20th August 2026.

Job title: Social Media & Communications Intern / Events & Fundraising Intern

Contract: 3-6 months or longer

Location: Croydon, South London

Salary: Volunteer - expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with our Expenses Policy

 About African Child Trust (ACT)

ACT is a growing international development charity with a Christian ethos, dedicated to educating disadvantaged children and empowering widows in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1998, we’ve supported children from primary school through to university and equipped widows with income-generating skills to sustain their families. Working with our local partners, we implement projects in education, livelihoods, sanitation, and health across eight African countries: Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Internship Opportunities

We are looking for outgoing and self-motivated individuals who will fit easily into our team and are passionate about making a difference in the world. These roles are ideal for graduates wanting to gain experience in the international development and charity sectors. Gap year opportunities for students and current undergraduates will be considered.

The two roles available are:

▪ Social Media & Communications

▪ Events & Fundraising

These internships are ideal for at least three to six months or longer, to obtain the full benefit of your experience.

Please note that internships at ACT are voluntary. However, we will reimburse reasonable expenses in line with our expenses policy.

Qualities and attributes

Social Media & Communications

The ideal candidates will:

● Have excellent written communication skills;

● Be creative and inventive, and confident in putting forward and discussing new ideas;

● Have an eye for graphics and visual design;

● Have previous experience in social media; and

● Have a desire both to learn and to contribute to our work.

Events & Fundraising

The ideal candidates will:

● Have experience using Office suite (primarily Word and Excel);

● Exhibit strong research skills;

● Be highly organised and able to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively;

● Be proactive with a positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills; and

● Have passion and empathy for the ethos of ACT.

Key responsibilities

Social Media & Communications

● Writing high-quality blogs and news articles and carrying out related research.

● Using Canva to create graphics for social media and scheduling posts via Buffer.

● Actively engaging with online supporters and followers.

● Promoting ACT’s events via social media platforms (Instagram, X, Facebook and LinkedIn).

● Engaging with social media analytics and adapting social media presence accordingly.

Events & Fundraising

● Assisting our small team with research pertaining to grant-funding opportunities.

● Provide research on potential corporate and school partnerships.

● Engaging with supporters in relation to fundraising activities, events and campaigns.

● Providing administrative and clerical support to staff.

● Inputting information into our CRM system.

Hours: Flexible; the position can be done remotely, but ideally, the successful applicant would be willing to travel to our Croydon office one day a week.

Closing date: 14 August 2026 

Interview/Start date: Shortlisted candidates will be informed by 19 August 2026, and interview dates will be arranged thereafter.

Admin Volunteer

RSPCA NW London & South Herts  |  Eastcote, HA5  |  A couple of hours a week

We're looking for a friendly, organised volunteer to support our team in Eastcote. It's a varied role and no two weeks are quite the same. Depending on what's needed, you might be:

• packing and posting eBay sales

• sending out Gift Aid letters

• creating and updating Word documents and Excel spreadsheets

• researching new fundraising opportunities

Is this you?

You don't need formal qualifications. What matters most is that you're reliable, organised, comfortable using a computer, and happy to turn your hand to whatever needs doing that week.

It would be a bonus if you have:

• some previous admin experience

• must have a good working knowledge of Word and Excel, or Google Docs and Sheets

What you'll get from us

• A full induction and training for the role

• A friendly, supportive team and a named point of contact

• The chance to use your skills, learn new ones, and make a real difference to animals in your community

Time commitment

A couple of hours a week, at times that work for you. Because of the training involved, we'd love you to be able to stay with us for six months or more, but this is something we can talk about.

Interested? Get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.

Do you have a passion for helping grow support that transforms lives? Are you ready to use your skills to make a difference? 

Join DFN and play a key role in growing the funding and partnerships that support our programmes in India.

Dignity Freedom Network (DFN) works in cities and in rural villages across India. We champion those society sidelines including those from low caste and tribal backgrounds.  Could you help secure funding from grant makers for our education, health and protection programmes?

What will you be doing?

You will support DFN’s fundraising team by helping to identify new opportunities, strengthen relationships with supporters, and contribute to the development of funding opportunities that enable our work to grow.

This role will involve using your writing and research skills to support a range of activities, working closely with the team to help increase DFN’s fundraising capacity and impact. The role is remote, with regular opportunities to connect with the fundraising team and learn more about DFN’s work. You will need access to a computer and the internet. 

What are we looking for?

Skills and experience

Essential 

• Good research skills 

• Excellent writing

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills. 

• Organised, reliable, and able to manage multiple tasks. 

• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive practice. 

• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a small team. 

Desirable 

• Experience intrust and foundation fundraising and/or major donors 

• Previousfundraisingexperience (paid or voluntary) 

• Experienceofdevelopingfundraising resources 

What difference will you make?

Your contribution will help DFN strengthen its fundraising approach and secure support for programmes that create opportunities and improve lives.

By sharing your skills and experience, you will help a growing charity expand its ability to deliver meaningful work with communities across India.

What are the Benefits for you?

• Experience in a small, entrepreneurial charity where your contribution has visible impact. 
• Opportunities to develop or broaden your fundraising skills in a supportive environment. 
• Informal training in fundraising skills

• A warm, values‑driven team committed to inclusion, learning, and positive change. 

• References and recognition for your contribution to help you secure your first or next paid role

• An opportunity to make the world a better place!

• Working flexibly, tailored to your availability.

Dignity Freedom Network (DFN) is active across India. We work in large cities and in rural villages, with young children and new mums, with women who have experienced exploitation, and families facing discrimination and prejudice. We work to champion those society sidelines including those from low caste and tribal backgrounds.

Indian colleagues and volunteers deliver impactful education, health, protection and vocational skills programmes - the ladder needed by those we seek to help to overcome the barriers they face.

Volunteer Role: Community Buddy

Location: Based in Luton within a non-residential setting. Unfortunately, this location does not have step free access. 

About the Role

Penrose Roots delivers community-based recovery services across Luton, from community gardens and social groups to bike maintenance projects. This volunteer role supports our Green Social Prescribing Triage system, helping individuals who have experienced long-term isolation or ill health to access and engage with green projects, build confidence, and reconnect with their community. 

We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to help our members feel connected and confident in attending their local green activities. You'll help them to access nature-based activities, make a plan to get started and go along with them if they would like some company. You may continue to attend with them until they feel confident going on their own (approx. 4-5 weeks).

Your role is all about helping people to make those daunting first few steps that can ultimately make a real difference in their wellbeing and bring them joy through connection to nature and their community!

What is the Commitment?

Because building trust and relationships takes time, we are looking for volunteers who can commit to supporting members regularly - ideally between 4 and 10 hours per week for at least two months. 

Volunteering must take place during the service's working hours (Monday - Saturday 10am-3pm) but there is flexibility within that. We will work with you to find a schedule that fits around your life and the needs of the service. 

About You

We’re looking for volunteers who are compassionate, proactive, and ready to make a difference! If you’re someone who can support people going through complex personal situations with empathy and without judgment, we’d love to hear from you.

We also welcome volunteers with lived experience of mental health, social care, or recovery-focused services, as well as those who’ve worked in caring roles or supported loved ones. Your insight and understanding can be incredibly valuable. 

You’ll need to be confident in planning days and journeys in and around Luton independently, and have a positive, encouraging attitude to help others step outside their comfort zones and try something new. Beyond this, we are very open to what you can bring to the team!

What You Can Expect From Us

To support you and set you up for success in your volunteering role with us, you can expect that we will:

• Work with you to find a volunteering arrangement that works for you and for the service. We will be as flexible as we can!
• Reimburse you for agreed expenses relating to your volunteering.
• Welcome you warmly into our team and support you to get the most from your experience.
• Recognise and celebrate your contribution to the team! We can provide references to confirm your achievements and contributions upon request.
• Provide the training and guidance you need to understand the context of our services and to keep you and residents and participants safe
• Provide regular supervision and opportunities to provide feedback on your experience
• You will be eligible to register with Blue Light Discount Card. 

Volunteer Role: Peer Mentor

Location: 25 Victoria Street, Rochester, ME1 1XJ and other locations in the surrounding community. Unfortunately, this service does not have step-free access. 

Do you...

• Have lived experience of substance misuse, supported living, or rough sleeping?
• Found ways to overcome challenges in your life that you could share with others?
• Have experience accessing treatment or support services?
• Been free from illicit drug use or problematic alcohol use for the past 3-6 months?

If you’ve said yes to all of the above, there are people going through a similar experience that need your help in their recovery. You will be fully trained and supported by our Peer Outreach Coordinator throughout your time with the project.

About the Role

Our Peer Mentors support clients to engage with treatment services through supporting access to these services in a variety of ways including, through taking people to appointments, sharing of their own experiences, making referrals into drug and alcohol treatment services and proactively encouraging clients to access harm reduction interventions and treatment services.

The clients that you will be working with will either be experiencing rough sleeping or who are at risk of experiencing rough-sleeping.

What is the Commitment?

We are looking for volunteers who can commit to giving 1-5 hours per week for a minimum of 6 months.

Volunteering at our service usually takes place Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm. We are very flexible and happy to work around your availability where we can.

What You Can Expect From Us

A mandatory training course will be provided which will cover all aspects of Peer Mentoring including covering boundaries, safeguarding, confidentiality and personal safety. This course will be undertaken in partnership with the NHS peer mentor training scheme. Ongoing supervision and support will be provided throughout the whole process by the Pathways Peer Outreach Coordinator.

You can expect that we will:

• Work with you to find a volunteering arrangement that works for you and for the service. We will be as flexible as we can!
• Reimburse you for agreed expenses relating to your volunteering.
• Welcome you warmly into our team and support you to get the most from your experience.
• Recognise and celebrate your contribution to the team! We can provide references to confirm your achievements and contributions upon request.
• Provide regular supervision and opportunities to provide feedback on your experience.
• You will be eligible to register with Blue Light Discount Card. 

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

This role may close early, for a better chance to be considered, we recommend applying as soon as possible as we screen on an ongoing basis. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds

PEN International is looking for 1 or 2 volunteers to work closely with PEN International’s Congress and Events Officer and other members of staff to support the planning and delivery of the 92nd Annual PEN International Congress, which will take place online in September 2026.

The PEN Congress is a major event that brings together PEN Centres and members from around the world to shape the direction of PEN’s work, discuss key issues affecting writers and freedom of expression, strengthen international networks, exchange ideas, and celebrate literature in all its forms.

This volunteer role will focus on supporting the preparation and online delivery of Committee Meetings and the General Assembly. The successful candidate will assist with administrative, logistical, and technical tasks before and during the Congress period, helping to ensure the smooth delivery of meetings involving participants from across different countries, languages, and time zones.

The position is ideal for someone interested in human rights, literature, international affairs, cultural management, or event management, and who is looking to gain practical experience within an international membership organisation.

Help support the future of hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting across the UK.

The Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA) is seeking a Grants & Fundraising Officer to support the charity’s financial sustainability by identifying funding opportunities, developing applications and helping to build relationships with funders, sponsors and partners.

This is an opportunity to use your fundraising, research and communication skills to support a national charity that helps more than 140 hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting organisations develop, collaborate and thrive.

This is a volunteer role working closely with the Treasurer and Trustee Board to help identify and develop new income opportunities that support the HBA’s strategic objectives.

What you'll do

As Grants & Fundraising Officer, you will support the HBA’s fundraising activity. Responsibilities include:

• Researching and identifying suitable grant funding opportunities aligned with the charity’s objectives.
• Supporting the preparation and submission of grant applications, working with Trustees and relevant stakeholders to gather information and evidence.
• Maintaining a record of funding opportunities, deadlines, applications and outcomes.
• Supporting the development of sponsorship opportunities, including for HBA events, awards and initiatives.
• Exploring opportunities for additional fundraising activity, partnerships and donor engagement.
• Supporting the Treasurer to ensure fundraising activity aligns with the charity’s financial priorities and reporting requirements.
• Maintaining accurate records of funding received, application requirements and reporting deadlines.
• Supporting grant monitoring, evaluation and reporting activity where required.
• Building positive relationships with potential funders, sponsors and partners.
• Providing updates and recommendations to the Treasurer and Trustee Board on fundraising opportunities and progress.

About you

We're looking for someone who:

• Has an interest in fundraising, grant applications, partnerships or income generation.
• Can research opportunities and identify potential sources of funding.
• Has strong written communication skills, particularly for preparing applications and proposals.
• Is organised, reliable and able to manage deadlines.
• Can work independently while also collaborating with a volunteer-led team.
• Has good attention to detail when managing applications, records and reporting requirements.
• Is proactive and enjoys identifying opportunities for improvement and growth.
• Can represent the HBA in a professional and positive manner.
• Shares our commitment to supporting hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting.

Previous experience in fundraising, grant writing, bid preparation or partnership development would be beneficial. We encourage applications from people with transferable skills gained in the charity, public or private sectors.

Role responsibilities and boundaries

The post holder reports to the Treasurer and works collaboratively with Trustees and other volunteers to support the HBA’s fundraising and income development activity. 

The role does not include authority to commit the HBA to funding agreements, sponsorship arrangements or financial obligations. The post holder must not enter into any agreement or contract on behalf of the HBA without prior approval from the Trustee Board.

Working with the HBA

The HBA is an entirely volunteer-led charity with no paid staff. Our volunteers play an important role in helping the organisation achieve its objectives by contributing their skills, experience and enthusiasm.

The Grants & Fundraising Officer will work closely with the Treasurer and Trustees, supporting the charity’s continued development while gaining experience of fundraising within a national voluntary organisation.

Meetings and commitment

The time commitment is approximately 8 hours per month.

Most activity can be carried out flexibly and remotely, with regular communication taking place online.

Location and expenses

This role can be carried out from anywhere in the UK, with most business conducted online.

Volunteers may occasionally be invited to attend HBA events, including trustee board meetings, the HBA Annual Conference and Awards, meetings with stakeholders or other charity activities.

Reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out volunteer duties will be reimbursed in line with the Association’s expenses policy.