Voluntary Volunteer Roles in Berkshire
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
African Development Choices (ADC) is a UK-based Social Enterprise on a mission to reduce poverty by empowering communities to make informed development choices in the management of public finances and resources.
ADC’s purpose is to enable communities to independently meet their needs for essential services, such as clean water and safe sanitation and improve lives in Africa.
At ADC we encourage a working culture of seeking and giving input, showing and taking initiative, and commitment to the organisation and its purpose.
We now have an exciting opportunity for a volunteer Head of Policy & Research (Remote) to join ADC.
Main Purpose of Job: Lead the development of policy positions through research to strengthen our evidence base and help ADC act as a thought leader in shaping debate and dialogue around key policy issues relevant to ADC’s work
Division: Operations
Department: Policy & Research
Position Reports to: Chief Impact Officer
Who Reports to this Position: TBC
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop policy positions and commission new research and policy outputs and harness the data and stories from across ADC’s work to strengthen our evidence base
- Develop a stakeholder outreach strategy aimed at building key relationships with local and international stakeholders in parliament, civil service, think tanks, peer organisations, universities/colleges and research community
- Analyse data and put together detailed research reports, executive summaries, briefings, factsheets, white papers and policy papers for internal and external audiences
- Put together emotive case studies and stories which demonstrate positive impact on communities and ensure project data is gathered for impact reporting and creating infographics for business development
- Set up externally funded research projects and apply for funding
- Recruit additional volunteers for the Policy & Research team when needed
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
Essential
- At least 5 years of experience in senior policy and research management
- Experience of strengthening evidence and influencing policy agendas
- Significant senior policy and research development experience, ideally in international development
- Background in policy and stakeholder relations with a good general understanding of the workings of government, parliament and civil service
- Significant experience in developing and implementing policy and research strategies
- A creative and strategic thinker, with the ability to develop innovative policy solutions to complex challenges
- Ability to actively take initiative and help set things up in a start-up environment
- Ability to actively seek and give input in a collaborative team environment
- A committed team player with good communication skills
- Available to volunteer at least 7-10 hours a week
Desirable
- Experience of influencing the formation or revision of international development policy at an institutional, national, or inter-governmental level
- Experience working in an early stage start-up and gone through a scaling phase
- Passion for the start-up life and comfortable in a role with a little ambiguity
What ADC Offers You
This is a volunteer, remote and unpaid position with the following benefits:
- Professional learning and career development opportunities
- An opportunity to build on your work experience within your profession
- An opportunity to be part of a diverse team representing different parts of the world that is helping to deliver systemic social change in Africa
- An opportunity to help shape a start-up social enterprise
- We provide work reference
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Here at African Development Choices, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our teams are made up of people from all over the world and we welcome all applications. If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, and you require any reasonable adjustments for your application with us, please let us know by contacting recruitmentatafricandevelopmentchoicesdotorg
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for self-motivated and compassionate individuals to help deliver our Helpline service and make a difference to the lives of anyone affected by cancer.
The Helpline offers those with cancer a chance to share their feelings and experiences with someone who has empathy for what they are going through. Helpline Volunteers create a safe and welcoming environment, listen, and provide emotional support and signposting individuals onto further information.
No special qualifications are needed for this role, but access to a telephone in a comfortable quiet setting is essential.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Trustee Job Description
Organisation: Walk to Independence (WTI)
About Walk to Independence (WTI):
Walk to Independence (WTI) is an emerging charity committed to bridging the gap in support services for adults with special educational needs (SEN) transitioning out of formal education settings. Our mission is to establish a nurturing environment where SEN individuals can foster independence, empowerment, and community integration. At WTI, we prioritise upholding the rights of individuals with SEN, ensuring their autonomy, dignity, and inclusion in society.
Position Overview:
WTI is in the process of establishment and is actively seeking dedicated and passionate individuals to serve as founding trustees. Trustees play a pivotal role in steering the strategic direction, governance, and oversight of the organisation, particularly in the crucial phase of charity registration.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership: Provide strategic direction and leadership to guide WTI in achieving its mission and objectives.
Governance: Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as governing documents and policies, especially during the charity registration process.
Financial Oversight: Monitor and review financial performance, including budgets, financial statements, and controls, to ensure fiscal responsibility.
Fundraising and Development: Support fundraising efforts and contribute to the development of sustainable funding streams crucial for WTI's activities and growth.
Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks that may affect operations, reputation, or financial stability, particularly during the organisation's infancy.
Advocacy and Networking: Represent WTI externally, advocating for the rights and needs of individuals with SEN, and establish partnerships with stakeholders, funders, and community organisations.
Support and Evaluation: Guide the executive team, staff, and volunteers, and participate in evaluating WTI's programs and services.
Qualifications:
Passion for the mission and values of WTI, including a commitment to the rights and inclusion of individuals with SEN.
Previous experience in governance, leadership, or management roles, preferably within the charity sector or relevant field.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.
Ability to think strategically, analyse complex issues, and make informed decisions.
Willingness to dedicate time and effort to fulfil trustee responsibilities effectively, especially during the charity registration process.
Knowledge of fundraising, financial management, or legal matters is desirable but not essential.
Time Commitment: Trustees are expected to attend regular board meetings (approximately 4-6 times per year), participate in committee work or working groups as needed, and engage in occasional ad hoc tasks or events. The time commitment may vary but is estimated to be approximately 5-10 hours per month on average.
Location: The role of trustee is primarily remote, with occasional in-person meetings or events in London as required.
Are you an advocate for an individual’s right to privacy? Do you believe that people should know how their personal information is being used, stored and shared? What about the right to only receive communications that they want?
If so, please get in touch to become a data governance volunteer! At the MS Society we care about issues like ethics, data protection and the rights of individuals privacy. People entrust us with their personal details, and we work hard to keep that trust and respect their wishes.
In this home based volunteer role; you’ll help raise awareness of why this is important and all the things that can be done to keep data safe and secure.
We’ll support you in your volunteering, giving you opportunities to lead positive change, meet and network with other volunteers, and develop your skills through training. We’ll also cover reasonable expenses if you are asked to travel to take part in activities including training.
What the role involves
The role will involve a varied number of administrative tasks. We work behind the scenes supporting volunteering groups, individual volunteers, staff, supporters and service users to exercise their rights and keep the MS Society compliant with data protection regulations. These activities will include:
- Setting up and attending relevant meetings to support staff with providing advice
- Supporting the writing and publishing blogs and data process guidance and policy, such as proof reading, cross reference
- Collaboration in the review of training material and data collection forms and processes
- Populating and reviewing our risk register
- Supporting the team to carry out data protection rights requests on our in-house system (One Trust)
What you need for this role
- Passionate about the MS Society and our mission
- To be passionate about data protection rights as a human right
- An understanding of data protection and a willingness to learn and keep abreast of changes.
- An ability to work well and collaborate with others
- An understanding of Microsoft 365 and databases including Excel
- Access to a PC and the internet
In order to volunteer in this role, you will need to:
- Complete an application
- Have an informal conversation with the Volunteer Manager for this role, to discuss whether becoming a data governance support volunteer is right for you
- Complete your Welcome and Induction Checklist in the back of your ‘Welcome Pack’ (opens in new window).
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Action Volunteers needed to manage their own collection tins route.
Training will be provided for the role, and online for GDPR, Fire Safety, and Manual Handling. Certification provided.
Become an integral part of our lifesaving charity, connect with other volunteers, manage your role via the Volunteero app.
Be part of a charity that has 'Investing in Volunteers' standard.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Ensuring that all community fundraising supporters receive an outstanding level of service.
Support our aim to build a strong community network of local fundraisers, committed and inspired to raise money to help us achieve our mission of supporting people with cancer.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Help us flock together!
We are looking for someone to support the members of our local RSPB group in Bedford.
We are a friendly group of birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts who are passionate about nature and its conservation.
We need someone to manage our list of members, collect subscriptions, and help to recruit new people to join our group and to take part in our activities. These include regular indoor meetings and birdwatching trips. To learn more about us and what we do, please click here.
We are looking for someone who is well organised, with good IT skills and, most importantly, someone who is a people person.
If you join us, you will have the opportunity to meet new people, learn more about birds and nature, and help the work of the RSPB, Britain's largest conservation organisation.
If you feel you could help, please get in touch.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Family Lives operate a free confidential helpline for anyone experiencing difficulties in their family or relationship.
Our volunteers take calls from parents and carers on a wide range of subjects, whether that might be issues around separation and divorce, isolation, depression, bullying and abuse, dealing with behavioural problems, etc. You can find out more about our services on our website.
We are a national service with home-based call takers county wide and we also have a call centre in Old Hatfield Hertfordshire. Once trained volunteers sign up for a weekly 4-hour shift comprising 3 hours ‘online’ followed by a debrief session with your supervisor which can lasts around half to one hour.
We recruit volunteers with a range of backgrounds and experiences though we ask that volunteers have experience of parenting or working with children and young people, are good listeners and have a willingness to learn. Being remote it will be very important that you have a PC/laptop, plug in headset with microphone, good Wi-Fi and a private place to work from home.
You need to be a UK resident.
Our training programme is excellent and will give you the opportunity to develop the skills needed to offer empathic support and guidance to callers whatever their circumstances; all shifts are overseen by a regular shift supervisor who provides ongoing remote support. We ask our volunteers to make a commitment of 1 year (with time off for holidays), obviously we understand that circumstances sometimes make that an impossibility but can be helpful to know at the outset that is the general expectation.
We have call taker training sessions that run over five sessions and is done remotely connecting you via a Microsoft Teams link.
You would need to be able to attend all five sessions from one of these remote training groups and be available on four occasions to listen into calls, this can be organised remotely.
Remote Call Taker Training Dates:
June Saturday training dates:
Module 1 – Saturday 8th June
Module 2 - Saturday 15th June
Module 3 – Saturday 22nd June
Module 4 – Saturday 29th June
Module 5 – Saturday 6th July
10am to 2pm
OR
June training dates:
Module 1 – Monday 10th June
Module 2 – Wednesday 12th June
Module 3 – Monday 17th June
Module 4 – Wednesday 19th June
Module 5 – Monday 24th June
10am to 2pm
Please note that all roles offered are subject to a satisfactory DBS being obtained, you will receive details of documentation required prior to your training and this must all be in no later than the second session of your training.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Grant Manager
Part time voluntary role – 2 days a week
Moulsoe near Milton Keynes
Adoptionplus is a Therapeutic Adoption Agency with a reputation for innovation and effective practice, rated ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED. We specialise in supporting families caring for children who have experienced trauma and loss, and provide a range of specialist services for adults, children, families and professionals that include therapy and training.
Children have described our service as “flameballtastic” while OFSTED have described us as ‘one of the best in England….where children’s emotional wellbeing improves significantly.’
We are passionate about innovation and learning, working with a number of Universities over recent years as part of national research. Many of our staff are considered experts in their field and between us we have had 13 books published (within our own time).
Although relatively small we have a large reach. A significant proportion of our customers are Local Authorities and we have been commissioned by over 50% of LAs in England.
We have recently transitioned from being not-for-profit to becoming a registered charity and we are now looking for someone who can support us as we move into fundraising.
This can be a home-based role with visits to our Adoptionplus office near Milton Keynes as needed.
For more information please contact Joanne Alper and for an application pack please contact Sophy Osman
Adoptionplus seeks to provide loving families and therapeutic support for children who would otherwise have grown up in the care system.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.
We are looking to recruit a Group Coordinator for our Spelthorne, Staines and District group. As our local Group Coordinator you’ll take the lead in making sure your local group works as effectively as possible. You’ll recruit, induct and support other group volunteers to make sure your group’s activities meet the needs of your local MS community. You can see a video about one of our Group Coordinators here.
In this role you’ll be able to develop your leadership, management, communication, organisation and motivation skills.
Time Commitment
We estimate this role will need around 5 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.
This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.
About you
You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.
You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the Spelthorne, Staines and District area to carry out this role.
The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces? You just need the ability to listen, strong IT skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be the role for you, we’d love to hear from you.
What is a Caseworker?
Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of support they need. You will listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help those serving, who have served and their families to navigate life in and beyond military service. Some examples of support are securing funding for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit. Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us.
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical, and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can complete the administration part of the role from home as long as you have access to IT equipment and the internet.
What would you be doing?
- Contacting beneficiaries and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time.
- Meeting beneficiaries and completing a form to assess their circumstances, using good communication skills, empathy and understanding.
- Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice.
- Applying for funding on the behalf of the beneficiary through a specific process and system
- Arranging for the purchase of goods and services
- Keeping the beneficiary informed of their case progress.
- Liaise with the branch and regional office, regarding your availability.
- Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients.
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA
- Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.
What can you gain from this volunteering role?
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – confidentiality and boundaries, personal safety, caseworker training, and caseworker IT system training. The caseworker training takes 3 days and a further half a day for the other training.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
- Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact.
- Regular opportunities to meet and share best practice with other caseworkers.
- Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable with good listening skills, patience, and a positive attitude.
- Good communication skills both written and verbally.
- Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
- Willingness and ability to use IT systems for initial and on-going training and to enter cases on the Casework Management System. Willingness and ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
- Ability to make enquires on behalf of beneficiaries by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms.
- Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice
- Reliable, prompt and trustworthy.
- Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? Yes, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires an enhanced check (including checks against the children and adults barred list)
*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are recruiting into a new Lay Advisory Board made up of people with personal experience of living with a brain tumour or a close friend or family member.
- You will work in parallel to our main Scientific Advisory Board, made up of International researchers with expertise in brain tumour biology, oncologists and genetic specialists.
- You will be asked to read through and discuss the lay (plain English) sections of selected applications we receive for funding and provide feedback.
- You could also take part in interview panels for our fellowship schemes and ask questions relevant for brain tumour patients and their families
We are looking for people who are organised, reliable and confident in reading over and understanding sometimes complex documents.
- Good communication skills and confidence in speaking as part of a group.
- Willingness to advocate for the needs of the whole brain tumour community.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Hekima is a small organization in Tanzania that promotes children rights, and youth through nurturing that enables children, families and communities in ending Violence Against Children (VAC). Hekima achieves this through community accountable where children and young youth demand their rights; strengthening child protection and participation systems and structures
COMMUNICATIONS FACILITATOR
- We are looking for a Communication Facilitator to:
- Prepare a communication plan that we can follow
- Provide guidance on the effective usage of social media, fundraising and other tools which can help us amplify our message.
- Present these ideas in a document. - Volunteer 4-6 hours per week remotely for 3-5 months.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Hekima is a small organization in Tanzania that promotes children rights, and youth through nurturing that enables children, families and communities in ending Violence Against Children (VAC). Hekima achieves this through community accountable where children and young youth demand their rights; strengthening child protection and participation systems and structures.
WRITING
- Help us create a document which will be used for advocacy. The document should include the most important matters that we are dealing with. Specific tasks include working with the team on how to produce this report, evaluating the report and also working closely with our communication officer.
- Volunteer 4-6 hours per week remotely for 3-4 weeks.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Would you be interested in supporting vulnerable adults to improve their English skills? We are looking for a volunteer who can support with English learning online. English is a wonderful language, but it is also notoriously difficult to learn.
What you will be doing
Agree a mutually convenient time and frequency for weekly online tutoring sessions for the client.
Determine learning priorities alongside the client.
Prepare simple online lessons to help improve the client’s English (speaking, listening, reading and writing).
Possibly provide “homework” activities to be complete between lessons (if desired by the client
Provide an encouraging and supportive learning environment.
To keep records of conversations and update the client’s support worker on progress of sessions.
Keep an eye out for any safeguarding concerns and report an concerns to volunteer supervisor.
The skills you need
Interest in supporting someone in developing their English skills. Excellent communication skills
Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere
Desirable: hold a TEFL qualification, or equivalent qualification. Flexibility to work around when client may need to cancel short notice. Compassionate and patient
What's in it for you
Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to
support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your Volunteering.
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.