Volunteer Roles in South West

We are looking for cat-loving volunteers to play a vital role in helping us improve the wellbeing of the cats in our care whilst they wait to be rehomed. Can you help them by providing a calm and caring home whilst we find their purrfect forever home

The Cheshire Altrincham Branch covers a large area of Cheshire and we work closely with the Inspectors to provide direct animal welfare services in our area.

The main activity of our branch is to rehome cats, dogs and other animals. We rely on fosterers to look after and care for our animals until we can find them their forever homes.

As a cat fosterer, you would be supporting the RSPCA in providing our cats with the safety of your home whilst tending to their welfare needs such as feeding and grooming. In addition to this, by providing a temporary loving environment, you will play a crucial role in a cat’s wellbeing and socialisation, which will significantly improve their chances of successful rehoming.

 Once everything is in place, the animal centre will guide you through the fostering process and ensure that you have all the necessary equipment, food, and veterinary care for your fostered cat. The RSPCA is also happy to reimburse any other pre-agreed expenses that you may incur through volunteering for us.

Whilst our cats are in your foster care, you will:

• Provide them with care, suitable housing, and a safe environment as per our policies and guidelines.
• Feed, water, and groom them in line with our advice.
• Transport them to any veterinary appointments if required.
• Provide them with your time and patience.
• Help us spread the word about the cats in your care so they might find their forever home quicker.
• Playing and cuddles are also a must! 
•  

 What we are looking for in a volunteer Cat Fosterer:

• Volunteers aged 18 or over who have had plenty of experience caring for cats.

• Fostering experience is beneficial but not essential as training is provided.

• For their wellbeing, our cats need to be kept in a separate room, so the whole family should be on board.

• Any existing pets or animals need to have been spayed/neutered (some medical reasons may mean they can’t be, so please let us know if this is the case).

• Volunteers need to be based in the following areas:  Altrincham, Sale, Knutsford, Northwich, Hale, Timperley

What we can offer you as a volunteer Cat Fosterer:

• You will be making a massive difference to the welfare of the cats in your care.

• Join our lovely team of friendly cat fosterers and receive support from the branch manager as well as other fosterers in the team.

• Meet new people and make new friends.

• Learning new skills through our comprehensive induction and fostering training programme.

• Enhance your CV by adding your volunteering experience and newly acquired skills.

It is worth mentioning that our cats do have different needs as whilst some are ready for rehoming others may require rehabilitation or ongoing medication. Therefore, we also aim to understand your situation and circumstances to ensure that we match you with your perfect foster cat.

If this sounds like the purrfect role for you please apply now 

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.

About Roots Academy

At Roots Academy, we’ve built a learning experience that’s changing the lives of the ummah’s future leaders, change-makers and visionaries.

Our vision is enabling university students to live God-centred lives, so we teach structured, engaging and transformative face-to-face foundational Islamic education to over 1,800 students across the UK.

Role Summary

Roots Academy is in the process of registering as a charity. As part of this process, the team are working towards creating policies, procedures and frameworks to ensure Roots is meeting charity governance requirements, and to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

The teams currently include:

• Executive team – will become the Trustee Board, once registered
• Leadership team – Team Leads include Finance, HR, Marketing, Fundraising, Academic, Delivery

As our Governance Lead, you will work closely with the Executive Team / Trustee Board, to establish a governance framework for the charity. You will also work closely with the relevant team leads to ensure each team has policies and procedures in place.

Key tasks

• Working closely with the Exec team, support the Trustee on-boarding process, to ensure all required documentation is obtained, and stored securely
• Support with trustee meetings, ensuring accurate record keeping of meeting agendas and minutes
• Manage registers; register of members of the board, register of interests, register of gifts, policy register, risk register, submitting to relevant regulators and responding to appropriate requests.
• Oversee the development of governance polices, such as Complaints Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, Risk Management Policy, and Whistleblowing Policy.
• Work with the leadership team to ensure policies and procedures are in place, in line with best practice, and signed off by the Trustee board. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Finance policies: Anti-Bribery and Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering, Cash Handling, Due Diligence, Expenses, Reserves
  • Marketing & communications policies: Data Protection, External Communications & PR Policy, Social Media Policy, IT & Internal Communication Policy
  • Fundraising policies: Acceptance & Refusal of Donations Policy, Ethical Fundraising Policy
• Work with the People Team Lead to roll out HR and safeguarding policies and procedures
• Work with the relevant Team Lead to ensure Roots has all relevant insurances is in place – e.g. public liability insurance for fundraising events, travel insurance for trips abroad, employer liability insurance if employees are recruited in the future.
• Advise the board as necessary, keeping up to date with relevant laws and regulations, including but not limited to Charity Commission Regulations and the Fundraising Code of Conduct.

What we’re looking for

• Experience in charity governance  
• Experience with risk management
• Experience with conducting compliance audits desired but not essential
• Strong understanding of Charity Commission Regulations and the Fundraising Code of Conduct

What we have to offer

• Be part of a team of 40+ dedicated volunteers from across the country.
• Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform.
• Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.
• Receive in-house tarbiyah sessions to develop your deen.

This would be an ideal position for someone with experience in charity compliance or auditing, looking to volunteer their time and develop their leadership skills, in a faith-based start-up environment. 

We will be reviewing applicants on a rolling basis, if you are interested please apply today - we would love to hear from you!

As a Patient Feedback Volunteer, you will play a central role in helping us understand our patients’ and carers’ experiences, by collecting and recording their feedback through a range of channels.

Your role will include some of, but is not restricted to, the following tasks:

• Meet with patients, families and carers and ask for feedback using iPads, comment cards or speaking to them over the phone
• Record answers and opinions given by patients accurately, as much as possible in their own words
• Collect the data and enter onto a database
• Discuss the results with your line manager 
• Meet with your line manager to find out how the service can be improved
• Let patients know how their ideas and opinions are being used to improve services, where appropriate.
• Attend selected hospice meetings, as and when required

ABOUT US

Every day of your life matters – from the first to the last. When you volunteer for Marie Curie, you understand that better than ever. We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of more than 4,400 staff and  6,500 volunteers, here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. We offer expert care, guidance and support, to help them get the most from the time they have left. 

Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work.  We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.

Marie Curie is committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.

Do you have a passion for organising social groups and meeting new people? Want a flexible voluntary role that allows you to make a difference to peoples’ lives? Then this is for you!

We are looking for volunteers who enjoy meeting and talking to new people and would be willing to help us start a new group in their area.

What is NWR?

NWR is a membership organisation for women that has been bringing women together for over 60 years for social activities. We provide an opportunity for women to meet to take part in informal discussions and other fun activities to promote friendship, self-education and confidence.

We hear from many members about how much joy NWR membership has brought to their lives; the friendships formed, companionship and wide-ranging conversations held. We want to reach more women to give them this opportunity.

What would I do?

Following the success of the new groups in Hertfordshire, we are recruiting volunteers across the country to set up new NWR groups in their area.

These NWR groups will meet for conversation and informal discussions in a local cafe or pub with a set theme – this theme acts as an icebreaker and ensures that no two meetings feel the same! Themes could cover a wide range of topics and are designed to be light-hearted and an opener for conversations that could lead anywhere (and usually do!).

Your role would be to run the meetings – greeting new and existing members, ensuring that the meetings run smoothly and everyone feels welcome, included and is having fun.

You would be asked to:

• Identify which town/city to base your group in
• Consider the types of women who would be interested in your group. What would suit them in terms of the time, location and format of the meetings? How should we communicate to them about the new group? Our staff will be able to provide guidance using their wealth of experience in setting up and running groups.
• Schedule meetings and identify and arrange a suitable venue.
• Run the meetings, ensuring that everyone is made to feel welcome and has an opportunity to contribute if they want to. Promote the benefits of NWR membership.

We will:

• Write and launch a social media and marketing campaign to recruit members for your group.
• Respond to enquiries and maintain lists of those interested in attending.
• Offer you ideas and advice in all areas of running the meetings and managing the group.

Further information

This opportunity is open to women living in the UK over the age of 18 who are able to travel to the meetings in the evening.

The amount of time spent will vary from week to week. It is estimated that it will require 2 hours a month, which includes time spent at your meetings. The hours are flexible and can fit in with your existing commitments.

Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

You will be provided with full training and support from NWR staff and will be part of a friendly and supportive network of volunteers from across the country.

All our Benefits Advocates play an integral role within our Information and Advice team and last year helped us to identify over £2.5 million in unclaimed welfare benefits entitlement for older people in the county. This money is life changing for our clients; improving quality of life and wellbeing, and supporting local services

We are looking for volunteers who are patient, sensitive and reliable, to assist older people to complete benefit forms such as Attendance Allowance. Appointments are usually in the older person's own home but can sometimes take place over the telephone. Full training and ongoing support are provided by our friendly and knowledgeable team.

Our volunteers will also raise awareness of and promote Age UK Devon services to clients, and record details of any other queries or concerns so that our Advisors can follow up with clients.

Skills required for this role are:

· Ability to empathise with others.

· Good verbal and written communication skills.

· Understanding of confidentiality.

· Patience, sensitivity, and reliability.

· Ability to respond appropriately to different and sometimes difficult situations.

· Working as a team member, referring to other team members when appropriate.

· Ability to work unsupervised and manage appointments.

· Good computer skills.

· Knowledge of the Benefits System (training will be provided).

Age UK Devon’s aim is to improve the lives of older people in Devon through delivering services and activities, promoting wellbeing and health, increase independence and access to local services as well as supporting families and carers - enabling people to get the most out of life.

Our volunteers donate their time to enable us to provide fantastic added value to our services and activities and bring a wealth of skills and knowledge to our organisation.

Our aim is to help you enjoy your role and to gain personal satisfaction on your volunteer journey with us – can you be the person we need to help us in supporting and making a positive difference to people in later life in the county?

If you would like an informal discussion about this role or have any queries, please contact Sarah Gunn – Advice and Wellbeing Manager (see our website for details)

Or if you would like to apply please visit Age UK Devon for more information on the role and how to apply.

Harlow & District Sports Trust 

We are seeking a Non-Executive Board Member to Join our Board of Trustees. The position is voluntary.

The leisure Trust was established in 1957 as a Charitable Company Limited by
Guarantee. The Trust currently operates Harlow Leisurezone which is a large
state-of-the-art Community wet and dry leisure centre, with annual attendances in excess of 1.5 million. The organisation’s mission is “To provide a high quality sport and
leisure experience that is sustainable and responsive to the needs of the community“. Our facilities are very popular within the local community and this trend continues and is reflected in our high attendance levels to date.

The leisure Trust was established in 1957 as a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. The Trust currently operates Harlow Leisurezone which is a large state-of-the-art Community wet and dry leisure centre, with annual attendances in excess of 1.5 million. The organisation’s mission is “To provide a high quality sport and leisure experience that is sustainable and responsive to the needs of the community“. Our facilities are very popular within the local community and this trend continues and is reflected in our high attendance levels to date.

 The Trustee Board consists of 12 non-executive Board members. Due to retirement the Board is seeking to recruit a new trustee to fill our current vacancy. As a Board member, you will have the opportunity to take part in the Trust’s financial and strategic planning designed to drive the organisation forward, and the development of the future policy and strategy of an organisation which makes a difference in the local community, while at the same time developing your own skills working as part of a successful team.

While gaining invaluable experience in recruitment, human resources and NFP Social enterprise,                           practice your passion within real-life scenarios.

We are looking for Recruitment Managers to join our team. The ideal candidate will play a vital role in sourcing, engaging, on-boarding and will help us build a diverse and dedicated team to support our brand messages and visions.

If you are enthusiastic, passionate and dedicated about building a dynamic volunteer team and are excited to contribute your recruitment skills to a meaningful cause, join us as a Recruitment Manager Volunteer. Together, we can create a positive and lasting impact in our community.

Please note the role is a voluntary position and could be entirely remote. Any incurred reasonable expenses will be paid.

Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with HR and leadership team to understand volunteer needs, roles and requirements.
- Develop and implement effective recruitment strategies and campaigns.
- Utilise online platforms, social media, and community networks to advertise opportunities.
- Assist with review volunteer applications and inquiries, and assess candidate suitability.
- Conduct interviews with potential candidates to determine their skills, motivations, and alignment with our values and visions.
- Coordinate volunteer orientation, ensuring all are well-informed and equipped for their roles.
- Maintain a database of potential and current candidates and keeping track of their skills, interests, and availability.
- Work closely with leadership team and other team members to ensure a seamless transition from recruitment to engagement.
- Regularly report on recruitment metrics and effectiveness to the leadership team.
- Continuously seek opportunities to improve recruitment process.

Requirements:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to effectively market and promote volunteer opportunities.
- Experience in recruitment, human resources, or volunteer management is a plus.
- Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively.
- Proficiency in using online platforms, social media, and communication tools.
- Dedicated and willing to learn.
- Committed to our values and mission 

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience. We look forward to reviewing your application and discussing how you can become a vital part of our team.​

ABOUT TESYouth 

TESYouth (Training, Employment Opportunities & Social Development for Youth) is a NFP social enterprise which focuses on improving the rate of youth employment, through volunteering, interactive and skill-based workshops, work-experience and training programmes. Together with our strategic partners, we collaborate with organisations to provide youth to develop their skills, and to assist in achieving their career aspirations.

We are a small volunteer-run organisation, supporting people aqcross the UK who are living with borderline personality disorder. Our members help support our work through their monthly dues and ongoing support. 

We are looking for a friendly, committed volunteer to help support our members, and keep them engaged from the day they sign up. 

Main duties

• Welcoming new members
• Sending out membership packs
• Creating and sending a monthly newsletter
• Answering queries from new and existing members
• Sending out annual surveys
• Sending out AGM invitations
• Producing quarterly membership reports

Personal specification

• friendly and welcoming
• excellent organisational skills
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• experience of creating newsletters and content
• able to work independently and as part of a small team

Commitment

We are flexible around your schedule, however there are deadlines in this role. 

Coding with CodeX work to make sure that anyone can have access to high quality coding and tech education. They have 3 beneficiary groups - people with autism, women in tech & people from low socioeconomic backgrounds.With coding and tech skills being increasingly important in the the workplace. The current solutions for education in place aren't effective enough.For young people schools are regularly having to cancel computing lessons, and that is only worsened when meeting the educational needs of those who are SEND. For adults, though you have platforms such as Youtube, that isn't a one size-fits all. And we know that it doesn't cater to all ability types. But then when you look at tech training programs typically they require a large financial investment & time commitment that isn't accessible to everyone.

Ensuring that all their content is ASC friendly, Coding with CodeX has taught 8,000 people to date. Ranging from the children in some of the poorest schools in Nottinghamshire to employees at companies such as Bank of America, KPMG and more. All their staff are specially trained to teach individuals who are SEND. For young learners they run programs such as our half term code camp, where they give their beginners python course away for free. Working with schools, charities, community groups and local authorities to ensure the next generation are equipped with the digital skills to thrive in the world of work.

COMMUNITY MANAGER

• Help us create spaces where our members can ask questions about our courses and stay connected.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week for 3-5 months

We harness the power of engineering and design to develop sustainable solutions for development. There are far too many people in the world living in sub-standard conditions with a poor quality of life. As world inequality increases, people are becoming further and further divided. One of the reasons for this is that there are not enough resources for innovation and development of new solutions. Our goal is to address the key challenges of poverty and inequality facing millions of people around the world. At Minazi, we harness the power of engineering and design to develop innovative solutions for sustainable development, in this way, projects at Minazi are a catalyst for social change.

COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT

• Manage social media and engagement content on LinkedIn; develop strategic communications plans; work with business units and internal stakeholders to ensure the website is up to date; write insight articles on LinkedIn/Website, amongst other duties.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours weekly remotely for 6 months.

Join our amazing volunteer team to raise awareness of sight loss and RNIB services at local events. You’ll be making a real difference to people living with sight loss by helping to create a world without barriers. This face to face opportunity will see you providing information about RNIB services and activities to help people with sight loss live the lives they want, enabling them to hear about the support that is available, and how they can help others. 

What you’ll be doing 

• Creating a welcoming and interesting display stand. 

• Speaking directly to people affected by sight loss. 

• Being a friendly face of RNIB locally - engaging with a diverse range of people. 

• Providing information and demonstrations of basic independent living aids for the general public and professionals. 

What you’ll gain from the role:

• An opportunity to give something back. 

• A chance to build a strong community. 

• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.

•  A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people 

• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. 

In return for donating your time we will provide: 

• A supportive route to building your confidence in meeting members of the public and serving customers. 

• A rewarding experience. 

• A great Induction and training. 

• A supportive manager. 

• Regular updates and catchups. 

• Expenses. 

• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. 

In applying for / signing up for this role you agree to be contacted when we are seeking volunteers to help with an event in relation to this role description. We will contact you via a communication method for which you have given consent. 

Green Standard Trust DAO is a community-governed, purpose-owned land trust powered by blockchain technology. They address three core challenges: the destruction of nature and lack of systemic protection for life sustaining ecosystems; global warming and climate change caused by deforestation and industrial farming; and, climate poverty, which will quickly become one of society's greatest challenges. 

To solve these challenges, an alternative, purpose-owned, community-governed, impactful model is required. They have designed  a new, complimentary system that inherently protects nature, helps stabilise our global climate and can lift millions or billions out of poverty, all while providing value to GST holders. 

COMMUNITY MANAGER

• Building our community presence from scratch focusing on Twitter, Telegram and Discord; support manageing social media accounts, responding to comments, and fostering a positive community environment; monitor and report on growth and engagement metrics across our channels; and, work directly with both founders.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week for 3-5 months.

Join our amazing volunteer team to make a real difference to people living with sight loss. You’ll be supporting people to come together in a group setting, to benefit from each other’s company, knowledge and encouragement, leading to reduced isolation, stronger networks of support, and new friendships. You can support with either local and regional telephone groups or face-to-face groups. 

What you’ll be doing: 

• Meeting and greeting group members on arrival or joining virtually. 

• Creating a warm and welcoming environment. 

• Supporting group conversations. 

• Assisting with group activities (if appropriate). 

What you’ll gain from the role:

• An opportunity to give something back. 

• A chance to build a strong community. 

• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.

• A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people 

• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. 

In return for donating your time we will provide: 

• A rewarding experience. 

• A great Induction and training. 

• A supportive manager. 

• Regular updates and catchups. 

• Expenses. 

• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. 

Green Standard Trust DAO is a community-governed, purpose-owned land trust powered by blockchain technology. They address three core challenges: the destruction of nature and lack of systemic protection for life sustaining ecosystems; global warming and climate change caused by deforestation and industrial farming; and, climate poverty, which will quickly become one of society's greatest challenges. 

To solve these challenges, an alternative, purpose-owned, community-governed, impactful model is required. They have designed  a new, complimentary system that inherently protects nature, helps stabilise our global climate and can lift millions or billions out of poverty, all while providing value to GST holders. 

LAWYER

• Reviewing our Green Paper and Constitution; provide advice on how best to approach regulatory hurdles and analyse our complex legal structure.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week remotely for 3-4 weeks.